Four to Six Hours After the Barbecue or the Next Day

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By Steven Raichlen

Published 2001

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Drain or discard the fat in the catch or drip pan. If you used a charcoal grill, scoop or empty the ashes and burnt wood chips into the trash, using a garden trowel or small shovel. Make sure the ashes are stone cold before discarding them. In fact, to play it safe, put them in a small metal trash can first.

AT THE END OF THE BARBECUE SEASON (again, for those folks who don’t grill all year round): Scrub down your grill. Remove any ash from a charcoal grill or from the smoker box of a gas grill. Oil any parts of the grill that seem prone to rusting. If you have a gas grill, disconnect the tank. If you are leaving your grill outdoors, cover it with a tarp or cover. Even indoors, it doesn’t hurt to cover it.