How To Clean Porcelain Grill Grates

How To Season A Weber Grill For The First Time

How to clean porcelain coated grill grates

To get the most out of your Weber grill you need to properly take care of it, so start doing it from day one. Some grills need to be seasoned before the first use. But Weber has simplified this process as you dont have to season it before. These grill grates have porcelain coating on them. The only thing you need to do before your first use is to preheat the grill and brush the grates with its bristles.

What Causes Rust On Porcelain Grill Grates

As long as the finish is intact, porcelain grill grates are rust-resistant. Be careful when using the grill grate to avoid any chip and damage that can cause water to seep in as it can lead to rusting. Another reason why rust occurs is that the grates have not been seasoned properly or the seasoning has been burned off. To solve this problem, use a heavy brush to clean the grill grate, re-apply vegetable shortening, and heat the grill grate to re-season it. You can also check out this article thatdiscusses what kind of grill does not rust. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Before You Begin Cleaning

The first step is to determine which type of grill grate you are going to clean. The material is important because you could damage the grates using the wrong cleaning product on their surfaces. Grills generally use three types of material.

Stainless steel grill grates: These are the most robust grill grate types and can withstand contact with rigid bristle brushes.
Cast iron grill grates: This material is durable, and there is no problem using a stiff bristle brush. Be aware there may be some rust on the surface if its been a while since their last clean.

Porcelain-coated grill grates: As long as there are no breaks in the surface, porcelain-coated grates do not rust. You need to use more gentle tools such as a soft-bristle brush because rougher materials can damage the coating.

Now For The Headliner Event 4 Methods For Cleaning Your Grill Grates

Blast offWhen cleaning your grill grates, the first general rule of thumb is that heat is your friend. The hotter you can get your grates, the easier it will be to scrape off that gunk. Thatâs why itâs best to scrape them right after youâre done cooking. If time passes and you don’t have time or get distracted by your guests, itâs still all good. Fire up your burners when youâre free and ready to clean them. Blast the heat as high as itâll go and keep the lid off. Fifteen minutes later, your grates will be so hot, theyâll easily shed the grease and grime when scrubbed with a grill brush.

Steam BathAnother handy little trick is to place a can of water on your grill grates and close the lid. Fire up those burners to about 600 degrees for half an hour and let the miracle of the steam bath ensue. When you open the lid , youâll find that itâs pretty easy to brush off any grease or burnt-on food particles with a silicone sponge.

Soap and waterWe find ourselves saying this a lot: never underestimate the power of some good old soap and water. About once a month, remove your grill grates and give them a soak in a bath of soap and water. Highly-concentrated dish detergent will perform bestâuse a soap that cuts through tough grease, like Dawn Ultra Liquid Dish Soap. After about ten minutes you can remove the grates and brush them off with a grill brush.

Always Read The Owners Manual

Always make sure to read your grills owner manual for specific instructions on recommended tools and techniques to use when cleaning your grates.

If you dont follow the manufactures recommendations and your grill or grates become damaged as a result, it may void your warranty.

Most manufacturers keep a copy of their manuals online in case you misplaced yours.

The Obvious Approach: Brushing

This method works best if it is done immediately after grilling while the grate is still hot. Before the grates cool off, scrape each grate with a brush, both top and bottom sides. You can also dip the brush in water which will create a steam that loosens the grease. Not only will this make cleaning time shorter, but it will discourage insects from hanging around your grill. Depending on your grate you may need to wipe them down with a cloth after scrapping.

How To Clean A Char Broil Infrared Grill

Infrared grills can reduce cooking times and may cook foods more thoroughly. The Char-Broil infrared grill heats foods evenly due to a constant heat source. Emitter plates under the grates provide the constant heat needed to cook the food but they can become dirty after a while. The grill grates and plates on the infrared grill should be cleaned after each use to keep them in good condition. If you allow dirt, grease and debris to remain on the grill grates, they may need to be replaced.

Turn the grill burners to high. Close the lid on the gas grill.

Allow the grill to heat for 15 minutes.

Scrub the grill grates with an infrared grill brush.

Turn over the infrared grill brush. Scrub the grill with the metal scraper on the back of the brush.

Allow the grill grates to cool. Remove the grates from the grill.

Brush the emitter plates under the grates with a wire grill brush. Scrape on the plates to remove any hard-to-remove debris.

Replace the grill grates. Spray the infrared grill grates and emitter plates with high-heat cooking oil.

References

Tips

Warnings

Avoid using abrasive cleaners to clean an infrared grill because they can scratch and damage the surface.

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Advantages Of Porcelain Grill Grates

One of the advantages that you can get from porcelain coated grill grates is that they are an affordable choice as compared to solid cast iron grill grates. Moreover,porcelain grill grates are easier to heat and are also non-stick. When compared to steel grills, you do not have to worry about food sticking to your porcelain grates.

