Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

dbspringe... dbspringe...
 
M$1 December 28, 2008 08:17 PM

What's so special about using an onion to clean your grill?

In just about every grilling how-to I've read lately I've seen a recommendation to 'use half an onion to clean the grill.' I understand that using an onion is a cheap, environmentally friendly way to do it, but why an onion?

Is there something special about the oniony-ness of the onion that makes it optimal for cleaning grills? What about it makes it special? Is there another vegetable/fruit/whatever that works similarly?
Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

juwon juwon
 
 December 28, 2008 10:37 PM
it's not specifically an onion. you can also use half a potato, balled up corn husks or anything that is tough and abrasive enough to withstand being rubbed against a hot grill. onions are usually around (and cheap) in the bbq situation so commonly used.

the key is that the grill has to be super hot. it also helps to dip the onion in oil beforehand to get everything off. i've grown up doing this with korean bbq grills- works like a charm every time.
Asker's Rating:
• Thanks for the answers! juwon did the best of answering "why an onion" and also "what else could one use"?


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip juwon for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 

Other Answers (2)

Sort By
easyeboy easyeboy
 
December 28, 2008 08:19 PM
An onion is a natural alternative, and there are no harsh chemicals that you need to use or waste. Onions seem to work the best! There are special chemicals in onions that clean grills. They contain chemical compounds believed to have anti-inflammatory, anticholesterol, anticancer, and antioxidant properties such as quercetin. Onions have enzymes called alliinases to break down amino acid sulphoxides and generate sulphenic acids. These chemicals are healthy and act as a cleansing agent, so it's naturally a good choice.
Source(s):
http://lifehacker.com/399037/clean-your-grill-with-an-onion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliinase


Helpful Answer?  (2)   (2)    Tip easyeboy for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
dbspringer dbspringer
 
December 28, 2008 08:20 PM
I get that much, but why, specifically, the onion? What about the onion makes it the 'natural alternative?'

Report
 
 
spoon spoon
 
December 28, 2008 08:31 PM
Everything I have read about this method says the grill has to be extremely hot before running the onion over it... I have a feeling, since the grill has to be so hot, just about anything would work in the onion's place... potatoes, aluminum foil, piece of raw steak... in the end the heat from the grill is making the grates so hot that anything "stuck" to them will just fall off is brushed with something.

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (2)    Tip spoon for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
easyeboy easyeboy
 
December 28, 2008 09:52 PM
I got an awesome idea! Let's make a brush and call it the onion brush. Just fill it with water. Sell it to people and then we can all be on the The Big Idea show someday. We can say we got this idea from some silly question on Mahalo Answers.

Report
 
 
spoon spoon
 
December 28, 2008 09:53 PM
easyboy - I love it! Maybe Jason could fund our endeavor and write it off as marketing for the site :)

Report
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Related Questions

View All Cooking & Recipes Questions

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • cfinke
    cfinke
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    27330 Points
    M$29.75 Earned
  • bunnyphuph...
    bunnyphuph...
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    21386 Points
    M$762.89 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt with a Brown Tip
    6142 Points
    M$238.49 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1800)
twitter(979)
music(495)
iphone(485)
google(392)
online(369)
food(340)
internet(311)
beer(288)
money(284)
movies(281)
facebook(276)
apple(259)
answers(245)
aotd(235)
free(233)
health(228)
video(224)
dog(217)
windows(211)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.

Answers Home | Ask a Question | Earn Points | How Tips Work | Widget