How clean is clean?

[smokie bill]

I have a propane fired Masterbuilt Pro Vertical Smoker. After smoking several times on it, I'm very satisfied with the results thus far.  My question is:  How is the best way to clean the four wire racks?  And does each wire on each rack have to be perfectly clean, down to the shiny metal & all the way out to the ends?  I know clean racks make for better food release in the end, but cleaning those babies is one heck of a chore.   I do scrub them with a Brillo-type pad with soapy water to get all of the attached food bits off but there is still some discoloration on the racks.  Just interested in what others do about this.

Bill

 

[kathrynn]

Bill....I spray mine down with oven cleaner and let them sit in a under bed storage box for about 30 minutes.....then go after them with a SOS pad.  I don't try to make them new looking....but enough to get the smoke discoloration...and the burned on food "boogers" off.  There are some folks who never clean theirs....and make up your own mind on the food safety issue.  I want mine to be clean.  My 2 cents!

Kat

 

[jackal12]

clean.......racks..?? Why would you do that? At most I will scrape after a run if needed but otherwise you are just taking away from your cook.

 

[Dutch]

I just fire up the smoker to 350°-400° hit the racks with water from the hose and take my brass grill brush to the racks. Works well for the Lang RF and my GOSM Propane smoker~not so well for the Electric UDS-those racks I take into the house and run through the dishwasher. I make sure that Ma Dutch isn't in the vacinity to put the kabosh on me using HER dishwasher. . .

 

[Dutch]

Gee Kat, I had to clean my glasses off and re-read your reply!  Honest to goodness I thought I read that you sprayed them down with oven cleaner and let them sit under the bed in a storage box for 30 minutes

 When what you actually replied with was . . .

....I spray mine down with oven cleaner and let them sit in a under bed storage box for about 30 minutes

 

[kathrynn]

Gee Kat, I had to clean my glasses off and re-read your reply!  Honest to goodness I thought I read that you sprayed them down with oven cleaner and let them sit under the bed in a storage box for 30 minutes

 When what you actually replied with was . . .

....I spray mine down with oven cleaner and let them sit in a under bed storage box for about 30 minutes

I guess I should say the storage box is out in the garage...or the driveway!  

  That is a good size "plastic box" that my racks fit in....and I can fill it with water.  And use elbow grease.  

Kat

 

[backyardsmokin]

I seasoned the grates in my smoker with spray on olive oil.  Now about every 3 smoke or so, I just take a couple of paper towels, wipe them down and then respray.  

 

[smokie bill]

Thanks, Kathryn, for your comments.  I was starting to think this way but wanted to see what others had to say.

Dutch, I've done your method with other heavier racks in grills & smokers.  I didn't want to try this with these thinner, light weight racks.  Afraid I'd warp 'em out of shape.

Thanks again.

Bill

 

[kathrynn]

Thanks, Kathryn, for your comments.  I was starting to think this way but wanted to see what others had to say.

Dutch, I've done your method with other heavier racks in grills & smokers.  I didn't want to try this with these thinner, light weight racks.  Afraid I'd warp 'em out of shape.

Thanks again.

Bill

Bill....took a picture this morning of my racks in the storage box...and this is how I clean them everytime.  BUT...put 2 cascade packets with the Dawn stuff in them this time to see if it would help cut the stuck meats.  That stuck on meat jibbles....would make flies come in thru the vents of the smoker and they would leave "wiggly presents" that you don't want on your next smoke.

cleaning racks.jpg

• kathrynn
• May 27, 2013

Going to let them soak for a few hours...then elbow grease and a few SOS pads.  They will be done good as new!

Kat

 

[s2k9k]

Here's how I clean mine........Q-MATZ

 

[kathrynn]

Here's how I clean mine........Q-MATZ

Those are the bomb Dave!  I need to get 2 more!!!!!

Kat