How to Clean Mold Off The Grill? Best Tips To Get Rid Of Grill Mold

As the weather warms up, many of us look forward to firing up the grill and enjoying some delicious BBQ with friends and family. However, when opening the grill and discovering mold growth, the excitement can quickly turn to dread.

Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in warm, moist environments, and can pose a health risk if ingested.

While covering the grill can help prevent rust, it, unfortunately, cannot stop mold growth entirely.

The good news is that there are effective ways to clean mold off a grill and prevent its recurrence.

In this article, I will explore the most efficient methods for removing mold from your BBQ grill, so you can get back to cooking up a storm in no time.

Why Does Mold Grow on Your Grill?

Mold growth on grills is a common problem, especially in areas with high humidity or where rain is frequent.

When moisture accumulates on the grill, it provides an ideal environment where mold can grow and thrive. This is particularly true for areas of the grill that are not frequently exposed to direct heat or sunlight, such as the inside of the grill lid or the bottom of the grill. The combination of warmth and moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for mold spores to grow and multiply rapidly.

Additionally, covering the grill with a grill cover can actually contribute to mold growth, especially if the cover is left on for extended periods of time. This is because the cover traps moisture inside the grill, which creates a humid environment that is perfect for mold to develop. This is why it’s important to remove the cover and allow the grill to dry out completely after use, especially if you live in a humid area.

Related reading: How To Secure Grill From Being Stolen

How to Clean Mold Off The Grill?

What to do when the mold has already spread? Fear not. Mold may seem disgusting and sticky at first, but some quick techniques exist to remove them. So, without further ado, let’s check them out.

Safety Precautions

Hold on. Were you going to touch the grill mold with your bare hands? That is a severe mistake. Mold is dangerous. Any contact with them can lead to harmful effects. Therefore, you must take some safety precautions before cleaning mold off the grill. Try putting on clean shoes and long pants.

Wear waterproof gloves and a safety mask. Mold will most likely make contact with your face while you clean. Finally, put on a pair of safety goggles. Now you’re ready to fight against the evil mold.

1. Removing Everything From The Grill

Examine your grill carefully. Look for any charcoal, rocks, or porous components. Remove them from the charcoal grill. They will only hamper the process. Clean all debris and junk if you have a gas grill as well.

2. Prepare a Grill Cleaning Solution

Making a grill cleaner is pretty straightforward. Take some water and baking soda and mix it for a couple of minutes.

You can also buy grill care chemicals with much more potency. Apply the mixture to the grates with a wire brush. You can also put some drops in a cloth and clean with it.

3. Fire Up Your Grill

This step is crucial. Turn on your grill. You need to make the temperature as high as possible and heat the grill thoroughly. Mold is sneaky. Without adequate heat, there will be some leftovers. That’s why burn them off with fire. You can use fuel or charcoal to get the fire going.

An amateur mistake is to try to wash the sticky mold off with a detergent. Don’t do that at this step. It won’t be that effective. Burning away the mold is the best way to kill the mold.

4. Cooling Down

After the destruction, let the grill cool down. Take your time. After that, take a brush or a fresh cloth and start washing it. A soft brush won’t do the trick, as mold is quite sticky. Therefore, a pressure washer is much preferable. Apply brute force in places that just won’t go off.

5. Rinsing

After all the hard work, give your grill a good shower. Use soap or detergent and wash the residues away. Using hot clean water is good as it makes the remaining mold detach quickly. Make sure to wash every single part of the grill. Don’t leave any stones unturned.

6. Firing Up the Grill One Last Time

Last but not least, this step is how to clean mold off your grill. Imagine you have done all the steps correctly, but you forgot to light up the grill one more time to check. After a few days, you check on your grill and notice mold is still there.

All the hard work has gone in vain. That’s why it’s wise to double-check it. Fire up the grill one more time to ensure all mold vanishes away. This finishing touch can go a long way.

How to Make Natural Grill Cleaner at Home?

Why spend unnecessary money buying grill cleaners when you can make one at home? Also, the chemicals of some cleaners can do more harm than good. That’s why homemade cleaners can do wonders.

Take an empty spray bottle. We all have useless spray bottles lying here and there. Fill 2 parts of it with white vinegar and one part with water. Mix it a couple of times, and voila. It’s done.

How to Prevent Grill Mold Formation?

It’s always better to prevent things instead of looking for a cure.

The most effective way to prevent mold is to regularly heat your grill as much as possible. This high heat will burn all the contaminants and food residue.

After that, take a knife and scrape everything away. Finally, dry the grill. A wet grill can be a massive help to the mold. So, make sure to cool it down and dry it.

You won’t have to do anything else if you maintain your grill.

Make sure to deep clean your grill once or twice every year. If you use it frequently, then consider cleaning it more often than that.

Every time you use a grill, try to clean the surfaces of the grill properly. Keep your grill clean to prevent the unwanted growth of mold.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are so many questions regarding mold in the grill. But we can answer only some of them. Here are the answers to the most intriguing questions.

Can you cook on a moldy grill?

No, you should not cook on a moldy grill. Putting your food near mold is harmful. It will badly affect your food. You may not see the difference at a glance. But believe us, it will harm and cause serious diseases.

Can I burn off any mold from my grill?

Fire can pretty much destroy everything it encounters upon. Mold isn’t an exception. So you can burn mold off the grill at extreme temperatures. The high temperature will also burn all the old, sticky grease.

After destroying the mold, let the grill cool for some time. Then take a clean scrubber and remove everything that is left.

What temperature kills mold on your grill?

400-degree temperature is more than enough to kill mold. It’s wise to heat your grill as much as possible to get the best results.

How long to burn mold off the grill?

You should heat the grill on high for at least 15 minutes to kill off all mold and mold spores. Make it 25-30 minutes to be sure.

Related reading: How To Clean Grill Grates?

Final Thoughts

Seeing mold in the grill is enough to ruin your whole day. Grilling is always fun and relaxing. But the mold will come in the way. Not anymore.

Apply our technique of how to clean mold off the grill and have a brand new grill after every clean.

Mold won’t stand a chance against your secret weapons. Therefore, you can grill that succulent meat and enjoy a good day with your loved ones.