You did it again. You had the whole winter to get ready for the summer grilling season, but you waited until the last minute, and now summer is just around the corner and your patio grill is still stuck away in the back of the garage.

But never fear, our short primer will have you up and running and ready to start cooking in no time at all. We’ll cover the points to consider when choosing the best new grill for your particular needs and budget, and then we’ll take a look at how to get your existing grill out of storage mode and back in tip-top working condition. And we’ll talk about some of the cool accessories you might want to add to your backyard grilling setup to maximize convenience and cooking power.

Buying A New Grill

There are a ton of grills on the market today, and choosing the right one can make your head spin. The first thing to do is to figure out how much you want to spend and what you intend to do with it. Are you looking for a smaller basic patio grill just for you and your family and maybe a few friends? Or a setup capable of serving large gatherings where one of the larger outdoor patio grills or commercial grills would be more appropriate? You’ll also have to choose between liquid propane grills and natural gas grills. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses and appropriate uses. Finally, you’ll want to make sure you buy a reputable brand that’s been around for a while.

Getting Your Patio Grill Ready For Summer

Whether you prefer to cook with charcoal or gas, there are some basic maintenance tasks you need to perform after a long winter’s storage to ensure your grill is safe to use and in good operational condition. Always refer to your owner’s manual for best maintenance practices.

• Perform a complete inspection. Closely examine your patio grill from top to bottom. Be on the lookout for any signs of rust or corrosion, especially if it’s been kept outdoors all winter. Now is the time to touch up those places with some grill-approved rust-prohibiting paint from the hardware store. Watch out for any nasty pests that might have made a home inside. If you’re inspecting liquid propane grills or natural gas grills, you’ll want to closely examine the gas lines looking for cracks and holes. Do a pressure check with soapy water while they’re hooked up to a gas source and watch for bubbles indicating a leak.
• Clean it completely inside and out. Doing a thorough clean of your grill will ensure all the moving parts and nozzles are free of debris and working freely. This will help to keep dirt out of your food while cooking and besides, no one wants to eat burgers off of a nasty, greasy-looking grill. If you have a gas grill, disassemble the flame dispersers and the tubes to remove built-up grease and clogs. You can use a long, thin brush to get inside the tubes and/or blow them out with compressed air or a garden hose, just make sure they’re dry when you put it all back together. Make sure the grease-catching pan is clean to help to prevent grease fires. Clean the exterior using household cleaning products or stainless cleaners for stainless grill bodies.
• Pay special attention to the cooking grids. The parts that make contact with food need to be kept clean to prevent bacteria formation and to make successive cleanings easier. For gas grills, a helpful grate cleaning tip is to turn all the burners on high and close the lid for about 15 minutes. This will turn the grease buildup to ash, making it much easier to remove. You can also use oven cleaner or powdered kitchen cleaners or, for really tough jobs, let them soak overnight in a cleaning solution like vinegar and baking soda. Be aware that metal wire brushes work well but can leave behind small metal splinters that can get into food. You can protect your grates from rust after cleaning with a light coat of cooking oil spray.
• Upgrade your accessories. Now that your grill is ready to go, it’s time to think about tossing your old grungy tools and picking up some new ones along with some accessories for expanded cooking possibilities and extra storage for all the new tools you’ll have. Clever new gadgets to make your job easier are coming on the market all the time. When it’s time to store your grill or put it away for the day, make sure you have a proper grill cover to keep it clean in between uses.

It’s important to keep all of your grilling gear clean and well-maintained at all times if you want the finished product, steaks, chicken, burgers, and brats, to turn out great. Liquid propane grills and natural gas grills are in general much easier to clean and maintain than charcoal grills because the fuel burns clean, with no ashes or grime. You still have to deal with the grease though. As a local butcher used to say, ‘“The meat you love to eat never comes cheap”.

PGS Legacy Built-In Options to Upgrade for Summer

For proud owners of PGS Legacy Performance Grilling Systems, here are some excellent ideas for summer upgrades.

• Beverage Center - Perfect for keeping your drinks and condiments cold, complete with a bottle opener, towel rack, and drain system.
• Extra Storage - You can never have too much storage, and this high-quality two-drawer stainless-steel set is top-of-the-line.
• Grill Island - You know you’ve always wanted one, and this beauty can be yours in days instead of the weeks or months it would take to have one custom built.
• Rotisserie & Extra Burner - Add the joys of rotisserie cooking to your repertoire with a state-of-the-art spitting unit and included gourmet side grill.
• Dual Side Burners - Cut down on trips back and forth to the kitchen with a dual side burner handily attached to your patio grill.

Heaterz, Inc. offers a complete range of services including onsite consultations, installations, and equipment leasing. We have everything you need to make your patio grilling smoking hot this summer so you can offer the maximum of fun and food experiences to your family and friends or your apartment and condo residents. Contact us today for more information.