How To Avoid Mold?

[jshep]

Hi,

I'm getting great cooks with my BPS, but it grows a green mold inside in between cooks pretty quick. I keep hoping I won't have to clean it in between every cook, but if I don't clean it, I get the mold.

From reading other posts here, this doesn't seem to be a common problem. Am I doing (or not doing) something wrong???

THanks

 

[DjPorkchop]

I have never actually had that issue before. I have read many times about it. I actually do clean my grates after and before every cook with tin foil and then a half onion and olive oil.

I do light both of my drums fairly often even if I am not cooking on them. I was told to do this before for this reason and it has worked so far. It may or may not be the reason why I get no mold but I'll go with it.

Hopefully a pro will chime in soon and fill us in on it. I have been curious about it my self. I hate to waste coal if I'm not cooking.

Take care!

 

[Big Poppa]

mold is a function of moisture trapped in the drum....regular burns help if not try to store it in the driest place possible in between uses

 

[jshep]

mold is a function of moisture trapped in the drum....regular burns help if not try to store it in the driest place possible in between uses

I have never actually had that issue before. I have read many times about it. I actually do clean my grates after and before every cook with tin foil and then a half onion and olive oil.

I do light both of my drums fairly often even if I am not cooking on them. I was told to do this before for this reason and it has worked so far. It may or may not be the reason why I get no mold but I'll go with it.

Hopefully a pro will chime in soon and fill us in on it. I have been curious about it my self. I hate to waste coal if I'm not cooking.

Take care!

Alright, thanks to you both! I'll try lighting occasionally if I'm not cooking. And just cook more often!! ;-) This last time, I lost a nearly full basket of charcoal left from the last cook as most of the mold was on the coal basket, grate, and ashes in the bottom. There was just a little on the sides of the drum and absolutely none on the top.

I have no option but to store outside, and it is fairly humid here in NJ lately, but I had this happen in the winter, too. I use a Weber grill cover when not in use. I wonder if it is holding too much moisture *in*?

Anyway, good to know this isn't an issue at all for you, djporkchop. My impression from the forum is that it is more the exception than the rule. Hope I can stop it!

 

[Salmonsmoker]

You should also keep the vents open when not in use. That will help keep high humidity down from otherwise trapped moisture inside the drum.

 

[jshep]

Yeah, as I was wondering about the cover above, it occurred to me I keep all the vents closed and maybe opening those and even leaving the lid slightly askew might help. Thanks Salmonsmoker!

 

[jshep]

OH: I also should have written: I also have a Weber 22" I use with a smokenator that has *never* gotten the mold. Same storage environment, same kind of cover, same meat, rub, sauce......same just about everything I can think of. Weird, right?