How to clean your smoker racks..try it!

[islandgirl]

I have learned alot from this forum..a big thank you to the folks in the sausage making forum..everyone has been wonderful!
Now my time to give back... :)

I HATE.. absolutely hate cleaning smoker racks..

So I tried TSP.. Threw the racks in the sink and left them for a couple hours (actually I forgot about them).
The clean up was the EASIEST EVER! I had done a batch of moose jerky and even forgot to spray or oil the racks.. It was a snap, once brushing on each side.. simple!

[Up In Smoke]

forgive my ignorance, TSP?

[squirtthecat]

This stuff?

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/inftsp.html

Sounds industrial...

[ronbeaux]

I use the dish washer when the wife ain't looking.

[islandgirl]

This is what it looks like here in Canada

[Up In Smoke]

I did not see anything confirming that it is a food safe product.

[islandgirl]

neither is Chlorine bleach/ descaling products. used in all wine making/ beer making/ your coffee machine, and in kitchens on cutting boards etc where chicken and turkey have been used.
Also a LEGAL requirement to be used in any restaurant in the dishwasher and rags must be soaked in it in restaurants..

The key.. rinse everything very well
Remember we are adding Nitrites to sausage making to keep it safe..and that is poisonous!

[NePaSmoKer]

Tri Sodium Phosphate

[Whalebreath]

TSP is strong stuff and you wouldn't want it sprinkled on your Oatmeal but it sure cleans up a mess-which reminds me I'm out of it.

Thanks to Islandgirl for the reminder.

[3rensho]

TSP has been used as a cleaner and in cleaning preparations for decades (centuries?).  As long as you don't eat it and wash it off the cleaned items it is no problem.  Although, being a phosphate (sodium salt of phosphoric acid) it is an environmental pollutant which is why we have low or no-phosphate laundry products these days.

[jiggerjams]

Yep! I am going to bed less stupider again tonight.......when ever that may be.  Man am I on a roll!!

[ArnieM]

Good tip islandgirl and a coincidence too.

Had a guy out to work on our fridge yesterday.  My wife asked him about the dishwasher which hasn't been cleaning too well lately.  He said the D/W soap has largely had the phosphate removed and that's the problem.  He recommended about a tablespoon of Borax in the main soap chamber.  Haven't tried it yet.

[BuyLowSellHigh]

TSP is good stuff for heavy duty cleaning, especially when combined with a surfactant (detergent).  In the pre-phosphate-ban era it was commonly used in laundry detergents. 

It is also approved for and commonly used as a food additive (check some of your dry cereal boxes).  Similar phosphate salts are also used in a wide variety of food products.  Like almost everything that can be toxic, it's the amount that causes concern not the mere presence.  Rinse well and there is no problem.  If you using strong solutions of the stuff I would recommend wearing rubber gloves.  It can be quite alkaline.

[3rensho]

A product called Amesphos is commonly used in commercial sausages.  It is composed of various polyphosphates and helps with moisture retention and several other properties.  It's readily available.  I've used it in some sausages (Italian) and it works well.

[Up In Smoke]

WOW!! thank you for the education.
I also will go to bed this evening with a little more knowledge.