Cleaning weber kettle

[Wood Fire Steel]

This may seem to be a stupid question, but do you clean the inside of your weber lid? I am meticulous about keeping my kettle clean, but I never clean inside the lid other than the temp probe. For the first time today I asked myself...why. I guess I think of it like a cast iron skillet. I wiped a little with a damp paper towel and it would clean quite easy due to the enameling. What do you do.?

[el_matt]

I knock off the loose stuff, then give it a good scrubbing with a sponge or SOS pad. If I'm rehabing a kettle, I spray EASY-OFF, put it in a garbage bag and let it soak overnight. 99% of the old gunk comes off, sometimes it needs a secondary soak. Just do your best to keep the cleaner off of the aluminum. The E-O can pit aluminum, and make it ugly.

Matt

[BigBobBQ]

I don't see as to where it would hurt anything if you did clean it. I scrape mine occasionally. I usually just worry about wire brushing, cleaning, and spraying my cooking grate down with oil.

[1buckie]

If it's needs a good, deep clean, I'll lay a rag soaked in vinegar (apple cider smells nicer) on the surfaces for a short time, then scrape with a razor scraper at a low angle.....

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/1st%202013%20chicken/111/57428-0000-2ww-m.jpg

it won't hurt the porcelain finish as long as you don't "chop" at it & peels pretty much anything on there right off.....

This stuff could have been as much as 50 years old (1961 kettle) ~~>

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/2014/Wood%20Dale/WoodDale006.jpg

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/2014/Wood%20Dale/WoodDale022.jpg

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd520/1buckie/2014/Wood%20Dale/WoodDale013.jpg

There's whole set of great cleanup guidlines on the top right of this page:

http://weberkettleclub.com/

[charrederhead]

The stuff that peels or flakes off the inside of the lid is oxidized smoke/grease vapor.

I just use a plastic scraper to get the loosened stuff off cuz I'm not trying to get it shiny new. I see no point. :-D

[1buckie]

The stuff that peels or flakes off the inside of the lid is oxidized smoke/grease vapor.

I just use a plastic scraper to get the loosened stuff off cuz I'm not trying to get it shiny new. I see no point. :-D

Usually I like the extra insulation !!!!


But, in some certain cases, it's nice to start fresh, plus the OP asked about what may we done......usual is a nice thick crust......love the smoke smell, man.........:wacko:

[charrederhead]

Idk buckie, i think you're a closet neat freak. :laugh:

[1buckie]

That up above is only the second deep clean I ever did......:loco:

[Gary Tomato]

check out this thread (on another bbq forum) for a good tip on how to clean the lid and insides ...http://www.aussiepitmasters.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=174&hilit=+lid I might give this a god next weekend.

[MartinM]

I only knock off loose caked on gunk...
I've never had to do it on a webber I didn't pick up out of a trash pile though. These get cleaned out with a wire brush and fire...

I think my webber works better with a little build up on the kettle and lid. I can easily put out my fire because it seals up nice :becky:

My UDS with a flat lid however requires regular maint so it doesn't drop flakes of condensed dried smoke vapors .... That lid gets wet inside!

[Fwismoker]

Honestly it would drive me crazy trying keep something clean that's made to get dirty. I'll clean the outside though.

My mini's lid is an exception because that tends to get gunked up pretty quick.

[1buckie]

Honestly it would drive me crazy trying keep something clean that's made to get dirty. I'll clean the outside though.

My mini's lid is an exception because that tends to get gunked up pretty quick.

Usually the case, but when I got that one that's 54 years old.....I really wanted to see what's up under the hood, so to speak......it's nice & "just right" gooey now !!!!!

Some of the used ones are stinky & SHOULD be cleaned before using & one's that get sold maybe should be spiffed up some....