Grilling is a highly addictive pastime. Since it’s the summertime, you’ve probably pulled out your Traeger grill to cook up BBQ salmon, BBQ chicken legs, or grill up a delicious Tomahawk steak.
However, now that you’ve cooked your delicious BBQ, you need to clean your grill.
Knowing how to clean your Traeger grill is an essential part of maintaining your grill.
Luckily, you will no longer have to struggle to keep your grill clean after today. You will be able to clean your Traeger grill like a pro.
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When Do I Use Soap To Clean My Traeger Grill?
You must be careful when using soap on your Traeger grill. Detergent soap is safe to use on a Traeger grill.
However, it may be best to use Traeger grill’s specially designed grill cleaning solution.
This will allow you to clean the grill without damaging the grill, even if you use a grill brush to clean the grill.
Also, soap is best when cleaning the grill’s stainless-steel grate.
However, harsh cleaning solutions, as well as power washers, should never be used to clean your grill.
Soaps contain chemicals that can adhere to the surface of the grill grates even if it is thoroughly rinsed.
Therefore, these chemicals can end up in your food and give it an unpleasant flavor.
Tips for Cleaning Traeger Grill Grates
Use brushes made from metal or wire when cleaning your grill’s grates.
Other types of brushes have bristles that are likely to fall off.
These bristles can stick to the grill grates. Furthermore, they can be hard to see, so they may end up in your food.
Use cleaning towels to clean your grill grates. You can also use thick paper towels to clean your grill’s grates.
Ultimately you do not want to clean your grill’s grates with cheap towels that could leave fibers on your grill’s grates.
Clean your grill from top to bottom. So, start with the smoke stack first, then work your way down.
How To Clean a Traeger Grill
Before you clean your Traeger grill, make sure you let the grill cool completely.
Never clean a hot grill.
Use a soft cloth or thick paper towels to wipe down the exterior surfaces of the grill. You do not need to rinse the outside of the grill.
Next, clean your grill grates. If your grill grates are extremely dirty and have a lot of caked-on food, wash them in warm soapy water.
However, if your grill grates are porcelain, it’s best to use a sponge along with a nylon scrubber or grill brush.
Using a scrubber or brush that’s abrasive such as metal, could damage the porcelain coating.
Use a wooden scraper or nylon brush, or scrubber to cast-iron grill grates.
Cast-iron grill grates are seasoned to create a non-stick surface.
Abrasive scrubbers and brushes can destroy the non-stick coating.
Grease accumulation is one of the biggest factors that can impact the health of your grill. The drain pan was designed to collect oil.
However, just because grease accumulates in the grease pan does not mean it will not damage other parts of the grill.
Next, remove the firebox grill cover. The firebox contains ash.
Be careful not to spill the ash, or it will end up everywhere. Throw the ash into disposable trash or plastic bag.
Use a soft cloth to wipe the grill’s interior lid clean. Wipe the side panels to eliminate any residue.
If the debris is hard to remove, spray it with the Traeger grill cleaner.
Wipe the panels again with the cloth to remove the gunk.
Run the nozzle of a vacuum in the base of the grill.
The vacuum cleaner will suck up any wood ash or pieces of burned fat that settle at the bottom of the grill.
Wipe the thermostat probe with a soft cloth.
Debris can cover the thermostat probe, giving you an inaccurate read.
Next, empty the greased pan. Make sure you pour the grease into a container you can easily get rid of, like a trash bag, plastic cup, or plastic bag.
Do not pour the grease into your sink. The grease will cause damage to your pipes.
Additionally, ensure the grease is cool so it can be easily discarded.
If you pour hot grease into a plastic container, it will melt the container creating a giant mess.
Once you’ve thrown away the grease, rinse the drain pan with hot soapy water.
The hot soapy water will remove the remaining grease.
Wrap your grease pan with aluminum foil. The foil is not an end-all-be-all, but it will make cleaning the drain pan easier in the future.
Alternatively, you can use grease bucket liners to line your grease pan.
While cleaning your Traeger grill, it’s best to check your grill’s control panels, wires, and seals.
From there, you can contact a professional who can change rusted or discolored electrical instruments.
If there are leaks or gaps around your seals, they must be changed.
Damaged seals can drastically affect your grill’s smoke levels and air circulation. Luckily grill seals are relatively cheap and easy to replace.
Lastly, it’s time to reassemble your Traeger grill.
Add the grease box and the firebox. Add your grills cooking grates, and your grill is ready to use.
The best way to prevent your grill from getting damaged is by using a grill cover.
If your Traeger grill does not have a cover, it’s pretty easy to find one in brick-and-mortar stores or online.
If you do not use your Trager grill right away, cover it with a grill cover.
Final Thoughts
Barbecuing on your Traeger pellet grill is a great way to spend your summer evenings.
However, it’s best to start with a clean grill. This will prevent food from sticking to your grill.
Cleaning your Traeger grill is simple and easy. Cleaning your grill will be a breeze if you’ve got the right tools for the job.
Remember to let your grill cool completely before you clean it.
You might also be interested in the following:
- How To Clean a Weber Grill
- How To Clean a Blackstone Grill
- How To Clean a George Foreman Grill
- How To Clean a Flat Top Grill
- How To Clean Pit Boss Pellet Grill
- How To Clean Grill Grates
- How To Clean BBQ Grease off Concrete
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.