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Barbecuing is a favourite among Brits as a recent study showed two in three UK households now own their own grill. Cleaning after your grill can be a pain but Express.co.uk has all the tips

and tricks to make it as easy as possible.

It is worth giving your BBQ a quick wipe down of the grills after every use and a deeper clean about every three months.

You should try to clean it with soft materials to avoid damaging the paint or metal surfaces which can allow rust to start forming.

You are advised to check your grill’s cleaning instructions first and make sure the cleaning equipment you use causes no damage to it.

For example, some recommend the use of wire-wool scouring pads while some others do not.

Leave your gas or charcoal grill burning with the lid on for 15 minutes to bake grease and food deposits into one single blackened layer.

This step makes it easier to remove the grease as it is solidified.

Leave the BBQ to cool down and remove the coals and ash from a charcoal grill.

If you have a gas barbecue then disconnect the gas bottle from the grill.

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Using a stainless-steel grill brush, remove any charcoaled grease from the inside of the lid and cooking grills.

Remove the grills and flavouriser bars in the case of gas barbecues, and then wash, along with the lid, with warm soapy water and a non-scratch sponge.

For painted lids, clean with warm soapy water and polish after with a glass cleaner and lint-free cloth.

Use a mild stainless-steel cleaner on the metal parts of the lid or metal shelves.

For the gas burners, clean using a steel brush to remove debris.

Use a metal pin or skewer to unblock gas outlets but take care not to add debris into the burner. Wash with warm soapy water and dry with a clean cloth.

To clean the cavity of the BBQ, remove big deposits of food particles or grease and then clean outside with soapy water and a sponge.

After this, rinse and dry with a clean cloth.

Lastly, apply a thin coat of vegetable oil to your grills and reassemble your barbecue as before.

If possible, try and store the grill in a garage or shed to prove protection from the weather.

If unavailable, a good quality BBQ cover will suffice to protect it from the rain.

Rust usually starts because the metal surfaces of the grill get damaged and then damp.

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