If you're like most Hibachi Grill owners, you want to keep your grill in top condition for as long as possible. You also want your grilled food to taste great, and you don't want to risk a health hazard from a dirty grill contaminating your food.
In this 3-step how-to guide, we will run you through cleaning your cast-iron Hibachi grill as part of standard maintenance. This includes providing you with tips on how to remove food build-up, grease, and other food debris from the grill surface, and how to clean the cooking area and body too so your Hibachi remains nicely seasoned.
If your grill is in particularly poor condition, for instance, if it has a lot of rust, food, carbon, and grime built up then see our FAQs at the bottom of this guide for additional information that might help you bring your Hibachi back to standard.
Follow the simple steps below for general maintenance and your cast-iron Hibachi grill will be looking and performing like new for many years to come!
1. Getting the Hibachi grill ready for cleaning
There are many ways to clean a Hibachi, and the preferred approach will likely depend on just how dirty it is.
I recommend taking 5-10 minutes to clean your Hibachi after each time you've used it to keep it maintained as the recent heat will have burnt off excess food and it should still be warm, making it easier to remove grime.
However, I understand that's not always practical, so if you're cleaning it before or in between cooks then while it's cold start by dumping the cold ashes (depending on which model you have you might need to remove the base plate and/or the coal loading door). Then, heat your grill up on high heat for 10-15 minutes. This will help loosen any build-up in the cooking area including the grill surface itself. It'll also drive out any moisture that might be there.
2. Clean Your Hibachi
While your Hibachi is still hot, use a griddle scraper to scrape the grill's surface free of built-up debris. Wipe your grill scraper clean with a paper towel or soft cloth and do this a couple of times.
If you have a griddle plate then after you do the initial scraping I recommend you squeeze half a lemon direct onto the plate with a quarter of a cup of water, and then again scrape it clean. This will take off grimy oils and fats that can make your next cook look dirty or taint its flavor (and not in a good way!). If you were starting with a really dirty cast iron or steel plate then you might need to repeat this step once, or maybe even twice more.
If you have the typical cooking grate then after you do the initial scraping I recommend using a grill brush to get into all of the nooks and crannies of the grate. If you're using a wire brush then be sure to take a good look afterward to ensure you haven't left any wires behind that might end up in your food the next time you cook.
Your Hibachi should not be particularly hot by now, so, for both griddle plates and grill grates, take a paper towel and wipe your cooking surface down clean and dry.
3. Maintain Seasoning
The next step is to take another paper towel and wipe a generous amount of 100% vegetable oil over your cooking surface. You aren't looking to bathe it in oil, but rather apply a nice even coating for protection (particularly against rust, and to maintain its seasoning).
Then, give the whole outside surface of your Hibachi a quick and light coat of 100% vegetable oil. While you can use an oil pump on a paper towel, we suggest using an oil spray can as you'll get a good, even coating very quickly.
Your Clean Hibachi!
And that's it! Your Hibachi is now clean and ready for action the next time you use it. Read our FAQs below if your Hibachi is in poor condition and you need a few more extreme cleaning tips.
How to Clean Hibachi Grill FAQs
What is Hibachi?
Hibachi grills are an 8th-century Japanese style of cooking that literally translates to "fire bowl". It's basically a charcoal grill, and nowadays is typically made from cast iron, including the grates, although many units have stainless steel grates and grill parts too.
How do I get a lot of rust off my Hibachi grill?
There are many ways to remove rust from your grill, and one way is to soak (fully immerse) all of the rusty parts in vinegar for around 48 hours.
If you take this approach, then after 48 hours of soaking, use a grill brush or scouring pad, and with some of the used vinegar give the rusty parts a good scrubbing down.
Then wipe it with a clean cloth, and when dry wipe or spray 100% vegetable oil over the now clean surfaces. I suggest you then heat the machine up, let it cool, and season it again with more vegetable oil so that you push moisture out and stop it from getting rusty.
Can I soak my griddle or cast iron grate in soapy water?
Yes, you sure can! You can soak them in a solution of warm water and dish soap (30 minutes is often long enough) to help loosen any caked-on food or grease. After they've soaked, use a grill brush to remove any stubborn residue, and don't forget to clean both sides.
Once the grates and burner covers are clean, rinse them off with water and dry them with a dust cloth or paper towels, and then wipe or spray with a little salad oil over the now-clean surfaces.
Can I sandblast or water blast my Hibachi grill?
Yes, you can even do that! But just remember to heat your Hibachi up afterward to push out moisture, and then season it all over with vegetable oil (spray is fastest) so that it doesn't rust.
What is the difference between Hibachi and Teppanyaki Grill?
Hibachi is the traditional Japanese style of cooking, where the food is cooked on a griddle in the center of the table. Teppanyaki is a modern adaptation of Hibachi, where the cook uses an iron griddle to cook food that is served to guests at their table.
The primary difference between Hibachi and a Teppanyaki grill is that Teppanyaki cooks food more quickly and evenly than Hibachi. Additionally, because the cook can stand at the head of the table when cooking Teppanyaki, it lends itself well to group dining experiences, although Hibachi grill tables can also be great group entertainment, particularly at home. Nowadays, Teppanyaki grills have a lot of additional parts that Hibachi doesn't have, such as a suction hood and oil net.
What is a stainless steel suction hood?
A hibachi stainless steel suction port is a device that is used to suck up smoke and food waste from a hibachi grill table. It attaches to the end of the hose that is attached to the grill, and it helps to keep the grill clean.
How much does a new Hibachi cost?
A charcoal Hibachi grill cost is actually quite low as it's effectively a portable charcoal grill and doesn't have a lot of moving parts or technology to go wrong. Amazon has units for as little as $25, and while the majority are less than $200, they can range up in excess of $1,000 depending on what extras you're looking for!