How To Clean An Electric Smoker

An electric smoker is a semi-portable cooking device that cooks food by means of electric heat. This design is popular because it evenly distributes the heat and doesn’t have flames that can be scattered by wind.

This type of smoker is normally used for cooking meats or fish at temperatures lower than 212?F, but it can also be used to cook vegetables, baked goods, and other types of food with appropriate settings.

Let’s Start Cleaning!

It’s good practice to clean your smoker before each use, so clean off any residue from old smoking sessions with a damp cloth or paper towel first. Then wipe down the surface inside and out with an all-purpose cleaner and dry it thoroughly.

Methods Overview

You can clean an electric smoker in several ways. Here are the options:

1. Hand washing – If you’re only dealing with a little grime, a simple hand wash should do the trick.

2. Dishwasher – If you’re dealing with larger amounts of grime or have stubborn residue, consider running your smoker parts through the dishwasher so they receive plenty of cleaning action and heat that will kill harmful bacteria. You can also use a dishwasher for hand-washed items if you prefer to save time on washing by using two machines simultaneously.

3. Use a cleaning product – For stubborn products like sticky grease and burnt on food, you can use a Brisk-Wash or some other commercial cleaner.

The list below includes several ways to clean an electric smoker.

Clean Your Electric Smoker With a Cleaning Product

You can clean an electric smoker with a cleaning product as long as it doesn’t contain bleach, ammonia, or other harmful chemicals. Buy some of the following cleaners and try running them through your smoker and accessories such as plates, grills, etc. for different results:

Ted’s Lemon Air Duster – The lemon duster is known for removing bacteria from all surfaces in your kitchen without harming their effectiveness.

Carbon Paper – This carbon paper has been known to be a great option for removing grime on the exterior surfaces of your smoker.

Rubbing Alcohol – Sometimes you need to get rid of some of the grime on electric smokers, but rubbing alcohol may not seem like an appropriate cleaning product. However, it can be a great choice if you want an extra guarantee that harmful bacteria are being killed off.

Cleaning by Hand

If you’re faced with minor grime on the interior or exterior of your smoker, simple hand washing can get the job done with little effort. First, remove debris from surfaces with a damp cloth or paper towel and then rinse the surface off well with warm water. After that, just wipe the surface down with a clean cloth to dry it. Wipe off any markings on surfaces and then you’re good to go!

Directions for Cleaning by Hand:

1. Remove any loose debris or food before beginning the hand wash.

2. Use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces until all of the residue is removed.

3. Pour some warm water on a clean cloth and use it to rinse off the surfaces thoroughly, taking care to remove all traces of residue, grease, or grime.

4. Dry surfaces well with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible and then you’re good to go!

Cleaning by Dishwasher

If your electric smoker has removable parts like racks and plates, you can place them in the dishwasher for a deeper cleaning that can leave your smoking accessories smelling fresh again.

1. Place the racks, grills, plates, and other accessories into the dishwasher for 60 seconds.

2. Let all of your smoking products cool down before using them again.

3. Clean any residue off with a rag or paper towel before using them again and they’ll be just like new!

Using a Cleaning Product on Your Electric Smoker or Accessories

If you want to use a cleaning product on your electric smoker or accessories, you should avoid relying too heavily on them to clean off greasy grime. Instead, use a product that is designed specifically for cleaning smoker accessories or electric smokers and make sure you follow the directions on the label.

Brisk-Wash Tips and Tricks

If you’re looking for a cleaning product that is effective in removing grease, grime, and residue from your smoker accessories, Brisk-Wash is a good option to consider. However, there are some things you should be aware of before using this powerful cleaner for cleaning your smoker or accessories.

1. Make sure your smoker is on before you spray the Brisk-Wash into the vent holes where the smoke comes out. You’ll need to do this in order to get the best results from Brisk-Wash.

2. Avoid spraying Brisk-Wash onto hot surfaces or directly on food as it can damage them both.

3. Use the green nozzle when you’re washing accessories, but use the blue nozzle for drier surfaces like cookware.

4. Ensure your accessories are immersed in water before using Brisk-Wash as it can damage them if they’re dry.

Cleaning Tips:

1. Run your smoker through a cleaning cycle with Brisk-Wash before the first use to remove any residue.

2. Read the directions on the Brisk-Wash bottle carefully to get an understanding of how to use it properly and avoid any negative side effects.

3. Do not submerge your smoker or accessories in water, but run them through washing cycles on your dishwasher as it can give you a deeper clean than hand washing can provide.

4. If you’re going to use Brisk-Wash, make sure you prepare for some residual odor afterward and try not to let the smoke linger in your kitchen once the smoking session is complete.

5. Avoid using ammonia cleaners as they can leave behind harmful residue and they’re not effective at removing grease or grime from smoked foods, resulting in a lesser-quality product after smoking sessions are complete.

Conclusion

Cleaning an electric smoker can be a great way to get your smoking accessories looking as good as new after a long session of smoking. You can clean by hand, in a dishwasher, or with a cleaning product, but you should also keep in mind that some cleaning products can leave behind residual odors that are undesirable. If you’re going to use a cleaning product on your electric smoker or accessories, make sure you read the directions carefully to avoid any negative side effects. Remember that you should avoid using ammonia or harsh chemicals on your smoker because they’ll only cause damage and will take away from the taste of your smoked foods.