cleaning snowbee smoker drip pan

Igotadose

Is there a way to get scorched-on oak dust off of a smoker pan? I was using a borrowed smoker this weekend, and unfortunately it went unwatched for a few minutes, by when the oak smoking material caught fire and burnt onto the pan above it. Scraping with scrapers, etc. is a slow and not terribly successful process. Any magic solvents out there, or techniques that'll work?

It's a 'snowbee' smoker if that matters, like this one: https://www.quickcrop.ie/product/ron-thompson-deluxe-smoke-oven

If we were to wrap the pan completely in aluminium foil, would the smoker be usable again? I worry about the scorched-on material heating up in the future and nastying the smoke.

Dizzyblonde

You could try making a paste with bread soda (bicarbonate of soda), Fairy liquid and a little water, applying it and leaving it for a while. Or bread soda and lemon juice/vinegar. Another possible solution would be to fill it with hot water and a dishwasher tablet and leave it to soak overnight.

Igotadose

Dizzyblonde wrote: »

You could try making a paste with bread soda (bicarbonate of soda), Fairy liquid and a little water, applying it and leaving it for a while. Or bread soda and lemon juice/vinegar. Another possible solution would be to fill it with hot water and a dishwasher tablet and leave it to soak overnight.

Only manual scraping with a paint scraper had any effect. This stuff was seriously burnt on oak scrapings. Next time will line the pan with aluminium foil before beginning smoking.

The Hill Billy

Brillo pads, Mr Muscle or other abrasive oven-cleaning products should do the trick.

Thud

oven cleaner will likely get it off unless there's any aluminum in there (that will corrode)

Igotadose

Thud wrote: »

oven cleaner will likely get it off unless there's any aluminum in there (that will corrode)

oven cleaner had no effect.

Igotadose

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Brillo pads, Mr Muscle or other abrasive oven-cleaning products should do the trick.

This stuff was seriously burnt on. Steel wool abraded it slightly, only chiseling it off had any effect. The manufacturer didn't offer any useful advice (soak it overnight with dish washing liquid - hah!)

Seems like poor design, the material got good and cooked on in just a few seconds. Next time I'm lining the pan with aluminium foil and expecting to throw it away at the end - the foil, not the pan.

Or, I'll get a better smoker, this one's not impressive at all.

The Hill Billy

Give Dizzyblonde's bread soda solution a shot. Maybe a good soaking will help.

At the end of the day, it is a utensil. It doesn't have to look pristine. Scrub/chisel the bejaysus out of it if necessary, then use foil the next time.

Igotadose

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Give Dizzyblonde's bread soda solution a shot. Maybe a good soaking will help.

At the end of the day, it is a utensil. It doesn't have to look pristine. Scrub/chisel the bejaysus out of it if necessary, then use foil the next time.

Yeah, was more concerned that the design is really the problem - how to avoid scorching in future... As for the soda paste, I'd tried that first it had zero effect too. This stuff is essentially burnt-on wood resin. The chisel took care of it.


Next time, foil wrap and more cautious observation of the smoking.

Thanks everyone for all the replies.