PRODUCT CARE

ECHO Gas GRILL CARE AND CLEANING GUIDE

The Echo Gas-Fired Grill is crafted from 316L marine-grade stainless steel and built to provide a lifetime of use and enjoyment. When your grill is not in use, we recommend keeping the grill hood and hood vent closed. Read on for care and cleaning tips to keep your grill performing at its optimal level.

PROTECTING AND CARING FOR YOUR GRILLING SURFACE

We strongly suggest not using steel wool or steel brushes on your cooking surfaces or any other stainless steel parts, as it will cause rust. Only use stainless steel brushes or brass brushes for the grill grates. Also, never use chemicals to clean your grilling surface.

BEFORE EACH COOKING SESSION

Preheat the grill then use a stiff stainless steel grill brush or a wooden grill grate scraper to clean the grilling surface. Do not use brushes or scrapers of other metals with the exception of brass. While brass works, we recommend stainless brushes as they typically last longer. 

AFTER EACH COOKING SESSION

Run the main burners on high with the hood closed for 10 to 20 minutes before turning them off. This will help burn away drippings and residue on the grilling surface and in the hopper.


CLEANING YOUR LASER-CUT GRILLING SURFACES

Your laser-cut surfaces should be kept clean, dry and black. Treat them as you would a cast iron skillet. The darker the finish, the better. 

Before using your surfaces for the first time, we recommend seasoning them with oil. To season: 

  • Remove the cold surfaces from your grill and use a cloth rag to wipe vegetable oil over the entire surface of each side. 
  • Place the surfaces back into the grill. Light the grill and run all main burners on HIGH for about 30 minutes with the lid closed. The goal is to turn the surfaces brown. We recommend flipping the surfaces over from time to time to keep them staying level.

TIP: The more you use your grill, the more thoroughly seasoned your surfaces will become. Ideally you want your surfaces to become black and remain that way. If your grill sits idle for long periods without use, you may want to re-season more frequently.


RE-SEASONING YOUR LASER-CUT GRILLING SURFACES

  • Re-season the cooking surfaces by wiping vegetable oil on both sides of the cooking grates using a clean rag. 
  • Place the grates back into the grill, then heat the grill to 500ºF with the hood closed for about 20 minutes. When the surfaces turn brown or black, they are seasoned.

CLEANING THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR ECHO GAS GRILL

Your Kalamazoo Echo Gas Grill is made from 316L marine-grade stainless steel that provides maximum resistance to corrosion. However, the stainless steel may discolor; a common condition due to extreme heat.


EXTERIOR CLEANING TIPS

The most difficult part of cleaning your grill is removing the burnt-on food and grease. To clean the exterior of your grill: 

  1. Start by using a degreaser such as Simple Green™ BBQ Cleaner, to remove everything that isn't burnt on. 
  2. Next, we recommend using powdered Bar Keepers Friend® or A-Ben-A-Qui with a microfiber towel.
  3. Follow the grain direction of the stainless steel to avoid scratches. With a little elbow grease, Bar Keepers Friend will remove most stains and discoloration. For real problem areas, a Scratch-B-Gone kit can be used to restore the factory finish.
  4. Rinse off all cleaners, wait for the grill to dry then apply stainless steel polish such as Claire's.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OCEANFRONT ENVIRONMENTS

Oceanfront environments with salt air and sea spray will require regular maintenance and cleaning to prevent rust. For maximum corrosion and stain resistance, we highly recommend cleaning the stainless steel at least twice a month.


BURNING OFF FOOD RESIDUE

We recommend periodically burning off residue in your grill, depending on how frequently you use it. To burn off residue: 

  • Run the Echo Gas Grill with the main burners on high with the hood closed for at least 90 minutes. This will burn off accumulated residue and dry everything out. The more you use sauces or grill fatty foods, the more frequently you should do this burn cycle.

EMPTYING THe GRILL's CLEANOUT PANS

Empty the pans only when the grill and bin are completely cool. 

  • Empty and clean your cleanout pans on a regular basis. We recommend doing so before every cooking session. Because they are reasonably sized, the pans can be cleaned in the sink using hot water and normal dish soap.

SEASONAL CARE FOR YOUR ECHO GAS GRILL

If you won't be using your grill for more than a month or will be away from the residence for an extended time, we recommend turning off the gas supply and protecting the grill with a KALAMAZOO SUNBRELLA COVER FOR K42D or K54D to prevent water collection.


GENERAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE TIPS

When the grill is not in use, keep the grill’s hood vent closed. 

Every few months, we recommend following these maintenance tips to keep your Echo Gas Grill in good working order for years to come: 

  1. Clean the exterior of the grill with a degreaser such as Simple Green™ BBQ Cleaner, then Bar Keepers Friend® or A-Ben-A-Qui where needed, then rinse and dry. With a microfiber cloth polish the stainless steel. Follow the grain direction of the stainless steel to avoid scratches. 
  2. Remove the cooking grates to freely access the hopper. 
  3. Use a brass brush to clean the tops of the burners and slide any remaining debris down the hopper to the cleanout trays. Empty the cleanout trays. 
  4. Clean your grill grates following the instructions from this care guide. 
  5. Re-season the cooking surfaces by wiping vegetable oil on both sides of the cooking grates using a clean rag.
  6. Place the grates back into the grill, then heat the grill to 500ºF with the hood closed for about 20 minutes. When the surfaces turn brown or black, they are seasoned.

For more specific instructions on burner and orifice cleaning, read the Echo Gas Grill Use & Care Manual.

To learn more about winterizing your full outdoor kitchen, visit our complete guide here.