SMOKER CLEANING

[gary s]

I said in my previous post I get my smoker to 350 plus I meant 300 plus.  Sorry, somewhere around there, so when you spray it, it gets real steamy.

Gary S

 

[gary s]

Thank you,  Rickeylee you covered the importance of cleaning much better than I did. You are right, I have eaten Q that had that bitter taste and made your tongue numb, after about one bite that was it for me. I have a friend that says that he never cleans his smoker, because that is what gives His Q the flavor, needless to say I would never eat anything he smokes,I hope he or someone he cooks for doesn't have to make a trip to the emergency room.

I smoked Ribs last night on my small smoker, as soon as it warms up I'll be out there cleaning it up for next time. Thanks again for your input on cleaning. I hope everyone reads these articles about cleaning, I think it is so important, for health reasons and making good/great BBQ every time,

Gary S.

 

[frosty]

On my MES40, I obviously clean the racks, drip pans and such after each use.  On my Klose smoker, I use the weed burner, and hit the grates, and sides as well as using it to pre heat.

After the proteins come off, I heat it, and hit it with the garden hose for a SHORT wash out.  I also drain after each rinse, and clean the ashes out.

Other than that, keeping foil handy and a stiff wire brush, no other heavy duty work is required.

 

[scottphillips1]

When my previous smoker, a 1950's fridge conversion, got too nasty, I just built a new one!  Otherwise, wire brushing on the grates, and a shot of compressed air to blow the crusty bits out.  I use aluminum roasting pans for the water bath and catching drippings...disposable, no cleaning required.

Scott Phillips

Star, ID

 

[wood chuck]

I drop my racks & water pan in the dishwasher . I don't use the window  .  Why should the walls need cleaning ? :~)
 

 

[gary s]

You need to read what rickeylee said kinda sums it all up

 

[gary s]

Here is what Rickeylee added to my Cleaning your Smoker

rickylee commented on this article on November 13, 2:52 pm

when you dont clean your smoker it gets built up CREOSOTE in it
this is the same stuff they soak railroad ties and telephone poles in so they dont rot
its nasty IT DOES NOT ADD FLAVOR TO YOUR FOOD
IT SWEATS AND DRIPS THIS STUFF ON YOUR MEAT AND MAKES A BITTER TASTE
AND IS CARCENOGINIC / CANCER CAUSING
meat from one of these smokers will leave a bitter taste in your mouth and you will feel a slight numbing sensation on you tongue and lips DONT EAT IT
google creosote in smoker for good info on this subject
i have a very large lang 84 delux doubel barrel and the way i clean it is after im done i bring it up to 350 / 400
then i spray it with hose and close the lid
the steam will break loos all stuck on meat then i wire brush it ,then i use a roofing torch and burn all the inside
careful not to warp your grates
then i spray with cooking or mineral oil to prevent rust
then before using it again i re torch it to get rid of soured oil and i re oil it with fresh oil
and bring it back to 350 / 400
yea its alot of work but it keeps it clean and safe
i also spray oil on out side of my fire box while its hot it soaks it up to prvent rust
just like seasoning a cast iron skillet

 

[paulyd213]

I have had my Chargriller with SFB about 5 years and only ever wiped it down with bacon grease once a year, I cook on it year round so I try and do it the beginning of fall, not sure if it hurts or helps but thats what my dad always did!

 

[midnight bulls]

Clean your water / dripping pan and the wire racks any fat globs on the bottom of the smoker get cleaned up but as far as the sides and top are concerned I leave them alone. I use the smoker at least once a week even through the winter

 

[smokingnoregon]

that's flavor!!! don't clean it off!

 

[herbmmm]

I clean my gas grill racks by putting a piece of aluminum foil shiny side down on racks then weight the foil down with small stones or something and turn on grill to high for 10 minutes does a great job.  What I have started doing is putting my smoker racks under the foil as well!  Does a great job!
 

 

[gary s]

That's not flavor, it does need cleaning.

 

[gary s]

This is what rickeylee added

commented on this article on November 13, 2:52 pm

when you dont clean your smoker it gets built up CREOSOTE in it
this is the same stuff they soak railroad ties and telephone poles in so they dont rot
its nasty IT DOES NOT ADD FLAVOR TO YOUR FOOD
IT SWEATS AND DRIPS THIS STUFF ON YOUR MEAT AND MAKES A BITTER TASTE
AND IS CARCENOGINIC / CANCER CAUSING
meat from one of these smokers will leave a bitter taste in your mouth and you will feel a slight numbing sensation on you tongue and lips DONT EAT IT
google creosote in smoker for good info on this subject
i have a very large lang 84 delux doubel barrel and the way i clean it is after im done i bring it up to 350 / 400
then i spray it with hose and close the lid
the steam will break loos all stuck on meat then i wire brush it ,then i use a roofing torch and burn all the inside
careful not to warp your grates
then i spray with cooking or mineral oil to prevent rust
then before using it again i re torch it to get rid of soured oil and i re oil it with fresh oil
and bring it back to 350 / 400
yea its alot of work but it keeps it clean and safe
i also spray oil on out side of my fire box while its hot it soaks it up to prvent rust
just like seasoning a cast iron skille

 

[hiteksmoker]

I think leaving your smoker dirty is lazy and nasty. If the interior is enameled or stainless use oven cleaner and scrub and hose it out.I have an electric southern pride. It gets the oven cleaner every use. I agree that the black crap drips on you food. I wont let that ruin hundreds of dollars in meat.

 

[gary s]

I agree completely. After a hard day of smoking and cooking the last thing anybody wants to do is clean the smoker. But I do it every time. I think a lot of people are lazy, and some just don't care. Again I have several friends that DO NOT CLEAN THEIR SMOKERS One told me that his parents never cleaned theirs and they had a BBQ concession, (I'll never eat at that one). Look it's like everything else you get out what you put in. I would never want someone to say my BBQ taste funny or that I needed to clean my smoker. 

 

[smokint]

My fridge smoker has been going for 25+ years and the inside has never been cleaned, no need to, never gets mold or grease build up.  I just clean the racks and always use a drip pan.  I use foil on the top rack to stop drips.

Troy

 

[daricksta]

Because of what I've read in these forums, I never clean the interior of my MES 30 (doesn't have a window). For the racks, I either stick them in the dishwasher or I scrape off the meaty bits and handwash them in the sink. The only time I clean interior walls is when meat that were on the racks has caked on them during the smoking. I don't know if the smoke "seasoning" breeds bacteria but since the interior smoking temp is over 200º it'll kill the little buggers anyway.

 

[tadder]

I think it's like a good brier pipe - scraping clean ruins it!

Tadder
 

 

[baba bones]

How long have you had the 40 MES. wonder how often should you clean walls on one ?,I have a 40 window model...

 

[james parker]

I cleaned my MES one time.  Swore I would never do it again.  I do clean my racks and drip pan.  Don't have a window.  Don't reckon I need one.