Viking is a well-known brand that offers high-quality indoor and outdoor appliances for both residential and commercial purposes. Their outdoor grills are designed to deliver durability, performance, and style to your backyard cooking. However, like any other appliance, your Viking grill needs regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure that it works properly and efficiently for many grill seasons to come. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of regular maintenance and cleaning of your Viking barbecue and how to do it yourself.
Why Should You Maintain and Clean Your Viking Grill?
There are many benefits of maintaining and cleaning your Viking grill regularly, such as:
- Extending the lifespan of your grill and its parts. By keeping your grill clean and free of grease, food residue, rust, and corrosion, you can prevent premature wear and tear and avoid costly repairs or replacements.
- Improving the performance and safety of your grill. By inspecting and replacing any damaged or worn-out parts, such as burners, ignitors, valves, regulators, or hoses, you can ensure that your grill operates smoothly and safely. You can also prevent gas leaks, flare-ups, uneven heating, or low flames that can affect the quality and safety of your food.
- Enhancing the appearance and taste of your grill. By removing any dirt, dust, or stains from the exterior and interior of your grill, you can keep it looking shiny and new. You can also prevent any unpleasant odors or flavors from transferring to your food.
How to Maintain and Clean Your Viking Grill?
Maintaining and cleaning your Viking grill is not a difficult task if you follow some simple steps and use the right tools and products. Here are some tips on how to maintain and clean your Viking grill yourself:
- Before you start, make sure that your grill is turned off, unplugged, and cooled down completely. Disconnect the gas supply if you have a gas grill.
- For the exterior of your grill, use a soft cloth and hot soapy water to wipe down the stainless steel surfaces. Make sure to rub in the direction of the grain or brushed finish. For stubborn stains or fingerprints, you can use a stainless steel cleaner or polish to make your grill shine. Do not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads that can scratch or damage the surface.
- For the interior of your grill, use a barbecue brush to scrub the porcelain grates. You can also soak them in hot soapy water for 15-20 minutes to loosen any stuck-on food or grease. For tougher stains, you can add some sudsy ammonia to the water. Dry the grates thoroughly after each cleaning and lightly coat them with cooking spray to prevent rusting.
- For the burners of your grill, use a metal wire coat hanger or a small brush to clear any debris or obstructions from the burner ports or venturi tubes. You can also use a paste of Bar Keepers Friend® and water to remove any stains or discoloration from the burner heads. Rinse and dry the burners well after cleaning.
- For the ignitor system of your grill, check the electrodes, wires, switches, and batteries for any signs of wear or damage. Replace any faulty parts as needed. You can find replacement parts for your Viking grill at The BBQ Depot, where they offer aftermarket parts at affordable prices.
- For other parts of your grill, such as the warming racks, flavor grids, thermometers, valves, regulators, or hoses, inspect them for any cracks, leaks, corrosion, or deterioration. Replace any defective parts as needed. You can also use a spray bottle of soapy water to check for gas leaks before each use.
- After you finish cleaning your grill, cover it with a grill cover to protect it from dust, dirt, rain, snow, or sun exposure.
What are Some Common Issues with Viking Grills and How to Fix Them?
Even with regular maintenance and cleaning, you may encounter some common issues with your Viking grill over time. Here are some examples of common issues and how to fix them:
- Low flame or uneven heating: This could be caused by low gas pressure, clogged burner ports, faulty valves or regulators, or spider webs or insects in the venturi tubes. To fix this issue, you can adjust the gas supply valve or regulator, clean the burner ports or venturi tubes with a wire hanger or brush, or replace the valves or regulators if they are damaged.
- No spark or ignition: This could be caused by dead batteries in the ignitor module, loose or broken wires or electrodes, faulty switches or modules, or moisture in the system. To fix this issue, you can replace the batteries in the ignitor module, check and tighten the wires and electrodes, replace the switches or modules if they are defective, or dry the system with a hair dryer or compressed air.
- Flare-ups or grease fires: This could be caused by excessive grease or food residue on the grates, flavor grids, or drip tray. To fix this issue, you can reduce the amount of fat or oil in your food, trim any excess fat from your meat, preheat your grill for 10-15 minutes before cooking, and clean the grates, flavor grids, and drip tray after each use.
What are Some Top Models of Viking Grills and Their Features?
Viking offers a range of outdoor grills to suit different needs and preferences. Here are some of the top models of Viking grills and their features:
- Viking Professional 5 Series 42″ Built-In Gas Grill with ProSear Burner and Rotisserie (VQGI5421LSS): This grill features four stainless steel U-shaped burners, one ProSear infrared burner, a rotisserie system with infrared rear burner, a smoker box with dedicated burner, a temperature gauge, an electronic ignition system, a halogen grill surface light, a removable drip tray, and stainless steel grates and flavor grids. It has a total cooking area of 706 square inches and a total output of 73,000 BTUs.
- Viking Professional 5 Series 54″ Freestanding Gas Grill and Cart with ProSear Burner and Rotisserie (VQGFS5541LSS): This grill features five stainless steel U-shaped burners, one ProSear infrared burner, a rotisserie system with infrared rear burner, a smoker box with dedicated burner, a temperature gauge, an electronic ignition system, a halogen grill surface light, a removable drip tray, and stainless steel grates and flavor grids. It has a total cooking area of 950 square inches and a total output of 99,000 BTUs. It also comes with a stainless steel cart with two storage drawers, two access doors, fold-down side shelves, locking casters, and towel bars.
- Viking Professional 5 Series 30″ Freestanding Gas Grill and Cart with ProSear Burner and Rotisserie (VQGFS5301LSS): This grill features two stainless steel U-shaped burners, one ProSear infrared burner, a rotisserie system with infrared rear burner, a smoker box with dedicated burner, a temperature gauge, an electronic ignition system, a halogen grill surface light, a removable drip tray, and stainless steel grates and flavor grids. It has a total cooking area of 480 square inches and a total output of 55,000 BTUs. It also comes with a stainless steel cart with one storage drawer, one access door, fold-down side shelves, locking casters, and towel bars.
Conclusion
Viking grills are among the best outdoor appliances that you can invest in for your backyard cooking. However, to enjoy their full benefits and performance, you need to maintain and clean them regularly and properly. By following the tips and steps in this article, you can keep your Viking grill in top shape and fix any common issues that may arise. You can also find replacement parts for your Viking grill at The BBQ Depot, where they offer quality parts at reasonable prices.