How to "clean" smoker grates?

WeberWho · 01-06-2019, 04:05 PM

What's the best way to knock down crud on my smoker grates? I'm not necessarily looking for the full deep clean but more less to get me by for my next cook. I can't run any outdoor water or a pressure washer with it being winter here in MN. I'd knock the grates down with a brush but I've been hearing horror stories with people ingesting bristles and having emergency surgeries.

Any recommendations for bristleless brushes or some other tool that might help me out? Thanks!

kingjman · 01-06-2019, 04:16 PM

Few ways I use....I'm also in MN....and cleaning cold grates obviously not as easy...I try to clean after cooks.

Don't use the bristles...but use the half circle on the end of cheapie tool to scrape clean....sometimes just top of grate...sometimes both sides. Usually only takes a minute or two. Set grates on charcoal chimney to burn off crud, or torch the welded pinch points.

Usually hit the grates again with paper towel after warmed up.

BBQ Freak · 01-06-2019, 04:34 PM

I clean mine still with the metals ones when the grates are still hot from the last cook but then come back over them with a rag and then wipe them down real good .

cajunrph · 01-06-2019, 04:35 PM

For years I've used a ball of Aluminum foil. Works just fine. Turn the grate over and hit the back side. Most the time I don't even do that. There's wood scrapers and other options. In the end the humble wad of foil stands at the head of the class. It will form itself to the grate just like the wooden ones. Only within a few passes. Unlike the wood which takes multiple uses. You can even use repurposed foil.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Mike Twangzer · 01-06-2019, 04:38 PM

Would a weed burner work ?

BBQ Freak · 01-06-2019, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Twangzer

Would a weed burner work ?

it will but do not want to get to hot or it will warp your grates and made that mistake one time but you will also need to re-season afterword with pam again .

WilliamKY · 01-06-2019, 05:01 PM

Second aluminum foil. Get the cooker heated up and scrub the grate with crumpled up foil.

Nuco59 · 01-06-2019, 05:27 PM

My grates are expando- they will shred balls of foil so I still use the metal brushes. I hit them first with a weed burner (not too hot - BBQ Freak is so right)- go over with a brush and then a wipe down with an oily cloth.

twatsonr1 · 01-06-2019, 05:31 PM

Paint scraper will knock off most of the crud.

Rusty Kettle · 01-06-2019, 06:53 PM

If you replace your brush when it starts to get funny you won't have an issue. I use cheap bristle brushes all the time. Foil I have tried and it comes apart easy. I would use heavy duty foil if you go that route. Paint scraper is a good option if you don't want to risk a bristle brush.

To clean my 270 Smoker Sumo I run to 325 on reverse flow and use a dry water pan then when it gets to temp fill the water pan up and let it run for a bit. This loosens up the crud and scrapes off easily. Its not perfect imo but it gets it clean between cooks.
Deep cleaning is a bit more involved. I soak my grates in a vinegar and water mix after scraping. I then rub the grates in a baking soda and water paste and then rinse them off. Then I oil the grates and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for a few hours until they have a nice coating. Olive oil works much better than vegetable oil imo. No sense wasting charcoal to reseason grates. Just bake them in the oven.

ATucker · 01-06-2019, 07:55 PM

I ise a bathroom scrubber similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Brite-...62928788&psc=1

The cleaning head is replacable as needed.

Smoke Dawg · 01-07-2019, 05:02 AM

I use a bristleless brush

There are many out there like this

https://www.amazon.com/Kona-Safe-Cle...1A30C46QED1JM8

dadsr4 · 01-07-2019, 07:53 AM

Maybe one of these chain mail CI scrubbers?

Maylar · 01-07-2019, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Dawg

I use a bristleless brush

There are many out there like this

https://www.amazon.com/Kona-Safe-Cle...1A30C46QED1JM8

Thanks. I ordered one.

NickTheGreat · 01-07-2019, 09:15 AM

I keep clean-ish used foil and use that.

I do have one of those "stones" with a handle that works well on my Weber Gasser. But mostly foil.

01-06-2019, 04:05 PM	#1
WeberWho is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-04-17 Location: Minnesota	How to "clean" smoker grates? What's the best way to knock down crud on my smoker grates? I'm not necessarily looking for the full deep clean but more less to get me by for my next cook. I can't run any outdoor water or a pressure washer with it being winter here in MN. I'd knock the grates down with a brush but I've been hearing horror stories with people ingesting bristles and having emergency surgeries. Any recommendations for bristleless brushes or some other tool that might help me out? Thanks!

