Grill Guide – How To Get Rid of Grill Mold

Sharing is caring!

Picture this: it’s the first sunny spring weekend, and you can’t wait to fire up your grill or smoker. You remove your grill cover and find a white fuzz coating the grill surface. Damn, grill mold, this is the worst. There are far more devastating things happening. But, in the BBQ world, the grill mold is pretty bad.

Grill mold does not discriminate; it doesn’t care if you have a charcoal grill or a pellet smoker! If a nice warm, moist spot exists, mold will invite itself over.

So then, what is the best way to kill mold? Is it as easy as throwing away the grill? Or how about putting the cover back on and hoping it will disappear?

Sadly, none of these options are going to cut it. Below, you’ll find out how to clean your grill and get rid of grill mold for good!

In a rush?
Jump straight to my 6 Steps Getting Mold off Grill Grates

Everything You Need To Know About Grill Mold

First, I’ll show you how to get rid of mold from your smoker or grill. Then, if you’re interested, we need to find out what grill mold is. We must also learn how we got ourselves into this moldy situation and prevent it from happening again.

I will cover everything you need to know about grill mold, such as:

So, How Do You Get Mold Off Of Grill Grates?

Are you wondering how to clean mold off a grill, barbecue, or smoker? Follow the 6 steps below, and your grill will be mold-free!

1. Empty the grill of any charcoal, ceramic briquettes, lava rocks, or other porous materials from the grill.
2. Mix your grill cleaner. Make a mixture of water and baking soda and apply it to the grill grates with a basting brush.
3. Fire up the grill! Ensure it is as hot as possible; this will kill and burn off the mold & any grease that has built up. Use a decent amount of fuel for the fire to get as much burnt off as possible. Do not try to scrape or power wash the mold off. You might inhale spores and possibly have a reaction, or you could also spread the mold. Researchers from Oho State University have found that most molds cannot survive above 140°F, and heating your grill also helps loosen baked-on food debris and old oil.
4. Let it cool down. After the fire has burned down, let it cool, and then scrub and scrape everything you can get your hands on! Use a grill scraper, pressure washer, or wire brush for best results. You will need a lot of elbow grease if you don’t have a pressure washer.
5. Wash it. Once everything has been scraped off, wash it with hot, soapy water and rinse it afterward. If using a wire brush, ensure no rouge wires are on your grill grates.
6. Finally, fire up the BBQ one more time. This will ensure any soap residue, moisture, grease or mold has been eradicated. 

What Temperature Kills Grill Mold?

The temperature to kill grill mold is 140°F. Research from Oho State University found that most molds cannot survive above 140°F. To kill the grill mold before cleaning your BBQ or smoker, heat your barbecue to 140°F; heating your grill also helps loosen baked-on food debris and old oil.

What Exactly is Grill Mold?

Mold is a term for fungi that grow in a multicellular, almost thread-like structure. Mold is found in damp areas which have poor ventilation and/or high humidity levels

There are many different types of mold, each with different colors, textures, and smells. Some can cause disease and be very harmful to the human body.

Note: If you can smell mold, it is wise to remove your barbecue or smoker cover and continue with the cleaning steps below.

Can You Cook on a Moldy Grill?

You shouldn’t cook on a moldy grill. Grill mold can harm humans at worst and taint the flavor of your food.

Don’t be lazy—clean your grill. Always remember, ‘ a clean grill is a happy grill.’ Do you need to solve this moldy situation ASAP? Jump to: How do you get mold off of grill grates?

Why Does My Grill Get Moldy?

A moldy grill is usually caused by storing your grill under a grill cover or in a moist spot. When you store your grill under a cover, it traps moisture under it.

Moisture has nowhere to go, creating the perfect mold and/or rust breeding ground. When storing your grill under a cover for winter (or summer, for that matter), it pays to air it; this often helps reduce the chances of mold.

How To Prevent Mold (Like They Say, Prevention is Better Than A Cure)

One of the best ways to prevent mold is to superheat your grill or smoker after cooking.

1. Superheat your BBQ or smoker.
   If you need to add fresh coals to raise the temperature, do it! It will save you in the long run. You want to crank it too high and maintain the maximum temperature. Then, burn off all the food residue built up throughout the cook.
2. Once all the food residue has burnt off, it’s time to work on the grill interior.
   With a plastic putty knife, scrape grease build-up, food, and excess charcoal. This can be a breeding ground for mold.
3. Make sure the grill is DRY!
   After cleaning everything, you want to dry the interior and pop the cover on as much as possible. Before putting the cover on, open all vents or remove any side pieces that can expose the interior. This will allow any additional moisture to escape.

Your cover is the major cause of mold. It traps moisture and creates the perfect conditions for mold and rust.
If possible, avoid using a cover or lid. Your pride and joy will not fall to pieces! If possible, store it in the shed or under a covered area.

What To Do If Grill Mold Has Taken Over

Moldy grills are caused by storing them under a grill cover. If you take the cover off your grill at the start of summer and find mold, don’t stress!

It’s not the end of the world. I have some simple instructions to kill the grill mold above. I like to involve the kids and make it a learning experience for everyone.

Do You Have a Kamado Grill?
Kamado grills are prone to mold outbreaks, so see how to clean a Big Green Egg for a full step-by-step guide to removing the mold. A really important note is that you can’t use a degreaser or pressure washer with ceramic.

How To Make A Homemade Grill Cleaner

Do you prefer to use a homemade grill cleaner? If you don’t want to use chemicals or harsh abrasives on your grill. This is the perfect solution for you!

1. Using a grill brush scrape your grill to remove any oil debris such as charcoal, food or grease.
2. Fill a clean, empty spray bottle with 2 parts white vinegar and one part water.
3. Give the grill a good spray with the vinegar mixture.
4. Get half a meter of aluminum foil and scrunch it into a ball.
5. Rub the foil over the grill and remove any remaining grease and food debris.
6. Repeat the process as needed and finish by giving it a good burn-off at max temperature.

FAQs

Many questions are submitted regarding cleaning grills, so we have compiled some common ones below.

I forgot to wash grill before I started seasoning, what sort I do?

It’s OK. Some people recommend oiling your grill after each cook, but you only need to wash it every few months.

What temperature does the grill need to be to kill mold

Your grill needs to be 140°F to kill mold.

The meat sticks to the grill top no matter what nonstick spray I use; what do you recommend?

Give your grill a coat of non-stick oil spray when the grill is cool and turned off.

Using a non-stick spray is an alternative to regular oil coating. If you find meat still sticking to the grates, try aluminum foil.

What kind of face mask needs to be worn to clean a grill?

When cleaning a grill or emptying charcoal from your grill, make sure you at least wear a 3M mask to protect yourself.

Will 400 degrees kill mold in my grill?

400 degrees will kill mold on your grill; however, you only need to heat your grill to 250 degrees (F) for at least 15 minutes before you cook on it.

Opening your grill after summer and finding mold is a real event killer, the last thing you want is your guests to see you cleaning your moldy grill.

Especially when you have gone through the hard yards of preparing all the food for your guests. It’s not hard to take the necessary steps to prevent mold build-up. I often get the kids to help me, it’s a good opportunity to teach them a good life lesson.

Do you have a good way of cleaning that makes the job not so bad?

Happy Smoking

Charlie

Hungry For More?