So it’s spring, and time to give your grill/smoker a serious cleaning to start the outdoor cooking season right. Cleaning your grill makes for better flavors. No, that build-up of smoke and soot really does not add anything tasty to your food. The experts agree: you’d never let your indoor oven get encrusted with scorched, flammable soot, so why would you think that’s a good idea for your grill?
Here’s the gear you’ll need for best practices in grill spring cleaning:
- a large plastic tub
- hot water and dish soap
- foil
- a paint stirring stick/long-handled wood spoon
- a scrubby
- a shop-vac
- and stainless steel polish
- (Adult beverages and a good playlist also help)
Grill expert Steve Reichlen reminds us that it’s “very important to keep the inside of your pellet grill/smoker dry. Not only are the electronics sensitive to moisture, but the pellets will disintegrate if they get wet, potentially turning to wood ‘cement’ in the augur, jamming it.” So take care as you clean, and give your freshly cleaned grill plenty of time to dry before firing it up.
Here are more of Reichlen’s tips.
- Make sure the grill is cold.
- Place the grill rack and the chimney dome in the hot soapy water.
- Remove foil from the drip pan and flame reflector and brush off debris; put these parts in the tub only if they’re still very dirty after brushing.
- Remove solids from the grease bucket and place in the tub.
- Scrub all parts, then air-dry completely.
- Use the paint stirring stick to clear the grease chute.
- Use rubber bands to secure the scrubby to the end of the spoon, brush handle or stirring stick and wipe the (often surprisingly disgusting) inside of the chimney.
- Give the inside of the lid a good scrape with the brush.
- Vacuum the grill interior and the firepot, being sure to clear the holes in the firepot.
- Wipe the interior with a scrubby dampened with water or a natural cleaning product.
- Carefully wipe the temperature probe.
- Give any stainless steel parts a wipe with stainless steel cleaner.
- Replace the grease bucket; line it with foil for future easy maintenance.
Every time you grill
Keep things easy and flavors clean by maintaining your pellet smoker all year. All you’ll need: your brass wire brush, a damp rag, and heavy-duty aluminum foil.
- Run on high for ten minutes, then brush the grates.
- Switch off and cool the smoker according to your grill’s instruction manual.
- Carefully remove the grease bucket and put it out of the reach of animals.
- Wipe any drips off the grill exterior with a damp rag.
- Allow to cool overnight and replace the foil on the drip pan.
For people with gas and charcoal grills
The same general principles apply to cleaning all grills, even when the working parts are somewhat different. Use the right tools (copper wire brushes are key), mild but effective cleaning solutions (dish soap in hot water), and safety precautions (like cleaning at the right temperature).
BACK TO BLOG