Published December 12, 2012
Grills come in every shape and size, and so does the job of cleaning them. Here's what stood out from a KitchenAid outdoor grill cleaning we did recently.
We've cleaned a few KitchenAid grills before, but this one was different. On first inspection, it looked like the front had been sprayed with white paint. It turned out the owner had used oven cleaner on it, hoping to cut through the grime, and let it dry without rinsing it off — the first time we'd run into that particular situation.
This particular unit was around 4–6 years old, a full 48″ wide, and clearly well-built. The cabinet had real weight to it and plenty of storage — on some other brands, cabinet doors can feel like an afterthought, sitting slightly off their hinges or built from a lesser grade of stainless. These doors swung easily without sagging, which usually says something about the quality behind them.
Based on the age and styling, this appears to be from a line KitchenAid produced in partnership with Lynx Professional Grills — originally priced somewhere in the $1,800–$3,600 range. If that's accurate, it would have been built in Lynx's Commerce, CA facility from 304 stainless steel, which would explain the solid feel.
It ran three U-shaped burners that pulled out easily for cleaning, plus an infrared rotisserie burner, an easy ignition system, and durable plastic control knobs that popped off cleanly for cleaning.
The interior burner box was straightforward once we got through the grease buildup — the same 304 stainless as the exterior, with burners that came out easily. The underside of the lid, as always, was the toughest part: that's where heat gets trapped, and it can be difficult to get every trace of carbon off no matter the brand. This one came out clean, but it took extra time.
The exterior cabinet was the real challenge, because of the oven cleaner. Even though the can claimed it was safe for stainless steel, it left white staining across the surface that we couldn't fully remove without risking scratches. Oven cleaner should never go anywhere near a stainless steel grill — it's a documented cause of staining and discoloration on stainless surfaces, and it's not something you want near your food anyway.
We liked this grill for its overall build quality, materials, and how easy it was to clean once the oven-cleaner damage was set aside. If you come across one of these secondhand and it's been properly cared for, it's a solid grill that should last for years.
Let us clean it the right way — no staining, no harsh chemicals, no risk to the finish.
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