The Best Way To Clean Your Traeger Grease Pan

Keeping your Traeger grill clean is essential to ensure optimal cooking conditions and prevent dangerous flare-ups. The grease trap is a crucial part of your Traeger grill that collects grease and food particles, redirecting cold smoke towards the heat shield or chimney. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on cleaning your Traeger grease pan, including the necessary tools, safety precautions, step-by-step instructions, and recommended cleaning frequency. By following these tips, you will be able to maintain your Traeger grill in top condition, ensuring both delicious meals and a safe cooking experience.

How to locate the grease trap

To locate the grease trap on a Traeger grill, you must first remove the grill grates. The grease trap is located under the drip pan, which is usually found under the grill grates. The grease trap is hidden behind the grates, so removing them is necessary to access it.

The grease trap is a small container under the drip pan that catches all the grease and oil that builds up during cooking. It is responsible for preventing flare-ups and ensuring your grill runs smoothly and efficiently.

Once you have located the grease trap, you can begin the process of cleaning it. It is important to let the grill cool off for at least 24 hours before cleaning. You will need a putty knife or other flat tool, rags or paper towels, and a lined garbage can or another container to catch the grease.

• Scrape out the grease with the putty knife. This step may be challenging, but it will get easier after the first time. Dispose of the grease in the garbage can.
• Use paper towels or rags to wipe down the sides of the grease trap, removing as much grease as possible.
• Clean the grease trap with soap and water or a wet-dry vacuum cleaner.
• Reinstall the drip pan and grates before using your grill again.

Remember to clean the grease trap regularly to prevent clogging and ensure optimal grill performance.

Step-by-step guide to cleaning the grease trap

Step 1: Safety First

Always turn off the grill and unplug it from its power source before starting the cleaning process. This ensures electricity does not flow through the wires while cleaning.

Step 2: Locate the Grease Trap

The grease trap is usually under the drip tray at the bottom of the grill. It collects most grease drippings from your food, preventing flare-ups during cooking.

Step 3: Remove the Drip Tray

Remove the drip tray carefully by pulling it straight out to access the grease trap. Be careful not to spill the accumulated grease as it could be slippery and unsafe.

Step 4: Extract the Grease Trap

After removing the drip tray, look for the oven's primary Grease Collection System or Trap (GCS). With caution, unscrew every part until you feel minimal resistance.

Step 5: Clean Your Tools and Wear Protective Gear

Before cleaning the GCS/Trap, put on protective gloves for safety and hygiene reasons.

Step 6: Remove Debris from the GCS

Remove any thick grease or debris and set it aside. You can dispose of it when cleaning the Grease Collection System thoroughly.

Step 7: Scrub the Grease Trap

Use a soap detergent with warm water to dissolve greasy materials in your GCS/Trap. Put clean water into a bucket, rinse, and scrub thoroughly inside and out until no remnants remain.

Step 8: Dry and Reinstall the GCS

Dry each part of the GCS/Trap systematically with a clean cloth. Return every piece carefully to its appropriate position, screwing them tight to avoid potential loosening during grill operation.

Step 9: Replace the Drip Tray

After cleaning the grease trap, return the drip tray to its initial position, ensuring it is correctly inserted. This will prevent grease from leaking or spilling onto surfaces below.

What to do if the grease trap hasn't been cleaned properly

If your grease trap hasn't been cleaned properly, you may be dealing with a serious fire hazard. Grease and oil can easily catch alight, burning food and injuring people. Over time, it can also damage the basic features of your Traeger, impacting its cooking performance.

If you've let the grease build up too much, cleaning the grease trap by hand may not be an option. You may need to hire professional grease cleaners to restore your grill to working order.

• Drainage is backed up or slow-moving
• Grease is 25% or more of the total liquid depth
• There's a foul smell coming from the kitchen
• It's been more than three months since the last cleaning
• You find grease in unusual places, such as sinks, sewer pipes, or water lines

To clean your grease trap, follow these steps:

• Wait until your restaurant is closed, or clean early in the morning before opening.
• Put on protective gear, such as gloves and a nose plug or gas mask.
• Slowly detach the grease trap's lid to protect the gaskets.
• Inspect the parts and take a picture or draw a diagram to remember where everything goes.
• Measure the waste level and record it in a Fatty Oils and Grease (FOG) report.
• Remove water with a bucket or small pump and set it aside if you plan to pour it back into the drain.
• Use a bucket or heavy-duty scooper to remove waste from the trap and place it in a watertight garbage bag for disposal.
• Scrape the interior to remove excess grease, and use a shop vacuum for hard-to-reach places.
• Scrub the grease trap with a steel pot scrubber, soap, and water. Flush with water to remove soap and waste.
• Test drainage by pouring a gallon of clean water into the sink. If there's a blockage, contact a licensed plumber.
• Once the trap is clean, reinstall the parts and pour the water back into the trap if desired.
• Properly dispose of the waste in a double-lined garbage bag.

