Learn the easiest way to clean your Pit Boss pellet grill grates in minutes using only ice water and a simple bristle-free grill brush!
This chemical-free method is safe and effective, as opposed to using a wire bristle grill brush or harsh cleaning supplies.
Finding a method to clean the grates of a pellet grill can be a struggle, especially for those who have transitioned from gas grilling.
Pellet grills, like Pit Boss, present unique challenges when trying to do a proper burn-off. Most do not go above 450 or 500°F.
In addition, conventional wire bristle brushes can be dangerous if the bristles get trapped in your food.
Although we recommend using a citrus-based degreaser to clean inside the Pit Boss barrel, we prefer not to use chemical cleaners on our cooking grates.
That's why we've taken the time to research and test various tools with the hopes of finding a safer and more effective solution.
We finally stumbled upon the Barbecue Daddy Brush, a product made by the same company responsible for the famous Scrub Daddy sponge from Shark Tank.
Not only is this brush bristle-free and safe for use on porcelain grates, but it also uses steam cleaning to effectively remove grease and grime without using high heat.
By combining this brush with ice water alone, the BBQ Daddy cleans the grates without chemicals!
This innovative brush has changed our approach to maintaining our Pit Boss grates, and we hope it will do the same for you! Here we will show you how to use this fantastic tool that is not only easy to use, but environmentally friendly and gentle on your grates.
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Video
Rather WATCH than read? Check out our YouTube video for How to Clean Your Pit Boss Grill Grates where we demonstrate how to use the BBQ Daddy Brush.
How Can you do a Burn Off on a Pellet Grill?
On gas grills, it's easy to perform a burn off by cranking up the burners and letting the grill run at high temperatures to clean the grates.
However, it's challenging to recreate this on a pellet grill like the Pit Boss, even with the direct heat option.
The heat distribution is uneven because it only burns off the grease in the center above the firepot.
Also, using a high heat burn off method consumes a lot of pellet fuel that we'd prefer to save for smoking our food instead.
Dangers of Wire Bristle Brushes
Grill brushes with wire bristles are a hidden danger.
Over time the wires become loose and can stick to your grill grates and eventually end up on your food.
A consumed wire can get lodged in your throat or travel into your digestive track and cause damage.
This is a risk for both adults and children, as explained by a pediatric emergency medicine physician.
For this reason, it is wise to avoid using wire bristle brushes altogether.
Bristle-Free Brushes...Kind of Stink
We have written about the most popular Bristle Free Grill Brushes.
One of our favorite bristle free brushes for our gas grill, which has parallel grates, is the GrillArt brush, made of woven stainless steel.
Unfortunately, we have trouble using this brush to clean the crosshatch pattern grates on our Pit Boss Pro 1150.
To achieve clean Pit Boss grates, we needed a fast, easy, and consistent method at a low temperature without using wire bristles.
Additionally, because the Pit Boss cannot get up high enough in temperature for a traditional burn off like with a gas grill, we needed something that would actually scrub the grates rather than just knock off charred bits.
We also wanted to avoid using chemical cleaners on our grates.
The Barbecue Daddy Brush
After trying other options that failed to meet our standards, we finally found what we think is a gamechanger in cleaning our Pit Boss grates: the BBQ Daddy.
The BBQ Daddy Brush features a scrub head made of flexible stainless-steel fibers woven throughout an ArmorTec mesh exterior.
It is safe to use on a variety of surfaces, including the porcelain grates of the Pit Boss.
Advantages
- No wire bristles: It eliminates the risk of dangerous wire bristles getting into our food and causing health hazards. Safe to use on porcelain grates.
- No burn off needed: We don't need a high temperature to clean the grates, saving us pellet fuel and giving the same effect as a high heat burn-off.
- No chemicals: Cleans with ice water alone!
- Adjustable firmness: Cold water firms the head, warm water softens it.
- Works well at lower temperatures: We can steam clean the grates at a 300-325°F temperature.
- Effective on crosshatch style grates: The Barbecue Daddy can effectively clean Pit Boss grates with its bristle-free design, reaching even small crevices of the grates.
- Long-lasting: One cleaning head can last for a whole season.
- Replaceable head: Cleaning head easily comes off to replace with a fresh one.
By using the Barbecue Daddy, not only do we maintain the porcelain coating of our grill grates, but we also have a safe and efficient tool for keeping our Pit Boss clean and ready for the next cook.
- Flexible Stainless Steel Fibers
- Water Activated Grill Cleaning Brush
- Built-In Grill Scraper
- Easy to Clean
- Replaceable Grill Brush H
How to Use
Preheat grill: Set your Pit Boss between 300-325°F.
Prepare water: Fill a small bucket with ice water.
Dip the brush: Submerge the Barbecue Daddy's head in the ice water and let it absorb a bit.
Drain the excess water: Allow some excess water to drain, ensuring not too much drips onto the flame broiler.
Scrub the grates: Gently scrub each grate, then flip and repeat as needed. The steam cleans and loosens grease and dried bits of food.
Dry the grates: After you've finished cleaning, close the lid and let the grill run for a few minutes, then turn it off.
After Use Care
- Remove the head: Detach the cleaning head of the Barbecue Daddy.
- Rinse under water: Wash the head under the kitchen sink, or place it on the top rack of your dishwasher.
- Replace as needed: After a few months of use, replace the cleaning head when it starts to break down. One head could last you an entire grilling season.
- Easy to Clean - BBQ Daddy’s scouring head grill sponge removes easily for washing and lasts well beyond one grilling season and most outdoor grill cleaning brush products!
Key Takeaways
- The Barbecue Daddy Brush offers an effective solution to cleaning Pit Boss grates without harsh chemicals or dangerous wire bristles.
- Steam cleaning with the Barbecue Daddy Brush helps remove stubborn grease and grime at lower temperatures, providing an alternative to high heat burn-offs.
- With the Barbecue Daddy Brush, maintaining your Pit Boss grates can be a fast, simple, and consistent process that ensures your grill remains clean and safe for your next cook.
Using the BBQ Daddy after every cook on your Pit Boss will keep your grates in good shape.
This doesn't mean that they won't still need a deep clean every now and then, especially at the end of the season if you are winterizing your grill.
For an in depth guide on how to thoroughly clean your entire Pit Boss, including the grates, check out our article How to Deep Clean Your Pit Boss Pellet Grill.
Additional Pit Boss Resources
We have an entire collection of Pit Boss How-to Guides and articles to cover just about everything you want to know about your Pit Boss Pellet Grill.
Many of these articles are accompanied by videos. Whether you're having trouble with your Pit Boss not making enough smoke or having some temperature issues, we have you covered.
How to Easily Clean the Grates on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Equipment
- 1 BBQ Daddy Scrub Daddy Brush
- 1 Bucket of Ice Water
Instructions
- Set the Pit Boss to 300 or 325°F.
- Fill a bucket with ice water.
- Submerge the Barbecue Daddy's head in the ice water and let it absorb briefly.
- Lift the head out of the water and allow some excess water to drain, ensuring not too much drips onto the flame broiler.
- Gently scrub each grate, then flip and repeat as needed. The steam cleans and loosens grease and dried bits of food.
- After you've finished cleaning, close the lid and let the grill run for a few minutes, then turn it off.
After Use Care
- Detach the cleaning head of the Barbecue Daddy.
- Wash the head under running water, or place it in the top rack of your dishwasher.
- After a few months of use, replace the cleaning head when it starts to break down. One head could last you an entire grilling season depending on how frequently or aggressively the brush is used.
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