Cleaning a Weber Q

Submitted: Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 09:46

ThreadID: 90587 Views:21578 Replies:9 FollowUps:7

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MartyB

Hi all,
I got an early Christmas present of a mid sized Weber Q. Great to use but I am wondering what is the easiest way of cleaning it and how often you clean yours. The book only tells me to scrub the grill with a wet brush while still hot, but what about all the fat that has dripped onto the inside and not run out the bottom. Mainly if I have recently cooked steak in it and want to cook a pizza next. I have simply sat it on the grass when cold, removed the drip tray and grill then poured boiled water over the inside. This seems to work fairly well but once I must have gotten water into the burner and had trouble lighting it next use.

from Marty.

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Reply By: Kris and Kev - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 10:56

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 10:56

We have the Family Q Special. When we first got our Weber I was cleaning the inside, but now I just brush the grill as you mentioned. Nice and quick and easy. So don’t get too hung up on cleaning the inside. I still clean the outside, just with hot washing up water.
If I have used the roasting trivet I just wash it in the kitchen sink. I also clean the outside just with dish washing water as needed. I have used our Weber numerous times and have only had to empty the drip tray twice.

AnswerID: 472248

Follow Up By: MartyB - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:13

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:13

Thanks Kris & Kev,
I'll try that. I am just worried that pizzas might taste like last nights steak.

from Marty.

FollowupID: 747024

Reply By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:23

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:23

Marty.
we have the Baby Q and i clean our with Shower Power ( or any citris based cleaner) spray it on,let it soak and a cleaning cloth to finish off.i simply then hose it out and let completely dry b use. done this several times and it works a treat.

AnswerID: 472252

Follow Up By: MartyB - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:47

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 11:47

Hi Mark,
How often do you clean it?

from Marty.

FollowupID: 747030

Follow Up By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 13:40

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 13:40

Marty

only as needed and depends what we have cooked in it. if you cook alot of say Roasts then it may want a regular clean. other foods such as steak and the like where the lid is open more than not very often.

FollowupID: 747040

Follow Up By: landseka - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 18:38

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 18:38

Mark, are you saying you cook steak with the lid open?

You are missing the best steaks the BabyQ can offer.

Everything should be cooked with the lid closed as much as possible.

Cheers Neil

FollowupID: 747064

Follow Up By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Monday, Dec 12, 2011 at 22:07

Monday, Dec 12, 2011 at 22:07

Neil

always do......hot plate plenty hot and beer plenty cold ;-)

FollowupID: 747186

Follow Up By: landseka - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 09:38

Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 09:38

Ha ha, no worries. I would however, no more expect my beer to be cold enough with the fridge door open than expect the steak to be right with the lid open. The Webber was designed to cook with lid shut.

I did 3 delightful Angus steaks last night, 3 minutes one side with a 90deg rotate at 1.5 minutes to make the grill burn marks pretty, then a further 1.5 minutes on the other side. Done to (my) perfection.

Cheers Neil

FollowupID: 747218

Reply By: tg123 - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 12:01

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 12:01

Hi Marty!
I've had my Q for around 3 yrs and love it!! Use it at least 3 - 4 times every week! The lid will discolour and turn brown in places - have tried everything with limited success so now just let it get browner.
As for the inside, a good clean is essential every few months of frequent use. Had mine actually catch fire once due to fatty gunk build up. I remove the grill plate, undo the bolt holding the burner in and remove burner. I then attack the bowl with a narrow paint scraper (approx 30mm) and just scrape all the crap out through the bottom opening. It's all aluminium with no coating so a few scratches add character :). The holes in the burner itself tend to get a bit clogged over time so I test my patience with a paper clip and poke them all clear. I clean the grill thingy with a widish paint scraper and use the edge to scrape the side of the grill 'bars'. Probably not recommended practice but it works for me.
Don't seem to get 'crossover' flavours when cooking different foods but then again I'm getting old and just don't really care about that sort of sh*&!!

Happy cooking (and cleaning!!)
TG

AnswerID: 472253

Reply By: Fab72 - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 12:07

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 12:07

"Easiest way of cleaning it?"
Dunno... hang on while I ask the missus.
(That's gonna get me shot).

Fab.

AnswerID: 472256

Reply By: Member - Frogman (WA - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 12:50

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 12:50

Hi Marty
I have a BBQ now for 2 years and it is very easy to clean.From time to time I use BBQ TOUGH wipes and give it a good clean and most of the time WINDEX spray the base and wipe with paper towel.After each BBQ I wipe the lid with windex and that it.
Regards
JOHN

AnswerID: 472262

Reply By: Tony N2 - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 17:00

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 17:00

Hi Marty I clean the inside with hot water regularly as I like a clean BBQ, and I also use BBQ Glitz from Bunnings it does a great job.

Tony

AnswerID: 472286

Follow Up By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 17:20

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 17:20

Boil a jug, take the water, dishwashing liquid and a nylon brush out near a tree or other spot where people will not walk and squirt, pour and brush.

Not long after it will be clean.

Collect the fat drips in a small tin.

Bill B

Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 747057

Reply By: MartyB - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 19:08

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 19:08

Thanks everyone,
I will just clean the inside every so often and the rest of the time I will just clean the grill. I was at bunnings today and grabbed a Grill Stone from the throwout stand. I will see how that goes compared to the brush.

from Marty.

AnswerID: 472298

Reply By: Holden4th - Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 20:25

Sunday, Dec 11, 2011 at 20:25

I've had my BabyQ now for over 5 years and while I clean the grill regularly I leave the rest as it is. This ends up adding to the flavour of what you cook (roast/chops/snags/etc) which is in the true Weber tradition. The lids browns up and if you use alfoil underneath a trivet the belly doesn't build up too much. Every now and then I give the belly a scrape out.

I do use a wooden tooth pick to occasionally clean out the holes in the gas ring.

Use of Weber's trivet does make a huge difference

http://www.raysoutdoors.com.au/online-store/products/Weber-Baby-Q-Roasting-Trivet.aspx?pid=284093#Description

If you get one then make sure you use alfoil underneath it.

This book is great