I apologize at the outset for no pictures...wife was in a hurry (yeah, we'll call it that
) On sunday I put the Grill Grates across the top of my BEESR, set to 15, let it preheat for about 20 minutes. About 10 minutes into the preheat I threw a mix of apple wood and hickory chips into the hopper for a 'kiss' of flavor. I cooked with Grates up. The bacon turned out WONDERFUL. Even the wife said it was the best we've had in years, and it wasn't even my go-to brand, which is Wrights Thick Cut, it was just some low priced Oscar Meyer thin sliced...WOW ! The wife loved not having the smell of cooked bacon in the house (I love that smell, but it's even better outside with some smoke added.)
OK, Here's the issue... I had bacon grease all over the inside and some on the outside of the BEESR. The GG ,of course, had a lot on them as well. I didn't panic, after everything cooled a bit a grabbed the grates, drained what i could off of them and set them back on top of the cooker and set the BEESR to 'Clean'. I thought that would take care of it...nope, so I turned the Grill Grates on end and set them in the chamber of the BEESR and set it to 'Clean' again. Better, but still pretty greasy. Yes, I love a nice patina, but this in not that, it was just a greasy mess. I put the Grates in the Quantum and cranked it on high and let it roll for about 20 minutes at 650 degrees... after a bit of smoking and a lovely aroma in the air, the grates were ready for another cook... although BLACK instead of the nice patina I had started creating a few cooks back. I used paper towels to clean up the outside of the BEESR and the rim around the top. I didn't mess with the inside, as I feel that has become part of the patina.
The big question (finally) I want to do this OFTEN, but if it's going to be this messy I may have to rethink a few things about it. I am hoping for ideas and suggestions. Also, I'm thinking on Saturday I'll cook bacon again, In the BEESR, of course, but this time on the FLAT SIDE of the grates. (but that might actually lead to a bigger mess, as the rails on the grates held a LOT of the grease, now there will be nothing to stop it from going everywhere.
Any help is appreciated...
Thanks Gang