How often should I clean burn pot?

[jjdbike]

In my journey to get serious about learning to get the most out of my treater pellet cooker, I’ve begun cleaning it after each cook.

I’m planning on smoking some fish early tomorrow morning. Remembered I forgot to clean out the burn pot of ashes. My previous cook was 6 hours.

How often should I clean the ashes out of the burn pot? Should I clean it before my fish smoke session tomorrow morning?

Thanks in advance!
JD

[Donw]

I clean mine every time. Better airflow, better burn.

[RiverJeff]

I too clean every time

[smokenoob]

this! ^

[fkrall]

+1

[Ace]

+1 Above

[Skip]

On my MAK I clean after every long cook or at least every few short cooks. I think it helps it light better with a clean pot.

[Draznnl]

This is what I do on my Yoder.

[jerrybell]

Mine's a CC Woodwind Pro. I dump the ash pot after every cook and scape and vacuum the entire chamber about every fourth cook.

[captainlee]

Every time and I vacuum out the rest of the smoker about every 3 cooks. I will do a total clean out before using the pizza oven insert.

[Spinaker]

Clean it every time. That will go along way protecting your gear. Anytime your electronics are cleaned up, it's a good thing. Just vacuum it out with a shop vac and you are good to go.

[Jerod Broussard]

Since that ash will collect/absorb moisture it's best to clean it out after every cook.

[Huskee]

I am not as maintenance-minded as those above, I do not clean mine out every cook, would be lying if I said I did even every third. Your manual should say what they recommend. On mine (Grilla Silverbac) it recommends I believe every 30 or 60 lbs of pellets burnt, can't remember which. Obviously it's wisest to err on the side of too often.

[radiodome21]

^ Same with my Silverback.

I also have a Traeger 575 at our lake house and it I do it every 3-4 cooks, as most are short cooks. That being said if I am going to do a long cook on the Traeger I will clean it out beforehand just out of caution because it is a shared house and cooker.

[DavidNorcross]

Highly recommend cleaning after each cook.

[Allon]

I was thinking of something totally different 🤔

[glitchy]

It really varies by grill and by pellets used. With my Traegers was usually after every 20lbs of pellets burned. With my MAK after I finish a series of cooks that passes 5 or so hours (whether that be 6 hours or 18 hours when it finishes). With my CampChef, I dumped every cook and cleaned things every bag.

[jjdbike]

Done!
Easy peasy!
Thanks,
JD

[DuckinBBQ]

After every cook.