should i clean off the bottom of the pan?

[chicken123]

Do I need to clean the soot off the bottom of the pan?:confused:

[backyard sugaring]

Yes, I spray mine with oven cleaner wait a few minute and hose it off. You will notice an improvement in your evaporation rate. Good Luck. Lee

[TreeTapper2]

A build up of soot can act as an insulator. Therefore less heat transfer for boiling of sap.

[PerryW]

I do, but only at the end of the season.

[Troutman10]

Yes. Cleaning the bottom helps you're heat transfer and increases boiling rate.

[concord maple]

I can't seem to get soot off of sides of flue. Treated with easy off 3x and let sit and scrubbed and rinsed but still large areas present. Even tried barkeepers friend but didn't work. Maybe easyoff and pressure washer. Any ideas?

[bearair]

I cleaned the bottom if my pans using some cheep dollar store oven cleaner. Let it sit for a few hours then washed it off with the hose. Worked awesome

[Brian Ryther]

Do I need to clean the soot off the bottom of the pan?:confused:
If you have to ask then yes.