Omega Gas Care and Maintenance

Preparation Before Cooking

To prevent foods from sticking to the cooking grill, please use a long handled brush to apply a light coat of cooking or vegetable oil before each barbecuing session. (Note: When cooking for the first time, paint colours may change slightly as a result. This is normal and should be expected.)

Flare-Up Control

*** Very Important Notice ***

Flare-ups occur when meat is barbecued, and its fat and juices fall upon the hot flame tamer. Smoke of course helps give food its barbecued flavour, but it is best to avoid excessive flare-up to prevent food being burned. To control flare-ups, it is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to trim away excess fat from meat and poultry before grilling, use cooking sauces and marinades sparingly and try to avoid very cheap cuts of meat or meat products as these tend to have a high fat and water content. Also, the burners should always be placed on the low setting during cooking. When flare-ups do occur, they can usually be extinguished by applying baking soda or salt directly onto the flame tamer. Always protect your hands when handling anything near the cooking surface of the barbecue, and take care to protect yourself from the flames.

End of Cooking Session

After each cooking session, turn the barbecue burner to the “high” position and burn for 5 minutes. This procedure will burn off cooking residue, thus making cleaning easier. Make sure the hood is open during this process.

Turning Off Your Barbecue

When you have finished using your barbecue, turn all the control valves fully clockwise to the “Off” position, then switch off the gas at the bottle. Wait until the barbecue is sufficiently cool before closing its hood.

Care And Maintenance

Regularly clean your barbecue between uses and especially after extended periods of storage. Ensure the barbecue and its components are sufficiently cool before cleaning. Do not leave the barbecue exposed to outside weather conditions or stored in damp, moist areas.

• Never douse the barbecue with water when its surfaces are hot.
• Never handle hot parts with unprotected hands.

In order to extend the life and maintain the condition of your barbecue, we strongly recommend that the unit be covered when left outside for any length of time, especially during the winter months. Heavy-duty Outback® barbecue covers and other accessories are available from you local Outback® stockist.

Cooking Grill

Clean with hot soapy water. To remove any food residue, use a mild cream cleaner on a non-abrasive pad. Rinse well and dry thoroughly.

Burner Maintenance

In normal usage, burning off the residue after cooking will keep the burner clean. The burner should be removed and cleaned annually, or whenever heavy build-up is found, to ensure that there are no signs of blockage (debris, insects) in either the burner portholes or the venturi tubes. Use a pipe cleaner to clear obstructions. A wire brush can be used to remove corrosion from the burner surfaces. When refitting the burner, be careful to check that the venturi tubes of the burner fit over the valve outlets.

Barbecue Hood

Use a non-abrasive cloth or pad and clean with hot, soapy water. Do not use scouring pads or powders as they can permanently damage the finish.

Barbecue Body

Regularly remove excess grease or fat from the barbecue body with a soft plastic or wooden scraper. It is not necessary to remove all the grease from the body. If you need to clean fully, use hot soapy water and a cloth, or nylon-bristled brush only. Remove cooking surfaces and burners before full cleaning. Do not immerse the gas controls or manifold in water. Check burner operation after carefully refitting into body.

Flame Tamer

Remove any food residue from the flame tamer surface with a plastic or wooden scraper or brass wire brush. Do not use a steel scraper or wire brush. Clean with hot soapy water and rinse well.

Fixings

All screws and bolts, etc. should be checked and tightened on a regular basis.

Storage

Store your barbecue in a cool dry place. Cover the burners with aluminium foil in order to prevent insects or other debris from collecting in burner holes. If the barbecue is to be stored indoors, the gas bottle must be disconnected and left outside. The gas bottle should always be stored outside, in a dry, well-ventilated area, away from any sources of heat or ignition. Do not let children tamper with the bottle.