Cleaning Expanded Metal

Uncle Willy · 09-17-2013, 03:06 PM

Anybody have any tips or tricks for cleaning expanded metal grates? I've been scrubbing mine down with a wire brush but I have 10 feet of grates and it's becoming a real pita.

Also any suggestions for getting grease out of the bottom? I have a drain hole and usually mop it out and then scrub off the chunks.

Just wondering if there might be a faster/easier way to get the requisite cleaning done.

deguerre · 09-17-2013, 03:16 PM

Have you thought of using an oven cleaner spray as a sit-n-soak pre-scrub on the grates? I've done this a couple times for my kettle's.

IamMadMan · 09-17-2013, 03:19 PM

After I remove the food from the pit, I raise the heat to a little over 350° for about 10 minutes then wire brush when hot. The grease and dry food come off easily when it is hot and fall into the waste pan underneath. I occasionally have to re-season the metal every other month to prevent food from sticking.

oldbill · 09-17-2013, 03:30 PM

I have adopted Ben Lang's cleaning method. After a cook I wire brush the grates to knock off the big stuff and then after getting the pit good and hot, around 300 deg. or so I get the hose and spray some water into the cooking chamber. The steam action really cuts the grease and sterilizes the grates. Then the next time I cook I just lightly go over them again with the brush as the pit is getting up to temp. One word of caution though, don't keep your wire brush past it's prime. Those bristles will eventually fall out and you won't know it until they're in your mouth after a bite of Q! One night I took a bite of steak and started receiving radio transmissions from somewhere in South America! Believe me, you don't want to hear that crap!!!

retired trucker · 09-17-2013, 03:31 PM

Get a butane weed burner and burn the excess gunk off the grates. Use some citrus cleaner/degreaser on the pit with some hot water and it will clean up really nice, and won't leave any dangerous residue. Then re-season and you are good to go.

Blessings,
Omar

oldbill · 09-17-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deguerre

Have you thought of using an oven cleaner spray as a sin-n-soak pre-scrub on the grates? I've done this a couple times for my kettle's.

A good natural alternative for easy off or something like that would be orange oil concentrate. You can find it in a garden center in the organic pest control section, ( also makes the best fire ant killer on the planet if you have pets that you don't want chemicals around ). Orange oil is one of the best all round cleaners and degreasers out there. The stuff will take motor oil off of the driveway yet is derived only from orange peels.

cowgirl · 09-17-2013, 03:44 PM

I use a weed burner then a wire brush. After cleaning I wipe the grates with cooking oil.

bbqbull · 09-17-2013, 03:44 PM

If the gunk is really bad I use my pressure washer.
Wear your dirtiest clothing you own. Trust me on this one.

MJ_Tenn · 09-17-2013, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbqbull

If the gunk is really bad I use my pressure washer.
Wear your dirtiest clothing you own. Trust me on this one.

You sound pretty serious

Uncle Willy · 09-17-2013, 04:36 PM

Thanks for the tip about orange oil. I'm going to have to give that a try, I'm always a little hesitant to use chemical degreasers on the grates for fear of residue getting onto the food.

09-17-2013, 03:06 PM	#1
Uncle Willy Found some matches. Join Date: 02-17-12 Location: Austin TX	Cleaning Expanded Metal Anybody have any tips or tricks for cleaning expanded metal grates? I've been scrubbing mine down with a wire brush but I have 10 feet of grates and it's becoming a real pita. Also any suggestions for getting grease out of the bottom? I have a drain hole and usually mop it out and then scrub off the chunks. Just wondering if there might be a faster/easier way to get the requisite cleaning done.

09-17-2013, 03:16 PM	#2
deguerre somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-15-09 Location: Memphis, TN...Formerly of Decatur, AL	Have you thought of using an oven cleaner spray as a sit-n-soak pre-scrub on the grates? I've done this a couple times for my kettle's. __________________ Guerry [FONT=Book Antiqua]Pit Beeatch for Team Munchkin[/FONT] [FONT=Book Antiqua][B]Avatar by Northwest BBQ [/B][/FONT]"...In nature, there are predators. I believe the common denominator of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility and murder..." Werner Herzog Last edited by deguerre; 09-17-2013 at 03:33 PM..

09-17-2013, 03:30 PM	#4
oldbill is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 05-30-13 Location: Kyle, TX	I have adopted Ben Lang's cleaning method. After a cook I wire brush the grates to knock off the big stuff and then after getting the pit good and hot, around 300 deg. or so I get the hose and spray some water into the cooking chamber. The steam action really cuts the grease and sterilizes the grates. Then the next time I cook I just lightly go over them again with the brush as the pit is getting up to temp. One word of caution though, don't keep your wire brush past it's prime. Those bristles will eventually fall out and you won't know it until they're in your mouth after a bite of Q! One night I took a bite of steak and started receiving radio transmissions from somewhere in South America! Believe me, you don't want to hear that crap!!! __________________ [FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]Never Trust A Skinny Cook!!![/FONT] Lone Star Grillz Vertical Offset, New Braunfels Black Diamond Offset (Retired), Weber Kettle :grin:

09-17-2013, 03:31 PM	#5
retired trucker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-28-11 Location: Dallas, Georgia	Get a butane weed burner and burn the excess gunk off the grates. Use some citrus cleaner/degreaser on the pit with some hot water and it will clean up really nice, and won't leave any dangerous residue. Then re-season and you are good to go. Blessings, Omar __________________ Webber 22 1/2 OTG Gold, UDS, rusted out chimney, Red Lavatools Thermowand, Maverick ET 732, 1950 model wife. Walking cane to help me get around.

09-17-2013, 03:44 PM	#7
cowgirl somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-18-07 Location: Oklahoma Name/Nickname : jeanie	I use a weed burner then a wire brush. After cleaning I wipe the grates with cooking oil. __________________ jeanie Lifetime member of the Society for the Preservation of Authentic Royal Magical Rare Kaskaskian Peppers (Thanks Ash :)) RIP Ash, you are missed http://cowgirlscountry.blogspot.com/

09-17-2013, 03:19 PM	#3
IamMadMan somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-30-11 Location: Pemberton, New Jersey	After I remove the food from the pit, I raise the heat to a little over 350° for about 10 minutes then wire brush when hot. The grease and dry food come off easily when it is hot and fall into the waste pan underneath. I occasionally have to re-season the metal every other month to prevent food from sticking.

09-17-2013, 03:44 PM	#8
bbqbull Watching over us. Join Date: 12-27-05 Location: Mid Michigan	If the gunk is really bad I use my pressure washer. Wear your dirtiest clothing you own. Trust me on this one. __________________ "You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." "I wish my mind could forget what my eyes have seen. :shocked:" "Heavily medicated for your protection. :doh:" Klose Mobile Pit Klose Owners Reccomended Pit Cookshack Smokette Gasser Little Chief Smoker Large BGE Gifted to me my Pit Barrel Smoker :mrgreen::clap:[URL="http://www.bbq-brethren.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/"][/URL]

09-17-2013, 04:36 PM	#10
Uncle Willy Found some matches. Join Date: 02-17-12 Location: Austin TX	Thanks for the tip about orange oil. I'm going to have to give that a try, I'm always a little hesitant to use chemical degreasers on the grates for fear of residue getting onto the food.