cleaning your mes 30?

[masterfader]

Thank you, Bear. And thank you for your service. I am a Navy vet, '70-'74. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!:439:

 

[smokesontuesday]

 
If you let the goo build up, eventually you'll have a fire, and then just go back to SAMS and get a new one!

I call that "Self Cleaning"

Todd

for making me laugh right in the middle of the office

 

[polefalc]

 
Maybe I'm not gentle enough. 

I told Mrs Bear to get some "Magic Erasers" next time she goes to town, but she said she had a couple.

I took one to clean my MES 40 window.

It got the stuff off the window pretty quick, but the one side of the soft little sponge is torn apart & shot.

I should be able to use the other side next time, so it's 50¢ per window-washing that way for me.

Then I still used a little Windex & two paper towels to shine the window up (I like it real clean).

So far the thing that works best for me is:

Step #1-----Rubbing Alcohol on paper towels to get the heavy gunk off.

Step #2-----Then a few paper towels with Windex for streak free shine.

Paper towels are a lot cheaper.

Maybe if I was more gentle with that soft little sponge, but...........

Bear

I've found the original magic eraser to be flimsy, too, when cleaning my MES 30.  However, the "Extra Power" version (has a wiggly edge) is a bit tougher and stands up better when cleaning the MES.  I've found I can clean the entire MES two or three times before "extra power" ones fall apart.  I have to be careful around the screws - that is the kiss of death.  It does a great job on the window and any flat surface.  The inside of my MES is almost new looking, except around the screws.  All the parts that come out get hand washed in the utility sink.

Someone recommended vinegar and it works but it takes a lot more elbow grease than the magic eraser.

I haven't tried rubbing alcohol nor windex.

 

[brickguy221]

I spray on Simple Green and then a light mist of water over the Simple Green, rub the glass lightly with a mild Scotchbrite pad to loosen anything heavy on glass, then wipe with a paper towel ... Then I use the Magic Eraser and the stuff on window comes off really easy with no hard work or hard rubbing. I then wipe with a paper towel, spray a light mist of water and wipe with a paper towel a final time and the glass is sparkling clean. The whole process doesn't take more than 3 minutes or less.

 

[wa0auu]

We rinse ours with a hose, just UNPLUG it first !

WE made some modifications to ours, we added a rotisserie ! and  built  a new electronic  control panel for it, now we can cook by temperature not time

LEW_2986.JPG

• wa0auu
• Aug 30, 2015

  they should be made this way !

LEW_2985.JPG

• wa0auu
• Aug 30, 2015

  this is the stand we built for our smoker as you can see we moved it UP off the ground !

LEW_2970 - Version 2.jpg

• wa0auu
• Aug 30, 2015

we did make one change, the pre set temperature of 145 was changed to 250     I am an electronic engineer there is a lot of electronics in this box !

LEW_2999.JPG

• wa0auu
• Aug 30, 2015

 

[jason1234]

I put the parts that come out in the dush washer. The rest gets rubbed quickly with a grill scrubber that is alot like Scotchbright with a plastic handle, and plain water, then wipe it dry with a paper towel. I don't try to get it totally clean, just rub off whatever is loose or greasy.

 

[jetson]

I'm not as "seasoned" as you guys, but the easiest way to clean the grates on my MES30 is putting them on my gas grill, under a sheet of shiny-side-down foil, on "high" for about 10 minutes.

Turns anything on the grates to ash for easy cleaning...

My 2¢ worth...

 

[uechikid]

I clean the racks in the garage sink.  Tap water as hot as it comes out of the tap with OxiClean.  The stuff is amazing.  If I were going to clean the inside of my smoker, I would also use Oxiclean in a spray bottle and a nozzle on the hose, or maybe even a pressure washer .  My 2¢. 

 

[maddawg]

The Bar Keepers Friend (Spray & Foam Cleaner) works great.and then use Windex. after it has cooled down.  

 

[maddawg]

You can place them in an oven that has a self-cleaning cycle.Set the cycle for 3 hours, they will come out clean.Do all of you oven safe pots in there too. 

 

[maddawg]

If the goo gets a little thick, take a plastic putty knife and scrape it off while it is still hot.   

 

[pellet perfect]

I never clean the smoker parts!...how's that? I saved all the chrome racks from past toaster ovens, etc. and slap the steelhead fillets or butts on them. When done, clean only the loose rack and park it back in the cabinet...no scrubbing the smoker racks!

 

[aj4ay]

While I am new to the group, I have had my MES 30 for a little over a year now.  During that time I have used it probably 10 times to smoke various meats.  While not obsessed with a perfectly clean surface, I do try to keep it as clean as possible.

Before smoking, I take the racks and rack holders out, the drip tray and water bowl tray out.  Then I coat the interior with non stick cooking spray.  This includes the sides, back, bottom and glass door.  The rack holders are sprayed and reinstalled.  Then the racks are sprayed and installed.  The bottom drip pan is spayed and covered with foil. The water bowl holding tray is also sprayed and covered with foil.  I also spray the outside of the water bowl.

