Carefully. Okay, you knew that already. The best way to clean a grill is about 15 to 20 minutes after you finish cooking, when the crusted-on food bits have burned and turned crispy (that way, they’re easier to scrape off). Don’t use any product to clean; it will eat away at the treated surface of the grill and make it more susceptible to rusting. Just let the grill brush do its job: Its hard wire is designed to wiggle into all the nooks and crannies while still leaving your grill’s seasoned coating intact. Our favorite brush is the Grill Wizard ($12, bbq-tools.com).

-- Colleen Rush

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