Should I Clean Grill Grates

Grill Maintenance: Caring for Porcelain Grates on your gas grill

Cleaning your grill grates will help reduce rust buildup and ensure tasty food when you grill. You want to scrape your grates after each use, but you should also do a deep cleanse at least once a year. Burn off any food leftover on the grates. Then let the grates cool and scrub them with the nylon cleaning brush.

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Can I Use Clr On Grill Grates

CLR® Clean & Ready Grill. Cuts through baked on food, grease and grime on your outdoor cooking equipment including stainless steel, steel and porcelain enamel. Helps to avoid dangerous flare ups. Has a powerful foaming trigger that is perfect for use on both the inside and outside of your grill, smoker or deep fryer.

Directions For Cleaning Grill Grates:

Before cleaning, please consult the Owner’s Manual for any important precautions, instructions or warranty requirements.

Burn off residue. If your grill grates have heavy buildup or charred-on residue, turn the grill on high, close the barbecue lid and let it burn for 15 minutes. Some grillers cover their grates with aluminum foil when doing this to trap the heat close to the grate surface. Use your grill brush to clear away any debris, then let the grill cool completely before cleaning.

Remove the grates and apply Simple Green Heavy-Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner. Place the grates on some newspaper. Spray the grates from 8-10 inches away, coating them entirely with the cleaner. Allow them to soak for several minutes.

Scrub the grates. Use a bristle-free grill brush or stiff nylon grill brush to scrub away tough buildup and stuck-on food.

Rinse and dry. Discard newspaper. Rinse the grill grates well with your garden hose, and air dry or wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Oil grates if necessary. After cleaning cast iron grill grates or stainless steel grates, prevent rusting by coating them in high-temperature cooking oil, such as flax seed or canola oil.

& ast Biodegradable formula: This formula decomposes into elements found in nature within six months after disposal into a typical sanitary sewer or septic system.

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Should I Clean My Grill After Every Use

Charcoal ash gathers at the bottom of the grill every time its used, so you must clean the grill after each use. Built-up ash can block vents in the bottom of the grill, making it difficult to control cooking temperature and increase fire risks. Once the charcoal has cooled, remove the bricks and brush out the ash.

How To Clean Porcelain Coated Grill Grates With Video

One of the most common questions we get is how to clean porcelain coated grill grates. While instructions vary from manufacturer to manufacturer they are basically the same. One grill manufacturers instructions even calls for cleaning your grids with only soap and water. I believe that that is a little extreme.

Always follow your grills manufacturers instructions for cleaning your grills grates and ignore the paragraphs that follow.

The reason that grill grate are coated with porcelain is supposedly to make them easy to clean. I have found that this is not really the case. With the lower end grates found on inexpensive grills, the porcelain coating is just there to cover up poorly made cast iron. In the case of porcelain coated cast iron it will give you the cleanup of porcelain while providing the even heat of a cast iron grate. Untreated cast iron grates are rust prone and need to be oiled on a regular basis and the porcelain coating stops the need for that.

It has been our experience that the cheaper the grill the more likely the grates coating will damage easily.

You are better off trying to minimize the scrubbing and pressure you put onto your brush when scrubbing the grates. You can do this by cleaning your grates while they are hot, immediately after cooking is best, do not attempt this with a non-metallic scrubber brush it will melt. If you have a heavy accumulation of gunk wet the grill brush before scrubbing or try some crumpled up tin foil .

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Can You Use Bleach On Porcelain Grill Plates

While there are a lot of substitutes that you can use to clean grill plates, bleach is not one of them. Bleach, even when diluted, is extremely caustic and will eat away at the enamel of your grill. This will corrode your plates at the very least. At worst, the bleach will sink into the grill plates and cause your food to become tainted.

Food that has been cooked on grill plates tainted with bleach is poisonous. As a result, bleaching your grill plates is never a good idea. If your grill plates are so tarnished that youre tempted to whip out the bleach, just buy new plates. Its not worth risking your health.

Can I Put My Grates In The Dishwasher For A Better Cleaning

The porcelain enamel grill should not put in the dishwasher. The dishwashers have soap tablets that are extremely abrasive. Cleaning your grates in the dishwasher will have them well cleaned, but it will reduce its lifespan. I would advise you to give your burner at least ten minutes after every cookout to char the reaming food residue. Soak them in soapy water after they cool and clean them with a non-metallic scourer. Repeat the soak if you dont get the dirt off.

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How Do You Season Porcelain

Seasoning: A solid vegetable shortening is recommended for the initial seasoning. Spread a thin coating of solid vegetable shortening over the entire surface, including all corners, with a paper towel. Do not use salted fats such as butter or margarine. Preheat grill for 15 minutes place grates in grill.

