How to Clean the Grease Trap on a Traeger Grill

Why Cleaning Your Traeger Pellet Grill is so Important

There are three good reasons as to why it is so important to maintain a clean grill. First, safety. Grease fires can easily start in your grill so it's especially important to keep the drip tray and grease trap in good condition.

Secondly, it can affect the functioning of the pellet grill. Too much ash in the burn pot or a clogged auger will cause problems with the temperature control. If you want delicious food cook after cook, you'll want the Traeger in top condition. 

The Internal Parts of Your Grill

Listed below are the individual parts you want to be familiar with. Each of these parts has a roll in either a great cook on your Traeger or a roll on safety. 

• Grill Grates
• Drip Pan
• Heat Baffle
• Grease Trap
• Fire Pot
• Grease Bucket
• Pellet Hopper
• Auger Tube

Check out this complete tutorial on How to Clean Your Traeger Grill.

Cleaning a Traeger Grease Trap Step-by-Step Instructions

After you have removed the grill grates and grease drip tray, you'll be able to get to the grease trap.

1. Start by placing a large bucket under the grease chute to catch debris from scraping. This will also help catch any warm water, cleaning products, or grease particles. 
2. Using the putty knife, scrape the extra grease and discard or push through the grease shoot into the grease bucket.
3. For difficult grease buildup, you can use a cleaning solution of white vinegar and baking soda. Sprinkle the grease trap with baking soda. Spray the grease trap with white vinegar and let the solution soak for 10 minutes.
4. Scrape the trap again with the putty knife or a wood stir stick for paint. Repeat the process if necessary. 
5. To clean the inside of the grease chute, use a paint stir stick, which is almost the exact size of the square chute.
6. After you have removed as much grease and debris as you can, finish cleaning the rest of your grill and reassemble so you are ready for your next cook.

Helpful Supplies For a Clean Grill

• Putty Knife
• Traeger All Natural Cleaner
• Hot soapy water
• Heavy-Duty paper towels
• Disposable Gloves

Tips on Cleaning the Inside of the Grill

There are some parts of your grill that will become seasoned. The sides and interior will darken with use. That is ok. You do not need the sides to be shiny and sparkle like a new grill. What we do need is to remove grease and any food particles.

Maintaining the Fire Pot

It's a good idea to keep the fire pot to make sure your Traeger functions properly. Too much ash build-up will cause problems with ignition, temperature control, and ash debris blowing around your food.

The best way to clean it quickly and completely is to use a shop vac on the inside of the fire pot and the entire interior of your grill.

Grill Grates

Food residue builds up quickly on the grill grates, especially if you cook higher fat foods like brisket and pork shoulder. The grates clean the best when they are still slightly warm, so always rub them down with aluminum foil right after a cook. If there is too much buildup to clean, soak the grill grates in a solution of hot water and degreaser or a dishwasher pod. After letting them soak for an hour, scrub them with warm soapy water and a strong sponge. 

Drip Pan

Use the putty knife to scrape off burnt-on food debris. I avoid laying liners or aluminum foil, but most people cover their drip pan to protect it over time. You can also order a new one through the Traeger website if it is too far gone.

How Often do We Clean Our Grill

Depending on the model of Traeger you have, you may see a message appear on the start up screen that notifies you when it is time to clean your grill. This message is based on hours of cook time, and while that's helpful, some areas need to be cleaned more often. 

Grill grates need to be scraped after cook. It's a simple process if you do it after cooking and while the grill is still warm. 

Fire Pot and inside need to have the ashes removed for the best possible cook. Using a shop vac is a good practice to keep ashes off your food.