Topic · 38 guides

Brand Guides

Cleaning fundamentals are similar across most cookers, but every brand has quirks worth knowing. These are the brand-specific deep dives.

• Griddle Care · May 2, 2026

  How to Restore a Rusted Blackstone (Complete Guide)

  A neglected Blackstone is almost always salvageable. Here's how to assess the damage, when to restore vs. replace the plate, and the step-by-step process to bring a rusted griddle back to a working seasoning.

• Griddle Care · May 1, 2026

  How to Re-Season a Blackstone Griddle

  Re-seasoning fixes sticky cooking, gray patches, and worn seasoning without taking the griddle down to bare metal. Here's the 60-minute process that restores most home griddles.

• Smoker Care · Apr 28, 2026

  How to Clean a Traeger (Complete Pellet Smoker Guide)

  The full owner's cleaning guide for any Traeger pellet smoker — Pro, Ironwood, or Timberline. After-cook routines, monthly maintenance, and the twice-a-year teardown that keeps the cooker running cleanly.

• Grill Care · Apr 23, 2026

  How to Clean a Weber Genesis (Complete Owner's Guide)

  The Weber Genesis is the most popular full-size gas grill in America. Here's the complete cleaning routine — what to do after every cook, monthly, and twice a year — tailored to the Genesis's specific architecture.

• Grill Care · Apr 22, 2026

  How to Clean a Weber Spirit (Owner's Guide)

  The Weber Spirit is the smaller-and-cheaper sibling to the Genesis — same DNA, tighter chassis. Here's the cleaning routine adapted to the Spirit's specific quirks.

• Grill Care · Apr 21, 2026

  How to Clean a Big Green Egg the Right Way

  The Big Green Egg cleans differently from a metal grill — ceramic interiors should never be chemically cleaned. Here's the right process: hot-cycle cleans, ash management, and the maintenance that keeps an Egg running for decades.

• Grill Care · Apr 18, 2026

  How to Clean a Kamado Joe (Owner's Guide)

  Kamado Joe cleaning rules are similar to a Big Green Egg with a few model-specific quirks — multi-zone divider plates, slide-out ash drawers, and gasket considerations. Here's the complete owner's routine.

• Smoker Care · Apr 16, 2026

  How to Clean a Yoder Smoker (Owner's Guide)

  Yoder builds the heaviest pellet smokers on the market — built like industrial cookers, designed to last decades. Here's the cleaning routine that respects the engineering and keeps a YS640 or YS1500 running for the long haul.

• Smoker Care · Apr 15, 2026

  How to Clean a Pit Boss Smoker

  Pit Boss is the budget-tier giant of pellet smokers — solid value, more frequent cleaning needed. Here's the routine that keeps a Pit Boss running well despite the lighter build.

• Smoker Care · Apr 14, 2026

  How to Clean a Camp Chef Smoker

  Camp Chef pellet smokers (Woodwind, SmokePro) split the difference between premium and budget — solid build, accessible price. Here's the cleaning routine and what makes Camp Chef-specific maintenance different.

• Smoker Care · Apr 13, 2026

  How to Clean a Rec Tec (recteq Owner's Guide)

  recteq (formerly Rec Tec) builds premium pellet smokers with stainless interiors and high-end components. Here's the cleaning routine that maintains the build quality and protects the long warranty.

• Smoker Care · Apr 12, 2026

  How to Clean a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker

  Electric smokers clean differently from pellet or charcoal cookers — no ash, but heating elements and water pans add their own complications. Here's the routine for any Masterbuilt electric model.

• Smoker Care · Apr 11, 2026

  How to Clean an Offset Smoker (Firebox to Stack)

  Offset stick-burners produce more residue than any other residential smoker. Here's the complete top-to-bottom cleaning routine — firebox, chamber, stack, and the parts that matter most.

• Smoker Care · Apr 8, 2026

  How to Clean a Smoker Firebox (Offset Owners Read This)

  The firebox sees more heat and more residue than any other part of an offset smoker. Here's the dedicated firebox-only cleaning routine, plus what to inspect for wear.

• Griddle Care · Apr 5, 2026

  How to Clean a Camp Chef Flat Top

  Camp Chef Flat Top griddles use a heavier-gauge cooking surface than most competitors. Here's the cleaning routine and the differences from a Blackstone that matter.

• Griddle Care · Apr 4, 2026

  How to Clean a Pit Boss Griddle

  Pit Boss griddles compete on price — solid build, slightly thinner cooking surface than premium brands. Here's the cleaning routine and the maintenance habits that get the most life out of them.

• Griddle Care · Apr 3, 2026

  How to Clean a Weber Slate

  Weber's Slate griddle uses a different rust-resistant steel than most competitors — which changes the cleaning rules slightly. Here's what owners need to know.

• Griddle Care · Mar 31, 2026

  How to Clean a Brand-New Blackstone (First-Time Setup)

  A new Blackstone needs to be unboxed, cleaned of factory residue, and seasoned before the first cook. Here's the complete first-time setup that gets your cooker performing right from the start.

