How to Clean and Maintain Your Spit Roaster

Deluxe Cyprus Spit, Spartan Spit Roaster and BBQ Cleaning Kit

A Clean Spit Roaster Cooks Better (and Lasts Longer)

Nothing kills the mood faster than firing up your spit and realising last week’s lamb fat is still baked onto the shaft. Regular cleaning and proper maintenance aren’t just about looks, they keep your rotisserie running smoothly and stop rust, wear, and even unwanted fires.

Here’s your no-nonsense, step-by-step guide to clean your spit roaster and keep it ready for your next cook-up.

Step-By-Step Post-Cook Cleanup

1. Let Everything Cool Down

Before touching anything, let your spit, accessories, and coals cool completely. Never rush this. Handling hot metal can cause burns and disposing of hot coals can lead to fires.

2. Clean the Spit Shaft, Prongs, and Accessories

  • Use warm water, dishwashing liquid, and a scourer to scrub the spit shaft, prongs, and anything else that touched the meat.
  • If your accessories fit in the dishwasher, you can run them through for an easy clean.
  • Dry everything thoroughly to avoid rust.

3. Dispose of the Ash Safely!

  • Once the coals are completely extinguished and cold, sweep the ash into a metal bucket or dustpan.
  • Dispose of ash in the bin, add it to compost, or sprinkle it in the garden.
  • Never throw hot or warm ash into the bin. You’ll risk setting the bin, fence, or worse on fire. Yes, we’ve heard all the horror stories about fences and decks being burnt down as the fire brigade being called!

Person cleaning a stainless steel spit rotisserie by scooping cooled ash into a metal pan with a dustpan, demonstrating safe ash disposal after cooking.

4. Scrape and Sweep the Spit Body

  • Use a scraper to remove any baked-on fat or oil from the spit body.
  • Sweep out the base of the spit to get rid of leftover ash..

Person scraping baked-on fat and oil from the inside of a stainless steel spit rotisserie, demonstrating how to clean the spit body after cooking.

5. Wipe Down and Protect

  • Wipe the inside and outside with a damp rag to pick up any remaining ash.
  • Spray the metal surfaces with WD-40 to create a protective film and prevent rust during storage.

Person spraying and wiping down the inside of a stainless steel spit rotisserie with protective oil to prevent rust and maintain the metal surface after cleaning.

6. Store It Right

  • Keep your spit out of the weather when not in use.
  • Use a protective cover to keep dust, moisture, and cobwebs away.

Rotisserie Maintenance Tips For Long Life

  • Check moving parts: Make sure the motor mount, brackets, and shaft are secure and turning freely.
  • Inspect for rust: Catch it early and treat it before it spreads.
  • Keep it covered: Even stainless steel lasts longer when shielded from the elements.
  • Clean after every cook: Leaving fat and grease to harden makes the next cleanup twice as hard.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

With just 15–20 minutes of cleanup after each cook, your spit roaster will stay in top form, deliver better results, and be ready to go whenever the craving hits.

Check out our range of spit roaster covers and accessories to make cleaning and storage even easier.

 

Quick FAQs

Q: Can I hose down my spit roaster?
A: Avoid soaking the motor or electrical components. Clean them separately and keep them dry. If you do hose down your spit roaster, make sure you dry it thoroughly before packing it away. Despite popular belief, stainless steel is not immune to rusting

Q: Can I wash my rotisserie parts in the dishwasher?
A: If your parts are stainless steel and purchased from BBQ Spit Rotisseries, yes, you can absolutely put them in the dishwasher. 

 

Author Name

by: Sasha Halabi