If you have a Big Green Egg, it is of the utmost importance to clean and maintain it to preserve its quality and usability. They are expensive, costing upwards of $1000, but they are also versatile and extremely hardy. Now, because they are so valuable, you should not only know how to use these amazing kamado smokers but also how to clean them well. There are many ways to clean your Big Green Egg, including basic cleaning, ash cleaning, mold cleaning, and burn cleaning. These types of cleaning may sound complicated, but in reality, they are similar. Whenever cleaning the Big Green Egg, it is important to note not to use water or liquids, as opposed to cleaning wood pellet grills. Because the Big Tree Egg is made of ceramic, it requires care and attention with a specific cleaning method. These methods all follow the same steps and warnings. Along with these regular cleanings, it is also important to know how to maintain it in order to preserve it for years to come.
How to Clean Your Big Green Egg?
There are many ways to clean your Big Green Egg, with each way being suited for a different purpose. Here are some cleaning tips that we at Grills Forever often follow. Check them out!
1. Basic Cleaning:
For basic cleanup, simply let it burn for a bit after cooking and scrape any residue off with a spatula or grill scraper. Then, wipe the exterior down with a damp cloth.
2. Ash Cleaning:
For ash cleanup, just attach an ash pan to the bottom of the egg and use an ash tool to scrape the ash from inside of the egg. Because the Big Green Egg does not produce large amounts of ash, this is only required every so often. The method of cleaning explained below, which you should do regularly, every so often, is relatively easy and simple to do.
First, scrape off any gunk or residue off of the insides in the lid and around the inside of the chamber using some steel wool or a rough sponge. You want to avoid using chemicals or water that can damage the ceramic inside your grill. Next, empty out any ash in the ash chamber and use around 5 pounds of a bag of charcoal to let the Big Green Egg clean burn. Let it sit for around an hour while it burns at around 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the grill has cooled down enough, scrape as much ash as possible through the bottom vent. Then, use a tough sponge or a piece of aluminum foil to clean out the vent holes along the sides. Remove the grate and them clean out any remaining ash. If you have a stainless steel grill, you can wash it with soapy water and a sponge. With a cast iron grill, however, you should use a wire brush to scrub it down and scrape off all the food particles.
3. Mold Cleaning:
To clean any mold or other residues, simply burn it off like the method shown above. If the mold is on the outside, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth. Be sure to clean off any mold you find as if you happen to leave it, it may be detrimental to your healthy grilling efforts. These Big Green Egg cleaning methods will help you preserve it for as long as possible.
Maintenance Tips:
Along with cleaning the Big Green Egg, storing it properly and maintaining it well is also essential.
- When not in use, never allow any rain or water to get inside your grill. Especially during cold weather, it is important to either store it or keep it completely covered as if rain happens to get in the inside, it will seep through the ceramic. Once it turns into ice, it will expand and possibly crack your grill.
- Never use water or any other chemicals to clean out the grill as this may lead to the same issue.
- It is advised to clean your Big Green Egg right after each use and any time before storage. This will discourage the buildup of food particles or residue from sauces when cooking the next time or the buildup of mold when being stored.
- Clean out the interior and dispose of any ash before storing your Big Green Egg. Since it doesn’t come with any ash cleaning system, you’ve to do it manually.
- Make sure everything is dry and be sure to clean out any vents. During storage, check periodically for any moisture that may have built up under the cover and just to be safe, store it in a cool dry space.
- If you find that in storage, your Big Green Egg has come to collect any mold, just clean it off using the methods described above as quickly as possible.
If you maintain and store it properly, this expensive investment will serve you for years to come.
Conclusion:
A Big Green Egg may be an expensive grill, but it is versatile and extremely sturdy. By taking care of it properly, it will remain usable for many, many years. When cleaning the Big Green Egg, it is always important to remember to never ever use water or liquids to clean the insides. Usually, scraping off any gunk with a tough sponge or aluminum foil and burning off the rest will clean it just fine. Make sure to clean out the vents, grill, grates, insides, and outsides every so often.
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When storing it, it is always important to check for any moisture or mold growth. If there is any sort of mold growth, be sure to clean out your Big Green Egg at once. Before storage, clean it using the method described in the second paragraph and make sure that every part of it is dry. During storage, check the grill for any sort of mold or residue. Although a Big Green Egg may seem like a handful to take care of, its versatility and durability will make up for its shortcomings. If you make good use of your Big Green Egg and take good care of it, it is guaranteed to last a lifetime.
