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Cleaning question

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newarcher

newarcher

Fire Starter
Original poster
Apr 6, 2013
58
10
Hi,

Just a quick question about cleaning my smoker.  I have the Lowe's Chargriller Akorn smoker from Lowes.

My question is about the racks (cast iron and metal).  How should I clean them?

I brush them after each cook to knock off the heavy stuff but there is a pretty good build up of grease.  I could spray some greased lightning on it followed by some soapy water cleaning but I'm not sure whether it's better to let it be or clean it.

Thanks,

New
 
I dunno......I'm good with leaving them with a good brushing to get the crud off.

I figure it's kind of like seasoning a cast iron pan.

I just wanted to make sure.?
 
That's how I see it and what many of the fine folks here say. Unless you get some mold or unknown growth on the racks, then clean and re-season. What I do everytime I fire her up is, Get the pit up to 350 degrees, spray the inside lightly with water from the hose to create alot of steam, then brush the grates, lower temp and start cooking.
 
If they are cast iron the grease will help keep them seasoned and don't let them start rusting.  IF they are like the ones in the oven....I always soak mine and clean with an SOS pad to get the "meat boogers" off.  Don't want to cook with my "last smoke" and get someone sick with the bacterias and junk that can grow on moist things.  Especially in the Summer months.  The "jibbles" of left over meats also can attract flies....and they leave wiggly little white things....don't ask how I know that.  Super Yuck!

Kat
 
you can brush it off with a grill brush or scouring pad... If you totaly want to remove the grease , some soapy water (Dawn) and a steel brush will remove the grease .... Clean it and reseason it
 
KathrynN said:
If they are cast iron the grease will help keep them seasoned and don't let them start rusting.  IF they are like the ones in the oven....I always soak mine and clean with an SOS pad to get the "meat boogers" off.  Don't want to cook with my "last smoke" and get someone sick with the bacterias and junk that can grow on moist things.  Especially in the Summer months.  The "jibbles" of left over meats also can attract flies....and they leave wiggly little white things....don't ask how I know that.  Super Yuck!

Kat
Click to expand...
Cast Iron Grates  =  Really Hot Water and a Brush...Period. If you want, remove food residue but the grease that is there is the seasoning that keeps them from rusting.

Kat...There are no Safety reasons to clean your Grates...Since every time you get ready to smoke another whatever, you Pre-heat your smoker. At smoking temp, " All " the Bacteria, Molds, Yeasts, Flying, Crawling and Wiggling Critters that have feasted all week can be covered by this statement...They're not only merely dead, they're really most sincerely dead!...JJ
 
Last edited:
Chef JimmyJ said:
KathrynN said:
If they are cast iron the grease will help keep them seasoned and don't let them start rusting.  IF they are like the ones in the oven....I always soak mine and clean with an SOS pad to get the "meat boogers" off.  Don't want to cook with my "last smoke" and get someone sick with the bacterias and junk that can grow on moist things.  Especially in the Summer months.  The "jibbles" of left over meats also can attract flies....and they leave wiggly little white things....don't ask how I know that.  Super Yuck!

Kat
Click to expand...
Cast Iron Grates  =  Really Hot Water and a Brush...Period. If you want, remove food residue but the grease that is there is the seasoning that keeps them from rusting.

Kat...There are no Safety reasons to clean your Grates...Since every time you get ready to smoke another whatever, you Pre-heat your smoker. At smoking temp, " All " the Bacteria, Molds, Yeasts, Flying, Crawling and Wiggling Critters that have feasted all week can be covered by this statement...They're not only merely dead, they're really most sincerely dead!...JJ
Click to expand...
Thanks JJ......one time I did wait too long and did have "those" things in there.  Ewwww!

Kat
 
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