I just got a Bradley Stainless Steel Smoker. I have read the owner's manual and it has made reference to cleaning. Naturally I'd expect to clean the smoker before using it, especially the grates, drip pan, etc. The manual said in one place, clean the smoker after each use. In another place, it said to "season" the tower.
I know to clean the grates after each use, and the tower does not look like it would be hard to clean after each use, but I'm thinking that cleaning the tower would inhibit the seasoning.
This is my first electric smoker. I have been using a charcoal smoker and I never clean the unit itself, just the grates that the food comes in contact with.
The seasoning makes sense to me, so which is it?
I think you're bang on Memquisit. I don't think I've heard of anyone cleaning their tower very often. Every couple of spokes, I take a look at mine to make sure I don't have any fat that's collected anywhere, and I'll clean that out, and I'll sometimes give a quick wipedown with a damp rag, but that's about it. Not sure what others do.
Now there are people on this site who clean open up and clean their puck feeder from time to time. I've never done it, but have been thinking I should. I've owned my Bradley for a year and a half now.
Anyone feel like chiming in on how and when they do that?
Carter
Look what I found.
For cleaning the feeder.
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=7364.0;topicseen
Welcome aboard,
I clean the racks, the drip pan and the water bowl. I wipe the edge down where the doorseal meets the tower. Otherwise, someday you will open the door and tear your seal off. I clean around where the vent is as it will get "sticky" and not want to turn easily. I have never cleaned the inside of the tower. If you develop some "flaking" you might knock that off with wadded up paper or foil but beyond that, I pretty much leave it alone. I have opened the puck feeder and cleaned it as it will fill up with particles of bisquettes.
Enjoy your smoker,
KyNola
Thanks, KyNola. That's pretty much what I expected, but being a newbie I needed some reassurance.
Also, thanks to Carter for pointing out cleaning the smoke generator. I probably would have run into some problems there.
Tomorrow I'm going to "season" the smoker and do some ribs on Thursday. Got to break it in!
Mem
welcome abord. i have a obsfor almost 2 years now and have loved it very much, when you season it keep the top vent open at lease 1/4 open during "ANY " smoking process.. during the "COOKING " process close the vent. and to help to make things more enjoyable cover the racks in aluminumn foil and place your meat on it.. pull the edges of foil closer to the meat .. this will allow the smoke to get to the meat and help on clean up.
as for the smoker tower i wipe mine down every few smokes depending on the build up.. i remove flakes and what not just to be sure that there is no flakes getting onto other meat. i do clean the racks, drip pan ,door edge and gasket regulary basis got to keep them clean.
once every 20 to 30 smokes remove the smoke generator , open it and clean it.. remove any debri from the interior, clean and remove any grease build up etc. what i use to do this is a steam shark and it does a fantastic job.. part of my smoke house..
hope this helps aand have fun we all are to help one another. i was once a newbie like u
beefman
Thanks Beef!
hey MEM
check this out i just cleaned my smoker after 8 months of use every other week and i decided to give it a good cleaning
look at all the pictures an should give you an idea of what happins over time and is a judgement call of when to do a good clean.. over just a wipe down which should be done after each use
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=7926.0
you will have to cut and paste the link to your address bar
Beefmann
Kynola hit it on the head, make sure you clean around the door, it does get sticky. I also check around the heating element for any buildup and gently blow out the generator with my air comp.
If anyone's interested, I found a product the other day I think some may find useful for cleaning the exterior and around the door seal. After attempting to clean around the door seal like I've read with water and soap, 409, Windex etc., I couldn't find anything that would work. I just could not find anything that would remove the smoke residue. The other day I picked up a product in Wal-mart by called "Easy-Off with "ProShine" Stainless Steel cleaner" for cleaning the exterior of stainless appliances. Now, this is not an oven cleaner...it smells like Windex, but I found it would break down the brown smoke residue around the door when everthing else I had tried would not. It works slowly, but after 2 or 3 wipes with a paper towel wet with the product my door is clean as new.
Denatured or 90% Isopropyl alcohol also works well for removing the residue for the seal and smoker.
You know...Hab's, I have plenty of denatured alcohol. I'll give it a try, thanks!
I never touch the inside- I clean the drip pan and trays, and wipe the door seal with hot water.
It's like a wok, you gotta keep it seasoned....
All I clean is the racks, seal and water pan, and box temperature sending unit.
I didn't notice anyone mentioning the box temperature sending unit. Although I am not a Bradley owner, I have a MasterBuilt smoker and the sending unit on the back wall can get heavy smoke tar build up. I have also found that this can show up as a big discrepancy (10 -20*) on each smoking event, with Digital box temperature settings while using the Maverick ET-73 or its equivalent as a box temperature probe and meat probe.
Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
I live up north and had to bring the smoker in to protect it from frost/freezing... Shamefully admitting that it spent a year in storage.....
does the inside need a full cleaning or should i just plug it in, run it hot for a few hours, knock out any flakes and get back to smoking???
I doubt if you need to do anything unless it has dust in it. You could do a light wet wipe.
I cleaned my Smoke Generator Box today. First time since I had it. It was pretty hairy in there, but it's all good now. Probably need to do this about every 4 months or so.
BCD
Just clean the racks, lower pan, water pan and v-tray with warm soapy water or in the dishwasher. Leave the inside of the smoker coated. If it starts to flake just brush it off. The smokier and crusty the inside the better it smokes.
nepas
A trick I learned that makes cleaning the hinge side seal, seal surface, door edge and frame is to remove the "c" clip from the top hinge pin and leave it off. This enables the door to be removes by simply lifting off. Reinstallation is simp :)le too. Just insert the bottom hinge pin and then the top. Job done!
twl :)
My smoker was over 1 year old...........used it lots of times......until I cleaned it.
I took the casing off the smoker generator and gave it a good cleaning. It really needed it. When I was done, it was as good as new.
Lumpy
Once I mix up a batch of vinegar and water 3 to 1, how long can I use that batch before I should mix another? Also whats the strongest of acidity that I can get in vinegar?
Bruce
Quote from: Anongicy73 on November 01, 2009, 12:20:57 AM
Once I mix up a batch of vinegar and water 3 to 1, how long can I use that batch before I should mix another? Also whats the strongest of acidity that I can get in vinegar?
Bruce
For the home user the strongest commercial vinegar I've seen (either white or cider) has been diluted to 5% acidity. So if they dilute it down to 5%, there must be vinegars with higher acidity. Your mixture should last indefinitely, is just a version of diluted vinegar.