After removing the grates, rinse thoroughly to remove any residual traces. So in this article, we’re going to explore routine maintenance, how to clean cast iron grill grates and how you can keep your investment looking good and operating properly. #3) No soaps with citrus. This coating makes the cast iron non-stick and prevents rust build up. Avoid using steel wool or any metallic scouring pads to clean. The best way to dry them is a few minutes sitting in a very low oven, to completely make sure there’s no water left in any pores. However, you may need to replace the grates if there is a large accumulation of rust that you can't remove or if the rust has eaten through large portions of the grate. This way you’re able to burn off much of your stuck on food and barbecue sauce. You can also mix it vinegar or baking soda or make a paste with water. If your grill has a lot of rust and/or baked on crud and you don’t think any of the above methods will work for you, then oven cleaner is the be-all end-all way of stripping all your cast iron down to bare metal. This way you’re able to burn off much of your stuck on food and barbecue sauce. I'm back to start grilling on my Big Green Egg again, but my amazing Cast Iron grill grates from Craycort have rusted like no other. Mix the salt with water to make a paste and then rub it on the rusty areas on the grate. How about you, what kind of grill grates do you own? Heat them on the grill’s maximum temperature for around 15 minutes. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or preheat your grill on low. Step 3: Spray the grates with oil. Your best bet is to pair a heavy-duty brush , non-scratch nylon scrubber , or sponge with a cleaning product that scours, like powder cleanser or baking soda (see below instructions for more detail). Also Know, how do you restore cast iron stove grates? You may need to repeat this process a few times. The vinegar will dissolve the rust, making scrubbing more effective. How to Restore Your Cast Iron Grill Grates | Hunker No one wants to eat food off of a rusty, mildew-laden grill grate with hunks of charred debris hanging off of it. Scrub the dirty grill grates clean and free of rust, season with oil, and heat in oven at 350° for one hour. To be able to clean grill grates easier, they should be warm. © 2021 Food Fire Friends, All rights reserved. I have a Kitchen Aid gas stainless steel cooktop grill in my home. For stubborn rust on grill grates, try using a nylon brush to remove the rust particles. Use a baking soda solution to remove the grease You can try using a solution of baking soda if your grates are extremely dirty. Step 2: Clean the grates. To clean yours, mix a solution of four parts water to one part apple cider vinegar. I love cooking outdoors over live fire and smoke whatever the weather, using various grills, smokers, and wood-fired ovens to produce epic food. I’ve been using Crisbee for about 6 months now, and my pans have never looked better! Water creates rust, thus deteriorating the quality of your cast iron grate. Season the grates as usual. How to Season Cast Iron Grill Grates. This is going to sound obvious, but cannot be overstated: The best way to keep your grill clean and rust-free is to give it a good cleaning immediately after every use. While your grill is still warm, scrape the grates with a good grill brush. Start by making a 50/50 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar, and let the grates soak for about an hour. 5. They are incredibly durable and if looked after properly, will likely outlive your grill. The oil should be coated on the grates, but it should not be dripping, as that could cause the oil to catch fire. Scrub the cast iron grill grates with a dry wire brush to remove rust, burnt food particles, mildew and other debris. Steps to Remove the Rust: Scrub the area with a steel grill brush until all rust is removed. This provides a smooth, non-stick surface requiring no additional oil on the grates before cooking. How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates Grill grates take a real beating. Cleaning grill grates also ensures food health safety when placing food directly onto the grate. Let the grill burn off the grease and food particles. Cast iron grates are durable, resilient, and can withstand high temperatures. Can I paint cast iron burners? You don’t want any moisture left behind because that will cause rust to come back again very quickly, even as quick as overnight. Once you’ve burned off your food, you can either clos… Continuously dip … Scrub them all with a proper scrubbing tool. Using ammonia fumes. My stove cast iron grate broke in 1/2. Rubbing Crisco shortening on cast iron grill grates before using them prevents rust from forming and also prevents the frustrating problem of food sticking to them while cooking. I defenitely don’t have the money to buy one right now. Leaving grease and stuck-on food on the surface will make the surface more difficult to clean and can contribute to bacterial growth and food poisoning. She also writes for a variety of online publications. This can occur if you accidentally leave the cover off your grill, or if you simply don’t use it for a prolonged period and moisture gets inside the grill. After 20 minutes, clean it off with bristle grill brush. Using paper towels and tongs, rub a thin coat of flaxseed oil, vegetable oil or shortening on the grill grates, using care to all sides of the grate. Sign up to receive fresh recipes, our latest