The Cooldown or Shutdown Cycle
Why a pellet grill's fan keeps running after cooking, how long makers say the cycle takes, and why they say to let it finish.
The fan runs on after you stop cooking because there's still a fire in the pot. Pellets are already burning when you press shutdown, and they have to burn out. The cooldown cycle handles that.
What the cycle is for
Pit Boss describes it plainly. The fan is programmed to run for approximately 15 minutes after powering off the grill. This is a cool-down cycle, and it burns up the remaining pellets in the fire pot and cools the grill down.1
So there are two jobs. One is burning off what's left in the fire pot. The other is bringing the grill's temperature down. The fan helps with both.
Traeger's guide describes the same sound. For one model, it says a countdown begins during shutdown, and you will hear the fan continue to run. Once the countdown is over, the cycle is complete.2
How long it takes
Times differ by maker and model:
| Source | Cycle length |
|---|---|
| Pit Boss FAQ | The fan is programmed to run for approximately 15 minutes.1 |
| Traeger guide, non-connected grill | The shutdown cycle runs approximately 25 minutes.2 |
Read the number as a sample, not a rule. Your manual will give the time for your grill, and a display countdown, if there is one, tells you when it's done.
Why not cut the power early
The pages I could save say what to do, not what goes wrong if you don't. Traeger's seasoning guide says to shut down the grill and let the shut-down cycle complete.2 On a non-connected grill, it says to turn the grill off with the power switch only once the shutdown cycle is complete.2
Given what the cycle is for, the reasoning is simple. The fan is the part that burns up the remaining pellets and cools the grill. Neither maker says more than that, so follow your manual's wording for your model.
How to start it
Use the control your manual names. The Traeger guide's steps differ by model. For one model, it says to press and hold the ignite/shutdown button or the selection dial for three seconds. For others, it says to press the knob or the controller's power button for three seconds.2 Follow your own manual for your grill. The non-connected steps are to set the controller to Shutdown Cycle.2 Pit Boss describes its cycle as the fan running after powering off the grill.1 The words on your panel will tell you which applies.
Don't walk away at once. CFA, the fire authority in Victoria, Australia, says never to leave a BBQ unattended.3 That page is about barbecues in general, but a grill with a live fire in the pot fits the idea.
After the cycle
When the cycle ends, the grill is cooler but not cold. The CFA page says to make sure a BBQ is completely cooled before cleaning up grease and fat build-up.3 Your manual may give its own waiting time.
Ash and the fire pot, ready for the next light-up, are covered in the pre-light checks.
Where it fits
The start of the routine is on this page. Where the grill sits while it cools is on another.
Cited material
- Pit Boss Grills frequently asked questions, Pit Boss Grills
- How to Season a Traeger Grill, Traeger Pellet Grills
- BBQ, smokers, & pizza ovens, CFA (Country Fire Authority), Victoria, Australia
Keep reading
What Happens When a Pellet Grill StartsWhat a pellet grill does between the power button and cooking heat, from the auger and igniter to the first smoke, as makers describe it.
The Prime or Feed Cycle ExplainedWhy a pellet grill's auger can run before the fire starts, when makers say to prime it, and what the prime button does and doesn't do.
How the Igniter Lights the Fire PotHow a pellet grill's igniter rod works, what the flashing display means, and the lighting times that makers give.