How to Use and Clean an Electric Smoker

You need to assemble all your smoker elements. Pre-heat your electric smoker for 3 hours at 275 degrees to burn off the chemical residues that may have been trapped during manufacturing.

1. Control Panel - To set the temperature and the time. It is situated on the top of the smoker. You set the time and temperature from the control panel. 
2. Water Pan - It is placed inside the smoker to fill water or marinade for moisture and to control cooking temperature.
3. Aluminum foil pan - To keep your food inside the electric smoker.
4. Drip Pan – It is attached to the outer side of the smoker to store most of the water released from the food. 
5. Wood Chips - These are small and medium-sized pieces of wood. They’re available in various types that give different smoky flavors.
6. Ash box - This dedicated box collects all the ash of the wood chips. 
7. Wood Chip Tray - This is placed inside the smoker with a handle on the outside to put wood chips for a smoky flavor.
8. Racks - These are kept inside the smoker to keep food for smoking. 
9. Vent - This is situated near the control panel to let out the smoke from the inside.

Step 1 - Prepare your meat with marinades. Preheat the electric smoker for half an hour at 225 degrees.

Step 2 - Place the wood chips in the wood chip tray.

Step 3 - Fill the water pan to control the moisture inside the smoker when smoking the meat.

Step 4 - Load the meat or vegetables into the aluminum foil pan and place it on the rack.

Step 5 - Set the temperature and the time from the control panel.

Step 6 - Once set the time, open the vent a little for the smoke to release.

An electric smoker usually has four cooking racks. When you keep the food on the rack, it releases oil and water. It is important to clean the racks after every use to avoid any dirt formation. Once the electric smoker is cooled, take out the racks. Use warm soapy water to clean the grease and oil on the racks. If the residue is stubborn, keep the racks soaked in warm water for 30 minutes and then rinse them.

Remove all the different interior items like water pan, aluminum foil pan, wood chip tray, ash box and drip tray.

The best part is that it collects all the ash without making a mess inside. Discard the ash from the box. Then, wash it with warm and soapy water. Make sure you clean the ash box after every use.

When food is cooking inside, it releases water. The drip tray is attached outside of the smoker. The drip tray collects all the water and oil, which does not dirty the smoker's bottom. After you remove it from the smoker, clean it with warm soapy water.

The smoker's interior walls get exposed to smoke, oil and grease. To clean the walls, use warm water and a damp cloth. Do not use harsh chemicals on the interior walls. Use apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray some of it inside the smoker’s interior and let it rest for 30 minutes. A mild detergent or apple cider vinegar is sufficient for cleaning. Use a wooden grill scraper to scrape the hard residues inside the walls of the smoker.

Cleaning the exterior of the smoker will protect it from grime and dust buildup. Clean the outer side with a damp cloth.

After cleaning it thoroughly, it is better to re-season the smoker. Apply oil to the interior walls of the smoker and pre-heat it at a high temperature for an hour. It will maintain the flavor inside the smoker.

Clean it once when you are not using the electric smoker for an extended period. If it remains unused, the chances of mold go up. Check for any residue inside the electric smoker. If you find any, clean them with a damp cloth.

Mold cannot withstand heat. If mold is growing in your electric smoker, turn the smoker on for 40 minutes at 275 degrees. This will kill the mold inside the smoker. After that, clean it with warm water and a damp cloth.

1. Use gloves: It is important to use gloves when cleaning the smoker. It will prevent you from burning or hurting your hands.
2. Avoid harsh chemicals: Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the smoker. It will damage the interior and the exterior of the smoker. Use apple cider vinegar instead.
3. Use a protective cover: Keep your electric smoker covered with a protective cover. It will protect your smoker from dust.
4. Oil the racks: Before putting your food on them, always oil them. The food won’t stick on the rack and avoid any hard residue formation.
5. Dry the interior parts after cleaning: Even if there is a little moisture on any interior parts, there is a chance of rusting. Always air dry the parts, including racks, water pan, wood chips holder and aluminum foil, before you put them back.