guides, and discounts on top products, straight to your inbox every week! Apply another layer of vegetable oil to the grates. Before you start, assemble all required materials: In a well-ventilated area, spray an even coating on your grates, place them inside garbage bags, and seal the bags air tight. Coat a paper towel in vegetable oil. Cast iron grill grates used on outdoor gas or charcoal grills need proper seasoning and regular care. Let the grates soak in a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water for at least half an hour, then scrub the grates to remove any residue. Cleaning Cast Iron Grill Grates Rub the grates with vinegar and allow them to sit for a few minutes to an hour. Rinse the area well, preferably with hot water. The heat will soften leftovers, making them easier to remove. Have you ever cooked with a cast iron grill grate in your backyard? This means regular cleaning, oiling, and ongoing general maintenance and care. You Will Need: Water; Fat (oil, lard, bacon grease, etc) Heat (an oven or gas grill) Stiff plastic brush; Steps to Season the Burners and Grates: Start by thoroughly cleaning the cast iron grates and burners with water and a stiff brush. Then take a stiff brush and clean the cast iron grates. If your sink is large enough to lay your grill grates flat you can simply soak them in vinegar to remove any rust. If this happens, don’t panic – there are several ways you can remove rust and restore your cast iron grates to their former glory. Ammonia fumes known as one of the best materials for how to clean stove gates cast iron on your stove. If you encounter some stubborn particles, mix a bit of vinegar or kosher salt with water, then apply the paste to the grates using paper towel. So long as your spouse will allow it, bring your grill grates inside the house and wash them in the sink with hot soapy water and steel wool or a stiff brush. After cooking, turn up the heat on the grill and close the lid. Sometimes accidents or unintentional neglect can happen, and your grates will sadly become rusty. Made from bees wax, soybean & palm oil, it’s specifically designed for seasoning cast iron. Click here for a video on how to clean cooking grates. With proper maintenance, cast iron grill grates can last for years and even decades. Once you’ve finished cooking and removed your food, open all vents if using charcoal, or turn up your grill to high if using gas and then close the lid to allow the grill to get hot. Fill a spray bottle with high-heat oil. Step 1 - Heat the Cast Iron Grates. Once the crud has all broken down, rinse the cast iron and follow it up with a wash in soapy water. Turn the heat off. Now, don’t demoralize yourself, this can happen even to most experienced world-renown grill masters. See the guide How to Season Cast Iron Grates and Burners for more details. Professional member of the NBGA (National Barbecue and Grilling Association). A brush with a scraper is excellent here as you’re able to scrape any remaining food off your grates easily. Also to know is, how do you restore cast iron stove grates? You can also use a paste made of baking soda and water. Vinegar and Baking Soda Baking soda is an abrasive, which makes it a great substance to use to fight rust. This is going to sound obvious, but cannot be overstated: The best way to keep your grill clean and rust-free is to give it a good cleaning immediately after every use. Step 2. The video shows stainless steel grates, but the cleaning instructions are identical for PECI grates. Cast iron seasoning is the process of oil being baked into the pores of the material at high temperatures so that a thin coating is created. Seasoning is simply the use of fat or oil that is baked into the pores of the cast iron at such a high heat that it polymerizes, forming a tough coating that prevents rust and forms a nonstick finish over time. There are several ways you can go about using vinegar as a cleaning agent. Soak your grates overnight in a mixture of ratio one parts distilled white vinegar to half part baking soda. You have to make sure that you cleaned the area properly. Can I fix it?? Seasoning Cast Iron Grill Grates After you've cleaned your grates, you need to re-season them to prevent future rust buildup. ? Most oven cleaners contain lye, a strong alkaline solution used for washing and cleaning. Make sure you won’t miss any place. Care – When it comes to cooking grates, the maintenance is the same for Porcelain coated cast iron as it is for Stainless steel. run it through your ovens self-clean cycle, a strong alkaline solution used for washing and cleaning, Complete Guide to Dry Brining – Turkey, Chicken, Steaks, Chops and More, 27 of the Best Grilling Gifts and BBQ Gift Ideas in 2020, Smoking Times and Temperatures Chart – With BBQ Cooking Tips, Best Pellet Smokers and Grills in 2020 – From Affordable to High End, Spare Ribs Vs. St. Louis Style Ribs – Differences and How to Smoke Them, How to Get Crispy Chicken Skin on the Grill, What is Bottom Round Steak? How to Restore Your Cast Iron Grill Grates, By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Fire Craft: Seasoning and Caring for Cast Iron Grates. Cast iron grill grates can last more than a lifetime if they are adequately cared for. But to achieve those delicious results, cast iron grill grates … Before each use, we recommend preheating your grill to 500-550°F, brushing your cooking grates clean with a stainless steel bristle brush and then adjusting your control knobs to your desired grilling temperature. The grates can usually be cleaned and restored. Once cleaned you will need to give your grates a good rinse before drying them very thoroughly. Spray the grill grates with the oil, making sure to get full coverage. A sure-fire way that’s been used to clean cast iron for years is to simply run it through your ovens self-clean cycle. Season your grill grates Seasoning will help prevent any possibilities of rust build up. Dry the grates completely with a cloth. Do not be afraid, because there are a few things you can do to restore rusty cast iron to its former glory. