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Cleanup, Maintenance & Storage
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Originally
posted: 04/01/2000
Last updated: 09/24/2014 |
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In this topic:
Proper cleaning,
maintenance, and storage of your Weber Bullet will keep it operating well and looking good for
many years. Just follow these
tips to get the most out of your investment in Weber quality.
Cleanup Before Cooking
- Check the condition of the inside of the lid.
If the seasoned surface appears shiny and smooth, do nothing. If it appears dry and
flaky, spray it with the garden hose, scrub with a stiff
bristle brush, and rinse. You don't want those flakes falling onto your
barbecue.
- Brush any ashes or
flakiness on the inside of the
middle cooking section down into the bottom of the cooker.
You're now
ready to assemble the cooker and start making barbecue!
Cleanup After Cooking
After you've finished
cooking in your WSM, you should:
- Clean the edge
of the lid & middle cooking section
- Clean the
cooking grates
- Dispose of the
water pan waste
- Clean the water
pan
- Dispose of the
ashes safely
Clean The Edge Of The Lid & Middle Cooking Section
While the cooker is
still warm, use a paper towel to wipe off any grease from the edge of
the lid and from the lip on the middle cooking section where the lid
rests. This prevents the lid from sticking to the middle cooking
section.
Clean
The Cooking
Grates
There are several
approaches to cleaning the cooking grates:
- Wash
the grates in the sink using hot, soapy water and a scrub pad,
then dry thoroughly. A short 15 minute soak helps to loosen the gunk.
- Soak the grates
overnight in a shallow tub of soapy water, then scrub, rinse and
dry.
- Spray the grates
with oven cleaner or a degreaser like Dawn Power Dissolver or Greased Lightning, then
scrub, rinse and dry. When using oven cleaner, place the sprayed grates in a plastic garbage
bag for 30 minutes to help the spray work better and to control odor.
Note that repeated use of oven cleaner will cause pitting of the grate
surface.
- Burn off the
grates over hot coals, on
a gas grill, or with a propane-fired weed burner before or after a cooking session. A grill brush or a wad of
crumpled aluminum foil can be used to scrub large debris from the
grates. Note that burning off
the grates at high temperatures will speed the breakdown of the nickel-plated finish.
To
prevent the cooking grates from rusting after washing, dry them
thoroughly and store them in the garage or other dry location. Grates
left in the cooker out in the weather are likely to rust over time.
To make cleaning the grates
a little easier, spray them with non-stick
cooking spray before use. Make sure every part of the grate is sprayed—top,
bottom, edges, and handles.
Dispose Of The Water Pan
Waste
Let the water pan cool
enough to handle safely before removing it from the cooker. There are
several proven methods for disposing of the contents:
- Separate the fat
from the liquid: Allow the fat to solidified on the surface of the
water, skim it off and place it in the trash, and pour the
remaining liquid down the sink. The success of this method depends on
the type of fat and whether it gets cold enough to solidify.
- Bottle the fat and
water: Using a funnel and ladle, put the pan contents into a
plastic milk jug, cap it, and dispose of it in the
garbage.
- Bag the fat and
water with the cold ashes: Put several plastic bags one inside the
other, place the cold ashes in the bag, and then carefully pour the pan
contents into the bag. The ashes will absorb the liquid. Tie the bag
shut and dispose of it in the garbage. Thanks to Doug D on
The Virtual Weber Bullet Board
for this idea.
Do not dispose of
cooking fat by running it down the drain. This can clog your plumbing
and your neighborhood sewer system over time.
Some folks that live in
wide open spaces simply dump the pan contents somewhere on their
property. This practice can attract a variety of insects and critters that you probably don't
want around.
Clean The Water Pan
Soak the
pan in hot, soapy water to loosen gunk
inside the pan and smoke residue on the outside of the pan. A
non-abrasive cleanser like Soft Scrub can also be used. Scrub, rinse,
and dry thoroughly.
To make cleanup of the water pan easier, cover it with heavy
duty aluminum foil before use. See
Using A Water Pan
In The WSM for details.
Dispose Of The Ashes Safely
Remove
the middle cooking section and set it aside. Remove the charcoal chamber
and charcoal grate and brush them off.
Ashes that seem cold on the surface may still be hot deep
inside, even after sitting for two days, so take care when handling and
disposing of them.
The
safest way to dispose of ashes is to put them in a small galvanized
metal trash can that is dedicated to the purpose of ash storage. Keep
the can away from any flammable materials, including your house, wood
pile, dry grass, or weeds. Let the ashes sit for a good, long time until
there is absolutely no doubt they are fully extinguished, then dispose
of them in your regular household garbage.
If a
dedicated ash can is not an option, stir through the ashes to make sure
they are absolutely cold before placing them in the garbage.
Periodic
Maintenance
There are
several things you can do on a periodic basis to ensure your Weber Bullet
provides years of dependable service.
