How to Clean a BBQ Smoker

There is nothing better than BBQ cooked in a smoker. One thing that keeps a smoker making excellent BBQ is whether it is clean when you begin or not. It doesn’t take a lot to clean one and if you do it regularly you will be the talk of the town for your BBQ’s.

When using a BBQ smoker there will be some type of build up. It could be food on the grate, creosote, ashes or grease. To keep from ‘flavoring’ your next BBQ smoke-out you need to clean them after every use.

• Use and care for each type of smoker is a little different. Water smokers require very little clean up overall. The ashes must be emptied each time. The water pan must be cleaned, as grease will fall into the water as you cook. Depending on the amount you can use soap and water or if stubborn, oven cleaner. The grates will also need to be cleaned as well.


• Compare to the offset firebox (horizontal unit), which requires that the ashes be cleaned out every time it is used. These ashes will absorb water and greatly enhance rust in the firebox floor. Also, they often do not have a drip pan under the cooking surface. This can promote serious problems and should be frequently cleaned out. Of course, you have the cooking grates, which are cleaned as in the water smokers.


• Determine whether propane or electric smokers would be good for you. They do not have ash problems but do require the same cleaning as the rest regarding grease, grates, water contamination problems and the like.


• Clean the grates and scrap the walls and pans but keep in mind that you do not want to lose your ‘seasoning’. That is what gives the BBQ that wonderful flavor. So you want to lightly scrape the sides and walls and use no detergents or soaps. They can contaminate the foods you are cooking later. A good cleaning solution mix is 4 cups of water, 1 cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda to clean off stubborn food.


• Wipe the smoker down with a wet towel and air dry prior to closing will help prevent rust as well.