How to Clean Pit Boss Pellet Grill and How Often Should I Do This?

Your grill needs cleaning from time to time, especially before the start of the barbecue season. In this article, we will give you tips on how to clean the Pit Boss properly, how often you need to do it, and what tools you will need to clean the pellet grill.

Why is cleaning your Pit Boss pellet grill important?

The more often you use your pellet grill, the more ash and grease accumulate inside it. Therefore, over time, you may notice a deterioration of the grill. In addition, it shortens the working life of the grill. You should deep clean the grill regularly to provide proper grill function:

• Cleanliness of cooked food. If a lot of ash has accumulated in your smoker, then the fan that supports the combustion in the fire burn pot will lift the ashes to where the food is being prepared.
• Temperature control. If there is no excess ash or other debris inside the burn pot, then the air circulates freely there, allowing you to control the temperature better. If there is a lot of ash in the fire pot, the pellet grill may heat up unevenly or go out altogether.
• Proper operation of the grill. If the grill is clean inside, then you will never have any difficulties with lighting the smoker. And if such a problem already exists, then your pellet grill needs cleaning.

If you want your Pit Boss pellet grill to last a long time, you need to clean it properly.

Also read an in-depth article on How to Cook Pizza on Pit Boss Pellet Grill.

How often should I clean my pellet grill?

Of course, it all depends on how often you use the grill. If you use it every day, then clean it once a week. If you use the Pit Boss once a week, then you can deep clean it once a month.

But you can keep your pellet grill clean at all times.

Perform small tasks to clean the grill every few weeks, approximately according to the schedule indicated below:

Every 2-3 weeks – clean the grease drip tray and the ash collection tray. This should be done every 3-5 grilling sessions. Approximately according to the same schedule, you need to clean the pellet grill’s smokestack to ensure better airflow.

Every time, after using the grill – wipe the grates before cooking and after, while the grates should be warmed up. This allows you to preserve the quality taste of the food. Also, after each use of the grill, clean the grease drip bucket, the grease drain, the tube, and the exterior of the grill.

To facilitate the cleaning process of your grill, you can put aluminum foil on the grill grate and in the drip tray before cooking.

Recommended maintenance of the Pit Boss pellet grill

According to the manufacturers of the pellet smoker, it does not need special care. However, some maintenance you have to do.

According to the operating instructions, there are some recommendations for cleaning the components of the Pit Boss pellet grill:

1. The main barrel – requires cleaning every 5-8 grilling sessions.
2. Fire burn pot – every 3-4 grilling sessions.
3. Porcelain grates – after each use.
4. Flame broiler – after 4-6 grilling sessions.
5. Front shelf – if it was soiled, then after each grilling session.
6. Bucket for the grease– every time after using the grill.
7. Auger feed system – every time you change or add pellets.
8. Hopper electric components – once a year.
9. Air intake vent – after 4-6 grilling sessions.
10. Temperature probe – whenever you clean the main barrel, or after 2-4 grills.

What do you need to clean a Pit Boss grill?

Of course, high-quality cleaning of a pellet grill is impossible without tools that help remove grease, and ash and wash the surface of your pellet smoker.

• Brush or scraper. Do not use a scraper that is too abrasive, which may scratch the grill’s surface. You can use a plastic or wooden spatula or a brush with non-metallic bristles. It is better if you have both large and small brushes on a long handle to get to all the corners of the smoker.
• Rag or paper towel. With the help of kitchen paper towels, you can clean the drip tray and the grease bucket, and rags will perfectly polish the outside of the smoker.
• Cleaning solution. Regular soap and warm water or any other organic biodegradable degreaser will do. You can also use a stainless-steel cleaner, in which case your grill will shine.
• Utility vacuum cleaner. With the help of a shop vac or a utility vacuum cleaner, you can quickly remove all the ash that has accumulated inside the Pit Boss grill. You can use a shop vac or handheld vacuum cleaner. There is also an ash vac specially designed for cleaning the grill.
• Nitrile gloves. This way you can protect your hands from dirt and grease.

Deep cleaning of the Pit Boss pellet grill

The great advantage of all pellet grills is their versatility, however, if you do not deep clean your grill regularly and efficiently, then its inner part will become unsafe.

What do we mean when we talk about a deep cleaning of a pellet grill? This means that you have to remove the grill grates, heat deflector plates, the flame boiler, clean the shelves, the RTD temperature probe, the grease trap, the chimney, the heat shield, the grease bucket, etc.

Deep cleaning means that you deep clean the grill both inside and outside, and remove ash, dust, dirt, grease, sawdust, and all other debris.

How do you clean the inside of a pellet grill?

Before you start cleaning the grill, unplug it. Start your work by cleaning the interior of the pellet smoker.

Empty the pellet grill

To get started, open the grill lid, and remove the grates, the broiler plate, and the deflector shield.

To remove any debris, use a sponge or a spatula. In any case, do not use a hard abrasive brush because this way you can scratch the grill parts.

Clean the lid

Start by washing the inside of the lid. Because the steam that rises during the cooking process contains grease particles.

