Grate Cleaning

[JUPITER PIT BOSS]

Just broke in my new 850 Pro Series. On my gas grill I used to pre-heat the grill to 600 and brush the grates with a wire grill brush. How often should you clean the grates on the smoker? Before or after smoking?

 

[MikeInFla]

I do mine before. I clean the whole thing before. That way it's good and cooled off. Grates you can do any time and are actually easier when it's warm. As foe the rest I wait until it's cool so I don't suck up any hot pellets with the shop vac.

 

[MKinHB]

I am with @MikeInFla, I do my cleaning before a cook. or the day before a cook if I need more time to cook.
Some safety reasons too, vacuuming up hot stuff can cause a vacuum fire! yeah I had it happen.
Good luck with your 850

 

[Mike From R.I.]

I would do it cold also. Use a nylon brush and plastic putty knife on the stubborn stuff, protect that porcelain on the grate from scratches.

 

[HuntJ08]

After each cook, I run the temp up to 400 or so for 10 mins or so. This lets the grease heat up and run more to the drain and bucket.
I use a steel brush as temp rises to knock off the food particles on grates. The process crystalizes most everything left on the grates and heat shield.

Then, I am like others, in the way of cleaning before cooking. Use steel brush to knock off the dried char of grates. (then take off)
Use a 6" drywall metal drywall knife to scrape the heat shield. (then take off)
THEN, finally use a shop-vac and vacuum out the burn pot, bottom cavity, and grease ditch on edge the heat shield.

 

[Elfcane]

I would do it cold also. Use a nylon brush and plastic putty knife on the stubborn stuff, protect that porcelain on the grate from scratches.

Plus 100!!!

 

[mrfattbill]

I would do it cold also. Use a nylon brush and plastic putty knife on the stubborn stuff, protect that porcelain on the grate from scratches.

I commandeered one of my wife's flat wood spatulas in order to clean the porcelain grates......

Bill

 

[Jimsmokes]

I'm lazy I take them out stand them on driveway.coat them with oven cleaner then hose them off.

 

[Ccyn1158]

After each cook, I run the temp up to 400 or so for 10 mins or so. This lets the grease heat up and run more to the drain and bucket.
I use a steel brush as temp rises to knock off the food particles on grates. The process crystalizes most everything left on the grates and heat shield.

Then, I am like others, in the way of cleaning before cooking. Use steel brush to knock off the dried char of grates. (then take off)
Use a 6" drywall metal drywall knife to scrape the heat shield. (then take off)
THEN, finally use a shop-vac and vacuum out the burn pot, bottom cavity, and grease ditch on edge the heat shield.

I gotta go back to the store and get supplies!

 

[Edchad]

I’ll offer this. I usually clean the grates after the cook. Big mess in the sink. Lol. So what I do now is. I found a rubbery pan gizmo at tractor supply. They had it marked down but it wasn’t that expensive anyway. Made from recycled materials. Btw I also have a round one with two handles that works great to empty the pellets if I decide to change em out.

Anyway I just stumbled on this one day and thought hmmm gotta be good for something. And it was.

Last cook was when the storms blew in and I didn’t clean squat.
I was getting ready the other day to tackle that mess. The drip tray was awful too. And a lightbulb went off.

I put 3 grates from the PBV4 and also the drip tray. And added a couple of grates from the Hammertone and some Dawn dishwashing liquid Filled with the water hose and just let it sit a few hours while I worked on some other chores.

Finally went to check em out and to my surprise all the crud even on the drip tray literally was falling off. I used a plastic pad kinda like steel wool and was done in probably 10 minutes. That pan was perfect size. And now my friend. Lol. If I can find a link I’ll post em. That round one will actually fold together but very heavy mtl. Great for handling the pellets.

Oh. And I guess Dawn is good for more than cleaning oil off baby ducks. Lol.