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. How to Season Cast Iron Grill Grates Rinse the grates to remove dust, and dry them with a clean towel. A large enough box or container to store the grills for a couple of days while the oven cleaner works its magic. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Use hot pads and several layers of paper towels when you are applying oil to the hot grill grates. Soap and Water: Mix some dish soap and warm water in a bucket. Wrap medium grit sandpaper around each rung of the cast iron grate and carefully rub the metal using an up and down action. Check the grates and apply more vegetable oil if they dry out. How Often to Clean a Cast Iron Grill . After 10-15 minutes, switch off the heat and open the lid. Cleaning a rusty cast iron grill/griddle with kosher salt Apparently kosher salt is also a mild abrasive like baking soda that works great on removing rust. With your trusty grill brush, start scraping off any remaining leftover on your cast iron grates. However, just as cast iron pots and pans can rust in your home, cast iron grill grates can also become rusty and unusable if not properly cleaned and stored. Wipe the grates off with a clean, dry paper towel, then apply a final thin coat of vegetable oil. Your stove grates are likely cast iron, so treat them with care to prevent damage. There are many reasons to purchase cast iron grill grates. Combine 6 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 ounces of warm water and apply the paste to the iron grates. After repeated use, cast iron pans and grates will also become naturally nonstick and enhance the flavor of cooked food. Leave a comment below to tell us what kind of grates you own and how you clean them, we can all learn from each other! If you just used the grill, allow it to cool completely before moving on to the next step. The process is the same as with most cast iron, just follow these steps. Otherwise, place your grill grates and the vinegar mixture in a large garbage bag and seal tightly. Cast iron is porous, and as meat cooks, its fats and oils soak into the pores where they harden. Burnt food particles, grease and other debris accumulate on the grates, preventing them from retaining their natural nonstick properties. Regardless of how you cleaned your cast iron grates, you should always season them before you put them away. Store the grill grates indoors in a dry location when they are not in use. If your sink is large enough, rest the grates in the sink and allow them to soak overnight. Cast iron grill grates conduct heat quickly and evenly, cooking and searing the meat. If your grill is hot and you’ve just cleaned your grates with a grill brush, one coat will be sufficient, but if you’ve just completed one of the more thorough cleaning methods described above, you’re going to want to apply a couple of coats. They Look so Alike! Turn the oven off immediately if there is an excessive amount of smoke when heating the grates. They’re also able to retain an even heat during cooking and produce fantastic grill marks on your food. Cast iron grill grates age over time and need proper care to stay in good condition. I think I should begin by saying this: Do not wash your cast iron with soap and water unless you want to strip your seasoning and then re-season it again. Let the grates cool a little and scrape with a scraper or your grill brush to remove ash left behind. Using a dry cloth, wipe dry all the remaining moisture off your grates. Morgan's extensive educational background includes studies in creative writing, screenwriting, herbology, natural medicine, early childhood education and psychology. Just preheat the grill on high for 15 minutes with the lid closed and then brush the grates clean with a Weber Stainless Steel Grill Brush. Have you any tips or tricks for keeping them clean that we haven’t covered here? Is there something I can do to make the grates … Use a grill brush to clean the grates, brushing away stuck-on food and other debris. Apply more greaser once you found the grates is about to dry and wait for 30 minutes. FoodFireFriends.com is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program. After soaking overnight, remove the grates and rinse thoroughly. The cooking process aids grate maintenance. Neglect and improper storage of a cast iron grill grate almost always lead to rust. If you leave the grates outdoors during the winter or don't use them for long periods of time, they may become rusty or grow mildew. Burnt food particles, grease and other debris accumulate on the grates, preventing them from retaining their natural nonstick properties. You’re looking to apply a thin film, not coat your grates heavily. The reason is, it will be helpful to season the grates in an appropriate way. There are several common and safe household items that can be used as a rust remover on cast iron grill