Anybody have a slick way to manage the Teflon Drip Tray shields?

[rhouser]

I have a new BFG and saw the RT Teflon Drip Tray shields. WOW, I thought this was worth a try.

My first cook I decided to do 30 pounds of chicken leg quarters (10 pound bags for < $6 at Walmart is within my "burn and learn" budget). I spread the cook over every corner, then mid back and front on every level. Proved the the BFG heat distribution and temp management. No hot spots at 325 and 30 pounds of chicken came in stayed with 10 degrees of each other for the entire cook. Very good chicken too. Thin skin with a nice bite.

Great grease management. I love the twin drip trays in the "high V" configuration. The cast iron deflector along with the angled drip trays prevented undue effects of direct heat from the trays. The Teflon shields worked perfectly. Drip trays were spotless. If I had the income to just "discard" the used ones after each cook and go with a new set. They work that well.

I decided to take the Teflon shields folded over and use my wife's laundry sink to clean them with hot soapy water. Bad choice. Heavy smoke and burnt grease aroma filled the air and I ended up spending 30 minutes cleaning out her laundry sink before she declared it was usable for laundry presoaks and other assorted wife cleaning secret stuff.

I hate to just throw them out on the lawn and hit them with a high pressure garden hose. The dog goes straight for the cleaned bits and then tracks the oily black residue back onto the kitchen floors or worse, a couch.

Is anybody using these, or should I just go to the foil and forget it. Note: I have been through the no foil scrape the tray routine and prefer the foil on my other pellet grills. I was just looking for easy.

Anybody found a good way to manage the cleanup of the Teflon sheilds?

Thanks in advance.
v/r r

 

[Kentramz]

I have a new BFG and saw the RT Teflon Drip Tray shields. WOW, I thought this was worth a try.

My first cook I decided to do 30 pounds of chicken leg quarters (10 pound bags for < $6 at Walmart is within my "burn and learn" budget). I spread the cook over every corner, then mid back and front on every level. Proved the the BFG heat distribution and temp management. No hot spots at 325 and 30 pounds of chicken came in stayed with 10 degrees of each other for the entire cook. Very good chicken too. Thin skin with a nice bite.

Great grease management. I love the twin drip trays in the "high V" configuration. The cast iron deflector along with the angled drip trays prevented undue effects of direct heat from the trays. The Teflon shields worked perfectly. Drip trays were spotless. If I had the income to just "discard" the used ones after each cook and go with a new set. They work that well.

I decided to take the Teflon shields folded over and use my wife's laundry sink to clean them with hot soapy water. Bad choice. Heavy smoke and burnt grease aroma filled the air and I ended up spending 30 minutes cleaning out her laundry sink before she declared it was usable for laundry presoaks and other assorted wife cleaning secret stuff.

I hate to just throw them out on the lawn and hit them with a high pressure garden hose. The dog goes straight for the cleaned bits and then tracks the oily black residue back onto the kitchen floors or worse, a couch.

Is anybody using these, or should I just go to the foil and forget it. Note: I have been through the no foil scrape the tray routine and prefer the foil on my other pellet grills. I was just looking for easy.

Anybody found a good way to manage the cleanup of the Teflon sheilds?

Thanks in advance.
v/r r

Don’t have the teflon shields, but I use a large rubber made tote to soak the grates and searing plates for my RT700. Garden hose and some Method degreaser works good enough for me

 

[C. Keeper]

Foil all the way.

 

[RattleR]

 

[Pacman]

If you're referring to those Teflon drip pan liners that Recteq was selling, I bought two to try out. The cooking part worked great. The clean up part got the first one thrown away after one use. I too destroyed my kitchen sink trying to clean it. I'm back to foil.

 

[Greg Jones]

Been using a stainless putty knife for years now on 3 pellet grills with different sized drip pans from 2 manufacturers. This is the (perhaps only) way

 

[Gonefishin]

Yes, it is the way.

 

[Pacman]

I saw this gimmick the other day and bought a roll on a whim. Almost twice the price as the extra wide Reynolds heavy duty foil. I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

 

[Greg Jones]

Here is my process, for anyone interested. I have one plastic storage tub from the BORG that is wide enough to accommodate my widest drip pan. I’m looking for a low profile tub so that it slides under one of my grills. When it is time to clean, I pull the tub out and take off the lid. The grates are removed and, while leaned on the leg of the grill, rested in the lid of the tub (keeps the deck/patio clean). I then take out the drip pan and, while resting inside the main tub, scrape the crap off the drip pan. I then reverse the process and I’m done. No need to immediately empty the storage tub-it will be fine for months, with the scraper stored on the top of the lid. As Jody would say, easy-peasy.

 

[Greg Jones]

So, I’m not going out at dark (here) tonight to photo my tub, but this is exactly the style of tub I’m using, complements of my wife’s craft room!

