Cleaning the SI?

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

crvtt

Smoke Blower
Original poster
Feb 5, 2013
136
11
Pittsburgh, PA
Been using my smoker for about 2 months now and just recently ran the racks and the removable slots on the side of the smoker through the dishwasher.   Does anyone do anything besides that?  Should we be wiping down the interiors or just let it be and call it all seasoning?
 
I clean my racks after every use, and only put the rack(s) I need for the smoke each time. Normally let them soak a bit and depending on what I cook and either a scouring sponge or SOS pad does the trick. I wipe the bottom out after most smokes as grease tends to collect towards the front of the unit between the air/drain hole and the lip next to the door. From time to time, say every 3 or 4 smokes, I also crank my smoker up to 250* and let it run empty with the foil out and everything to kind of "burn" it off, helps dry up any grease or splatter in it. After that I'll wipe down the excess grease in the bottom. I've never removed the rack hangers or done any other cleaning.
 
"From time to time, say every 3 or 4 smokes, I also crank my smoker up to 250* and let it run empty with the foil out and everything to kind of "burn" it off, helps dry up any grease or splatter in it."

Great idea!
 
Exhuming an old one ... have done 3 cooks in the new #3 and loving it so far ... has solved all of my minor disappointments with my Pit Boss.

HOWEVER ... the racks do not fit in my dishwasher as I hoped ... also don’t fit in my slop sink ... also despite the published dimensions indicate otherwise, they don’t fit in the sterilite tubs I bought at Wallyworld (didn’t have a tape measure with me) ... have ordered some huge ones off Amazon should do the trick. Won’t clean up quite as well as the dishwasher would have done, but oh well ...

You using any particular cleaners on inside and/or outside surfaces? So far just used Dawn inside and damp cloth outside. Didn’t do the ‘burn off’ but that sounds like a good idea.
 
I hand wash the racks; only takes a minute or two. As for the door, walls, rack brackets and ceiling, I just brush off any loose or flaking residue from cooking. I keep the lid to the wood box and the floor pan covered with foil and remove after smoking. And grease beneath the foil I clean up with a plastic putty knife.
 
"HOWEVER ... the racks do not fit in my dishwasher as I hoped ... also don’t fit in my slop sink ... also despite the published dimensions indicate otherwise, they don’t fit in the sterilite tubs I bought at Wallyworld (didn’t have a tape measure with me) ... have ordered some huge ones off Amazon should do the trick. Won’t clean up quite as well as the dishwasher would have done, but oh well ...You using any particular cleaners on inside and/or outside surfaces? So far just used Dawn inside and damp cloth outside. Didn’t do the ‘burn off’ but that sounds like a good idea."

IF it becomes absolutely necessary, you can use oven cleaner. It won't hurt the stainless steel. I had to do that once due to a rodent infestation; little buggers gained entry through the bottom vent hole.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chef jimmyj
I hand wash the racks; only takes a minute or two. As for the door, walls, rack brackets and ceiling, I just brush off any loose or flaking residue from cooking. I keep the lid to the wood box and the floor pan covered with foil and remove after smoking. And grease beneath the foil I clean up with a plastic putty knife.
Ditto with the cabinet and wood box. Do wipe up any grease that gets to the floor under foil.
"HOWEVER ... the racks do not fit in my dishwasher as I hoped ... also don’t fit in my slop sink ... also despite the published dimensions indicate otherwise, they don’t fit in the sterilite tubs I bought at Wallyworld (didn’t have a tape measure with me) ... have ordered some huge ones off Amazon should do the trick. Won’t clean up quite as well as the dishwasher would have done, but oh well ...You using any particular cleaners on inside and/or outside surfaces? So far just used Dawn inside and damp cloth outside. Didn’t do the ‘burn off’ but that sounds like a good idea."

IF it becomes absolutely necessary, you can use oven cleaner. It won't hurt the stainless steel. I had to do that once due to a rodent infestation; little buggers gained entry through the bottom vent hole.
Yeah, trying not to use anything too aggressive
Even in the lower rack, at a diagonal, with the top rack removed???
Tines placement interfere with getting a good straight path ... haven’t removed upper rack as there is a spray arm attached to its underside.

I got some large shallow plastic tubs I can lay in the racks flat, soak in some Dawn or OxyClean, and finish up by hand in those. Not too bad, just need to find an unused flat workspace in my jammed garage 🙈
 
  • Like
Reactions: bill1
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Clicky