Ok so, about cleaning those cooking grates...

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dburne

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Jun 29, 2013
229
14
Nashville TN
Yeah another rookie question here!

Back when I just grilled food - direct heat - prior to getting my first smoker couple of months ago, when I would take the food off I would take a wire brush and scrape the cooking grate surface good while it was still very hot.

Now I am smoking in an offset, and temps do not get real high like they did with direct heat.

I picked up some Weber grill wipes the other day, guess I could put some hot coals in the cook chamber after the smoke,  and get the grates hot and use them - kind of hate to do it that way though.

Just curious how others clean their cooking grates? I can take out and try to wash in sink with dishwashing liquid, but due to their size that is difficult and can be messy.

Appreciate any tips!
 
Hear ya on the clean-up...always a issue. My sinks are very small so I do not attempt in the house....or I gotta clean everything in sight. I have a watt burner so fairly normal sized grates. I do buy disposal aluminum grill covers at Home Depot to make my life easier. At times they are long enuf that I only need half and they cut easily. Roll up and toss after the smoke....minor cleanup left. I have heard about some using oven cleaner on grates and then hosing off. Some will put the grates in a propane grill on high to burn off the residue. I've heard of some taking grates to a self serve car wash and using the pressure hose after spraying with oven cleaner. Just some ideas thinking outside the box.....Willie
 
Thanks for the tips Chef Willie, I will certainly be checking those disposable aluminum covers out, sounds like might be the most trouble free way.
 
My offset has cast iron grates.  I picked up a couple of sturdy metal bristle brushes in the paint section of the hardware store. Much sturdier than a standard wire brush and much cheaper than the useless junk sold in the BBQ section.

I start my smokes with a chimney of briquettes.  After heating the smoker for a half hour, I scrape down the grates.  Then close the lid for another half hour.

Then to lump and ready to smoke.

Good luck and good smoking.
 
OK, so about cleaning those racks in the BBQ -



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