Grate Clean Up

Smoothsmoke · 03-25-2011, 07:14 PM

I know this thread has been done before, but I'm still not getting it. I bought a used WSM. The grates need cleaning. I put them in a trashbag with some water and a whole lot of oven cleaner. How long do I leave them in the bag? It's been 2 hours and it's not looking any better. Thanks

Contracted Cookers · 03-25-2011, 08:44 PM

burn them off

Smoothsmoke · 03-25-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Contracted Cookers

burn them off

Yeah that's what I'm going to try tomorrow. The oven cleaner trick only made a slight change. If after the burn it does not come off, new grates it is.

Dave Russell · 03-25-2011, 09:15 PM

Smoothsmoke, I don't know how bad they are, but I can tell ya that I don't require my grates to be perfectly clean. (You should've seen how bad the grates looked on the big smoker that my cousing and I used at the reunion, and the smoked chicken turned out INCREDIBLE!) Anyway, I kind of treat them like my kettle grates. If there's a lot of stuff left on the grate after a cook, I'll remove the pan, then put them back on and let the fire burn the crud just a bit while I hit 'em with the brush. I like to leave a little bit of grease on the grate and find it helps protect against grease.

I will tell ya that from what I understand, burning the crud off with a torch will eventually take the nickel off the grate, letting it rust much faster.

As to what cleansers and how to use, I don't have a clue. The only part of my wsm I'm really concerned about is the inside of the dome.

Stig · 03-25-2011, 09:15 PM

Why the water? Oven cleaner straight up IMO. Oxyclean is pretty good too.

Smoothsmoke · 03-25-2011, 09:46 PM

I agree about my grates not needing to be super clean. It's just that I dont know where these grates been before.

Not sure why I added water. Maybe I'll do it again with oven cleaner alone.

blackdog043 · 03-25-2011, 09:59 PM

Put about 2 cups of ammonia in a black trash bag and tape it shut. Lay the bag in the sun for the day, then use a brillo pad to scrub it clean. I haven't cleaned any this way in a very long time but it worked. I just use a grill brush and get the worst off now.
Edit: look up cleaning grates with ammonia.

BobBrisket · 03-25-2011, 10:25 PM

The water has probably diluted the cleaner. I leave em overnight with straight oven cleaner(be careful with the fumes and do this oustside and not in the garage either, don't ask how I know

). The crud softens and will come off with the hose and a pressure nozzle or even a stiff bristled brush. The staining that's on the grates never really comes off though. If you have a big enough container, soak em in water for a day or so.

Mitch · 03-25-2011, 11:19 PM

Oven cleaner in a blck trash bag (I put about 6 layers of newspaper on the bottom and top of the grate) in the hot sun for all day. Then hose and scrape with a wire brush. Yucky but it works. Otherwise HOTSY!

Smoothsmoke · 03-25-2011, 11:31 PM

I put them in a trash bag sprayed down with a lot of oven cleaner. I'll check up in the morning. Then I'll rinse then start a hot fire on the kettle. And if that hot fire doesnt get most of the gunk off, new grates it will be. Thanks everyone.

SirPorkaLot · 03-25-2011, 11:39 PM

??????????
What is this "grate cleaning" you speak of?

Fill the charcoal pan with charcoal, get it red hot, put a grate on top of charcoal pan, let the grate get hot, then spritz with a water bottle (like de-glazing a pan)
It will get rid of anything objectionable and leave the stuff you want to leave.

early mornin' smokin' · 03-26-2011, 12:03 AM

+1 for ammonia, it works wonders, no water, that, or fill your OTS with a good load of charcoal, and put all the grates in there and burn them all off.

Hub · 03-26-2011, 09:39 AM

Don't forget your local car wash (not the drive-thru kind). For years I've cleaned grates there. For a buck or two I can get 'em nice and clean, rinse 'em and not have a mess in my yard or driveway. Once they're dry, I spray 'em with a little Pam and we're all set for the next cook.

HB-BBQ · 03-26-2011, 10:18 AM

I do it with the oven cleaner overnight (I use a big plastic tote but the plastic bag works) then take them to the self serve car wash and blast them good. They always come out looking new...just make sure to rinse them with a hose when you get back home since most of the washes use reclaimed water. Spray em with pam and start cooking.

El Lobo · 03-26-2011, 10:47 AM

What are WSM grates made of?

03-25-2011, 07:14 PM	#1
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA	Grate Clean Up I know this thread has been done before, but I'm still not getting it. I bought a used WSM. The grates need cleaning. I put them in a trashbag with some water and a whole lot of oven cleaner. How long do I leave them in the bag? It's been 2 hours and it's not looking any better. Thanks __________________ Kamado Big Joe [COLOR=Red]Kamado Classic Joe Kamado Joe Jr. [/COLOR] A bunch of Webers

03-25-2011, 09:15 PM	#4
Dave Russell is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-06-10 Location: Lebanon, Tennessee	Smoothsmoke, I don't know how bad they are, but I can tell ya that I don't require my grates to be perfectly clean. (You should've seen how bad the grates looked on the big smoker that my cousing and I used at the reunion, and the smoked chicken turned out INCREDIBLE!) Anyway, I kind of treat them like my kettle grates. If there's a lot of stuff left on the grate after a cook, I'll remove the pan, then put them back on and let the fire burn the crud just a bit while I hit 'em with the brush. I like to leave a little bit of grease on the grate and find it helps protect against grease. I will tell ya that from what I understand, burning the crud off with a torch will eventually take the nickel off the grate, letting it rust much faster. As to what cleansers and how to use, I don't have a clue. The only part of my wsm I'm really concerned about is the inside of the dome. __________________ If you're lookin' you ain't cookin', but if you're overcookin' you might start lookin'!

