Mold in smoker

[joe black]

Just wondering, does some of the confusion about clorox come from mold vs. mildew? Some say it works for this or that and others say it won't. Again, just thinking???

 

[candurin]

Let's clear up some misinformation (note: I have two graduate degrees in microbiology and I work for a company who manufacturers disinfectants):

1. High heat is your best bet. It will eliminate mold in your smoker. Then simply clean to remove residue.

2. Chlorox will kill mold! BUT! It should be a fairly new container. When new, the sodium hypochlorite concentration is 5.25% (chlorox professional/germicidal is 8.25%). As Clorox ages, the chlorine comes out of solution and you get "salt water".

3. Generic bleach is usually not 5.25%

4. The surface needs to remain wet in order to kill molds. This is typically more caustic and harmful to metals. This is why I recommend heating to burn/kill mold.

5. You can also try to spray hydrogen peroxide to kill the mold. CAUTION!!! Never mix bleach and peroxide.

6. Mildew is mold.

7. Bleach will only kill mold it contacts. So, if all your mold is on the surface of metal, your good to go. If you have debri (charcoal, creosote, food, etc), this must be removed before bleach can reach all the mold. Again, use heat.

8. You can also use a benzalkonium chloride (e.g. Lysol). You're mold is likely superficial and very easy to kill.

if there is any additional questions, please ask.

 

[candurin]

as a power washing guy who cleans houses all the time bleach will 100 % kill mold it is one of the best things to use to kill it and the best thing to use is liquid pool chlorine it is 12% 12% soldium hypochlorite that is 2x as strong as household bleach they are one in the same

Just be cautious... Without a thorough rinse, 12% will eat through steel very quickly.

 

[gditys]

Just be cautious... Without a thorough rinse, 12% will eat through steel very quickly.

No i can't see it eating through steel but u should thorough rinse whenever u use it. You never want to leave any bleach on any surface for a long time also u are not going to need 12% the only reason power washing guys use it is because just in case they need something stronger u have it  I all ways dilute bleach that I use. To get a smoker clean use the stuff you have in your house u can mix it 50/50 with some water and u should use a surfactant ( dish soap, laundry detergents) it will stay in place longer and work better for u and give it a good rinse

 

[candurin]

Sorry... Descriptive wording is not my strong point. I should have said it will cause pitting, not eat.

The surfactant use is a great recommendation!

 

[land08033]

I have to agree with SQWIB, use vinegar. it works far better than bleach and is not as toxic to you.

"White vinegar is for cleaning, apple cider vinegar is for eating" passed down through the ages.

 

[aldenmiller]

To help keep mold out of my smoker I bought a little solar powered fan.  I keep the fan in the smoker and the solar panel on top.  Helps when I don't get to use the smoker for a couple weeks.

-Alden

 

[mr chuck roast]

If I had mold in my MES 30, I would give the innards a good cleaning with some hot soapy water then liberally spray it down with "StarSan."

Its one of the best products used to sanitize home brew equipment.

A little bit goes a long way. 1 oz (40 ml) per 5 gal water. I use 2-3 ml in a 32 oz spray bottle to sanitize my home brew stuff.

Being a "no rinse" solution, I would just let it dry.

Like I said, I've never used it in my smoker but I think it would work. YMMV.

Don't fear the foam!!!

Just my 02 ¢...

 

[sgtdrilllbit]

Yeah I know it's an old thread....Mold, built up residue....run your internal cook chamber temp to 300 degrees. then break out the water hose and spray every inch while it's hot, basically you're steam cleaning your cooker. This will take care of the mold and the build up, also, this will reduce any risk of rancid meat contaminating any new smokes.

 

[novegan007]

It's all about the color of the mold, black and red are bad. Blueish to white are usually benign. Treat the mold as you would on curing ham or sausage, if blue or white simply wipe it down with vinegar this will preserve the cure in you smoker....then bring up to heat to sanitize. If black chemically sanitize then bring up to heat......mold is not uncommon and the spores wil not remain viable under heat/smoke conditions.
Smoke with confidence and enjoy!

 

[sausageface]

Bleach will not kill mold on a porous surface  google it it will tell that it doesn't kill it

 

[inkjunkie]

Yeah I know it's an old thread....Mold, built up residue....run your internal cook chamber temp to 300 degrees. then break out the water hose and spray every inch while it's hot, basically you're steam cleaning your cooker. This will take care of the mold and the build up, also, this will reduce any risk of rancid meat contaminating any new smokes.

Can I watch you do these to Big Green Egg? Run the temperature up...as hot as it will go...

 

[sgtdrilllbit]

If I had one I'd be more than happy to show ya, but I'd also use a wire wheel after the burn. 

 

[inkjunkie]

If I had one I'd be more than happy to show ya, but I'd also use a wire wheel after the burn. 

No reason for a wheel..had mold in one of my Eggs once...after 800* for 45 minutes just needed a paper towel...

 

[cayotica]

Fungus yummy but seriously when I get that moldy looking stuff in my grill I just crank'er up to 500 for a while then just brush away the ashes. My question is does a smoker get hot enough to fully kill the mold and sterilize the grates, I would go the hot soapy water route and wash that stuff away.

 

[inkjunkie]

Fungus yummy but seriously when I get that moldy looking stuff in my grill I just crank'er up to 500 for a while then just brush away the ashes. My question is does a smoker get hot enough to fully kill the mold and sterilize the grates, I would go the hot soapy water route and wash that stuff away.

Run an Egg up to 800* and it pretty much burns everything off. I usually wait til my grate is really nasty and let it rip. Grate will be spotless...
Couple years back, prior to me becoming interested in this stuff we did a beer can chicken in December. Left the half fill can of beer and stand in the Egg...til July or so. Walked by the Egg, it literally stunk. Dome was glued shut with gooey stuff. The 2 of us got it open, filled the firebox up and lit it. Let it run until it burnt out. Entire inside of it was spotless....nothing left to even brush off...

 

[cayotica]

My MES doesn't go that high, guess that's what I get for playing with electricity [emoji]128521[/emoji]

 

[inkjunkie]

My MES doesn't go that high, guess that's what I get for playing with electricity [emoji]128521[/emoji]

Seen some folks mention putting a pot of water in their MES and running it full throttle for a while...guess the steam from the boiling water cleaned things...may want to keep the exhaust shut..

 

[cayotica]

Steam becomes water, water is the universal solvent, the universal solvent alway does the job. Thanks (actually never thought of using steam).

 

[inkjunkie]

Steam becomes water, water is the universal solvent, the universal solvent alway does the job. Thanks (actually never thought of using steam).

Neither had I until I read about it on here. Hoping to make some Taylor Ham in the near future. Our MES40 has been sitting.....more like has been buried....in the garage for 6 months now....can't wait to see what kind of science experiment is growing in it...