Therefore, there may be grease deposits on the inside of the lid. For this purpose, also use a spatula.

How to clean the grates

To begin with, clean the grill grates with a sponge from the remnants of food, and then soak them in warm water and dish soap.

After a few hours, or better yet the next day, you can easily clean the grill grates. You cannot wash the Pit Boss grates in the dishwasher, as it is too aggressive for porcelain enamel on the grates.

Cleaning the flame broiler and deflector

Remove the grease and leftovers with a spatula or a non-abrasive sponge. Then wash with soapy water and a soft sponge. After washing, allow the deflector and the flame broiler to dry completely in the sun.

No need to try to wash these components without first removing them from the grill. After all, the grill is electric, which means it contains a lot of wires that water can damage.

How to clean the ashes

Collect all the ashes inside the trunk and in the pot with a shop vac.

Cleaning the barrel

After you have removed all the ashes with a shop vac, use a spatula to remove other debris inside the barrel. Then use the vacuum cleaner again to remove all the debris that you have scraped off.

Grease drip tray

First, remove all the grease from the grease drip tray with paper towels. Then scrape off the remaining stuck grease with a spatula. Also, wipe off the hook on which the bucket is held.

How to clean the grease chute

You will need a small brush on a long handle. Your old toothbrush, wooden or plastic scraper will do. Clean the grease chute as well as you can. It has a very small area, so you may experience difficulties.

It is best to clean the grease chute when it is still warm, but not too hot. So the grease is easier lags behind the walls of the grease chute.

Cleaning the RTD temperature sensor

Dirt on the RTD temperature sensor can be in the form of a black residue, which you can remove with a damp, soft cloth.

Cleaning the RTD temperature sensor is important for the reason that it transmits the temperature of the grill to the control panel.

That is, the correct operation of the RTD temperature sensor is important for the operation of the entire pellet smoker.

How do you get wood pellets out of Pit Boss?

First, remove the pellets that are in the hopper. In the Pit Boss grill, you can do this without any problems.

Next, use a vacuum cleaner to remove debris, sawdust, and remnants of broken pellets.

Then clean the air intake of the fan at the bottom of the hopper. To make the cleaning even better, then remove the bottom panel and wipe the fan blades – there may also be remnants of grease, sawdust, and other dirt on them.

How do you clean the auger on Pit Boss pellet grill?

After you have removed the pellets from the hopper, some pellets may remain in the auger, which you can remove with a vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning and replacing the grease bucket

Remove the aluminum liner, which will make it easier for you to clean the grease bucket. Then rinse the bucket thoroughly with warm soapy water and dry it in the sun. Insert a new aluminum liner and hang the bucket in place.

How to clean the shelves in the Pit Boss grill?

The easiest way to clean the shelves in the Pit Boss smoker is with a soft cloth soaked in warm soapy water. Some Pit Boss models have a removable panel in front of the shelf, which can be pulled out and easily clean all dirt.

Cleaning the exterior

You can use a dry cloth to remove the stuck leftovers and drops of fat. Then wipe the grill surface with a wet cloth soaked in soapy water. You can also use a stainless-steel cleaner or a barbecue degreaser:

1. Before washing the grill’s exterior, make sure that it has completely cooled down.
2. While spraying the cleaning solution, make sure that it does not get inside the grill. It is better to use a cloth or sponge to apply the cleaning agent. Also, do not spray the stainless fabric cleaner on the plastic parts of the grill – this will lead to their rapid wear.
3. After spraying the cleaning agent, leave it for 30 seconds so that it will work.
4. Then wipe the grill surface with a clean, dry cloth or paper towels.
5. If there is still dirt on the surface, you can repeat the process several times.
6. As the last step, wipe the grill surface with a wet, dry cloth to remove the remnants of the cleaning solution. In any case, do not wash the pellet grill with a hose or bucket because you can spoil all the electrical components.

Before washing the pellet smoker, make sure that it is unplugged. Also, after washing, do not use the grill for at least 24 hours.

Before loading the pellets back into the hopper, make sure that there is no water or cleaning agent left.

Cleaning of the Pit Boss pellet grill at the end of the season

If you are going to store the grill in winter, then give it a deep cleaning at the end of the season.

You can leave the pellets in the hopper, but if you are not going to use your pellet grill for more than two months, it is better to get the pellets out of the hopper.

Store the grill in a dry and cool place with good ventilation, and also do not forget to cover it with a cover before setting it aside for storage.

Cleaning the Pit Boss grill before the start of the season

Before you start the barbecue season again, you need to clean the grill from dust, check whether the electronics and the air outlet in the chimney are working properly and whether moisture has got into the grill.

You may also be interested in reading our article Why is my grill not getting hot – reasons and solutions.

Conclusion

Deep cleaning of the grill is not difficult, but it is a necessary activity that allows you to extend the service life of your grill and keep the quality of cooked food at a high level.

It only takes you a few times to do a deep cleaning of the Pit Boss, and it will never be a problem for you anymore.

Read also our articles How to clean a flat top grill and How to clean cast iron grill pan.