Do You All Clean Your Smoker?

[ptjd]

Just a question about cleaning, I have a MES that I bought about a year and a half ago, I have used it around 30 times. I do clean the drip pans and water pan, I have not cleaned the interior. I'm thinking it adds to the flavor etc... Sort of like a seasoned cast iron skillet.
I had just posted todays smoke on another thread and thought "Dang my Smoker is dirty. What do you all do?

 

[travcoman45]

I never cleaned my old smoker walls, just the drip pan and floor every once in a while, just to keep the grease cleaned up. Can't ever remember grandpa cleaning his, otherwise I'm sure I'd been the one doin it.

 

[tell you what bbq]

After each smoke I wipe my unit....I know..sounds bizarre!!!

I wipe..with cloth...then 'oil' a bit...with a lil' olive.....or PAM....tryin' to avoid creosote build-up...potential bad flavor, I imagine.

 

[bwsmith_2000]

I clean all grids and the water pan. However, using foil on the water pan eliminates the need for a lot of cleaning. Grids come clean with a little steel wool and dish water. I then spray them with Pam or something similar .... keeps down the rust here on the coast.

 

[lc in va]

another tip is spray grids and water pan with Pam it will make clean up alot easier.

 

[walking dude]

what these guys said..........grills, and waterpans..........leave the rest........i have a ecb bout 15 years old.......and have never cleaned it cept for the grills and pans.........

 

[desertlites]

hmmm LC another uses dish water-imagian that??-sorry had to throw that in.

 

[ptjd]

I guess I have been a bad boy, I only scrape my grids off and thats occasionally.

 

[walking dude]

i have been known to overlook cleaning my grills before........

but when i get the charchol going on my ecb gourmet........i put the grill over the hot coals........and let the heat burn/crisp the crap.......then use wire brush to scrap off.......same as i do with the gas grill......... :)

 

[mossymo]

A dirty smoker does not make you a bad person.....but may get you labeled as a good cook.

 

[lc in va]

I never said I use any soap nor do I see where any one else does. just thought I would throw that in

 

[lc in va]

anyone who thinks it is a good idea to use soap in side a smoker please let us know. If you do not think it is a good idea to use soap on the inside please let us know that too.

 

[muddy pond]

I clean the smoker after every cook. I cook three times a week and the flavor stays the same....Gooooood...... Very goooood. We sell to the public and their return for more answers the question if it's good.

I believe that the flavor that makes customers come back is the flavor that stays consistent.