Best practices for cleaning after each use

Scrape off the grill grates to ensure food residue and grease don't build up. Over time, the build-up will harden and become very difficult to remove. You can use a metal spatula, sponge, soft-bristled brush, or a wooden grill scraper to do this. If you prefer not to use a brush, you can crumple up a large piece of aluminum foil and use that to scrape off the grates. Alternatively, cut an onion in half and scrub the dirty grate with it while it's still hot.

Wipe down the edges regularly, as grease builds up quickly. If you stay on top of this, it will always be an easy task, and you won't have a dirty grill. You can use a microfiber cloth or paper towel for this.

Remove the grease drip bucket and change the aluminum foil on the grease pan. You can also use a putty knife or good-quality scraper to remove stuck-on food from the drip tray.

Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any loose wood ash and bits of burned fat lying on the bottom of the grill and the firepot, which contains ash.

Wipe the thermostat probe with a cloth to ensure temperature readings aren't affected by debris covering the surface.

Wash the grease trap grease bucket with detergent.

How to clean the grease trap with natural products

Grease traps are designed to trap fatty oils, grease, and sludge, and separate the oils from water. They need to be cleaned regularly to keep them working effectively. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clean the grease trap with natural products:

Step 1: Prepare the Grease Trap for Cleaning

Before you start cleaning, make sure you have the right gear. This includes rubber gloves, a nose plug or gas mask, protective coveralls, a crowbar or wrench, a scraper, and a bucket. It is also recommended to wear a mask due to the rancid odours of the grease trap. Turn off the grill and let it cool for at least 24 hours.

Step 2: Remove the Lid and Inspect the Grease Trap

Slowly and gently detach the lid from the grease trap to protect the gaskets. Once the lid is removed, inspect the grease trap's parts and either take a picture or draw a diagram of where everything belongs. This will help you remember where to replace the parts after cleaning.

Step 3: Measure the Amount of Waste

Insert a wooden dowel or ruler into the grease trap and gently guide it to the bottom. This will help you measure the amount of waste present. Remove the dowel and use a tape measure to determine the amount of waste. Record this information in a Fatty Oils and Grease (FOG) report provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Step 4: Remove Standing Water and Waste

Use a small bucket to remove any standing water from the grease trap. If you prefer, you can store the water in a larger container and pour it back into the drain after collecting the waste. Use the bucket to scoop out the solidified waste and place it in a water-tight container, such as a heavy-duty plastic trash bag.

Step 5: Scrape and Vacuum the Grease Trap

Scrape down the lid and sides of the trap to remove any large pieces of fat or oils. For a more thorough cleaning, use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out smaller bits of waste or bits stuck in hard-to-reach places.

Step 6: Clean with Natural Products

To clean the grease trap with natural products, you can use a combination of baking soda and warm water. Create a paste by mixing baking soda with warm water and apply it to the greasy areas. Let it dry before scrubbing off the excess residue. You can also use natural, non-toxic soap or detergent with warm water to scrub the grease trap. Use a steel pot scrubber or a soft-bristled brush to remove excess waste. Flush the screens and parts with clean water to remove any soap residue and debris.

Step 7: Reinstall the Grease Trap Parts and Test

After cleaning, reinstall the grease trap parts by following your diagram. Replace the lid once all the components are secured. Test your work by draining a gallon of clean water from the sink. The grease trap should allow the water to flow through without any blockages.

Step 8: Dispose of the Waste Properly

Put the collected fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in double-lined garbage bags and dispose of them in a local dumpster if the quantity is small. You can also mix the FOG with kitty litter to help solidify the grease particles. For large amounts of grease trap sludge, contact professional grease trap companies for proper disposal.

Frequently asked questions