Whew! All that grease buildup! Yuk! I'm sorry now that I offered you the advice. How embarrassing for me. So yes, Jobiewan, stay away from my barbeque, but also stay clear of the many great authentic pits of this country, which have many more years of seasoning on them than my FEPG. These pits never cease nor stop, smoking without a break year after year, keeping their legion of fans happily coming back for more. Given your delicacy, such a prospect is naturally appalling and disgusting. But most bbq fans see it differently. So I say follow your instincts. Get out your garden hose and a bucket of soapy water and scrub your FEPG inside and out real good. You'll be happy then. BTW, I have no grease buildup.