I have had trouble keeping the cast iron grate from rusting. I have tried vegetable oil and other coatings. What am I doing wrong?
1134413
Need to heat up the grate after using and or cleaning- do not let it air dry. then apply the oil. Must dry in a warm spot.
1134414
I used crisco to season mine when I first got it. Every now and then I spray it with olive oil. Going to season it again with crisco here in a few days. Haven't seen any sign of rust. How long have you had it?
1134415
sorry to say that is common withe these types of grills. green egg included. the easiest thing to do is coat with pam and then burn the grates every use. thats not fixing the problem it just cleans them. It's like having cast iron pans. you could bring them inside every use but that may be a hassle. sorry about the issu. :(
1134416
Probably just need to use it more.Cant beat the natural coating by smoking meat!!
1134417
Unfortunately I'm not sure I can help. I have not had this problem. I "seasoned" the cast iron grate as the directions instructed prior to my first use. I clean the grate with a brass wire brush, after use, then oil the grate after it cools. I do not wash the grate nor have I let it get wet, it is stored between uses in the grill, and always with fresh oil applied. Hope this helps.
1134418
After taking the cooked meat off the cast iron grate, immediately scrap off all the baked on skin, bits of meat and meat drippings off with a wire brush, salt and vinegar will eat into the cast iron. If you wait for the grill to cool down, it is hard to scrap the baked on stuff off the grill. When the grill has reached the desired cooking temperature, use a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil and run it along the grate before you put the meat on.
250081
Since the grill is cast iron, it will rust unless it isseasoned. Which means you have to cook on some vegetable oil. Unfortunately I didn't realize this right off, and pop goes the rusty. I knew about seasoning, but for whatever reason it never popped into me head to do it.
799754
Yes. I have cast iron grates on my grill. They will not be damaged at all. Be more concerned about rust. Make sure clean thoroughly and often after grilling. Oh, and oil it up your grates should be great!
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.
595282
I must admitt, I've not had this experience, so I really cannot answer. But I think you've been given some good advice by Louis A., and Homer G. I have been under the impression, that like cast iron, the surface of this iron also needs to be 'seasoned'. I hope you'll post your end results to help anyone else who encounters the same issue? Best Wishes.
94677
Thanks Marc. I live north of Kansas City--also an area of lots of high humidity. I just hate to spend the extra $50 for stainless steel grates (I don't believe they will cook any better) just to avoid a rust issue if not necessary.
758972
A little sticking is normal. Make sure they are clean. You can season the grates with some Olive oil. Try med to low heat. We think the grill grate is the best!
503615
To avoid the rancidity, try a more common method by simply oiling with your choice after each use ( I like to use olive or vegetable personally). This will maintain the seasoning of the cast iron pots post use and lock in the quality flavor in your cooking the more you use it.
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.
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.
1267859
Mine got a little tight, I may have put it away wet and caused some rust. I lubricated it lightly with penetrating oil, worked it in for a while, and now it works as good as new. If you're worried about food safety, you could try the same with mineral oil, but the penetrating oil is thinner and will be easier to get it worked in.
1459701
I don't oil mine, and I've been cooking in cast iron for 40 years or more. Just wash it by hand with soap and water. Then dry on your kitchen stove burner so it's truly dry. Put it away. As long as it's seasoned well enough, you won't see any rust when you get it out next time. If you do see rust, smear vegetable shortening on it (inside and out), set it on an old pizza pan in the oven or something, and bake it at 300 degrees F or so for a couple of hours. Problem solved.
1742003
I use white grease that you can find at the local hardware store. Keep it coated at all times so it won't rust and cease up.
1094571
I/m not sure about rusting. I keep my grill covered. I do spray with a cooking spray.
2201418
If you clean the unit after you use it it should be fine. What I occassionally do is spray a bit of cooking spray (like Pam) onto the moving shaft, this light coating of oil will inhibit any rust and keep the action moving smooth as silk. I have 2 of these now, no problmes & no issues....it's all good.
237893
I haven't had that problem, but I've only picked them up by the wooden handles. After having used the grill for a few times, I now have several cracks on the grates, and they still don't index securely into the supports. The quality of the cast parts is poor.
1550887
First of all, after use, clean well with hot water. Do not use soap.Dry thoroughly and apply a very small amount of vegetable oil on inside surface. Never scour or wash in dishwasher. Never store a cast iron utensil with the cover on as this might cause sweating and consequent rust damage. Store these utensils in a dry place.