• Griddle Care · Mar 28, 2026

  Blackstone vs. Camp Chef Maintenance: What's Different

  If you own (or are choosing between) a Blackstone and a Camp Chef Flat Top, here's the realistic comparison of long-term maintenance — what each cooker needs more of, less of, and what the lifecycle costs actually look like.

• Grill Care · Mar 18, 2026

  How to Clean a Char-Broil Grill (Including TRU-Infrared Models)

  Char-Broil's TRU-Infrared system cleans differently from standard burners. Here's the complete owner's routine for both standard and infrared Char-Broil models.

• Grill Care · Mar 17, 2026

  How to Clean a Napoleon Grill (Wave Grates and All)

  Napoleon's wave-pattern grates and premium build mean specific cleaning considerations. Here's the routine for any Napoleon Prestige, Rogue, or Mirage model.

• Grill Care · Mar 16, 2026

  How to Clean a Lynx Grill (Premium Built-In and Freestanding)

  Lynx grills are premium-tier — heavier construction, ProSear burners, and specific cleaning protocols that protect the investment. Here's the owner's guide.

• Grill Care · Mar 10, 2026

  How to Clean a Built-In Grill (The Outdoor-Kitchen Owner's Guide)

  Built-in grills are harder to clean than freestanding cookers — restricted access, surrounding stonework, and premium components. Here's the routine that protects the investment.

• Smoker Care · Mar 6, 2026

  How to Clean a Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM Owner's Guide)

  The Weber Smokey Mountain is a competition-grade vertical smoker that runs on charcoal and water. Here's the complete cleaning routine for the 14, 18, and 22 inch models.

• Smoker Care · Mar 5, 2026

  How to Clean an Oklahoma Joe's Smoker

  Oklahoma Joe's Highland and Longhorn offset smokers are the entry point to stick-burner BBQ. Here's the cleaning routine and modifications that get the most from these cookers.

• Smoker Care · Mar 4, 2026

  How to Clean a Pit Barrel Cooker (Drum Smoker Owner's Guide)

  The Pit Barrel Cooker uses a vertical drum design with hanging meat. Here's the cleaning routine for the most popular drum smoker on the residential market.

• Smoker Care · Feb 24, 2026

  How to Clean a Bradley Smoker

  Bradley smokers use a unique wood puck system instead of chips or pellets. Here's the cleaning routine that's specific to Bradley's electric-with-puck-feeder design.

• Grill Care · Feb 23, 2026

  How to Clean a Wolf Grill (Premium Outdoor Cleaning)

  Wolf outdoor grills are top-tier residential cookers — built to commercial standards, lasting decades. Here's the cleaning routine that protects the investment.

• Grill Care · Feb 18, 2026

  How to Clean a Fire Magic Grill

  Fire Magic builds premium built-in and freestanding grills with American manufacturing and serious longevity. Here's the cleaning routine that protects the investment.

• Grill Care · Feb 14, 2026

  How to Clean a Hestan Grill

  Hestan brings restaurant-grade construction to residential outdoor cooking. Here's the cleaning routine for Hestan's premium freestanding and built-in grills.

• Grill Care · Feb 13, 2026

  How to Clean a Bull Grill

  Bull grills offer premium build quality at a more accessible price than Lynx or Wolf. Here's the cleaning routine for Bull's freestanding and built-in models.

• Grill Care · Feb 9, 2026

  How to Clean a Broil King Grill

  Broil King is the Canadian premium-tier alternative to American premium brands. Here's the cleaning routine for any Broil King Imperial, Regal, Baron, or Monarch.

• Griddle Care · Feb 2, 2026

  How to Clean a Cuisinart Griddle

  Cuisinart's outdoor griddles offer entry-level pricing with brand-name reliability. Here's the cleaning routine for any Cuisinart flat-top model.

• Griddle Care · Feb 1, 2026

  How to Clean a Royal Gourmet Griddle

  Royal Gourmet offers entry-level outdoor griddles at accessible prices. Here's the cleaning routine for getting the most life out of these cookers.

• Grill Care · Jan 31, 2026

  How to Clean a DCS Grill (Fisher & Paykel Premium)

  DCS grills (now part of Fisher & Paykel) are restaurant-grade outdoor cookers built for decades of use. Here's the cleaning routine that protects the investment.

• Grill Care · Jan 30, 2026

  How to Clean a Twin Eagles Grill

  Twin Eagles is the engineering-driven premium grill brand born from a Lynx co-founder. Here's the cleaning routine for these high-performance residential cookers.

• Grill Care · Jan 27, 2026

  How to Clean a Coyote Grill

  Coyote outdoor grills offer premium performance at slightly more accessible prices than top-tier brands. Here's the cleaning routine for any Coyote freestanding or built-in model.

• Griddle Care · Jan 26, 2026

  How to Clean a Traeger Flatrock Griddle

  Traeger entered the griddle market with the Flatrock — same Traeger DNA, different cooking surface. Here's the cleaning routine for owners of this newer-category cooker.