I just bought this. How do you clean the cast iron grates? I was told (by mom) to never use water on cast iron.
155703
We clean the the grates with a damp dish washing cloth. If it ever needed serious scrubbing, I would use a scouring pad sold for a barbeque grate and rinse with water. 'Mom' may have been worried about rust in a cast iron skillet or depleting the conditioning oil in the skillet. I sometimes use water in my cast iron skillet if it is seriously messy, but it rusts a bit if it is not dried out after cleaning. It takes a touch more oil to use the skillet the next time.
1503463
The grates like the body of the hibachi are CAST IRON. What you are experiencing comes from either moisture causing rust, or excess heat causing oxidation or BOTH. The very best thing you can do to prevent the problem is to care for those grates better than you have. FIRST use a stiff brass bristle brush to clean as much of the oxidized metal away. Second coat your grates with a good cooking oil BEFORE use. The more you can get to soak into the cast iron which is porous, the better. Watch your heat, cooking meats more slowly is usually better anyhow. Third, when you are done, brush cooking debris off the grates with the same brass bristle brush OVER the fire so it all incinerates. Coat the grates with cooking oil. Store in a dry location. Grates SHOULD last 5-10 years with good care. Order replacements from the manufacturer.
907910
Spray the grates with vegetable oil and fire up the grill.The grates will be fine.This is the best grill I've ever owned.Tonight,I grilled corn,onions,baby back ribs and hamburgers.I love it.
2215816
I haven't had too much trouble. If you do, just spray the grates with Pam before you begin cooking. Although I haven't had to do this. Thanks Dave
516277
After using my mortar I rinse it out with warm water, dry off with paper towel then apply a small amount of cooking oil on a paper towel. Just enough to get a shine on the Mortar. Any cast iron product will rust if liquids are left on it. I never wash in dishwasher or use dish soap. If you need to get a good clean on it then I use kosher salt with a little hot water. Scrub then rinse. Re-apply oil.
789254
We have the Q 1200 with porcelain coated cast iron grate and Weber recommends metal bristle brush to clean the grates. After over 50 grilling sessions within a month and a half, with grate brushing before and after grilling, we've encountered absolutely no problems. No scratches, no flaking, no gouges, etc. We also toss the grates into the dish washer after every 10 grilling sessions and they look as if they're brand new from day 1. We have the 18" version, this and the Weber detailing brush as part of our cleaning arsenal.
1283923
I agree, just get a grill brush and clean off the worst of the gunk. The high temperature of the grill will kill any potential bacteria that probably isn't there anyway. Cast iron needs to be seasoned and stay seasoned, the dishwasher can result in starting the process over from scratch.
1689112
I always clean cast iron while its hot with water only and a brush. I also dry it with heat then oil it while warm. The key is to keep the moisture out. If you're storing you might want to put a heavier coat of oil on it and cover with paper towels.
1879106
For this type of ridged grill pan, I simply pour in some warm water while it's still fairly hot to loosen up some of the cooking reside and char. After allowing it to sit for a while, I take the special scraper or grill brush (with grooves to get in-between the ridges) and finish the cleaning job WITH NOTHING BUT WATER. Never soap. No dishwasher. No chemicals. On flat cast iron pans and pots, you can use kosher salt with half a lemon to clean the surface if it's gunked up. Once you're done cleaning any cast iron, dry it gently but thoroughly and apply a very thin film off vegetable or peanut oil onto the cooking surface. Store it that way for your next use.
