Cleaning the Smoker

[Bluegrass BBQ]

Since this is my first large smoker I was wondering if anyone has any ideas how often to clean the total inside? Of course I clean the racks after every use but not the whoe inside. Any thoughts?

[M38A1]

First off - I probably shouldn't type after three or so Crown & 7's.....

My pit is a 20" diameter OK Joes Longhorn. It gets the racks scraped down after every cook and the firebox cleaned of ash after every cook within a day or so. As for the gunk that accumulates in the bottom, if I know I won't cook for a few weeks, I'll scrape it down and scoop it out. If I know I'll cook on subsequent weekends or possibly skip one but cook the next, I just leave it.

[ozzie]

A few schools of thought on this one. I line the bottom of my pit w/HD alum foil and place a couple cheap alum pans under the cooking grates to catch the drips. Whenever they start getting nasty, clean up is easy. Toss it all and start again.

[gordo]

I shoot for every 3-4 cooks before moving tuning plates and scraping the plates and pit body...other than that I just hit it with high pressure H2o and wire brush down the grates after each cook....

[Thom Emery]

I went to the Truck Wash where I get my big trucks done Zip it was done in 10 min

[Zilla]

I have been just scraping mine and wiping it out with news papers every three cooks or so. If I cook enough meat to make a big grease puddle I'll do it the next day. I don't want a grease fire.

[Bad Santa]

Ya'll clean yours out? Really? I thought that extra grease and gunk helped the meat to get that special flavor?
Man, I learn more things the longer I'm on this forum....

[1044]

Ya'll clean yours out? Really? I thought that extra grease and gunk helped the meat to get that special flavor?
Man, I learn more things the longer I'm on this forum....

Eva time my tunin plates growed ta bout 2" thick, I clean if'n it needs it or not.

[Thom Emery]

Its that fur they gets makes me wonder

[1044]

Gives that "velvet" texture.

[Woodman]

I'm in total agreement with Gordon. Since we are the two most smartest folks here, I'd do it every three or four cooks. Too much grease can catch fire. Do you drain your grease during your cooks? Ball valve? I figure, if folks are paying me to cook for them, the least I can do is keep it reasonably clean! Where is Summersville? Woody

[Zilla]

Summerville, If you draw a line from Austin to Houston (290) and at the halfway mark go 10 miles north.

[Bad Santa]

:lol: :lol: :lol:Summersville. WV....Zilla

[Zilla]

Well didja spect me ta read er sumpin? :lol: I just was tring ta be hepful. Anyway it's worth while to know where Lake Summerville is, it's a dern nice lake. :roll:

[Bad Santa]

Yer right, it's a nice lake indeed. :lol:

[1044]

:lol: I just was tring ta be hepful. :roll:

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Zilla]

Ok, I got it now, if you draw a line (39) between Nettie and Drennen and at the half way mark...well your there.

[Bad Santa]

Above or below the line?

[Zilla]

Eggzaktlee. Right there.

[serialgriller]

you two done gone and got me lost again :evil:

[txpgapro]

*Austin_____________________________*Houston

[1044]

But, what if ya comin from tha other direkshun?

[Zilla]

Left or right?

[1044]

Yes

[Zilla]

Well if yer lookin north its left if yer looking south it's right, or maybe it's the other way around I suck at diwreckshuns. I suppose I shouldn't be paticipating in this here Hijacking. I just couldn't resist.

[1044]

Then that's temptation well spent.