Keeping Your Custom BBQ Pit in Tip-Top Shape

Custom BBQ pits refer to barbecue cookers that are specially designed and fabricated to meet the exact specifications requested by the owner. They allow for complete personalization in size, shape, materials, features, and even artistic design elements. Custom pits provide the ultimate in versatility, temperature control, and smoking performance. They can be customized for charcoal, wood, or gas fuel, and built as stationary backyard smokers or trailer models for competition and catering use. Custom BBQ pits let serious barbecue fans cook on a smoker tailored specifically to their cooking style and preferences.

Investing in a customized barbecue pit represents a serious commitment to your craft. Keeping your high-end cooker clean, rust-free, and functioning properly takes some work. Here are pro tips for cleaning and maintaining a custom pit so it lasts for years.

Start With a Cover

One of the best things you can do is keep your barbecue pit covered when not in use. A properly fitted cover protects the exterior from rain, snow, falling leaves, bird droppings, and other debris that can quickly tarnish the finish.

Remove Food Debris

After each cook, give the interior a thorough scraping to remove any stuck on drippings, rubs, or char. Use a stiff metal scraper and wire brush to clean the racks, walls, and interior components. Removing debris prevents bacteria growth.

Sweep Out Ashes

If your custom pit barbecue grill has a firebox for burning wood, empty the ashes after each use. Ashes left to accumulate can impede proper airflow. Always make sure coals are fully extinguished before discarding ashes.

Degrease Regularly

Over time, grease deposits build up on the interior metal surfaces. Use a degreaser made for barbecue grills or a mix of mild dish soap and water to cut through the grease. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Check for Rust

Inspect the exterior and interior metal periodically for any rust spots forming. Surface rust can be removed with a wire brush. For deeper rust, use a rust converter primer before re-seasoning the metal.

Touch Up Paint

If the high-heat powder coat finish gets chipped or scratched, sand the area lightly and apply matching high-temp touch up paint. This prevents corrosion from taking hold.

Replace Components as Needed

Components like racks, thermometers, and water pans wear down over time. Swap out any parts that become too corroded or damaged for proper functioning. Use only replacement parts recommended for your model.

Season the Interior as Needed

Over time, interior metal surfaces may need re-seasoning to prevent food from sticking. Lightly coat the walls and racks with high-smoke-point oil before bringing the custom BBQ pits up to high heat for an hour.

Deep Clean Annually

Doing an annual deep cleaning ensures your BBQ pit stays spotless. Remove rust spots, use degreasers on all surfaces, repaint if needed, and do a full re-seasoning. A thorough annual cleaning keeps things fresh.

Conclusion

Keeping your prized barbecue pit well-maintained and looking pristine comes down to following good cleaning habits. Start with a protective cover. Routinely remove debris, sweep ashes, degrease, and touch up paint. Address rust and reseason as needed. With the proper care, your custom pit will provide incredible service life.