03-25-2011, 09:15 PM	#5
Stig Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 10-03-10 Location: Wilmington, Delaware	Why the water? Oven cleaner straight up IMO. Oxyclean is pretty good too. __________________ Cheers, Brian //Oak Street BBQ Brinkmann Cimmaron Deluxe UDS Weber 22 OTG Weber 18 Smokey Joe

03-25-2011, 09:46 PM	#6
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA	I agree about my grates not needing to be super clean. It's just that I dont know where these grates been before. Not sure why I added water. Maybe I'll do it again with oven cleaner alone. __________________ Kamado Big Joe [COLOR=Red]Kamado Classic Joe Kamado Joe Jr. [/COLOR] A bunch of Webers

03-25-2011, 09:59 PM	#7
blackdog043 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-21-10 Location: Denver, NC	Put about 2 cups of ammonia in a black trash bag and tape it shut. Lay the bag in the sun for the day, then use a brillo pad to scrub it clean. I haven't cleaned any this way in a very long time but it worked. I just use a grill brush and get the worst off now. Edit: look up cleaning grates with ammonia. __________________ [B][COLOR=black]Bill[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=black][COLOR=red][B]Red[/B][/COLOR] [/COLOR]Performer 1993 Green Performer 1998 22.5 OTG 22.5 OTS UDS Mini WSM Super Fast [COLOR=red][B]Red[/B][/COLOR] Thermapen :thumb: [B]Got butt ? Smoke it !![/B]

03-25-2011, 08:44 PM	#2
Contracted Cookers is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-11-07 Location: Jefferson City, MO	burn them off

03-25-2011, 10:25 PM	#8
BobBrisket Moderator Join Date: 12-11-07 Location: El Paso, TX Name/Nickname : Bob	The water has probably diluted the cleaner. I leave em overnight with straight oven cleaner(be careful with the fumes and do this oustside and not in the garage either, don't ask how I know). The crud softens and will come off with the hose and a pressure nozzle or even a stiff bristled brush. The staining that's on the grates never really comes off though. If you have a big enough container, soak em in water for a day or so. __________________ PBC-Courtesy of Poobah, 22.5 Weber Kettles-A, K, DR Stamped, 18.5 Weber Bar-B-Kettle Black and Red, Weber 18.5 Smokey Joe Platinum, Weber Genesis Silver, Lil' Chief Smoker, Discada Set Up,OKJ Highland Offset. BobBrisket Jr.-MUDS, WSJ Silver My BEST Compliment....."You're a good cooker, Dad!"--My Son :) Miss You, Marty and Bull! RIP

03-25-2011, 11:19 PM	#9
Mitch is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-22-07 Location: Lincoln NE	Oven cleaner in a blck trash bag (I put about 6 layers of newspaper on the bottom and top of the grate) in the hot sun for all day. Then hose and scrape with a wire brush. Yucky but it works. Otherwise HOTSY!

03-25-2011, 11:31 PM	#10
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA	I put them in a trash bag sprayed down with a lot of oven cleaner. I'll check up in the morning. Then I'll rinse then start a hot fire on the kettle. And if that hot fire doesnt get most of the gunk off, new grates it will be. Thanks everyone. __________________ Kamado Big Joe [COLOR=Red]Kamado Classic Joe Kamado Joe Jr. [/COLOR] A bunch of Webers

03-25-2011, 11:39 PM	#11
SirPorkaLot somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-31-09 Location: Homeworth, OH Name/Nickname : John	?????????? What is this "grate cleaning" you speak of? Fill the charcoal pan with charcoal, get it red hot, put a grate on top of charcoal pan, let the grate get hot, then spritz with a water bottle (like de-glazing a pan) It will get rid of anything objectionable and leave the stuff you want to leave. __________________ John

03-26-2011, 12:03 AM	#12
early mornin' smokin' is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-06-08 Location: wading river, ny	+1 for ammonia, it works wonders, no water, that, or fill your OTS with a good load of charcoal, and put all the grates in there and burn them all off. __________________ L trailer spicewine, webers, 2-26.75's, performer, heineken 22 1/2, 7 level pro-q 20 excel

03-26-2011, 09:39 AM	#13
Hub Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-01-10 Location: Lincolnton, NC	Don't forget your local car wash (not the drive-thru kind). For years I've cleaned grates there. For a buck or two I can get 'em nice and clean, rinse 'em and not have a mess in my yard or driveway. Once they're dry, I spray 'em with a little Pam and we're all set for the next cook. __________________ [FONT=Impact][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]Committed Pellethead[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] KCBS MCBJ & CTC Memphis Advantage NOS American Made Traeger 075 Weber Performer Author of [I][FONT=Times New Roman]Burn It In The Back Yard[/FONT][/I] Grillin' and Smokin' like crazy for over 40 years :whoo: [COLOR=red][I]There's No Smoke Alarm In My Outdoor Kitchen![/I][/COLOR]

03-26-2011, 10:18 AM	#14
HB-BBQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-14-07 Location: Huntington Beach, CA	I do it with the oven cleaner overnight (I use a big plastic tote but the plastic bag works) then take them to the self serve car wash and blast them good. They always come out looking new...just make sure to rinse them with a hose when you get back home since most of the washes use reclaimed water. Spray em with pam and start cooking.

03-26-2011, 10:47 AM	#15
El Lobo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-18-11 Location: Great White North	What are WSM grates made of?

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