Cleaning for cast iron cooking grates as opposed to stainless steel....which is easier?
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!
1027354
i am not sure. Because i am not using stainless steel. but i love my grates. its hold the temp. the best thing i did is bought i bought the weber. dont buy anything else. :)
1027355
Easy, I cured the grates with olive oil when they are hot. This is like curing a cast iron skillet. No rust and food generally wipes right off. Food just seems to cook much better on cast iron.
1027356
Our BBQ is quite new, although with the intense heat and just a regular BBQ brush, all the grills get cleaned automatically. This is a super grill, especially with the special searing function. No complaints thus far. It seems that foods sticks less to the cast iron grates.
1027357
The Amazon description of this product includes "porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates" not cast iron cooking grates. I am confused both regarding the question and the answers. Did an earlier model have cast Iron (without the "porcelain-enameled" coating)?
1027358
I haven't had a grill with stainless grates. I can tell you that if you let the grill burn on high for 5 minutes after you finish cooking, and then wait untill it heats up for the session, brush and your ready to go!
1027359
U clean them like a cast iron pan. Use a really (& I mean that) good grill brush to get the crud off. Thatz about it. Az far az the stainless Ive heard that other people have to clean them like stainless panz (soaking, cleanzer, & scrubby padz). Just a matter of preference I guess, but I luv cast iron! My former grill had them- never replaced & now itz goin 2 winter home in AZ. Hope this helps.
776572
I use it on my iron grill grates and scrub with a Fuller Stainless Steel scrub . . .they come out looking new.
1382276
I hope you haven't done anything drastic to clean your cast iron, such as has been suggested in the previous responses. If the pan is something you'd regret damaging, the safest way to clean off burnt-on cooking residue as well as remove rust would be to place it in an electrolysis bath. The instructions are easy to find online, or just contact any group of cast iron aficionados, they'll be eager to guide you...and maybe even attempt to persuade you to part with your antique pan. Best of luck.
2159121
I have used a Scotch-Brite pads (with hot water and dish detergent) to clean the grate and more recently the Scotch-Brite brush (which is essentially a pointy-shaped Scotch Brite pad with a plastic handle). The cleaning process takes about 10 minutes, including the handy grease catcher thing. I have had this electric grill for well over a year now, and I'm surprised to say I haven't used my Weber charcoal grill at all in the past year. I use this thing at least once a week. It is much more convenient than charcoal, and it just seems that I'm always rushed to cook (hungry people do not want to wait) and it heats up in just 5 minutes or so. The grate is not made completely of porcelain, but is composed of a hefty metal, perhaps steel, coated in an exceptionally hard glass-like glaze, that I suspect is baked on at a very high temperature during the manufacturing process. The grate itself is easily removed, and I have washed it in the dishwasher multiple times. The grate appears no worse for the wear; specifically no rust at all to be seen. It has retained its shiny, glassy appearance after perhaps 75 vigorous cleanings. I have started using steel wool on the grate, which is something I thought would scratch it, but it does not seem to. I broke down and used steel wool (Brillo pad) after some of the baked in gunk would not come completely off with the Scotch-Brite (leaving a dull-appearing spot on surface of the grate). When you flip the grate over to clean the bottom of it, you will see it is glazed as well, and cleaning procedure is the same. I have kept the grate very clean, using the above methods, and it looks about as good as it did out of the box.
614561
Mine is Stainless Steel. If you have metal flakes they can be accidentally coming from outside sources. All Pots and Pans require to be washed with soapy water and rinsed and dried thoroughly before use. That's a rule of thumb. (The metal flakes can also come from the electronic parts during the assembly.) It's your job to clean the pot before use, thereafter there should be no metal flakes. There's a real simple way to determine whether SS or Chrome, so you never have to ask again Take a magnet from your frig note holder (any magnet) if it doesn't stick its excellent Stainless. Which is called food Stainless and doesn't rust. Cheaper Stainless has less Zinc and can hold a light magnet. Usually found in outside BBQ's they sell as Stainless but is crap Stainless and will ultimately rust (usually spotted rust marks). Zink is very very expensive, so only the best Stainless contains the right amount of Zinc. If a magnet sticks like glue, then its metal, or chromed metal. Keep that in mind. (There various types of Stainless, only Food Stainless is of the highest grade.) Non Food such as an Outside Bar-B-Q is usually junk Stainless, You have to buy a Weber to get better Stainless, of course the price is higher, but will last you a lifetime. Stainless isn't Stainless on average items, and magnet test will help identify the quality.
