Help! Seasoning Grill

[Mdes2015]

Should I was the grease drip tray of the factory oil or should I put everything inside and seasoning grill grates as well with the drip tray on first burn.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

Season everything! You should minimize washing the drip tray as it can rust with moisture.

 

[RayClem]

It is best just to use a paper towel to wipe off excess grease. It is never necessary to clean off all the grease and smoke residue as that is part of the flavor imparted to your cook. You just do not want to leave so much residue that you are in danger of a flare up.

I hate cleaning grease from the grill, so I normally use a drip pan lined with aluminum foil to catch drippings from the cook. It is a lot easier cleaning that than trying to get grease off the heat shield and grease chute. Of course, if you are using both grates for cooking, you might not be able to use the drip pan.

 

[Don C]

Should I was the grease drip tray of the factory oil or should I put everything inside and seasoning grill grates as well with the drip tray on first burn.

There is quite an excess of "factory oil" on the drip tray.
I did not wipe off some of that excess, but if I had to do it again, I would wipe some off beforehand.
Wipe off with paper towels. Do not wash off. (MY opinion.)

 

[RayClem]

The drip tray is a low alloy steel. It will rust easily. Thus, the factory uses a lot of oil to prevent it from rusting before you get it. If you do not allow the grill to season until all that oil has burned off, it will affect the taste of your first cook.... yuck! Make sure ALL the smoking has stopped at max temperature before you call the seasoning process a success. I do not know what kind of oil the factory uses. Some have a very high smoke point, so you need to crank the grill up as far as it will go and leave it there until the smoke ceases. It is a process similar to seasoning cast iron and carbon steel pans.