To clean or not to clean?

[kskomodo04]

Thoughts and views on whether you should clean or not to clean your smoker grill.

 

[TentHunter]

Yes, I'd say keep it at least reasonably clean. Keep the grease & ash out. Grease will grow mold or worse, sprout flames!

Grease will also go rancid and I can only imagine the smells that would create when smoking.

 

[FLBentRider]

I empty the firepot before each use and get the ash out after long smokes or after 2 or three uses.

Grills and the drip pan are as needed.

 

[KMF]

A clean smoker is a happy smoker!

 

[Chili Head]

I clean mine after going through 15-20 pounds of pellets. I clean the the grease and crud out of it after each cook or as needed.

 

[CarterQ]

Roughly after every hoppers worth of pellets I burn off all the crud, clean out the fire port, vacuum the ash, scrape off the drip pan and clean out the grease bucket.

A little TLC will keep your cooker performing the way it was designed and it won't gross out your guests!

 

[Rip]

If you don't manage the grease, you will risk fires and bad odors. If the fire pot builds up too much ash, your ignitor will have a hard time lighting the pellets and will be prone to premature failure. The inside of the lid will need to be wiped or brushed periodically or black smoke ash will start flaking onto your food when you let the lid close too quickly.

 

[TentHunter]

If you don't manage the grease, you will risk fires and bad odors. If the fire pot builds up too much ash, your ignitor will have a hard time lighting the pellets and will be prone to premature failure. The inside of the lid will need to be wiped or brushed periodically or black smoke ash will start flaking onto your food when you let the lid close too quickly.

Great and easy to understand advice for this new MAK owner. Thanks Rip.