How to Clean a Hestan Grill: Trellis Burners and Sear Tiles

To clean a Hestan grill, wipe the stainless with soapy water and a soft cloth, scrub the cooking grates with a brass-bristle brush, and wash the Trellis burners in warm soapy water. Clear the ports with a paperclip, burn off the radiant trays for 30 minutes, and keep water off the infrared sear burner. Do it twice a year and your Hestan stays sharp.

A Hestan is the grill your guests walk up to first. Stainless gleaming, knobs lit, the sear burner ready. A clean one earns that attention every time. A grease-caked one makes the whole patio feel tired. Here is how to keep yours looking and cooking like it did the day it was installed.

One note up front. The steps below come from Hestan’s owner’s manual for its 30-inch freestanding model (manual, PDF). Built-in and larger models differ in small ways, so check the manual for your exact model before you start.

How do you clean the stainless steel on a Hestan grill?

Use a soft, damp cloth and mild soapy water, then rinse and dry it. Drying stops water marks. For stubborn spots, the manual says to use a non-abrasive cream cleanser. It also says steel wool is a no unless it is made of stainless steel.

Skip metal scrapers and wire brushes on the body. Two more warnings from the manual: rust-brown marks usually come from carbon steel particles, often left by steel wool, and pitting usually comes from bleach, bleach-based cleaners, or pool chlorine. Pitting generally cannot be removed. If your grill has painted color panels, use mild household detergent and a soft cloth. The manual says never to use solvent-based cleaners, heavy degreasers, or oven cleaners on them.

How do you clean Hestan cooking grates and the drip tray?

Clean the grates right after cooking, with the flame off. Wear a grill mitt and scrub with a brass-bristle brush dipped in hot soapy water. The manual notes that cleaning while the grill is still hot lets steam loosen the food, and that cleaning after it cools is harder.

Clean the drip tray after every use, once the grill has fully cooled. The manual warns that a dirty grill attracts insects and rodents, and a greasy tray is the first thing they find.

How do you clean Trellis burners on a Hestan grill?

Take the burner out, clean it with a brass-bristle brush and warm soapy water, rinse it, and shake out any trapped water and debris. Hestan’s Trellis burners are 300-series stainless steel, per the manual. Clear clogged ports with a paperclip or a needle. Do not use a toothpick, because it can snap off inside the port.

Before you light the grill again, the burner must be centered and secured on the orifice. The manual is blunt about this. Turn the gas off at the source before you touch any part, and never test for leaks with a flame. Use a soap-and-water solution on the fittings instead.

How do you burn off the radiant trays and clean the sear burner?

Let the grill cool, flip each radiant tray upside down, and run the grill on high for 30 minutes. That burns off the residue. You can also scrub the trays with mild soap, water, and a plastic brush. Set them back level, then light all burners and check the flame.

The infrared sear and rotisserie burners need very little. If debris sits on a cool, unlit sear burner, take off the mesh screen and brush the tiles gently with a stiff brush. Do not use a metal scraper or press hard, because the tiles can crack. Never aim water at an infrared burner. The manual says water damage is not covered by the warranty.

What should you do every time, and what twice a year?

The manual also says to keep at least 12 inches of clear space around the grill and to keep it clean, dry, and covered when not in use.

Where does DIY stop?

DIY stops at the gas side. Wipe, brush, wash, and burn off all you want. But if you smell gas, see a burner that will not light after cleaning, find cracked sear tiles, or spot rust that has eaten into the firebox, stop and call someone. Enlarging an orifice with a needle is how a small job turns into a big one.

That is where a pro earns the fee. Texas Grill Clean does full professional grill cleaning in Dallas-Fort Worth, from $239 for a full deep clean. We pull the burners, strip the firebox, and put the grill back together tested. See our Southlake grill cleaning page or the Plano page for your area, or call (817) 791-4606.

Frequently asked questions

How often should you clean a Hestan grill?

Brush the grates and empty the drip tray after every cook. Do a full clean and inspection of the burners, venturis, valves, and orifices twice a year, and again after the grill sits unused for a long stretch. Texas Grill Clean can handle the twice-a-year deep clean in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Can you use oven cleaner on a Hestan grill?

No, not on the painted panels. Hestan’s manual says never to use solvent-based cleaners, heavy degreasers, or oven cleaners on painted surfaces. For stainless, stick to mild soapy water, a soft cloth, and a non-abrasive cream cleanser. For a deep clean of a premium built-in or cart grill in Dallas-Fort Worth, call Texas Grill Clean at (817) 791-4606.

Can you spray water on a Hestan infrared sear burner?

No. Hestan’s manual says not to direct water onto the infrared sear or rotisserie burners, and that water damage is not covered by the warranty. Brush debris off the tiles gently with a stiff brush, or burn it off by running the burner. If the tiles are cracked or the burner will not light, call Texas Grill Clean at (817) 791-4606.

What is the best brush for Hestan cooking grates?

A brass-bristle brush dipped in hot soapy water, per Hestan’s manual. Scrub right after cooking with the flame off, while the grates are warm. Wear a grill mitt. Avoid metal scrapers and wire brushes on the stainless body, since they scratch it. For grates too far gone to scrub, call Texas Grill Clean at (817) 791-4606.