665138
I assume you mean the cooking grates. The cooking grates are not stainless steel. They are a nonstick coated enamel (black color).
1042947
I haven't found it hard at all. Grease the grates as usual, after you finish grilling, turn up the heat to full for about 5 minutes then just use a wire brush. After about 5 uses, we give the grates a good scrubbing using soap and water as well.
188247
Your choice of cleaner sounds fine. I wrap my cast iron weight with aluminium foil before using. Dish washing liquid cleans it without any problems because it never gets greasy.
388676
Just get a grill cleaning brush. I use my brush to clean the grates after I use my grill and I've never had an issue getting anything off.
2179263
Cleaning the grills is easy. Cleaning the insides requires a lot of work. I have tried chemical de-greasers, bar keepers friend, steel wool, and oven cleaner. Steel wool works best for me. The aluminum surfaces are just plain difficult.
94676
I have cast iron grates and live outside of DC (high humidity). I have had the grill for almost 6 years and very little if any rust on them. My secret is before and after every use I take a paper towel, pour some vegetable oil on it and rub the grates down. The coating of oil prevents rust and makes for easy cleaning.
718188
The porcelain grates are easier to clean that the cast iron grates, but they will not last as long as the cast iron grates. The cast iron will last indefinitely as long as they are cared for.
1495800
I have found that oiling the cooking grates before each use has eliminated most of the rust issues. I also clean the grates with a brush after cooking while they are still hot and leave the grill on high for at least ten minutes or until the grill stops smoking.I found that marinating increase the rust so I stopped marinating.
2041891
I use a wire brush designed to fit the grooves. I've not had rust problems. The whole point of STAINLESS STEEL is it doesn't rust.Charbroil makes a brush for the infrared grates, and I bought one here on Amazon. So far...no rust problems. I hope this helps you with your purchase decision(s).
524090
I would say go with the cast iron, because that is what I have and it works very well. I bought a griddle and a regular new grate for my grill (both sides were old and very rusted and gross), and I must say that I am happy with both sides. Only thing that I don't care for is that it is made in China.
94678
I have an 11 year old weber genesis with cast iron grates. The newer weber cast iron grates are coated, my 11yr old grates are not. I live in Columbus OH also and there is no rust. The trick is to treat the grates with oil when new. Each time you cook a greasy hamburger the fat will remain behind when you are done. Be careful not to use too high of a heat or you will burn this "seasoning" off of the grates. You can always take your favorite spray oil and lightly coat the grates when done cooking and they should last for a long time. I like to use a butter-garlic oil on the grates if I am going to cook chicken. When the chicken is done cooking there is still enough residue on the grates to prevent rusting. I have an 11 year old weber genesis with cast iron grates. The newer weber cast iron grates are coated, my 11yr old grates are not. I live in Columbus OH also and there is no rust. The trick is to treat the grates with oil when new. Each time you cook a greasy hamburger the fat will remain behind when you are done. Be careful not to use too high of a heat or you will burn this "seasoning" off of the grates. You can always take your favorite spray oil and lightly coat the grates when done cooking and they should last for a long time. I like to use a butter-garlic oil on the grates... » Read More I have an 11 year old weber genesis with cast iron grates. The newer weber cast iron grates are coated, my 11yr old grates are not. I live in Columbus OH also and there is no rust. The trick is to treat the grates with oil when new. Each time you cook a greasy hamburger the fat will remain behind when you are done. Be careful not to use too high of a heat or you will burn this "seasoning" off of the grates. You can always take your favorite spray oil and lightly coat the grates when done cooking and they should last for a long time. I like to use a butter-garlic oil on the grates if I am going to cook chicken. When the chicken is done cooking there is still enough residue on the grates to prevent rusting. « Show Less
1911372
There are three grates. Each is nine inches wide. I'm not sure why you'd want stainless steel; the coated iron is MUCH easier to clean and retains heat better than the coat hanger version.