Cleaning the Traeger

[Clint62]

Can you pressure wash/rinse the interior of the grill after scrubbing it if you use a low velocity nozzle? I'm thinking as long as the electronics are shielded, it should be ok..?

 

[CMTiger]

Can you pressure wash/rinse the interior of the grill after scrubbing it if you use a low velocity nozzle? I'm thinking as long as the electronics are shielded, it should be ok..?

I guess…..you’d want to make sure there wasn’t any moisture inside your auger prior to using again. Doesn’t seem necessary though?

 

[Clint62]

I guess I'll just scrape the loose stuff off and wipe it down good. Prob still pressure wash the grates

 

[Slimpicker]

Why is everyone obsessed with a clean spotless smoker!!???
Have you never owned a charcoal/wood smoker before? You don't clean the inside, you BURN IT OFF>>> The inside of my Traeger is black, the way a smoker should be. (IMO of course)
It doesn't cook better if it's clean for crying out loud!! The walls of a Traeger doesn't have anything to do with the grate surface and the temp you cook at.

I guess I'll just scrape the loose stuff off and wipe it down good. Prob still pressure wash the grates

I'll agree with this... mine could use a scraping, but I'm not adding any cleaner or I'd be out there for a day. I let it 'cake' on for a reason.
Also (IMO) this is why I see no reason to buy stainless steel drip pans for Traeger, mine has a good coating of smoke and black burnt on grease with very little rust. It's covered in aluminum anyway, rust don't touch my food...

Okay, sorry, if you want a clean grill then go for it.

 

[RayClem]

It is fine to clean the outside of the grill as long as you do not use enough pressure to chip away at the coating.

Your Traeger grill is made of steel which can corrode/rust. The buildup of grease and soot on the inside of your grill protects the steel in the same manner that seasoning protects a carbon steel or cast iron skillet. If it were not for that seasoning, the skillet would rust.

When you purchase your Traeger, it is coated with oil from the factory. The burn-in process is referred to as "seasoning the grill". The oil applied at the factory is heated to the smoke point causing it to polymerize and form a thin coating on the grill. As you continue to use the grill, additional layers of grease will build up and polymerze protecting the grill from corrosion.

If your use a pressure washer to clean the grill, you might remove the protective seasoning and end up with rust. If you use a brush to scrub the grill, you are even more likely to have a problem.

There is one exception to the cleaning situation. If you get significant build up in the exhaust of the grill, try to remove enough to so air flow is not impeded.

 

[Clint62]

All advice sounds good..thanks!

 

[Retinla53]

I guess…..you’d want to make sure there wasn’t any moisture inside your auger prior to using again. Doesn’t seem necessary

Can you pressure wash/rinse the interior of the grill after scrubbing it if you use a low velocity nozzle? I'm thinking as long as the electronics are shielded, it should be ok..?

No way id pressure wash the inside of my Traeger. The auger and burn pot could be damaged. Just wipe it down and vacuum the dust out. I also use the Traeger alumimun drop sheets and that cuts down the aftermath of smoking meats. A cheaper way to go and just as good will be the large aluminum pan tops they sell at Sam’s

A good nozzle on a water hose and plastic/ and or a wire brush will handle the cooking grate just fine. Just let it soak in the wet grass an hour or so before cleaning

 

[Shedd]

IDK but I’ve owned more grills than I ever could count, I’ve never ever had the urge to wash the inside of them especially with a pressure washer. I’ve used a putty knife to scrape off thick buildup from time to time but wash? No.
The seasoning inside is not only helpful for flavor but to aid in protecting the grilling chamber from rust.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful but just adding my opinion.

 

[Slimpicker]

IDK but I’ve owned more grills than I ever could count, I’ve never ever had the urge to wash the inside of them especially with a pressure washer. I’ve used a putty knife to scrape off thick buildup from time to time but wash? No.
The seasoning inside is not only helpful for flavor but to aid in protecting the grilling chamber from rust.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful but just adding my opinion.

