Tray for soaking (cleaning) Ironwood 885 grill grate

[M.Wong]

Thought I would share... my kitchen sink isn't big enough to easily/thoroughly clean the grate. I considered a large plastic mixing tub (think of a concrete/joint compound/masonry repair accessory) but the size and rounded bottom were not quite right. Once in a while I would like to soak the grate, and I think I found my solution... found a place on-line that sells a "hanging pallet rack containment tray system" for spill containment under pallet rack stored materials.

Cheaper than remodeling/replacing my utility sink in the laundry room and I can soak it outside so it won't make a mess in the kitchen! (Pictures are while I am testing it on the tailgate to verify no water leaks.)

 

[RayClem]

I have an IW885 and have never considered soaking it. It is enameled coated steel. I just use a brush to remove any stuck food debris. I really do not want to remove built up grease as that acts as "seasoning" to protect the underlying steel from corrosion and also help make the grate non-stick. I would no more consider soaking my grate than I would soaking a carbon steel or cast iron skillet. However, it is your grill, so you can chose to do whatever you desire. Don't be surprised when you start to see rust around some of the welds on the grate. As soon as the enamel cracks or chips, corrosion will start. A buildup of grease protects the metal from corrosion.

 

[M.Wong]

Thanks for the input! I understand what you are saying and I generally go with the 'seasoned' strategy. (I know you don't scrub down or pressure wash the inside of the Traeger, etc.) But, when I did smoked Chinese BBQ pork I think the sugary coating was baked on so badly, it could have withstood a blow torch! There are just a few times I felt the need to soak the grate, and it was making a huge mess in the kitchen sink.

(RayClem, I always like and appreciate your information!)

This was the potion that challenged me:

 

[RayClem]

I get it now.

One thing you might do when making dishes with such sticky sauces is to use something over top of the grate to prevent so much of the sauce from reaching the grate. There are a number of options.

There are stainless steel or enameled steel toppers that are designed to be reused. However, they generally have large holes which will allow quite a bit of sauce to seep through. Here is one example:

https://www.amazon.com/Weber-Style-6435-Professional-Grade-Grill/dp/B000WEIIOE/

There are disposable toppers with a fine mesh that allow smoke to penetrate, but will catch most of the sauce. I used one of these a week ago when I smoked chicken and used Alabama white sauce as a marinade and basting sauce. I discarded the topper after the cook. Some sauce dripped on the grate, but not enough to make cleaning a pain. I got mine from the local Walmart.

Robot or human?

Finally, there are silicone mats that will keep the grate completely clean, but they also block smoke penetration from below.
I got some like this:

Robot or human?

The next time you do a cook with a sticky sauce, you might want to consider one of these toppers.

 

[M.Wong]

In general I have not wanted to restrict the smoke, but I like that idea - I think I will try the disposable topper next time.

Thanks!

 

[Slimpicker]

and it was making a huge mess in the kitchen sink.

I know that feeling... happens no matter what I try to clean

Dishwasher don't do

 

[DADAKOTA]

So wire brushing is the typical way to clean the grates on the Traeger?

 

[Like Smoke]

When I got my Traeger from a friend, it had set for some time and needed a lot of cleaning. The grill rack is said to be porcelain coated for easy cleaning. The grill rack itself had a lot of charred baked on grease . I removed the grill rack and slid it in a heavy duty trash bag and coated it with oven cleaner. I put the trash bag down on the patio in the hot sun and forgot it until the next day, when I removed the grill rack and blasted it down using the garden hose. 95 % of the burnt on stuff was gone and the remaining came off with a little brush work. Using a brass brush to clean with doesn't appear to damage the coating.

These days I put a tin foil drip pan down on the grill and use a thin wire cooling rack (sprayed with a little Pam) to rest my protein on. I can put a mixture of liquid in the foil pan for moisture and run the small gauge wire rack through the dishwasher when I done. Works great and the grill cleaning if needed can be done with a wipe down. If I am going for grill marks I have used Grilling Pam on my Weber and the Traeger and it seams to work well.

Did I mention the Yellow Jacket nest under the control box. Sorry I am wandering.