282434
Do NOT wash the grill grates in a dishwasher. The soap/chemicals are too harsh. I do not wash mine at all. I turn the burners up all the way and let the heat cook off most of the oil and grease. After it cools down or before you grill again, use a balled up hunk of aluminum foil and rub the grates clean with that. I also use a brass bristle brush to clean the grates. You could buy a rough surface plastic scrubby to scrub the grates with and then rub some vegetable oil or olive oil on the grates before you cook on them. Don't use harsh chemical cleaners on any part of your grill. Mild soap and water is fine. Do NOT wash the grill grates in a dishwasher. The soap/chemicals are too harsh. I do not wash mine at all. I turn the burners up all the way and let the heat cook off most of the oil and grease. After it cools down or before you grill again, use a balled up hunk of aluminum foil and rub the grates clean with that. I also use a brass bristle brush to clean the grates. You could buy a rough surface plastic scrubby to scrub the grates with and then rub some vegetable oil or olive oil on the grates before you cook on them. Don't use harsh chemical cleaners on any part of your grill. Mild soap... » Read More Do NOT wash the grill grates in a dishwasher. The soap/chemicals are too harsh. I do not wash mine at all. I turn the burners up all the way and let the heat cook off most of the oil and grease. After it cools down or before you grill again, use a balled up hunk of aluminum foil and rub the grates clean with that. I also use a brass bristle brush to clean the grates. You could buy a rough surface plastic scrubby to scrub the grates with and then rub some vegetable oil or olive oil on the grates before you cook on them. Don't use harsh chemical cleaners on any part of your grill. Mild soap and water is fine. « Show Less
789260
Oh yes, it will eventually make your porcelain flake! It may take a year or so but it will happen. I would only use these brushes on stainless grates. For our Weber porcelain-coated cast iron grates, we use a wadded up piece of newspaper & tongs. Get your grates hot & then rub them clean. I wish Weber sold stainless versions of their grates for ALL their grills. They are so much nicer. You still get killer grill marks, heat retention without all the trouble with cast iron flaking. I've never had to replace a stainless grate but the cast iron is another story....
684467
being cast iron, this should not go in dishwasher, or be washed with soap as it will quickly degrade the seasoning or coating on the grate that keeps food from sticking on it. It will rust and have to be reseasoned. Buy a heavy duty grill brush with hard man made bristles as anything else will hurt the coating. Oxo brand makes a good one. If and when you do get the grate wet it is best to wipe it down and dry it in the oven a few minutes. Then spray a light coat of cooking oil on it. Mine stays on the grill 24/7/365. I just turn the heat up and let any bits burn off during preheat, brush it down, and wipe a little oil on it. Good to go! being cast iron, this should not go in dishwasher, or be washed with soap as it will quickly degrade the seasoning or coating on the grate that keeps food from sticking on it. It will rust and have to be reseasoned. Buy a heavy duty grill brush with hard man made bristles as anything else will hurt the coating. Oxo brand makes a good one. If and when you do get the grate wet it is best to wipe it down and dry it in the oven a few minutes. Then spray a light coat of cooking oil on it. Mine stays on the grill 24/7/365. I just turn the heat up and let any bits burn off during preheat, brush it... » Read More being cast iron, this should not go in dishwasher, or be washed with soap as it will quickly degrade the seasoning or coating on the grate that keeps food from sticking on it. It will rust and have to be reseasoned. Buy a heavy duty grill brush with hard man made bristles as anything else will hurt the coating. Oxo brand makes a good one. If and when you do get the grate wet it is best to wipe it down and dry it in the oven a few minutes. Then spray a light coat of cooking oil on it. Mine stays on the grill 24/7/365. I just turn the heat up and let any bits burn off during preheat, brush it down, and wipe a little oil on it. Good to go! « Show Less
2267783
Never put your cast iron in a dishwasher! I wash mine and dry with a towel, then put it on a burner for a few minutes to get it hot and DRY, then while it is hot I put a little vegetable oil on it with a new dry paper towel...let it cool on the stove before you put it away. Go to Lodge web site and download instructions for care and maintenance of your cast iron cookware. It will be very helpful.
1027353
Cast iron is much easier to clean (or maybe it just looks cleaner because you can see on stainless steel easier?). Either way - the cast iron we have on our Weber Genesis is great - this grill cooks better than any gas grill we have ever used!
1094564
You must soak it in sink or bucket and use a cleaner. What happens is the porcelain emamel is scratched off by using a wire brush which allow rusting of cast iron beneath. Regardless someone in the home always resorts to bushing off cooked food which starts the rusting. I had great success just putting it in the dish washer, but that last just so long because I get lazy.
376223
do NOT use any soap when washing a pre-seasoned cast iron pan. it will take the pre-seasoning off, then it will have to be re-seasoned, which is a ton of work. only use hot water, and a stiff brush to wash off the pan, then heat it up, put a small amount of some kind of edible oil and wipe the oil into it.....do NOT use pam, or some other canned product, as it will become gummy, yuck!! just use vegetable oil, bacon fat, lard, whatever, as long as it is edible, do NOT use 10W-40, haha
2031633
We just brush off under running water, no soap. Then dry well, spray with cooking oil and re season in a large gas grill just as you would cast iron cookware. Shows no sign of chipping or rusting to date.