The ONLY time I did was when I had to clean and paint a New Braunfels Tall box smoker to be shipped across country... YES, shipped, some lady bought it off me and paid for shipping a several hundred pound smoker.

 

[MJBunch]

Agree here with the general consensus. I scrape my out a bit but don't use any cleaning product on the inside. I did ask this question long back and the only potential issue is if you use your Traeger as a grill where temps can get over 450 degrees. Here you potentially can risk a grease fire. I only use my Traeger for smoking so it never gets over 300 degrees. Besides, I think the build-up inside any smoker over many years is a "badge of honor"!

 

[Badmana]

It is fine to clean the outside of the grill as long as you do not use enough pressure to chip away at the coating.

Your Traeger grill is made of steel which can corrode/rust. The buildup of grease and soot on the inside of your grill protects the steel in the same manner that seasoning protects a carbon steel or cast iron skillet. If it were not for that seasoning, the skillet would rust.

When you purchase your Traeger, it is coated with oil from the factory. The burn-in process is referred to as "seasoning the grill". The oil applied at the factory is heated to the smoke point causing it to polymerize and form a thin coating on the grill. As you continue to use the grill, additional layers of grease will build up and polymerze protecting the grill from corrosion.

If your use a pressure washer to clean the grill, you might remove the protective seasoning and end up with rust. If you use a brush to scrub the grill, you are even more likely to have a problem.

There is one exception to the cleaning situation. If you get significant build up in the exhaust of the grill, try to remove enough to so air flow is not impeded

Bro you were taught at the school of hardknocks - some body who actually speaks some sense for once, I don't understand their fascination with clean grills either, they should just go indoors and use the oven, yeah clean grates to the point there are no hard bits hanging on the grates but that should be it. Keep the outside clean for obvious reason, nobody wants to eat from a dirty bbq on the outside.

they don't understand that stuff on the walls of the smoker is taste

 

[CMTiger]

The ONLY time I did was when I had to clean and paint a New Braunfels Tall box smoker to be shipped across country... YES, shipped, some lady bought it off me and paid for shipping a several hundred pound smoker.


View attachment 21406

This is what dedication looks like

 

[RayClem]

Bro you were taught at the school of hardknocks - some body who actually speaks some sense for once, I don't understand their fascination with clean grills either, they should just go indoors and use the oven, yeah clean grates to the point there are no hard bits hanging on the grates but that should be it. Keep the outside clean for obvious reason, nobody wants to eat from a dirty bbq on the outside.

they don't understand that stuff on the walls of the smoker is taste

I was raised in Virginia where smoking meat has been a way of life since the first European settlers came to America and were taught how to smoke meat by Native Americans. There are many old smokehouses still in existence from colonial times. Even if these smokehouses have not been in service for decades, you can still smell the wonderful aromas of the wood smoke and grease built up on the walls over years of use.

 

[Smokin In Bama]

I use Vinegar to clean the inside of all my grills. the acidity will break most of the gunk up. Ace Hardware sells a 30% acidity Vinegar if you want the extra punch. My rule is, if I can’t eat it then it never sees the inside of my grill. If you are hell bent on using water inside of your grill then I would use a hose and dribble the water on it while using a BRASS bristle brush or a stiff nylon brush to scrub the foreign matter out. Make sure to fish out loose brass bristles after.

 

[Shedd]

I was raised in Virginia where smoking meat has been a way of life since the first European settlers came to America and were taught how to smoke meat by Native Americans. There are many old smokehouses still in existence from colonial times. Even if these smokehouses have not been in service for decades, you can still smell the wonderful aromas of the wood smoke and grease built up on the walls over years of use.

That’s what we call “seasoned” and it gets better as it builds up. I clean my grates after every cook, if the seasoning is loose and falling off then I brush it and slow it off with an air hose.