Save Time and Money: Easy Steps for Cleaning a Green Egg

You love your Green Egg. It’s an impressive outdoor kitchen tool that can take your grilling and smoking to the next level. But it’s a lot of maintenance: you need to keep it clean if you want to get the most out of it. Cleaning the green egg is easy, but there is a specific procedure you must follow in order to get optimal results.

Never fear, though: we’ll go through all the steps you need to take to make sure your egg is in tip-top condition. After all, when cared for properly, a green egg can last for decades. This guide will walk you through everything from pre-cleaning preparation to post-cleaning tips and tricks, so even if you’ve never cleaned your green egg before, this post will make it easy. So fire up the grill because it’s time to learn how to clean the green egg.

Preparing the Green Egg for Cleaning

You already know that your Big Green Egg (BGE) is an amazing outdoor cooking device – now let’s keep it in tip-top shape with a little maintenance and cleaning.

The first step to cleaning is prepping the BGE by clearing any food residue from the EGG and/or the grid. To do this, heat the egg up to 300°C and let it burn off for about 10 minutes. This will loosen any food or grease residue from the surface.

Next, use a plastic bristled brush or aluminum ball to remove any leftover gunk from the egg walls. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can use a pressure washer for this as well. Once everything looks good, it’s time to wash with plain soap and water.

By following these simple steps, you’ll have your BGE looking like new in no time.

Cleaning the Outside of the Egg

The outside of your Big Green Egg is where you’ll see the most “gunk” accumulate from regular use. Fortunately, this is the easiest area to clean. A damp cloth with clean water can do the trick for most of it. If there’s still some gunk left in its dimples, a scrubbing brush may help.

For a thorough clean that also gets rid of any odor, you can take two simple steps: First, wipe down the outside with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and mild soap; then, rinse off the soap with another cloth dampened in fresh water. That’s all you need to do to keep your egg looking and smelling like new.

Cleaning the Inside of the Egg

It is important to get the inside of the green egg clean too, so that your experiences are great each and every time. The first step is to use a wire brush to clean the grate that’s inside. That should get rid of all of the stuck-on bits of food and other debris stuck on the grate. Make sure you use a wire brush with plenty of bristles because this will make it easier to scour away the gunk that’s on there.

Once you’ve cleaned the grate, use a shop vac to pick up any ash from the bottom of the green egg. This will help ensure air circulation and reduce any smoke when you’re using it for cooking. You’ll also get better heat distribution within your egg because no ash will block anything up.

Once all these steps are complete, replace all parts and add charcoal for a self-cleaning process. This method is an easy way to keep your green eggs fresh and ready for your next cookout.

Cleaning the Grill Grate and Plates

Cleaning the grill grate and plates of your Green Egg is a breeze, and requires just a few simple ingredients. First, you can mix baking soda and dish soap together to form a paste that is perfect for scrubbing away the crud from the grates and plates. Another option is to fill a garbage bag with one cup of baking soda mixed with one cup of vinegar, then place your grates in the bag and shake it around for about 3 minutes. 

Finally, for tougher jobs, you can use a combination of white vinegar, water, and some elbow grease to get rid of even the most stubborn stains. No matter which method you use, make sure to act quickly, as leaving your grates with residue or burned-on food will make them harder to clean.

Tips for Maintaining a Green Egg

Cleaning out your green egg is a critical part of keeping it in top form. After all, anything related to grilling is all about quality, so you want to make sure your green egg is always ready to go.

Here are some tips for cleaning and maintaining your green egg:

1. Ash: Ash should be cleaned out between 3-5 cooks—not only will it keep the Egg at its best, but it will also extend the life of the unit significantly. Use a small shovel or brush to scoop out the ash into a metal bucket and dispose of it safely.
2. Frame: The frame should be cleaned with water and soft soap every now and again—just make sure you don’t use anything too harsh as it can damage the paint finish.
3. Bottom: To get any ash that collects in the bottom of the egg, use a shop vac with an upholstery attachment—this will keep your egg clean and minimize any mess on your patio.

Pre-Cleaning the Green Egg

Before you start cleaning your Big Green Egg or other Kamado cooker, it’s critical to be aware that due to the smoke and grease from all the delicious meals that get cooked in them, these cookers may turn completely black on the inside. Don’t worry though; with a little effort, you can soon get your green egg to look as clean and shiny as it did when it was brand new.

As recommended by chefs, it’s best to perform basic maintenance and an annual “Spring cleaning” to keep your green egg in top condition. Here’s how:

1. Hand wash the pot with a brush and cold water only. Do not use soap or abrasives.
2. Thoroughly dry it off with a towel after washing and lightly oil the interior surfaces before storing away your cooker.
3. When storing away for a long period of time, remove all ash from the firebox before closing the lid to prevent moisture build-up inside the cooker surface and lid.

Finishing Touches and Proper Curing

The next step in your green egg-cleaning quest is to properly cure it. This is a critical step that will determine how well your Big Green Egg performs and how long it lasts, so you don’t want to skip it.

Luckily, seasoning or curing the Big Green Egg does not require a lot of effort. All you need to do is let some charcoal burn for the first few cooks, keeping the temperature under 350°F/177°C to allow the gasket adhesive to adhere.

This process forms what’s known as a “Smoke Ring,” essentially coating the interior with smoke, which helps to seal and protect the ceramic from moisture and humidity as well as create a non-stick cooking surface. To get maximum results, let the charcoal burn for 4–12 hours, depending on the level at which you intend to cook.

The Big Green Egg will continue to get better with use, so keep that in mind. Therefore, don’t be put off by this drawn-out procedure; a little effort now will pay off greatly in the end.

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Conclusion

Cleaning the green egg is an easy task that can take as little as 10 minutes of your time. Proper cleaning and maintenance of your Green Egg will ensure that your barbecue grilling experience is always at its best. Remember to always use the proper cleaning materials so that you don’t damage the Green Egg’s ceramic surface. Before each grilling session, don’t forget to inspect everything thoroughly and clean the gasket. Keep your green egg clean and in tip-top shape, and you’ll be well on your way to delicious meals that your family and friends will certainly enjoy.