01-06-2019, 04:34 PM	#3
BBQ Freak Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-11-13 Location: Rayville , Missouri Name/Nickname : BBQ Mojo	I clean mine still with the metals ones when the grates are still hot from the last cook but then come back over them with a rag and then wipe them down real good . __________________ [Font="Impact"]Weber Kettle[/Font] [Font="impact"]Luke's Firepits / Grill[/Font] [Font="impact"]Lone Star Grillz Mini Insulated Cabinet Smoker[/Font]

01-06-2019, 04:35 PM	#4
cajunrph Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-05-15 Location: LBC, Texas	For years I've used a ball of Aluminum foil. Works just fine. Turn the grate over and hit the back side. Most the time I don't even do that. There's wood scrapers and other options. In the end the humble wad of foil stands at the head of the class. It will form itself to the grate just like the wooden ones. Only within a few passes. Unlike the wood which takes multiple uses. You can even use repurposed foil. Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk __________________ Large BGE, PBC, Old Smokey 22 incher, Weber 22 inch Limited edition Grill,14 inch Smokey Joe, Thermapen, Maverick dual probe thermometer.

01-06-2019, 05:01 PM	#7
WilliamKY is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-18-18 Location: Louisville,KY Name/Nickname : William	Second aluminum foil. Get the cooker heated up and scrub the grate with crumpled up foil. __________________ Shirley Vertical + Fire Pit Pit Boss 700 Weber 28 griddle Weber 26 WGA Old Smokey Electric. Go Cards!

01-06-2019, 05:27 PM	#8
Nuco59 Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-18-13 Location: Texas	My grates are expando- they will shred balls of foil so I still use the metal brushes. I hit them first with a weed burner (not too hot - BBQ Freak is so right)- go over with a brush and then a wipe down with an oily cloth. __________________ I started out with nothing and I got most of it left.

01-06-2019, 04:16 PM	#2
kingjman Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-29-17 Location: Ham Lake, MN	Few ways I use....I'm also in MN....and cleaning cold grates obviously not as easy...I try to clean after cooks. Don't use the bristles...but use the half circle on the end of cheapie tool to scrape clean....sometimes just top of grate...sometimes both sides. Usually only takes a minute or two. Set grates on charcoal chimney to burn off crud, or torch the welded pinch points. Usually hit the grates again with paper towel after warmed up.

01-06-2019, 04:38 PM	#5
Mike Twangzer is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-20-14 Location: Driftwood, Texas	Would a weed burner work ?

01-06-2019, 05:31 PM	#9
twatsonr1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-30-14 Location: Grand Island, NE	Paint scraper will knock off most of the crud. __________________ Deep South GC 28 "The Big Show"

01-06-2019, 06:53 PM	#10
Rusty Kettle Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-15-13 Location: Butler PA Name/Nickname : Hey you with the face!	If you replace your brush when it starts to get funny you won't have an issue. I use cheap bristle brushes all the time. Foil I have tried and it comes apart easy. I would use heavy duty foil if you go that route. Paint scraper is a good option if you don't want to risk a bristle brush. To clean my 270 Smoker Sumo I run to 325 on reverse flow and use a dry water pan then when it gets to temp fill the water pan up and let it run for a bit. This loosens up the crud and scrapes off easily. Its not perfect imo but it gets it clean between cooks. Deep cleaning is a bit more involved. I soak my grates in a vinegar and water mix after scraping. I then rub the grates in a baking soda and water paste and then rinse them off. Then I oil the grates and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for a few hours until they have a nice coating. Olive oil works much better than vegetable oil imo. No sense wasting charcoal to reseason grates. Just bake them in the oven.

01-06-2019, 07:55 PM	#11
ATucker On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-19-11 Location: Dacula, Ga	I ise a bathroom scrubber similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Brite-...62928788&psc=1 The cleaning head is replacable as needed. __________________ Chattahoochee Que \| Dacula, GA \| Gateway Drums x 4 \| LBGE

01-07-2019, 05:02 AM	#12
Smoke Dawg Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-22-13 Location: Montana Name/Nickname : IMF	I use a bristleless brush There are many out there like this https://www.amazon.com/Kona-Safe-Cle...1A30C46QED1JM8 __________________ A bunch of stuff to build a Fire so I can hang out and Smoke, Grill, or cook with! More stuff for Cutting, Grinding, Stuffing, Canning and so on! Double down Zero Club Champion Only Brethren to win a TD with all the votes! IMBAS Certified Moink Baller

01-07-2019, 07:53 AM	#13
dadsr4 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-08-10 Location: Howell, MI	Maybe one of these chain mail CI scrubbers? __________________ Two Weber daisy wheel kettles A: 1979 P: 1993, and an unused ECB

01-07-2019, 09:15 AM	#15
NickTheGreat is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 05-08-12 Location: Iowa	I keep clean-ish used foil and use that. I do have one of those "stones" with a handle that works well on my Weber Gasser. But mostly foil. __________________ 18.5" WSM ; 22" Kettle ; Weber E-330 ; Weber Q200 (for tailgating), Weber Performer