How To Clean A Cuisinart Grill

So you've just cooked your first meal on your Cuisinart Grill, and now you're wondering how to clean it. Fortunately for you, we've researched the best way to do that and have some methods for you!

First, it's important to note that there are different methods depending on the type of Cuisinart Grill you have. If you have one of Cuisinart's indoor grills, you can likely just remove the cooking plates and put them in the dishwasher. If you have the outdoor grill, you will have to use soap, water, and some arm power to clean it. 

Now you know the basic methods to clean your Cuisinart grill, but keep reading as we elaborate on this. We'll discuss some different models of Cuisinart grills and how to clean them. We will even include some video tutorials. Additionally, we'll even answer some other questions you might have about cooking on your grill.

Cleaning A Cuisinart Grill

Whether you grill food on a grill outside or inside, you can expect there to be some sort of cleanup afterward. After all, grilling meat often involves a fair amount of grease and seasoning. As we mentioned above, the method you choose to clean your Cuisinart grill will depend on whether it's an indoor or an outdoor model, so let's delve into this further.

Indoor Cuisinart Grill

Cuisinart's indoor grills often double as griddles as well as grills. The so-called Griddler comes with removable and reversible plates that let you alternate cooking methods. Because they are removable, cleaning the plates is actually very simple.

The plates are dishwasher safe, so once you remove them, you can place them in the dishwasher with the rest of the dinner's dishes. The Griddler's also come with a dishwasher-safe scraping tool to help with cleanup as well. The drip pan, as with the other parts, can also be put in the dishwasher. Just be sure to let the grease cool completely before disposing of it.

If you don't have a dishwasher, cleaning the tools and plates with dish soap and water will also be fine.

Outdoor Cuisinart Grill

Outdoor grills can be a little trickier to clean. Since they aren't as small as indoor grills, it isn't as simple as popping off the grill plate and putting it in the dishwasher. This time you'll have to use some elbow grease. Cuisinart recommends using mild soap and water for almost all of its grill parts.

Different metals require different methods!

Your Cuisinart grill likely has either stainless steel or cast iron cooking grates. The type of metal yours has will influence how you clean it.

Both grill plate metals can be cleaned with a grill brush. This will help remove any build-up. After this, both grills can be washed with soapy water. However, it is important to rinse the cast iron grate immediately so as not to damage the cast iron.

Finally, the cast iron grate can be seasoned with vegetable shortening. The stainless steel grate should just be lightly coated with oil before you begin cooking.

Click here to see Grill Brush on Amazon.

The Outside of the Grill

Outside grills don't just become dirty from cooking. They can be susceptible to all sorts of debris that can make them dirty on the outside, too. In order to prolong the life of your grill, routine cleaning is key. Allowing dirt and grime to build-up can cause damage to the exterior.

Fortunately, cleaning the outside of your grill is relatively easy. Cuisinart recommends using either a solution of soap and water, vinegar and water, or Orange Glo cleaner. Orange Glo is primarily marketed for wood surfaces but can also be used on stainless steel.  Either of these solutions can be applied using a soft cloth or sponge.

Click here to see Orange Glo on Amazon.

Video Tutorial

For a video tutorial on how to clean an outdoor Cuisinart grill, check out this YouTube video. He uses a variety of tools and products. After all, as the saying goes, there's more than one way to skin a cat!

 

Click here to see Bar Keeper's Friend on Amazon.

Do Cuisinart Grills Rust?

Every type of metal can and will rust. However, the rate at which metal rusts will vary from metal to metal. Even with current technology, there is no metal that is completely resistant to rust or corrosion.

Cuisinart grills use stainless steel, which is much more resistant to rust than other metals. That being said, if you leave your grill to the elements, it will rust much faster than if you take proper care of it with routine cleanings.

You should clean your stainless steel whenever it looks dirty. You should always rinse any cleaning product off immediately after cleaning. This will help prevent rust and corrosion.

How Do you Season a Cuisinart Gas Grill?

If you have a Cuisinart gas grill that has cast-iron grates, you will need to know how to season the grill. Seasoning cast iron will help prevent rust from forming and give you a good cooking surface. Though it might seem complicated, seasoning your grill is actually pretty simple. The only thing you will need to season your grill is vegetable shortening.

Remove and clean the cast-iron grates (you can follow the method we listed earlier). Make sure the grates are completely dry before you begin the seasoning process. You will then need to completely coat the grates in the vegetable shortening. After they are completely coated, you will need to heat them up at 300ºF for around 20 minutes.

How Do you Grill on a Cuisinart Griddler?

If your Griddler has reversible plates, make sure to have the grill plates ready to cook with. Cuisinart Griddler's have two cooking settings: grill/panini and griddle. If you want to use the Griddler as a grill, you should choose the grill setting and turn the dial to the desired heat setting.

Griddler's take about ten minutes to heat to the desired temperature, but you will know when it's ready because a green light will turn on. Once the grill is hot enough, you can cook your food just as you would on any other grill. The Cuisinart Griddler's manual states that it's perfectly okay to change the temperature setting at any time during cooking if you need to.

If you decide to cook seafood on your grill, you may need to rinse it with lemon juice before preparing your next food item. This will help prevent the seafood flavor from transferring to any of your other dishes.

What Can you Cook on a Cuisinart Grill?

There are so many options when it comes to deciding what to cook on your Cuisinart grill. Your outdoor and indoor grill are both capable of cooking all of the grill classics such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks. The great thing about an indoor grill though is the convenience that comes with it. You can cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the grill without having to leave the kitchen.

Meat & Seafood

Cooking meat or seafood is easy on a grill. For example, Cuisinart has a ribeye steak recipe that shows you don't have to settle for anything less just because you're using an indoor grill. Just preheat your grill to 450ºF, and then before adding the meat, switch it to sear. You can adjust the top plate to sit on the top of the steaks for the perfect sear on both sides.

Bread

Feel like a sandwich for lunch? You can use your grill to grill bread for either a panini, bruschetta, or even just toast. Simple use the open grill setting to toast the bread of your choice. Crusty country or Italian bread will work best for this!

Appetizers

There are numerous possibilities for appetizers. You can make quesadillas or any kind of kabobs. Skewer small pieces of chicken or steak and grill them until they are fully cooked.

Sides

From green beans to corn, you really can grill anything on your Cuisinart grill, so try not to overthink it. Just consider your favorite grilled foods and give them a try yourself.

Final Thoughts

You came here to find out how to clean your grill, and while we hope that you got your answer, we also hope you're leaving here with lots of other new information, so you can get the best out of your grill! If in doubt, soap and water can always be used on your grill, but if you still have your user manual, be sure to take a look as it will often list the best method too.

For more reading on the topic of cleaning Cuisinart appliances, check out these other blog posts here:

How To Clean A Cuisinart Coffee Grinder

How To Clean A Cuisinart Air Fryer