Dirty or Seasoned?

[hs321]

BLUF, my question is: After cleaning grease, pellet dust and any small meat pieces from a smoker, is the bronze color the smoke leaves inside considered good, as in "that's what makes it a seasoned smoker", or should I always wipe it back to as close to original as possible?

BACKGROUND: I bought the Pit Boss Pro Series 1077-Sq inch vertical Pellet Smoker from Lowes last month (see stock photo attached). I started with a pork butt and did a full clean afterwards. Since then I've smoked steaks before grilling, then 2 batches of beef jerky, and just finished smoking chops before grilling. I'm getting better at using tinfoil to reduce cleanup and I always wipe down the front glass really well so I can see through it. The metal on the inside of the cabinet has a pretty even bronze color to it now since I haven't done a full vinegar wipe down the last few times. It's fairly easy to wipe off (see picture). I started wiping it off tonight (see picture where you can see where I started wiping it off) and then wondered - should I leave it? Is that what makes a smoker "seasoned"? Any recommendations from experienced smokers is appreciated.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Leave it. That’s all good and is seasoning.

 

[chef k-dude]

Next time you're out somewhere there is a smoker going, like a restaurant, smokehouse, etc., see if you can get a glimpse of the inside of the smoker and grates. You will not likely find a meticulously cleaned situation.

If that is a stainless lining, the amber color is likely from the heat. That's what stainless does, it turns myriad of colors depending on the heat applied to it. It's not necessarily soot or grease.

I clean my grill and smoker to the level that flakes or bits of stuff wont get loose and in or on to the food bieng cooked. That usually involves a scraper and an old dust pan and maybe a brush. On the grill, a stainless brush and occasional scraper on the grates. Scraper and brush on everything else. My MES30 smoker grates will fit in the sink in my garage, so they get soaked and scrubbed because its fairly easy, but the interior gets scraped and brushed out (dedicated brush).

When my smoker was new, I tried to literally sanitize it. The flavor of smoke is not worth that much work to me, then I realized what pro-smokers looked like on the inside and realized I was working way too hard! The glass on my smoker was a total waste of money. I can clean that and in a very short time after starting a smoke I cant see through it anyway. Same with the light. Virtually useless. At night, wearing a headlight is far more effective if other adequate lighting isn't available.