If you have been neglecting your traeger, wondering how to make it shine like new you're in the right place! From cleaning the grease trap, the grates and the side walls.. learn how to clean it all.
Active Time45mins
Total Time45mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Smoker, Traeger
Yield: 1Traeger Grill
Materials
Supplies Needed
1Shop-Vac
2-4Dishwasher Pods
Hot Water
6Microfiber ClothsOr heavy duty paper towel
Tinfoil
Liner
Instructions
Step 1: Clean the Grill Grates
I like to clean the grill grates while my Traeger is still assembled. That way the water can drip into the grease bucket and it's easiest to scrub the grates while they are in place. If you have a brush that is approved for use on Traeger grates, now is a great time to use it.
Step 2: Disassemble
Remove the grates, the liner, the grease bucket, and the firepot shield.
Step 3: Clean the Firepot
This is the most important part of cleaning your Traeger, if you have a dirty firepot, you will have issues with ignition and maintaining temperatures. A dirty firepot can even alter the taste of your food and cause uneven cooking!There is a lot of bad advice on how to clean a firepot on the internet. I have read people using wire brushes and even pressure washers to clean it out 😩 Do not do that, Traeger explicitly says not to on their site. I am not sure who thinks throwing water in an electrical component is a good idea. Get yourself a shop vac. I have a teeny tiny one just for the Traeger. It's high-powered and all you need to clean a firepot. Suck up all the ash and any visible pellets and shazam you're done.
Step Four: Vacuum
With your handy little vacuum, suck up all the dust/ash you can see.Note: Household vacuums will cry if you use them for this 0/10 would not recommend.
Step Five: Srub a Dub Dub
Fill a large Bucket with hot water and dissolve a dishwasher tab into it.
If needed, wash the outside of the Trager first. You only need to do this once or twice a year. Be sure to give special attention to where the lid meets the main part as I find grease gets built up here.
Scrub the entire inside of the Traeger, be sure to not touch the temperature probe or get water in the firepot.
Once you have scrubbed away the grease, change your water and your cloth. Wipe everything down again. Now get a bucket of just hot water and wipe everything down a third and final time, a rinse cycle.
Special Areas to Pay attention to.
The Grease TrapAHHH this grease trap will be the worst part of this process, accept that and then tackle it. I like to soak a couple of cloths with soapy water and let them sit on the grease build-up while I clean the rest of the grill and deal with this part last. If needed, use a sharp object to chip away any baked-on grease. and for the sanity of your future self, make a DIY liner for this with tin foil so you never have to put yourself through this again.The ChimneyBe sure to wipe out the chimney during each step. First wash, second wash and rinse. A lot of grease gets caught in here but it's not bad to deal with if you wipe it out each time you clean it.
Step 6: Put it all back together again
Place the heat baffle back on top of the firepot. Set the drip tray back in place. Put a liner on it, or tin foil. Also, be sure to cover the side drip tray with foil for easier future clean-up and poke a hole in the foil so the grease can run into the grease bucket. Place the grill grates back into place.