Often the challenge with cleaning a pellet grill is the amount of grease when cooking large muscles of pork meat.
Whether it’s ribs, shoulder, or pork belly – you will find a lot of rendering happens. Often you are cooking at a lower temperature to break down the muscle whilst also rendering the fat internally.
I’ve used pellet grills which have all different types of cleaning features, reviewing some of the major brands like Traeger, GMG, Broil King, and CampChef.
Is a Pellet Grill Easy to Clean?
A pellet grill is easy to clean because all grills have removal grates, grease trays, and grease buckets. Some have additional features which can make cleaning faster also.
Some features help even more, let me elaborate and mention a few that will the easiest to clean.
Features of Pellet Grills That Make it Easier to Clean
A pellet grill can be relatively easy to clean, but it does require regular maintenance to keep it in good working condition. If you neglect regular cleaning, the grease build-up will start affecting the performance of the pellet grill.
Features that can make a pellet grill easier to clean include:
| Feature | Benefit | Example Brand/Models |
| Removal Grill Grates (standard on all) | Gives access to grease tray, burn pot underneath | All Pellet Grills |
| Ash Removal | Underneath the burn Pot, unscrew to remove the ash | Pit Boss, CampChef |
| Grease Tray & Bucket | Grease runs down into the bucket externally | All Pellet Grills |
| Ash Exhaust for Shop Vac | Tube from burn pot to outside grill for sucking ash out | Green Mountain Grill – Ledge and Peak |
| Pellet Hopper Chute | A door on rear, to drain unused pellets from the hopper | GMG, Traeger, CampChef |
Removable grill grates: Very standard, all grills have removable grill grates making it easy to take them off the grill and clean them separately.
Ash removal system: Some pellet grills that have an ash removal system make it easy to remove the ash and debris that accumulates in the bottom of the grill.
Grease management system: All pellet grills have a grease management system that collects and drains away excess grease, making cleaning a lot easier. If you line the bucket, then you will have less grease to deal with.
Stainless steel construction: Stainless steel grills are easy to clean and maintain, and they also resist rust and corrosion. Often the models that are SS will be slightly more investment.
Self-Cleaning Mode: All pellet grills automatically go through a cycle when turned off, this tries to burn the remaining wood pellets in the burn pot. Some models do this better than offers.
Some folks like to turn the pellet grill to the maximum for 10 minutes to do a ‘burn off’ clean. This can work, however, I’ve had the odd flare-up due to too much fat, like this rolled porchetta below!
(you will also use a lot of wood pellets if you do a ‘burn off)
I had the GMG Ledge on Full temp, and so much fat was dripping on the greasy tray, I got a flare-up! Cool photo!
Some pellet grills come with self-cleaning modes, such as a self-cleaning mode or a built-in cleaning brush, which can make cleaning the grill easier.
Regular cleaning and maintenance will help keep your pellet grill in good working condition and will ensure that it continues to produce delicious, smoky-flavored food for many grilling seasons to come!
Steps to cleaning a pellet grill
Here are the basic steps for cleaning a pellet grill:
Allow the grill to cool down: Before cleaning, make sure that the grill has cooled down completely.
Empty the hopper and ash pan: Remove any remaining pellets from the hopper and empty the ash pan.
Clean the grill grates: Use a wire brush or a scraper to remove any debris or food residue from the grill grates. For tough stains, you can use a mixture of water and mild detergent to clean the grates.
Clean the drip tray: Remove the drip tray and empty any collected grease or debris. Clean the tray with warm water and mild detergent and dry it thoroughly.
Clean the exterior: Wipe down the exterior of the grill with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or grime.
Clean the fan and vent: Using a brush or compressed air can remove any debris from the fan and vent.
Reassemble the grill: Once you’ve finished cleaning, reassemble the grill and make sure that all the parts are securely in place.
It’s important to clean your pellet grill after every use, this will prevent the build-up of debris and will ensure that the grill runs efficiently
I’ve used a few pellet smokers that haven’t been cleaned after cooking, you also get issues with the sensors that are detecting the temperature for the thermostat. Be careful cleaning around the sensor as well.
Also, it’s important to use mild detergent and avoid using abrasive cleaning products to avoid damaging the grill.
What products do I need to clean a Pellet Grill
For the grill grates I like to use a wire brush. Shop Vac to suck out the remaining ash from the burn pot or compressed air to blow it clean. Soft cloth, hot water, and mild detergent for most other areas.
Here are some more details:
A stiff wire brush: This is used to scrub the grates and remove any food residue or buildup.
A putty knife or scraper: This is used to remove any stuck-on food or debris from the grill grates.
A degreaser: This is used to remove any heavy grease buildup in the grill.
A vacuum cleaner/shop vac: This is used to remove any ash from the ash pan or ash dump.
A can of compressed air : This is used to blow out any ash or debris from the burn pot and other hard-to-reach areas of the grill.
A metal polish: This is used to make the stainless steel parts of the grill shine.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your specific pellet grill and use only products recommended by the manufacturer.