- Clean the
exterior of the cooker. Wipe the outside surfaces with a damp cloth while the
cooker is
hot. This does a great job of "steam cleaning" the cooker, removing dirt, grime, and smoke stains.
Make sure to wear heat-resistant gloves so you don't get burned.
As an alternative, when the cooker is cold, use Windex for a light
cleaning, or a degreaser like Dawn Power Dissolver or Greased
Lightning—spray on, let the spray work for a few minutes, then scrub,
rinse thoroughly, and dry.
- Inspect
the cooking grates for rust. The
nickel-plated finish will break down over time with normal use, allowing rust
to set in. The rust tends to start on the bottom of the grates and works its way toward the top.
Cooking grates should be replaced
when the rust reaches the top surface where it would come in contact
with food.
The top grate can be purchased at Amazon.com (18-1/2",
22-1/2") and at most home centers and barbecue stores—these are
the same grates used in Weber 18-1/2" and 22-1/2" charcoal grills. The bottom
cooking grate must be ordered
directly from Weber at 800-446-1071. See the Parts Schematic for part
numbers.
- Inspect
the charcoal grate and charcoal chamber for rust-through. Since
these parts don't come into direct contact with food, they can go for
a very long time without needing to be replaced. In fact, they may last as
long as the cooker itself. If they are in particularly bad
condition—for example, the grate is completely rusted and about to fall
apart—you might want to consider a replacement.
The charcoal grate and charcoal chamber must be ordered from Weber at
800-446-1071. See the Parts Schematic for part
numbers. Please note that WSM charcoal grates are not the same as those
used in Weber 18-1/2" and 22-1/2" charcoal grills.
- Check
for loose screws that attach the legs and cooking grate flanges,
tightening if necessary.
- Check
the fit of the access door. Bend the door gently by hand to ensure
a good fit against the middle cooking section. See
Parts Troubleshooting for details.
-
Check the access door knob and tighten if necessary (2008 & earlier
models). Hold the door latch with pliers and turning
the knob clockwise by hand, taking care not to over tighten.
-
Check the lid handle and tighten if necessary. If the
handle is cracked or missing, replacement handles are available from Weber
at 800-446-1071. See the Parts Schematic for part numbers.
-
Check the vent dampers. The lid damper can become sticky and
difficult to turn with use. If so, apply a spray degreaser or white
vinegar to loosen it, then rinse. If a damper on the lid or charcoal
bowl is bent out of shape, see Parts
Troubleshooting for instructions on how to replace it.
- Wash the
lid, cooking section, charcoal bowl, and
access door with warm, soapy water. Wash these parts both inside and
out. There is no need to wash the charcoal grate or charcoal ring. Dry
the exterior surfaces with a soft towel to prevent spots. Allow the
sections to dry completely before reassembling the cooker
- Check
the condition of the protective vinyl cover. Replacement covers must
be ordered from Weber at 800-446-1071. See the Parts
Schematic for part numbers.
Weber
does not recommend waxing the exterior of the cooker, as this can cause streaks on the finish.
Burning Out The Cooker
Photo 1 |
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If you find the inside
of your WSM has been taken over by mold (Photo 1) or insects or mice, you may want to "burn out" your cooker.
Clean out any debris
inside the cooker. Light at least 2 chimneys of charcoal and pour them
into the charcoal chamber, spreading them evenly over the charcoal
grate. Assemble the cooker and
open all the vents top and bottom. Let the cooker run as hot as possible until the fire
goes out and the ashes are cold.
Brush down the interior surfaces with a
stiff bristle brush and discard the ashes. Any remaining "stuff" can be
cleaned out with hot, soapy water (or a very mild bleach solution), a stiff bristle brush and some good
old-fashioned elbow grease. Rinse, let dry thoroughly, and you should be
good to go.
Mold needs moisture to
grow, so keep your cooker covered or stored in a dry location when not
in use. To keep critters out, store your cooker with all vents closed.
Storing The
Cooker
The Weber Bullet
can be stored outside all year around. Using the heavy duty
vinyl cover that came with your cooker will protect it from most of the elements.
However, the vinyl cover and WSM lid design are not waterproof—water
will collect in the bottom of the charcoal bowl when it rains. Either store
the cooker in a sheltered location or follow the tips in the
Frequently Asked Questions to prevent water
from entering the cooker. As mentioned earlier in this article, you may want to
store the cooking grates in your garage or other dry location to prevent these parts
from rusting.
Removing Grease Stains From Clothing
Finally, we
have a tip from Keri C., a frequent poster on
The Virtual Weber Bulletin Board,
about how to remove those grease stains that inevitably get on your clothes
while barbecuing.
"My briskets
always try to hug me to show me how much they love me," says Keri. "Buy a
bottle of Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid. Apply it full-strength to the grease stains on your shirt,
rub it in, and then wash in warm water as usual. This has taken out every
grease stain that I have managed to create so far."
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