Cleaning and winterizing your camping grill: our tips from 15 years with the CADAC

If you've been following us for a while, you know we're big fans of the super-modular grills from CADAC | Dometic. The very first thing we did almost 15 years ago, right at the start of our camping life, was bring home the small Safari Chef. Several other models followed as part of a partnership with the manufacturer, most recently the brand-new Van Cook and the 1 Cook. We received all of them for test reports and recipe videos.

But in the camping community, you often hear or read that cleaning the grill plates is a bit of a hassle. So today we want to share our personal tips, hacks, and experience to make cleaning easier for you.

Upfront: with the ceramic-coated non-stick grill plates (available since 2018), cleaning has gotten a lot easier. Still, burnt food residue often sticks to the grill grate, especially from meat and fat. That needs a bit more attention when you wash up.

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Cleaning starts before you grill

Seasoning and oiling the plates

Before you really put new grill plates and grates with the CeramiCoat ceramic coating from CADAC | Dometic, known for being long-lasting, to use for the first time, you should season them once.

Matthias from CADAC | Dometic gave us this tip in our podcast episode about grilling while camping. Ever since, we season every new plate. Only after seasoning does the coating actually work the way it's supposed to. Skip this step, and you'll often wonder later why everything sticks.

After every cleaning, a super-thin film of oil on the plates helps, similar to caring for a cast-iron pan. A few drops of sunflower oil, spread with a paper towel, protect against moisture and surface rust. That matters especially when the grill sits in storage for a while. Wipe off any excess oil, or it'll drip.

Two more things: don't season or oil the grease tray. And be careful with high heat, since the lightweight cast-aluminum plates can warp. Never seasoned your grill before? No problem, you can do it anytime, even after a few seasons of use.

Use small helpers

The easiest cleaning job is the one you skip. A few simple steps before grilling mean so little sticks that you'll barely have to clean afterward.

• Grill mat (ø 52 cm): Food sticks less, and less falls into the grill.

• Non-stick skottel liner: It protects the skottel, the large grill pan. Afterward, there's almost nothing to clean.

• Fill the grease tray with a bit of sand: The fat binds to it, and you just scoop it out later. This is a tip straight from CADAC | Dometic, and hardly anyone knows about it.

• Oil it thinly before grilling: Using sunflower oil or the Non-Stick Cooking Spray means less sticks from the start. Never leave the cooking surface on the grill without oil.

• Bring food to room temperature: Let meat or fish come to room temperature before cooking it. That way, less sticks to the plate.

The basic cleaning kit

You can handle surface grime and light burnt-on residue with completely normal dish-washing tools. All you need is:

• a sponge or soft dish brush,

• dish soap,

• and hot water.

What you should definitely avoid, though, are hard brushes, steel wool, or metal-coated sponges, the kind used for cast-iron or stainless-steel grates. They'd scratch up the CeramiCoat non-stick coating and ruin it for good.

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Our household remedies

You don't need to buy expensive cleaners to get rid of stubborn residue. Chances are you already have everything you need at home.

• Baking soda: Loosens burnt-on grime and neutralizes odors.

• Vinegar: Combined with baking soda, it creates foam that lifts the residue.

• Citric acid: Works well against grease and limescale.

• Halved lemon: Great for rubbing away light stains, and it leaves a fresh smell.

The classic method: sprinkle baking soda on the plate, pour vinegar over it, and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. This loosens even the most stubborn grill residue pretty easily. I'll show you exactly how further down. By the way, you can clean your camper's gas stove with the same household remedies.

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Cleaning accessories from CADAC | Dometic

For tougher residue, you'll find the right accessories at CADAC | Dometic's online shop or in camping specialty stores. These are also gentle enough for more delicate cooking surfaces:

• Soft Soak (soaking trays 2 Cook, 30, 40, 50): Custom-fit trays for soaking the plate, depending on your grill model.

• Soft Soak Brush: A soft brush with a storage case, suitable for all CeramiCoat ceramic surfaces.

• GreenGrill brush: A hand brush made specifically for CeramiCoat cooking surfaces.

• Cleaning spray: For chrome, enamel, and coated parts, when water alone isn't enough.

• Cleaning set 40: A ready-made package, handy if you're just getting started.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the surfaces too.

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Cleaning depends on the surface

Not every CADAC grate is the same. Depending on the surface, you'll want to approach cleaning a bit differently.

• Ceramic / CeramiCoat: Warm soapy water and a soft brush or sponge. No scouring agents, no steel wool.

• Enameled: Soapy water, no metal tools — otherwise the enamel will chip off.

• Chrome-plated: Can handle more. A scouring sponge is fine here if needed, but go easy on it.

Cleaning your CADAC grill: step by step

This guide assumes you're dealing with fairly stubborn, burnt-on residue. A bit of leftover oil or a scrap of eggplant skin comes off quickly without any special steps.

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Step 1: While it's still warm, wipe off excess grease with paper towels. Don't pour grease down the toilet or sink — throw the paper towels in the regular trash instead. Then let the cooking surface cool completely before adding water. Extreme temperature changes can warp it.

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Step 2: Soak the grease tray in warm water with a bit of washing-up liquid. You should clean the grease tray after every grilling session — old grease residue can catch fire next time you grill. You can read more about what to watch out for when grilling with gas in our other article.

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Step 3: Place the grill plate in a Soft Soak tray and cover it with hot water, 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a splash of vinegar if needed. Alternatively, CADAC | Dometic recommends soaking the surface overnight in hot water with a bit of washing-up liquid.

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Tip for paella and chef pans: Pour in a small amount of vinegar and heat it gently. The vinegar doesn't need to boil or evaporate. Then pour it out and clean with soapy water. Fair warning — it can smell pretty unpleasant.

Step 4: After one to several hours, check with your finger whether the residue has loosened. If not, just wait until the next day.

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Step 5: Go over it with a soft brush or sponge and rinse everything off.

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Step 6: For especially stubborn, crusted-on grime, apply CADAC cleaning spray or rub it with a halved lemon. Then let it soak once more.

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Step 7:Finally, rinse with clean water and dry well with a soft cloth. Then spread a few drops of oil over the surface, and you're done.

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How to keep the coating intact for longer

The ceramic coating is tough, but there are a few things it doesn't like:

1. Skip metal utensils and scouring pads, along with harsh or abrasive cleaners. Grill tongs and spatulas made of silicone or wood are ideal.

2. Don't pour cold water onto a still-hot plate — the temperature shock damages the coating. And don't let the plate run empty at full heat either.

3. The CeramiCoat material conducts heat better than classic PTFE non-stick coatings. That's why the manufacturer recommends using only about 75 percent of your usual heat setting.

Stick to this, and the coating will last for years.

Drying and storing

After cleaning, dry everything thoroughly so no surface rust forms during longer breaks. Before storing, apply the thin oil film mentioned earlier to the plates.

For transport and storage, it's worth carefully packing the individual parts into the bags provided every time. That keeps the packed size compact, everything stays neatly stowed, and the components won't get scratched. That way, the grill is ready to go again next season.

PS: We'll show you how tobake pizzaon the grill in a separate article :)