Do you clean your smoker?

[bamboofisher]

I clean the grates and the water pan before I start smoking. I also wipe off any grease spots on the bottom too but that's about it.

 

[motolife313]

Doesn't really seem necessary to have a 2" drain if the smoker rarely needs to be clean then? Do you guys use the drain often at all? Was thinking about putting one in mine

 

[grillmonkey]

I clean my side-fire-box smoker after each cook while it's still hot. I turn it so the drain is down hill and spray the cook chamber with a water hose, essentially steam cleaning it. I leave all the vents open so the remaining coals can dry it out. A few days later, I brush out the ashes from the fire box.

 

[phatbac]

I clean my smoker before every smoke. I scrub with wire scrubber and wipe with paper towels. I heat to 400 degrees in the cook chamber and spray with garden hose. Steam cleans the smoker.

Happy smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)

 

[vennismokin]

I only clean my water pan and dump my ashes for rust protection. The racks I lightly rub off before each use with a scotch brite, before I cook just to get any old bbq sauce etc off, I treat my racks similar to a cast iron pan, that old stuff on there keeps food from sticking and adds flavor.

 

[jimmyinsd]

I usually clean the racks with a wire brush prior to using it again,  but no I dont clean out the actual smoker itself, that grease prevents rust and since I do a lot of my cooking on UDSs they are so thin that any amount of rust is a bad thing IMO.  I will usually throw out the foil drip pan, but thats about the extent of my cleaning procedures unless something spills or necessitates a more thorough cleaning.