The surprising BBQ favourite that doubles as a cleaning solution to help lift charred food from your grill

The Sun

14-05-2025

BARBECUE season is well and truly here and if your grill is looking a little worse for wear, an unusual step is said to leave it gleaming.
You can re-purpose a popular BBQ beverage when scrubbing off charred on food.
If you neglected to wipe down your grill after your last al fresco feast, this handy hack can save you the elbow grease.
According to the cleaning experts at Shark, you can use leftover beer to scrub your barbecue.
They encouraged any grill enthusiasts to hold on to their leftover beer after a barbecue.
And you don't even have to sacrifice an entire bottle, as a little goes a long way.
"Even a few dregs collected from discarded bottles could help you to clean your barbecue grill," they explained.
Instead of pouring the beer directly onto your grill, they suggested soaking your wire brush in the liquid.
However, this unique hack is only effective under specific conditions, so you may want to act sooner rather than later.
"This should cut through grease and carbonised food with ease — but only if the grill is still warm," the experts said.
The acidity and carbonation of beer can help loosen grease and grime that has built up on your grill.
This makes it significantly easier to scrub your barbecue clean.
I have the ultimate lazy girl hack for BBQs, you still get all the flavour but there's zero clean up afterwards
While your beer will go further if you soak your brush in it, you can also pour it directly over your lightly heated grill.
This can help break down food particles and carbon buildup on your barbecue.
The steam from the beer can also help dislodge dirt, and once the beer has simmered, you can scrub the grill with a brush or pad.
Finally, wipe away any remaining residue with warm water to leave a sparkling clean grill.
But if you're out of beer don't try to substitute other items from your alcohol cart.
Government advice on BBQ safety
The UK Government have issued some guidelines for staying safe whilst using a barbecue:
Keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies.
Follow the safety instructions provided with your gas, charcoal, or disposable barbecue.
Never use a barbecue indoors, in a tent, under an awning or in a caravan.
Use enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue, but not more (normally around 5cms or 2 inches).
Keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area.
After cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it.
Empty ashes onto bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins. If they're hot, they can melt the plastic and cause a fire.
Make sure your barbecue is well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste.
In the countryside or public park areas, only use disposable barbecues where there are specially designated areas and carefully follow the safety guidance.
Enjoy yourself, but don't drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the barbecue.
Never use petrol or paraffin to start or revive your barbecue; use only recognised lighters or starter fuels on cold coals.
While beer in its liquid form is not flammable, most liquors are, so be sure to keep them far away from your grill.
And if you don't have an beer on hand, or aren't willing to waste it, don't worry.
There are three other DIY hacks you can use to scrub your barbecue clean.
Baking soda has also proved popular for DIY cleaning, and your grill is no exception.
Or you can use tinfoil to scrub off stubborn bits of charred food or built-up grease.
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