Grates: How Clean is Clean?

[Count Porcula]

I just "cleaned" the top grate from my WSM after smoking a belly two days ago. I guess trying to persuade the wife to do it was a waste of time.

Before going the nuclear route, I decided to try Citrusafe, a degreaser made from citrus peels. It's supposed to be food safe, environmentally friendly, yada yada yada.

The grease came off without hesitation, along with the chunks, but most of the grate is still black. Is this what most people mean when they say "clean"?

I never trust products whose manufacturers brag that they are green or natural or safe, because often, they are garbage that doesn't work, like Simple Green. You know how this is. You ask a bunch of people how to kill roaches and they say stupid things like, "White vinegar! Magic crystals! Peppermint oil!", when the real answer is poison and none of the things they recommend actually do anything.

I thought it would be nice to avoid using a real product and breathing lye fumes, so if black, smooth grates with small areas of shiny chrome mean "clean," this will work.

 

[Fueling Around]

Don't have an R2D2.
When I feel the urge to do a deep clean of the Weber grates it is usually good old elbow grease and a SS scrubbie

 

[Compulsive Smoker]

Clean for me is a basic scrape down every few cooks and a pressure washing once or twice a year!

 

[JIMSMOKES]

Only time my weber grates were silver shiny. Was the first 5 cooks.
I let my grills come up to temp. Hit them with a wet scrubber and go. Knock off when I'm done and let fire burn out.
Rinse and repeat.

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

I got hooked on the Scrub Daddy “bbq daddy”. After a cook I’ll hit the grates with it while it’s still hot and cleans it pretty much back to a shiny finish

 

[SMOKEOCD]

Ball of foil on hot grates, followed by paper towel, sometimes an oiled paper towel. If you’re not putting grease marks on your food (vs grill marks) I think that’s pretty clean.

 

[zwiller]

I am in scrape the chunks off and call it a day camp. If you want like new again, soak in HOT water and Oxyclean an hour or 2. I only do this for foods that I smoke under 200F. Anything above that I believe the heat kills the nasties.

 

[fxsales1959]

I just "cleaned" the top grate from my WSM after smoking a belly two days ago. I guess trying to persuade the wife to do it was a waste of time.

Before going the nuclear route, I decided to try Citrusafe, a degreaser made from citrus peels. It's supposed to be food safe, environmentally friendly, yada yada yada.

The grease came off without hesitation, along with the chunks, but most of the grate is still black. Is this what most people mean when they say "clean"?

I never trust products whose manufacturers brag that they are green or natural or safe, because often, they are garbage that doesn't work, like Simple Green. You know how this is. You ask a bunch of people how to kill roaches and they say stupid things like, "White vinegar! Magic crystals! Peppermint oil!", when the real answer is poison and none of the things they recommend actually do anything.

I thought it would be nice to avoid using a real product and breathing lye fumes, so if black, smooth grates with small areas of shiny chrome mean "clean," this will work.

I scrape before placing meat. if I really feel froggy I bought one of those hand held steamers that has a brush attachment. A couple swipes with the steamer works good enough for me.

 

[Count Porcula]

My grill's grates aren't a big problem, because they don't get like this, and they are stainless. The Smokin-It has stainless grates small enough to go in the dishwasher. This is why I was wondering what people do with plated smoker grates.

I guess Citrusafe or other orange cleaners will be fine.

 

[sandyut]

If you want them cleaned to like newish, soak them in soapy water for several hours. the smoke and grime should come off real easy after that. Dont bother trying to scrub without a soak.

 

[912smoker]

If you want them cleaned to like newish, soak them in soapy water for several hours. the smoke and grime should come off real easy after that. Dont bother trying to scrub without a soak.

I bought a tub for the soaking but have only used it a couple of times. Don't want to waste that extra flavoring.

Keith

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

I keep mine shiny, I used to put them in a plastic HD mortar tub and first spray with Easy-Off Bbq, Smoker and Grill Grate cleaner (which I suspect is just Easy-Off in a different container), followed by a soak in soapy water. At our new house, one side of the kitchen sink is big enough for the 18” racks to lie flat, and we found that an overnight soak in soapy (Dawn) water makes them very easy to clean. As @sandyut already pointed out. No longer any need for Easy-Off.

 

[Colin1230]

I don't fret over my grill grates but before cooking I do knock the chunks off, top and bottom. After cooking and they are still kinda hot, I will brush them with scrub pad. That way they are left a little oily. If not, I will shoot with a little Pam. Especially if cast iron. If I really trashed the grill I will use the new Scrub Daddy wet steamer, works phenomenal!

 

[schlotz]

You are fine with what you did. Head back to grilling now...