Get your kamado Autumn-Ready - Maintenance Tips

Getting your kamado bbq back in top condition

After a long summer full of grilling fun, it's important to properly maintain your Grill Bill kamado BBQ before autumn begins. With the right preparation you can keep enjoying delicious barbecue sessions even during the cooler months. In this blog we explain how to give your kamado a thorough maintenance session after summer, so it's back in top condition for the autumn season. We cover cleaning, inspecting parts, protection against the weather and tips for optimal grilling in autumn.

Table of contents

1. Why summer maintenance matters
2. Supplies for kamado maintenance
3. Step 1: Thorough cleaning after summer
4. Step 2: Inspecting the parts
5. Step 3: Protection against autumn weather conditions
6. Tips for grilling in autumn

1. Why summer maintenance matters

After a season of intensive use, fat residue, smoke and food residue can build up in your kamado. This can not only affect the flavour of your dishes, but also reduce your kamado's performance. By doing a thorough maintenance session after summer, you extend the lifespan of your kamado and prevent problems while grilling in autumn. It also prevents unpleasant smells or mould, which can form due to damp autumn conditions.

2. Supplies for kamado maintenance

Before you start maintaining your Grill Bill kamado, make sure you have the following supplies to hand:

• BBQ grill brush or scraper
• Soft cloths or microfibre cloths
• Lukewarm water, possibly a bit of green soap
• Oil (food-safe mineral oil)
• Silicone spray for the hinges
• Ash tool or vacuum cleaner
• Drying cloths
• Warm water and a sponge
• BBQ cover

3. Step 1: Thorough cleaning after summer

A good cleaning session is the first step to getting your kamado back in top shape. Before heading into autumn, you want to remove the leftovers from the summer grilling sessions. Follow these steps:

Removing ash and residue

1. Start by removing the charcoal residue and ash from the kamado. Remove your fire ring and fire bowl. Use an ash tool or a small vacuum cleaner for this.
2. Check the air vents for blockages. Make sure both the bottom and top air vents are free of dirt and ash, so airflow stays optimal.
3. Don't leave charcoal in the kamado. Charcoal absorbs moisture, which leads to faster mould growth and wears out your charcoal basket faster.

Cleaning the grill grates

1. Remove the grill grates and scrape off all baked-on residue with a sturdy BBQ brush. You can treat cast iron grates with a thin layer of oil to prevent rust.
2. For the best result, clean the grates with a solution based on green soap. Keep in mind that you'll then need to re-season your cast iron grate, otherwise you'll have rust on your grate in no time.

Cleaning the ceramic interior

1. Use a soft brush or plastic scraper to clean the ceramic interior. Avoid using abrasive materials that can damage the ceramic.
2. Do a 'burn-out' by heating the kamado to a high temperature (max 220°C on the thermometer in the lid) for about 30-45 minutes. This helps burn off any remaining fat and food residue. Then let the kamado cool down.
   WATCH OUT: let your kamado come up to temperature slowly, so moisture that has soaked into the ceramic can evaporate gently. Feel free to take an hour for this, at approx. 100-120°C. If you don't do this, there's a chance the moisture expands too fast, which can damage the ceramic.

Cleaning the exterior

1. Clean the outside of your kamado with a soft cloth, lukewarm water, possibly a light solution with green soap. The advantage of our Grill Bill kamados is that they have no annoying little dents where dirt builds up, so you'll have your kamado clean in no time.
2. Dry the exterior carefully to prevent water spots.

Cleaning maintenance for wooden parts

1. Clean the wooden handle and side tables with a damp microfibre cloth. Possibly with a bit of green soap.
2. You keep the boards looking good for longer if you treat them with an outdoor furniture oil. You can of course also store the side tables in the shed, they detach from the kamado in a second.

4. Step 2: Inspecting the parts

After cleaning it's important to check all the parts of your Grill Bill. This prevents small problems from growing into bigger complications during the autumn season.

Checking the gaskets

1. The felt or fibreglass gaskets between the lid and the base provide an airtight seal. Check whether they're still in good condition and not worn out from intensive summer use.
2. Replace the gaskets if they show signs of wear.
3. Is something loose, glue it back on with heat-resistant glue or sealant.

Checking hinges and bolts

1. Inspect the hinges and bolts properly to see if they're still tight, this prevents the lid from becoming heavier to open. If your lid opens a bit heavier, readjust it.
2. Use silicone spray to keep the hinges and moving parts running smoothly. Make sure you don't use oils that give off a strong smell, as this can affect the flavour of your cooking.
3. Rust; if you see rust forming anywhere on metal parts, remove it with a cloth or soft (old tooth)brush, and spray them with silicone spray to prevent further rust.

Checking cast iron parts

1. Check the cast iron top controller for rust. Rust can form quickly if cast iron isn't treated properly.
2. Remove rust spots with steel wool and apply a thin layer of linseed oil to prevent further rust formation. More info.

5. Step 3: Protection against autumn weather conditions

Autumn brings damp, rain and cold temperatures, which can affect the condition of your kamado. To make sure your kamado can withstand autumn, it's important to protect it properly:

Place your kamado in a sheltered spot

1. If possible, place the kamado under a roof or in a spot where it's sheltered from direct rain and wind.
2. Make sure the BBQ stands on a dry surface, such as a stone slab or a raised wooden board, to prevent rising moisture from the ground.
3. Leave the air vents/sliders open a tiny bit to allow air circulation.

Use a protective cover

1. A high-quality, water-repellent BBQ cover is essential. Choose a cover that fits well and still allows room for air circulation. This prevents mould from condensation.
2. Check the cover regularly for tears or holes, especially after stormy weather. Is it blowing really hard and is your kamado exposed to the wind? Then remove the cover, this prevents wind getting under the cover and knocking over the kamado.

6. Tips for grilling in autumn

Now that your Grill Bill kamado is fully ready for autumn, you can keep enjoying the delicious flavours of the barbecue, even as the days get shorter and colder. Here are some tips for successful autumn grilling:

• Watch the temperature: Because of the cooler outdoor temperatures, it can take longer to get your kamado up to temperature. Never use a chimney or charcoal starter, these can cause thermal shock and therefore damage.
• Choose autumn dishes: Autumn is the perfect season for stews, slow-cooked meat and seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin and carrots. Use the kamado to smoke or slow-cook these dishes. The Dutch Oven is popular for preparing autumn dishes.
• Cold smoking: lower temperatures, which are perfect for smoking e.g. cheese, butter, salmon, or chicken. We have a cold smoking starter kit available for this.
• Keep the kamado dry: Try to open the lid as little as possible during rain showers. Rainwater falling on the glowing charcoal can lead to smoke development and a change in flavour.

With these maintenance tips and grilling advice, you're fully ready to use your Grill Bill kamado, even when autumn weather seems like a challenge. This way you'll keep enjoying delicious barbecue sessions for months, whatever the season!