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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.
You're now ready to assemble the cooker and start making barbecue! After you've finished cooking in your WSM, you should:
Each of these steps is described in detail below. 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 becoming stuck to the middle cooking section as the grease cools. Here's a video that discusses how to fix and prevent sticking lids.
There are several approaches to cleaning the cooking grates:
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. Here are two proven methods for disposing of the contents:
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. This video demonstrates how I dispose of ashes and water pan contents after using my WSM. 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. 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. I place a large yard waste bag over the charcoal bowl and dump the ashes into the bag, then brush out any remaining ash into the bag. Using Ashes In The Garden Or Compost Pile Ashes from lump charcoal or natural briquettes made with only wood char and starch binder may be used sparingly in the garden or compost pile with the understanding that it raises soil pH. This may or may not be to your advantage, depending upon local soil conditions. It's best to test your soil's pH and consult with a local university cooperative extension or master gardening program before using ashes in your garden. Ashes from charcoal containing ingredients other than wood char and starch binder (e.g. Kingsford Original Briquets or Kingsford Match Light) should be disposed of in the trash when cold. There are several things you can do on a periodic basis to ensure your Weber Bullet provides years of dependable service.
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 Weber chimney starters 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 brush and some good old-fashioned elbow grease. Rinse, let dry thoroughly, and you should be good to go. To keep critters out, store your cooker with all vents closed. Mold needs moisture to grow, so keep your cooker covered or stored in a dry location when not in use. However, some people living in humid climates find that they need to leave vents open for air circulation to prevent mold from growing...so you may be forced to choose between critter prevention or mold prevention. 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 the sun, but not rain or snow. 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." Updated: 04/10/2018 |
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