grates. Now store them for a couple of days in a warm place where no children or pets could possibly get at them. Cast iron is porous, and as meat cooks, its fats and oils soak into the pores where they harden. Season Your Grates After Cleaning – This is Essential! Scrubbing using a steel wool would be beneficial that can help you to clean easily. On top of that, with continuous use and with routine seasoning they will eventually become non-stick; similar to a cast iron pan. Self-Cleaning Oven/High Heat on the Grill. Make grilling a more enjoyable, safe and healthy practice by cleaning and restoring your grill grates with elbow grease, a stiff wire brush, vegetable oil, white vinegar and time. A cast iron grate should be well-cared for because its number one adversary is water. Heat the grates for 15 minutes at 200 degree Fahrenheit. Combine a mixture of two parts distilled white vinegar and one part baking soda. Repeat the process as … Just a wipe with a cloth or piece of kitchen towel lightly dabbed in oil is sufficient. Place the oil-coated grill grates in the preheated oven or covered grill for 30 minutes. The vinegar is not necessary unless the rust does not come off with the oil. Then gently scrub with a kitchen scrubber or wire pad to remove any remaining rust. In the below video, we see how Lodge Manufacturing, one of the oldest cookware companies in the United States and one of the largest manufacturers of cast iron cookware in the world, gives recommendations on how to clean grates that have become rusty. Cast iron grill grates conduct heat quickly and evenly, cooking and searing meat for that distinctive charbroiled flavor. Don’t use too much pressure. Where it Comes from And How to Cook it, Eye of Round Roast – What it is, Where it Comes From, How to Cook it, How to Calibrate a Thermometer Used for BBQ, Grilling and Smoking, Skirt Steak Vs Flank Steak: What’s the Difference and When to Use Each. That will make those come off easier and sanitize the grates at the same time. After cleaning your cast iron grates and making sure they’re dry, you now want to apply a very thin coating of vegetable oil to help prevent rust from forming. Once you’ve finished cooking and removed your food, open all vents if using charcoal, or turn up your grill to high if using gas and then close the lid to allow the grill to get hot. Once you’ve burned off your food, you can either close your vents to extinguish your charcoal (which can be reused,) or turn off your gas to allow the grill to cool to a point where it’s comfortable to put your hand in to clean. Wash the grill with something soft. If you have a lot of rust on your grill, you may have to take more drastic measures than simply cleaning with soap and steel wool or soaking in vinegar. This will remove any seasoning you’ve built up, but will also remove any surface rust, bringing your grate back to bare metal. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven you can get the same results by leaving your grates in an extremely hot grill (like 600°+) for over an hour. The black cast iron matte finish grates are starting to mark up and are shiny and not all over black after using them for three years. My goal with this site is to help as many people as possible enjoy and be good at doing the same. I'm a self-proclaimed BBQ nut, and the founder and chief editor here at Food Fire Friends. Rub the grill grates with the oil, and continue wiping and rubbing the grates until they come clean. Soak another paper towel with white distilled vinegar and use it to remove any remaining rust spots. To clean cast iron grill grates, first, remove the grate from the grill and prop it against a sturdy surface. Oil … Once finished scrubbing, you’ll still want to wash with soapy water to rinse off any remaining vinegar, followed by drying thoroughly in a low oven. If you use gas, close the lid to allow the grill to become hot. Gabrielle Morgan has authored business documents, manuals, mental health documentation and treatment plans. Return to the oven and check them every 30 minutes for one to two hours. Cast iron grill grates age over time and need proper care to stay in good condition. If you leave the grates outdoors during the winter or don't use them for long periods of time, they may become rusty or grow mildew. Scrub off as much as possible, and use a metal scraper to chip off large chunks if necessary. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, lightly coat your grates using substances such as vegetable oil or olive oil. Porterhouse vs T Bone Steak: What’s The Difference? After that, take the fat that you choose to do the process and cover all the surface of the grate with it. When mixed with vinegar it makes a thick paste that can be applied on the rusted grill grates to dissolve the rust. Restoring a Rusty Cast Iron Grill Grate. You can use cooking oil to season your grates, but a product I’ve been using lately to season all my cast iron is Crisbee. Once your grates have cooled (either inside the oven or on the grill), you’ll still need to give them a quick cleaning with hot soapy water to remove any carbon that may have been left behind. Leave the grates in the oven or grill until they cool completely. It cooks food evenly and is also an excellent option for those who are seeking lasting grilling equipment. Wipe excess oil from the grates before returning them to the oven. Ideally, a cast iron grill should be cleaned after every use.
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