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a Pit Boss pellet grill with sudsy soap all over it
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How to Deep Clean a Pit Boss Pellet Grill

Learn how to clean a Pit Boss pellet grill in 4 steps, as well as tips for rust removal and re-seasoning the grill to keep it looking great for years to come.
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours
Author Meghan Martigan

Equipment

  • 1 Pit Boss Pellet Grill

Ingredients

  • Nitrile Gloves or Chemical Resistant Gloves
  • Kitchen Sponge
  • Mild Dish Detergent
  • Large Bin or Tub
  • Citrus Degreaser
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Paper Towels
  • Ammonia optional
  • Oven Cleaner optional

Instructions

Clean the Cooking Grates

  • Place the grates in a large bin of soapy water. Scrub them with a kitchen sponge to remove the food and sauce residue. If the grates contain baked-on food, you may need to soak them in the soapy water for up to 1 hour. Rinse the grates well with fresh water.
    scrubbing the grates with a kitchen sponge and mild dish soap
  • Allow the grates to dry completely before replacing them in the grill.
    grill grates on an oil drip pan in the sun to dry

Deep Cleaning the Cooking Grates

  • If cleaning with soap and water is not enough to chunks of char from your grates, place the grates in a large trash bag with 2 cups of ammonia. Always wear chemical gloves when working with ammonia.
    the grill grates in a large black trash bag
  • Seal the bag and place it in a well ventilated area overnight.
  • Carefully open the bag and pour white vinegar inside to neutralize the ammonia.
    trash bag filled with grill grates with a jug of white vinegar next to it
  • Scrub the grates and rinse well with water. You may wash them with soap and water to be extra cautious.
    scrubbing charred bits off the grill grates
  • Allow the grates to dry completely before placing them back in the grill.

Clean the Flame Broiler

  • Scrape off the charred on chunks of food with a wooden scraper.
    a wooden scraper scraping the flame broiler
  • Remove the flame broiler and sliding plate and place them in a large tub of soapy water. Scrub both to remove all of the residue. If it's not coming clean, soak them in the water for about 30 minutes, then try again.
    scrubbing the flame broiler with soap and water

Deep Cleaning the Flame Broiler

  • If your flame broiler is still dirty, place it on a cardboard surface in a well ventilated area. Protect your hands with chemical gloves and spray both sides of each piece with oven cleaner.
    spraying the flame broiler with oven cleaner
  • Allow it to sit for 40-60 minutes, or the time suggested by your brand of cleaner.
  • Rinse the flame broiler well with water.
  • If you have any rust build up on your flame broiler, cover it with white vinegar soaked paper towels for about 30-60 minutes, making sure to re-moisten the paper towels if they start to dry out.
    white vinegar soaked paper towels covering the surface of the flame broiler
  • Remove the paper towels and rinse.
  • Immediately spray the flame broiler with high heat cooking spray to prevent rust formation. Rub the oil around with a shop towel to ensure even distribution across the surface on both sides.
    the flame broiler on top of a flattened cardboard box drying in the sun

Clean the Inside

  • Empty the hopper and burn through the pellets still in the auger. Then empty the ash pot.
  • Scrape off the flame broiler rod with a steel wool sponge.
    using steel wool to get ash off the flame broiler rod
  • Use a mini shop vac to remove all of the dust and debris from inside the Pit Boss barrel.
    shop vac sucking up ash from inside the pellet grill
  • Spray the inside of the barrel with a non-corrosive degreaser like CitruSafe, paying special attention to areas that accumulate grease such as the grease chute.
    spraying CitruSafe degreaser inside the pit boss
  • Scrub the degreaser and then rinse with water.
  • Apply white vinegar soaked paper towels to any interior surface that has rust build up, such as the inside of the lid. Wash off the vinegar after treatment.
    white vinegar soaked paper towels placed on the inside of the lid
  • Use shop towels to dry the interior surface of the barrel.
  • Immediately apply a high heat oil spray to all interior surfaces after they are dry.
  • Lastly, wipe down the temperature probe with rubbing alcohol to remove grease or food build up.
    wiping down the temperature probe with rubbing alcohol
  • Replace the flame broiler and cooking grates.

Clean the Outside

  • Use a mild soap and water with a kitchen sponge on the outside of your grill, rinse with fresh water, then dry well.
    scrubbing the outside of the pellet grill with soap and water using a kitchen sponge
  • Remove the grease bucket from the hook and clean with soap and water. Fill with a disposable grease bucket liner to make clean up easier.
    the grease bucket hanging from the handle
  • Unscrew the chimney cap and wipe the surface with white vinegar if there is rust build up.
    pit boss smoke stack chimney with rust on it
  • Rinse off the vinegar and dry. Apply high heat oil immediately with a shop towel.
    wiping down the chimney with more oil
  • Remove the metal plate behind the front shelf and scrub with soap and water or apply degreaser. Rinse and dry before replacing.
    holding the metal backing that goes behind the words "PRO SERIES" on the front of the grill

Burn Off

  • After cleaning, it is best to do a burn off to remove any chemical residue and to seal in the seasoning.
  • Run your grill at 450°F (or the highest it will go) for 1-2 hours with the exhaust chimney completely open to allow for airflow and release of chemical fumes.

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