It’s spring and for many people it’s time to begin grilling again.
Yes – I grill year round and always tell people they should do the same but in talking to friends and relatives, and reading some of the emails I get, I see many never go near the grill in the winter. Real Men Cooking?! With gas grills, I really don’t understand the concept. 
You can see a picture of me grilling in the winter. Oh wait. That might be my grandson. This is before I got my new stainless steel gas grill.
OK – First you need to get that tank filled up. Check the tank for rust and sand it down where needed. If it is too rusty, many areas will not refill so you may need to purchase a new tank. I got a backup tank at Sams Club for about $20. Well worth it. There is nothing worse than running out of propane when having a family barbecue.
Except maybe overcooking the meat.
Look over your grill and give it a bit of a scrubbing if needed. Sometimes the inside of the tank lid begins flaking. Very undesirable – not to mention a health risk. Brush it clean.
Look at the grate. Does it need cleaned or replaced? Most likely it needs a good brushing.
Check the burner. If there is a lot of grease on it, now is a great time to clean it. A gas grill burner can typically operate effectively for 1 to 5 years with average usage. When the burner becomes significantly corroded, or ‘rusted out’, gas escapes through the corroded areas, creating ‘hot spots’ and making it difficult or impossible to properly cook food.
If it just needs a cleaning – brush it thoroughly. I have found poking the holes with a toothpick works in opening up the holes.
There is grill paint available so you may want to take the time to make your grill look almost new.
If you have a stainless steel grill, you will find much less cleaning problems.
There you have it. Get your grill ready for some serious barbecuing this year!
