Cedar Plank, how to clean?

tazcrash

OK all, What's the best way to clean one of these things? 

Botch

Any stuck-on skin, I scrape off with a plastic doo-hickey I have at my sink.  The burned areas, I don't worry about.

And when most of your plank is burnt, replace it with an Alder one.  

tazcrash

Thanks, 

I scraped (nothing stuck), but wanted to make sure there wasn't more.

Seems like I'll have 2 planks from now on. The Mrs, and son did not like it. Said it was too strong. 

Rub was Salt, Pepper, Old Bay, dry mustard, and EVOO

stike

Well. It's supposed to be sacrificial. That's part of the idea. Toss in the trash

I use cedar shingles myself. Incredibly cheap single use.

Hillbilly-Hightech

OK all, What's the best way to clean one of these things? 

By tossing it in the garbage & using a new one ...

Please don't tell me you reuse plastic silverware & paper plates as well?? )

hehe... seriously though, I *may* use a plank 2 times, if it's not
charred all to death, and if I'm running low.  But, even so, then all I do is take 1 of those
dishwashing sponges w/ the "bristly" stuff on one side & just use
that along w/ hot water to get any misc stuff off...

HTH,
Rob

XLBalco

when i started using planks- i used to char them to the point to where you couldnt reuse them and then i would just toss them...

then i changed up how i used them....  after soaking them - i  throw them on the egg for a few minutes on each side until dried out and just before burn marks appeared.  i then coat both sides in EVOO.  then proceed with the cook as normal.

when i remove them they are in pretty darn good shape...  i then clean with warm water and scrape any food off.

at that point i realized that i didnt want to store the plank until the next use and tossed it in the garbage

 

tazcrash

OK. I had thought that these planks were reusable a few times (until they charred too much). I scrubbed, no soap. But since I'm the only one who would eat it again. Out it goes. Btw cook did happen

tazcrash

Shame though, this puppy was thick, and made to be used a couple times

Hillbilly-Hightech

Taz - nobody said you cannot use them twice - in fact, I said sometimes I do.  As long as you get the old food off, and it's not too charred, I don't see why you couldn't. 

I think the point is that they are scrap pieces of wood, and are fairly cheap, and as such, easily lend themselves to being disposable. 

For me, I take it on a case-by-case basis - if one of the used ones looks decent & can be used again, why not?  But if the next used one looks too charred or too "gnarly" from stuck on food grime, is it worth it spending time trying to scrub it clean? 

At any rate, do what feels right for YOU >-

TUTTLE871

Just go to the Lumber yard and get your self Cedar boards that are alot cheeper. Come home get out your trusty Dewalt Miter Saw and cut planks.

Make sure no chemicals are on the boards. Just ask they will tell you which ones are and arent.

 

stike

can someone please tell me what cedar boards are available that actually HAVE chemicals in them?

please.  seriously.

let's say i wanted cancer.  tomorrow.  what cedar board should i ask for?

some shingles are treated for fire retardency.  those that are, are marked, and sold at a premium.

otherwise... hard to find a cedar board that has chemicals added to it.
cedar is naturally rot/insect resistant, and is not pressure treated.  so what mythical chemicals should i be on the lookout for?  (if this sounds facetious, it is.  it's a common warning.  but one that hasn't ever been substantiated)

stike

(i can hear all you hardos out there googling like a mutha... hahah  keep trying.  keep trying)