Clean up fairly easy.  The racks, rack holders, bottom drip tray, water bowl and water bowl tray are washed in the sink with hot soapy water, rinsed and allowed to air dry.  The interior of the MES, including glass and door, is wiped clean with Lysol disinfectant wipes and paper towels.  The wipes do a nice job of removing most of the grime and smoke stain on their own.  The glass is finally cleaned with Windex and paper towels.   The outside of the MES 30 is wiped down with the Lysol wipes.  The internal meat probe and cable are cleaned with the Lysol wipes.

I then let everything air dry for a couple of hours.  No issues with lingering smells or odors.

Jay

AJ4AY

Mobile, AL

 

[Bearcarver]

 
While I am new to the group, I have had my MES 30 for a little over a year now.  During that time I have used it probably 10 times to smoke various meats.  While not obsessed with a perfectly clean surface, I do try to keep it as clean as possible.

Before smoking, I take the racks and rack holders out, the drip tray and water bowl tray out.  Then I coat the interior with non stick cooking spray.  This includes the sides, back, bottom and glass door.  The rack holders are sprayed and reinstalled.  Then the racks are sprayed and installed.  The bottom drip pan is spayed and covered with foil. The water bowl holding tray is also sprayed and covered with foil.  I also spray the outside of the water bowl.

Clean up fairly easy.  The racks, rack holders, bottom drip tray, water bowl and water bowl tray are washed in the sink with hot soapy water, rinsed and allowed to air dry.  The interior of the MES, including glass and door, is wiped clean with Lysol disinfectant wipes and paper towels.  The wipes do a nice job of removing most of the grime and smoke stain on their own.  The glass is finally cleaned with Windex and paper towels.   The outside of the MES 30 is wiped down with the Lysol wipes.  The internal meat probe and cable are cleaned with the Lysol wipes.

I then let everything air dry for a couple of hours.  No issues with lingering smells or odors.

Jay

AJ4AY

Mobile, AL

Whew!!  I got tired just reading all that !!!!

Gotta go rest now.

Bear

 

[torp3t3d0]

Had a problem with crest dripping on the bacon as I was smoking....cleaned the WHOLE smoker......any suggestions to where the crest drippings come from?

Pete

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Had a problem with crest dripping on the bacon as I was smoking....cleaned the WHOLE smoker......any suggestions to where the crest drippings come from?

Pete

Hi Stranger---Been awhile, Pete!

I'm not sure what "Crest" is.

Only Crest dripping I can think of would be avoided by holding your head over the sink, while brushing your teeth.

Maybe you can clarify your question?

Bear

 

[torp3t3d0]

Meant Creasote =...I think....black gripping on the bacon.....been doing well....into making LOX (cold smoking them for about 3 hours and under 70 deg).....don't do much with the forum as I feel that I don't have too much to say....can't make enough bacon to keep friends and family satisfied.

BTW, a friend is trying to convince me to open a "smoke house business".....both to sell and to teach others...thinks there is a market for that....I retire on the 14th of April finally...

Made some great corned Pork for St Patrick's Day.....was a bigger hit than the corned beef I made and served too....

Love reading what you post and learn a lot from ya...

pete

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Meant Creasote =...I think....black gripping on the bacon.....been doing well....into making LOX (cold smoking them for about 3 hours and under 70 deg).....don't do much with the forum as I feel that I don't have too much to say....can't make enough bacon to keep friends and family satisfied.

BTW, a friend is trying to convince me to open a "smoke house business".....both to sell and to teach others...thinks there is a market for that....I retire on the 14th of April finally...

Made some great corned Pork for St Patrick's Day.....was a bigger hit than the corned beef I made and served too....

Love reading what you post and learn a lot from ya...

pete

Thank You Pete!!

Only dripping I ever had was years ago, when I put a tin can on my top vent to extend the vent, because it was windy.

It was Winter time & condensation formed inside the tin can & dripped through the vent, until I caught it, and removed the tin can.

There probably is a Market for that, as I don't know of anything like that any where near here either.

Bear

 

[aj4ay]

Bear and the Group,

Yeah, I did get a little long winded in my MES 30 cleaning post.  I actually fell asleep half way through reading i.

Love reading all of the posts on the forum.  Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions.

Jay

AJ4AY

Mobile, AL

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Bear and the Group,

Yeah, I did get a little long winded in my MES 30 cleaning post.  I actually fell asleep half way through reading i.

Love reading all of the posts on the forum.  Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions.

Jay

AJ4AY

Mobile, AL

I really didn't mind how long your post was, Jay.

It was actually more all the cleaning work that tired me out.

I only clean the rack/racks I use after each smoke (Mrs Bear does actually), because that's all that touches my Meat.

Then I clean the window in the door real good, because I like to see through it.

Other than that, all I do is change the foil on my Water Pan & on the bottom Drip pan, when they get real bad.

And I check if anything is hanging loose from the ceiling or sides & brush the loose stuff off when needed.

Also I clean around the two sensors on the back wall, so they're sure to work.

Bear