Do I have to clean my gas BBQ after each use?

[Pelvicflooragogo]

I'm quite lazy/ pragmatic by nature and having just used my new gas BBQ am feeling rather reluctant to clean off the grot. Can I just leave it to burn off in the heat next time? And does the sand in drop tray thing work?

It would make me much less likely to use it if I have to strip it all down and individually clean each component with the appropriate utensil.

Can someone give me an excuse to let it fester?

DH and all of his family have bbq's very regularly, even during winter. He would use ours (I refuse to learn as it means I get a night off cooking ; ) ) weekly. we clean all the components of ours twice a year. Apart from the 15min burn off after the food is removed before switching off. Then let it burn on for 20mins of so before cooking on it. He does have a wire brush that he would rub over the grate mid way through the warming up period to loosen debris.

Not sure what you are meant to do but it has worked for us : )

Thanks- adds grist to the mill of neglect! We have ceramic griddles so I think wire brushes may trash but they rapidly become non- stick anyway with all the meat fat etc. may trial your method as otherwise I'll never use the bally thing.