Keeping it clean

[Bill E.]

Good morning everyone. Ive been kicking around putting the grates and flavorizer bars through a dishwasher cycle. Anyone done this? Any reasons I shouldnt? Thanks in advance.

 

[ktskas]

Dishwasher detergent seems to be reactive with chrome or plated items, don't know about the flavorizor bars though.

I ran a set of grates from an old smoker and they came out tarnished and etched looking.

 

[AHoneyman]

If I were to clean the inside, I would take out the pieces and get the power washer. But why?

 

[dudemcnally]

I tried running my grates through a dishwasher cycle because I had read somewhere it was an effective way to clean them up. That's probably true for relatively clean grates, but mine had a lot of built up carbon on the underside that wasn't removed in the washer...it also gets the inside of your dishwasher pretty gross which is a quick way to piss off the wife

The grates are stainless steel, not plated or chrome so no worries there.

I've found the most effective way to clean the grates are to fill a cooler (or any container large enough to submerge the grates) with a mixture of 1/2 simple green, 1/2 water...let the grates sit for 30 min or so, then they'll be easy to brush clean using a bbq brush

 

[Dassman5]

Good morning everyone. Ive been kicking around putting the grates and flavorizer bars through a dishwasher cycle. Anyone done this? Any reasons I shouldnt? Thanks in advance.

Why?

 

[Dassman5]

I tried running my grates through a dishwasher cycle because I had read somewhere it was an effective way to clean them up. That's probably true for relatively clean grates, but mine had a lot of built up carbon on the underside that wasn't removed in the washer...it also gets the inside of your dishwasher pretty gross which is a quick way to piss off the wife

The grates are stainless steel, not plated or chrome so no worries there.

I've found the most effective way to clean the grates are to fill a cooler (or any container large enough to submerge the grates) with a mixture of 1/2 simple green, 1/2 water...let the grates sit for 30 min or so, then they'll be easy to brush clean using a bbq brush

Why would one want to clean their cooking grates when a simple pre- or aft- burn-off ( depending on time between uses) at 500 F for 8-10 minutes followed by a scrub with an aluminum ball and a bit of food-grade oil sanitizes and carbonizes everything.

Just my opinion, but after owning a Weber Summit for 5 years and now the ex4, I have always found it the most efficient and safe way to food safety. The WSM, on the other hand, does require a bit of post-soaking followed but scrubbing, as I seldom run it above 250F.

 

[dudemcnally]

Why would one want to clean their cooking grates when a simple pre- or aft- burn-off ( depending on time between uses) at 500 F for 8-10 minutes followed by a scrub with an aluminum ball and a bit of food-grade oil sanitizes and carbonizes everything.

Just my opinion, but after owning a Weber Summit for 5 years and now the ex4, I have always found it the most efficient and safe way to food safety. The WSM, on the other hand, does require a bit of post-soaking followed but scrubbing, as I seldom run it above 250F.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I've owned my SF since February and cook on it 4-5x per week. I 'burn off' the grates and such every cook, but I have had times where there is a large buildup of carbon on the underside of the grates, enough that a steel grate brush doesn't even touch the buildup. I guess it's not absolutely necessary, but since I'm not brushing the underside of the grates with every cook session, the buildup becomes extreme in my case. I just wanted a way to get back to the shiny metal, or at least smooth grate surface...the simple green and water soak works well for me.

That's not something I do often, I consider it a deep clean item and I've performed it twice on my grill thus far.

 

[Dassman5]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I've owned my SF since February and cook on it 4-5x per week. I 'burn off' the grates and such every cook, but I have had times where there is a large buildup of carbon on the underside of the grates, enough that a steel grate brush doesn't even touch the buildup. I guess it's not absolutely necessary, but since I'm not brushing the underside of the grates with every cook session, the buildup becomes extreme in my case. I just wanted a way to get back to the shiny metal, or at least smooth grate surface...the simple green and water soak works well for me.

That's not something I do often, I consider it a deep clean item and I've performed it twice on my grill thus far.

Makes sense, as the same tends to happen to the WSM 22”, which does require periodic cleaning the way you describe.