An electric smoker is the most commonly opted option by people who follow the set it and forget it ideology. The ease of use offered by an electric smoker is the perfect choice for beginners. An electric smoker makes use of wood chips to enjoy a smoky flavor. As an electric smoker has no flame, you won’t have to check the fuel before you begin smoking. You also don’t have to constantly monitor your electric smoker as you would in the case of charcoal, offset, or pellet smokers.
It has advanced components which require careful care and assistance to ensure its long life. It is a general rule of thumb to clean your smoker once you have used it three to five times. Although it isn’t necessary, you should consider washing your electric smoker before you begin using it.
At any time you are washing your electric smoker, make sure you go through the user manual to understand how you can dissect every detachable component of your electric smoker.
Although the process of choosing an electric smoker is a task, so is the cleaning. There are certain predefined steps that you must follow to ensure that you properly clean your electric smoker. In the following article, we will delve into how to clean your electric smoker.
Contents
Method For Cleaning The Removable Components Of Your Smoker
It is always an easy task to clean your electric smoker immediately after it has been used. This is because any buildup and debris is warm during this time and therefore, easier to get off as compared to buildup and debris which has been hardened in any unused unit. If you have not been using your smoker for a long period of time, you should heat it to the maximum temperature for approximately an hour and then allow it to cool down for some time.
Although there is a variation in the models of electric smokers, almost every one of them has a maximum temperature reach of 135 degrees Celsius. When your smoker has cooled down, you should be able to hold all the components and surfaces inside the smoker without any discomfort or pain to your hands.
The next step involves removing the detachable components of your electric smoker. Almost every electric smoker uses a drip tray, a water pan, and racks that collect debris and grease from use. Soak these detachable components in hot and soapy water in your kitchen space or workroom sink. Soaking helps to loosen any grease and debris to ensure an easy and quick wash.
Use your scraper and scouring sponge to remove any stubborn debris. Use hot and soapy water to wash the drip tray, racks, and water pan. Once you have soaked these components, it should be relatively easy for you to clean them. Your smoker’s size will indicate whether you can position your drip tray, racks, and water pan in your dishwasher.
Steps For Cleaning The Interior Of Your Smoker
When you are smoking food, you position the wood chips in the smoker box to enhance flavor. Once you are done smoking, dump the ash in a container that is non-combustible to avoid any chances of fire. If the ash is cold, you can simply dump the ash in a regular trash can. Use a damp cloth to wipe down your smoker.
Once you are done removing the ash, scrape the debris buildup and debris that has accumulated in your smoker. You can use your soft bristle brush and a plastic scraper to get rid of large chunks of debris that might have deposited on your smoker’s floor and walls. You can collect the debris in a small pile at the corner of your smoker’s floor and then brush it off in a tarp.
Make sure you scrape the inside of your smoker gently. Cleaning your electric smoker primarily aims to get rid of large chunks of debris. Don’t forget to clean the far corners of your electric smoker properly because they are usually at a higher chance of being neglected.
Now squeeze as much water as you can out of your sponge. Once done, clean the inside of your electric smoker to get rid of the grease buildup. Note that the walls of your smoker will get darker with each use. Therefore, there is no point in rigorously scrubbing them to clean them. This phenomenon is called darkening and helps prevent the formation of rust, allowing your smoker to perform better with time.
Usually, there is a quick accumulation of grease on the door of your electric smoker. This hinders the sight of your food when it is being prepared. You can use the sponge’s scouring pad side and soapy, warm water to remove the grease. Don’t forget to rinse the door of your smoker once done cleaning. You can also spray grill cleaner on the door of your electric smoker to loosen the grease buildup and wipe down the glass using a damp sponge.
Steps For Cleaning The Exterior Of Your Smoker
Dust accumulates regardless of whether your smoker is meant for indoor or outdoor use. Wipe the sides and top of your smoker to ensure it looks neat and clean. Make sure you inspect the back of your smoker and carefully wipe away dust and cobwebs that might have been deposited if you didn’t use your smoker for a long period. Make sure you wipe the seal of your door. If there is any grease buildup on your door seal, your electric smoker might not function properly.
Use paper towels or old newspapers to dry your smoker if you don’t have any paper towels at hand. Allow the unit to rest as it is for at least one hour to air dry. In addition, wipe the water pan, racks, and drip tray using paper towels to get rid of any leftover moisture. You shouldn’t put your smoker away when it is still damp because it can lead to the accumulation of rust and mold. Once you are done with the cleaning process, assemble the detachable components preferably from top to bottom. When the parts have been assembled, you can simply store your electric smoker in its resting place.
Few Tips For Cleaning Electric Smoker Efficiently
- Brush your racks in vegetables before you smoke food. This is because it makes your cleaning process relatively easy.
- You should preferably wash your removable components after almost every use to clean your electric smoker efficiently and quickly.
- To avoid any mold, keep your electric smoker in a covered setting, preferably indoors when you are not putting it to any use.
Things To Consider When Cleaning An Electric Smoker
- Make sure you don’t use caustic cleaners inside the electric smoker because they can disrupt the taste of your smoked food.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe the temperature probe of your smoker. Don’t immerse it in water because that will likely damage the tool.
- Once you have finished cleaning your electric smoker, inspect the plastic bristles that might have been dislodged from your smoker’s soft-bristle brush. Such occurrences can even lead to bad-tasting food.
Things That Require For Cleaning Electric Smoker
- An absorbent cloth
- A bucket
- Paper towels
- Heavy-duty rubber gloves
- Grill cleaner
- A soft, plastic bristle brush
- A plastic scraper
- An old piece of vinyl or a tarp
- Old clothing or a dark-colored apron
- Dish detergent
- A kitchen sponge that has a scouring pad
Conclusion
Therefore, it is evident that cleaning your electric smoker is an entire process in itself. While an electric smoker is a viable option to cook a wide variety of smoked food, it is also important for you to maintain the cleanliness of your smoker. You must clean your smoker after every three to five uses to ensure that it works efficiently.
If you use an dirty electric smoker, your food stands a greater chance of being tainted. It will also be embarrassing if you plan to use your dirty smoker when hosting a dinner party for friends and family. Cleaning your electric smoker is, therefore, a necessity not only because it ensures the hygiene of your appliance but also because it increases the useful life of your electric smoker.
Cleaning your electric smoker is a skill that needs to be learned. Therefore, regardless of whether you are a beginner in the world of using smokers or someone who is conducting online research on the ways to clean your smoker, this article will assist you with the right way to clean your electric smoker.
