I say loosen any flakes of rust, scuff up any surface rust, rinse it with a garden hose, completely air dry, spray it down with Pam and start a fire. I think you're over thinking it. As long as there isn't any mold in there, you'll be just fine.
It doesn't matter even if there is mold. Burn that big boy out and let the germs dance with that. Nothing in a cooker a good hot fire won't take care of.
Making memories.
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........
Rodcrafter wrote:It doesn't matter even if there is mold. Burn that big boy out and let the germs dance with that. Nothing in a cooker a good hot fire won't take care of.
It probably sounds like we are all messing around here. Sorry. If you do have concern. Then knock off the loose with a brush. Fire up the cooker to 350 ish and then moderately spritz with water. This will steam clean without using a giant steam clean pressure washer.