How do you clean your hooks and grate?

[jasonevans84]

I was wondering how everyone cleaned there hooks and grates on the PBC? I have been cleaning my grate with a wire brush and using dawn on my hooks. does anyone have any better ways?

[Nate]

Dawn dishwater and a Scotch Brite Scrub Sponge or Mesh Scrub Sponge thing for the hooks. You can fold and wrap them around the hook easily. I sometimes use that on the grate if it gets too funky.... Usually just a nylon grate brush on the grate.

[MBMorgan]

Can't help you with the grate (don't cook on it) ... but soaking followed by a Scotch Brite Scrub Sponge works great to knock the gunk off followed by a trip through the dishwasher to sanitize.

[freddh]

MBMorgan sanitizing through the dishwasher, good idea. Although we don't use it that often, next time I'll just put all of my hooks in and sanitize.

[rip1877]

Try to clean the well first. Don't want the gunk in the dishwasher to put you in the dog house.

[Jerod Broussard]

I use a metal bristle pad for the hooks. Then run through the dishwasher.

[Doc Hazard]

I do the hooks as above, soak, scrub, dishwasher. I don't use the grate much, but I bought a plastic thing designed to go under hot water heaters, big diameter, but shallow, and cheap ($12). Throw the grate in, fill with water to cover, add strong cleaner/degreaser, and let sit a day or two, preferably in the hot sun. Empty, everything comes off with a mild scrub, rinse. (Others have suggested this before.) If you want to sanitize, you can buy solutions at restaurant supply stores, or just mix up 1 Tbs bleach in a quart of water and put it in a spray bottle. This is a bit stronger than the standard FDA or Dept of Ag mixture, and kills everything in a couple of minutes. I use it on cutting boards, counters, anything touching raw poultry, etc. Of course, you can buy alcohol and disinfecting wipes, too, but the solution is cheaper and handy.

[Nuke em]

Oven off that you don't have to heat

[morganjim]

I pressure wash my dirty parts no matter they be from the kettle or smoker.

[mayapoppa]

As others have mentioned here, a scouring pad seems to get all of the gunk off the hooks surprisingly easily. Then they go in the dishwasher. The grate, which I do occasionally use, just gets a wire brush. Although it is a little tricky with that thing. Because it is a ways down from the top, it is hard to get the edges of the grate. And it has a lot of play in the barrel, so it slides around when I'm trying to clean it.

[pencotts]

A cautionary tale regarding wire brushes: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/barbec...psey-1.3741578