 

[Beach Bum]

Just a few bucks and good for a long time. Greg and I have both seen Jody say it in person. Easy peasy...you know the rest.

 

[Mozekian]

I keep the Teflon in place, spray with degreaser cleaner and just wipe it into the drip bucket. Come back with a wet paper towel and wipe that into the same drip bucket. Usually I’ll wad up some paper towels in the drip bucket, and it soaks it all up. I never take them out.

I’ve made the mistake of cleaning grill grates in the sink and my wife wasn’t too happy. So now I keep it outside.

 

[Motodad1776]

No liners and no foil.......drip pan is easy to clean with a putty knife or small plastic snow scraper. I just do a higher temp burn off and the drippings get crispy, very easily scrapes right off. These are grills meant to get seasoned with drippy goodness, they are not sports cars. I also know/realize that many polish the heck out of their exteriors as well, again that is a big "to each their own". I take good care of EVERYTHING that I own, but I do have limitations to the extent I will do such. I am currently looking at getting a sportier and fun car, and that will of course be clean and mean at all times.

 

[rhouser]

Pacman, I bought one roll and then went back and ordered 10 more. I have been whining for at least the last 6 months that my wide heavy duty Reynolds Wrap was no longer heavy duty.

By the way, I am sticking to that statement. It is NOT the same as what I was getting a year ago. Almost anything will puncture the current generation by Reynolds.

I have a micrometer. I might actually go mike my current generation Heavy Duty foil.

I can tell you the latest "pitmaster" version is much thicker and it is far more resistant to tearing or puncture. Is it worth what we will have to pay. My opinion is that it's up to each of us to find our own pain point.

I did use this on the last (my first) big brisket cook on the BFG. I think it will be worth the squeeze (maybe). I used a single layer of the new pitmaster instead of a double layer of the current Heavy Duty.

Time will tell.

v/r r

 

[O C]

I picked up some large grill mats for my 590. They don't fully cover the drip tray, but I rarely need that much coverage anyway. I first foil, then add the mat. I'm happy with the result. Most of the drippings easily scrape or wipe off. Only a problem if the grill gets really hot. I can go quite a while before I feel the need for a more thorough cleaning. Did two turkey breasts and a glazed ham for Thanksgiving, messy, but most of the drippings just wiped or scraped off and ready to go again that weekend. It is a little challenging to clean in the sink, but it has cleaned up nicely the two times I've done it so far. I like it better than foil alone.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WJDM3T?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[Jim6820]

Pacman, I bought one roll and then went back and ordered 10 more. I have been whining for at least the last 6 months that my wide heavy duty Reynolds Wrap was no longer heavy duty.

By the way, I am sticking to that statement. It is NOT the same as what I was getting a year ago. Almost anything will puncture the current generation by Reynolds.

I have a micrometer. I might actually go mike my current generation Heavy Duty foil.

I can tell you the latest "pitmaster" version is much thicker and it is far more resistant to tearing or puncture. Is it worth what we will have to pay. My opinion is that it's up to each of us to find our own pain point.

I did use this on the last (my first) big brisket cook on the BFG. I think it will be worth the squeeze (maybe). I used a single layer of the new pitmaster instead of a double layer of the current Heavy Duty.

Time will tell.

v/r r

@rhouser, the Reynolds specs say “Heavy Duty” foil is .94 mil thick, while the Pitmaster’s Choice is 1.40 mil thick. So, the PM Choice is about 35% thicker.

 

[Gonefishin]

You didn’t notice the thickness of their ”grill foil” is did you? Not that I‘ve seen it in stores.

 

[rhouser]

GregJ: I loved your approach with the flat tubs to scrape into. I have been actively "NOT THINKING OF THIS" for several years now. For me, this solves a whole bunch of my cleaning issues (mainly capturing the cleaning debris so that it is NOT part of the lawn (my dog waits to see what he can find post cleanup).

These may not be the best match for yours, but I ordered two of these this morning from lowes: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Source-Project-Source-69-QT-Clear-Snap-Lid-Tote/1003095826

Thanks for a very straight forward solution that I have totally missed thinking about.

Moto: I own the scrapers and agree with you. They are high value grill tools.

Jim6820 : You are obviously the master of the google search. I couldn't find the published thicknesses anywhere.

All, I am really excited about the flat tubs for capturing my scrapings. I don't know why I never considered it.

This forum is going to be worth it's weight in gold. Thanks to all who make it great (I passed on an opportunity for a grate pun here.)

v/r r

 

[Dano]

I have started saving the plastic bags from the pellets I buy. They work great for me when I scrape my drip tray from my 590. They are heavy enough and big enough to fit the entire drop tray in to scrape it off. Once finished scraping I just fold or roll up the bag and put it under my 590 and use again.

 

[MikeK]

Wipe down with ammonia and place in garbage bag with two cups of ammonia and seal for 24hr. Pull out and hose off the next day.