Clean your grill with an onion! Skip the abrasive chemicals and metal brushes and use the cut side of an onion to clean your grill. Learn how!

Clean the grill with an onion–that’s right, it can be done! I love finding simple ways to do everyday things so this way of cleaning the crusted-on food off your grill seems like the perfect find of the day. I think everyone has a favorite method of cleaning their grill these days. Fro example, using a ball of aluminum foil to scrub the grates or just a tried-and-true metal brush. However, until recently, I somehow missed the “onion method” for grill cleaning.

I love a clever food hack. So I when I saw the suggestion online for using the cut side of an onion to clean grill grates, I dug a little deeper. After giving the onion trick a try, I was excited to learn that it works. This is a certainly a much “greener” and safer way to clean the grill. Plus, the idea of keeping metal grill brush slivers out of my food is also appealing. Apparently, the moisture and acid from the onion breaks down the grime and helps to take the residue off a hot grill. 

How to Clean the Grill with an Onion

All you have to do to clean the grill grates is turn the grill on high (or fire up the charcoal) for a few minutes to warm up the grill. Then, spray the grates with white vinegar or lemon juice (the additional acid will help with the cleaning process) and firmly run half of an onion, cut side down, along the grates. Of course, remember that the grill is going to be HOT so use grill tongs or a heat-proof glove to hold the onion.

And now that your grill is clean and ready to cook, you definitely need to try Grilled Corn and Poblano Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Flank Steak with Chimichurri, or Grilled Strawberry-Basil Shortcakes!

Give it a try and let me know what you think! Do you have any other favorite methods? If so, I would love to hear them!

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Share your favorite food hacks with me in the comments!!