Clean The Ceramic Grill Grates With Tin Foil

Learn with Noah- Cleaning porcelain grill grates

If you dont have a grill cleaner brush or dont like to clean with a brush, you can use household products like a tin foil to clean the ceramic grill grates. Make a large ball with an aluminum foil to fit your fingers. Run the foil over the ceramic grill grates with your fingers to remove any debris and clean them.

Note: Clean the ceramic grill grates with tin foil when they are cool enough or not too warm to prevent burning your hand. Ensure that, there is more tin foil on your fingers to make a buffer between your fingers and ceramic greats.

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Brushes For Cleaning Porcelain Grill Grates

You must treat porcelain grates with great care. Chipping the porcelain enamel causes the cast iron beneath to rust. Never use a wire brush or scraper tool and avoid steel wool.

Companies often market brushes with stainless steel bristles as porcelain safe, but keep in mind the delicate nature of porcelain. The abrasive nature of these tools causes cracks in the enamel and lead to rusting.

Ways to clean porcelain coated cast iron grill grates differ from those for other grill grates because even small chips can ruin the grate forever. A grill brush with nylon bristles is always the best tool to use for scrubbing porcelain grill grates.

If you do not have one a brush with brass bristles will work. Brass brushes are softer than wire and are less likely to damage the porcelain.

Different types of grill grate, such as stainless steel grates, have different care instructions, but these recipes work for most other types of grates.

How To Clean Barbecue Grates

Oh, those lovely, hot days of summer and getting together with friends and family to enjoy some yummy food cooked on a grill and eaten in the warm sunshine or on cool summer nights.

The grill grate is an important element of your barbecue. Not only does it hold your food, but it aids in even heat transfer, and can even provide those beautiful grill marks.

There are 3 major types of grill grates: porcelain, cast iron and stainless steel and each require a slightly different method of maintenance and cleaning.

The following is a general guide to cleaning and only covers part of your grill. Please be sure to follow the specific instructions in your owners manual.

Porcelain Grill Grates

These grates are popular as they retain heat well and resist rust. The porcelain in these grates is generally the coating over either steel or cast iron. Over time, the porcelain coating can chip away, if care is not taken. When cooking with metal tools, be careful not to scrape or nick the grates. If the underlying metal is exposed, water can creep in and create rust.

To clean porcelain grates, you will need:

Dish washing detergent
A large pan or a bucket with warm soapy water

A soft rag
A non-metallic brush or soft toothbrush

Cast Iron Grill Grates

Cast iron grill grates are very durable, heavy, tolerate high temperatures, and create an even cooking surface. They are tough and can withstand just about anything except water and being dropped on a hard surface.

Stainless Steel Grill Grates

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How To Clean Porcelain Steel Grill Grates

Glossy porcelain-enameled grill grates are easy to clean, but require a bit of extra caution. The porcelain surface can easily be compromised by a vigorous cleaning, increasing the potential for chips and rust that will significantly shorten the lifespan of your grill grate. Follow these steps to clean porcelain grill grates:

Heat up the grill to burn off any excess food, then turn off the grill and let it cool.

Using a soft bristle brush, brush diagonally across the grates in smooth, fluid motions to remove food and debris. Diagonal motions make it easier to remove food and grease, but be careful not to scrub too hard or you risk damaging the surface of the grate.

For deep cleaning, mix a solution of 6 parts baking soda and 2 parts warm water and apply the paste to the grates. Let the paste sit for 20 minutes, then clean with a soft bristle brush.

Theres no need to reseason a glossy porcelain-coated grill grate, but as with stainless steel grates, a light coating of vegetable oil on the grate or the food itself will prevent sticking

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Best Way To Clean Porcelain Coated Cast Iron Grill Grates

Cast iron has been used in cookware for thousands of years, spanning different civilizations. Its durability remains unmatched. Compared to many other modern forms of cookware, it remains relatively inexpensive. The health benefits of cast iron are singularno other widely available cooking surface actively contributes a considerable amount of a necessary nutrient the way cast iron does. Recently, grill manufacturers have been utilizing cast iron to substitute steel and other less durable materials.

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Stubborn Stains On Your Grids

Unfortunately, from time to time, something stubborn sticks to your cooking surface, dont fret. Try these tips instead.

A sheet of foil, shiny side down, over the offending area while the grill is heating up to 500°F should loosen the problem. When the grill is hot just brush the offending detritus away with your grill brush. **Please consider wearing Heat Resistant Barbecue Gloves when doing this as the grill will be very hot.**

As a last resort, soaking your filthy stainless steel grids in hot water, then scrubbing gently will help get your grids squeaky clean. Just remember that in doing this, you are stripping off the seasoning you have built up and the grids will need to be re-seasoned. Dont worry you can reapply that seasoning by following our instructions on how to season your stainless steel cooking grates.

Why does the tinfoil trick work? The tinfoil will form a concentrated convection over the offending area. This also traps steam if there is moisture present. It will break down the baked on gunk so that it is easier to remove with a grill brush, very similar to when you turn on the self cleaning in your oven.