Matt Sanders
TVWBB Pro
This probably is no mystery at all to many of you, but I've seen some complain here about "rust" forming inside their WSM. It isn't rust, of course, but I think I've figured out what causes it, and how it can actually be useful.
I'm talking, of course, about that rusty colored dust and particles that will sometimes form on the inside of the WSM. After a year-plus of using the smoker quite a bit, I think I can definitely say what causes it. It only happens when I have water in the pan, AND have a hot fire with charcoal left AND I close all the vents, including the top vent, to choke off the fire. What I think happens is that the combination of hot fire, water in the pan, and closed vents causes steam/water vapor to form on the inside, particularly the dome. Indeed, I've seen this as the WSM cools off- the dome actually has water running down its sides. After the fire dies out, and the water evaporates, what is left is those strange, rust colored flakes and powder. But that stuff brushes off easily, and leaves a clean black lid underneath (if you brush it off diligently enough).
So what I've concluded is happening is that choking off a hot fire with fuel left and water in the bowl effectively steam cleans the inside of the WSM. That rusty stuff is actually the "cake" steamed off the lid and sides.
So I'd like to think this post answers two questions I've seen come up from time to time.
1. "What is that rusty stuff inside my smoker?"
and
2. "What's the best way to clean my WSM?"
I'm talking, of course, about that rusty colored dust and particles that will sometimes form on the inside of the WSM. After a year-plus of using the smoker quite a bit, I think I can definitely say what causes it. It only happens when I have water in the pan, AND have a hot fire with charcoal left AND I close all the vents, including the top vent, to choke off the fire. What I think happens is that the combination of hot fire, water in the pan, and closed vents causes steam/water vapor to form on the inside, particularly the dome. Indeed, I've seen this as the WSM cools off- the dome actually has water running down its sides. After the fire dies out, and the water evaporates, what is left is those strange, rust colored flakes and powder. But that stuff brushes off easily, and leaves a clean black lid underneath (if you brush it off diligently enough).
So what I've concluded is happening is that choking off a hot fire with fuel left and water in the bowl effectively steam cleans the inside of the WSM. That rusty stuff is actually the "cake" steamed off the lid and sides.
So I'd like to think this post answers two questions I've seen come up from time to time.
1. "What is that rusty stuff inside my smoker?"
and
2. "What's the best way to clean my WSM?"
