Cleaning the drip pan, etc.

[Smokeville]

I'm getting tired of soaking and scrubbing and dishwashing the drip pan.

Any good advice on how to make the clean up easy?

Thanks, Rich

[oldsmoker]

Rich try a little out door grill pam works for me.

[kiyotei]

I find that if I keep water in it, it cleans pretty easily.  It will never be shiney and new looking after a couple of smokes so as long as you remove the grease its OK.  Or do mean the v shaped metal plate with vent holes in it?  I don't clean mine very often.  I'll wipe the grease off if with paper towels if it builds up.  To really clean it I just use a metal scraper, such as a dry wall spackler and knock off the big chucks.  Then I wash it with soap and water.  I don't try to get it 100% clean, not much of a point really.

[Gizmo]

Dawn Power Dissolve works very well on grease.

[ExpatCanadian]

I just give it a whack or 2 to get the chunky crusty bits off then run it through my dishwasher.  I think a *little* build-up probably contributes to the overall seasoning of the smoker....  over time your own unique flavour will be contributed to by this build-up, but if you've seen WTS's post on smoking his smoker, you'll see what (maybe) too much grease build-up can do!

[BruceH]

I bought a large plastic cat litter box (minus the cat litter!) from Walmart.  I put the bottom tray, racks, V tray and pan in the plastic box, add water and soap, then let it soak for a while.  I then scub the racks with a nylon brush and use a green pad on the other items.  The box gets wiped with a paper towel. 

[aha638]

I use oven cleaner and put the V-tray in a plastic bag for several hours (in the sun helps).  I use a plactic tub to soak every thing else in a solution of Powder Brewery Wash from the Homebrewers Outpost - www.homebrewers.com

Question, does anyone use something other that soap and water to clean their Jerky screens?

[Roadking]

I use this for tough caked on grease  http://www.sausagemaker.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=148

[FLBentRider]

Question, does anyone use something other that soap and water to clean their Jerky screens?

I run mine (the high temp ones) through the dishwasher, after a soak in the sink and knocking the large chunks off with a sponge.

[IKnowWood]

V-Pan, I just scrape the heavy build up and keep on going.  Its seasoned.  I cut opening as it gets closed up.  And if it looks real bad (maybe once a year or 1.5 years)  I just get a new one.  I always keep an extra on hand. 

[Smokin Soon]

I just plop the screens and the v-pan into some hot water and some Tide powered detergent into an old cooler I have. Might get back to it in a day or two , put it in the dishwasher and everything is sparkling clean again. Kind of a lazy way but works for me.

[love the smoke]

After it gets bad 4-5 smokes I take my V-pan to work and hit it with the 2500 psi zero tip power washer comes out really nice and clean

[carnie1]

This is how I do it
   [url][http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=9054.0/url]