Preserve your barbecue grill effortlessly with this natural and economical tip
It’s a fact: everyone loves a good barbecue. Beef ribs, merguez, chipolatas, kebabs and even fish are cooked on an open fire and the smell of grilling leaves no one indifferent. But sometimes, during the first barbecue of the season, we realize that the grill is rusty. So rather than running to the nearest store to save your Sunday family meal, here is an effective and inexpensive way to give your barbecue a new lease of life.
Before we give you this miracle solution, it is important to understand how rust forms so that you can prevent it. Barbecues and grills are often left to their own devices in the garden once the summer season is over. This exposes the steel of the grill to moisture for a good part of the year. When exposed to oxygen, the steel corrodes and rust forms.
What are the two most economical and natural ingredients to keep a barbecue grill from rusting?
To try to save your barbecue grill, you must first check that it is not made of steel or enameled cast iron. If it is affected by rust spots, it cannot be repaired. By cleaning it, you risk weakening the enamel layer and pieces of it could end up in your piece of meat. Indigestion guaranteed!
Other types of grills, such as stainless steel, cast iron, or chrome steel, are no problem. To start restoring your grill, you’ll need to rummage through your cupboards for baking soda and white vinegar. If you’re short, these products are available at any supermarket. Together, these two ingredients will create a powerful cleaner to remove rust stains.
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How to remove rust stains from a metal grill?
Its use is very simple. The first thing to do is to protect your hands and eyes. Then, if necessary, disassemble the parts of the grill that are not metal and brush them to remove most of the dirt. Once the grill is ready and in good condition, place it in a large tray and cover the rusty areas with baking soda. Then pour white vinegar on these areas.
The chemical reaction between the acidity of the vinegar and the alkalinity of the baking soda produces a foam that will dissolve the rust. It takes between 15 and 30 minutes to obtain a satisfactory result. Once this time has elapsed, wash the grill with plenty of water to remove the product and any pieces of rust. A brush can be useful at this stage to remove the last stubborn residue.
How to keep a barbecue rust-free?
Once the job is done, you will have a brand new grill. To avoid this treatment again, you must keep your grill dry. A garden shed or a large kitchen cupboard will do the trick.
That said, if you still see rust on your grill after treatment, chances are the rust is too deep to be completely removed. In this case, purchasing a new grill is highly recommended. Depending on your grill model, this will cost you a few dozen euros.
