Use Steel Wool Scrubber
The rust should not stress you anymore. Get fine steel wool and use it to scrape off the rust on your grill. Once the rust clears off, wash your cast iron grill grate with warm water, bristle brush and dish soap. Scrub your cast iron grill grates until it gets clean.
Water accelerates rust. Thats the reason why you should never leave your cast iron grill grates wet. Use a clean dish towel to dry your cast iron. Proper seasoning is vital since it protects your cast iron from rust. So once your cast iron dries up, coat it using vegetable oil. Coat the bottom and the handles too.
Place your cast iron on the rack of your oven and ensure that its upside down. Since the cast iron grill has some oil, it will drop off to the oven once you heat. To avoid that, place an aluminum foil at the bottom rack. It will catch the oil drips. Let your cast iron heat for an hour at a temperature of 350 degrees F. After an hour, let your cast iron cool. Its time to grill your meat.
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Remove The Remaining Rust With Cloth Or Old Rag
The salt and vinegar mixture will have done its job overnight and dissolved most of the rust, but you will need to get in there with some rags and give your grill grate a good rub down.
Remember to make use of the remaining salt to work as an abrasive and help you shift any rust thats left.
Depending on how rusty your grill was to start with, it might need a few trips through the salt and vinegar bath to get rid of it all.
If salt and vinegar arent an option for you, there are a few other methods you can use.
Can You Clean Cast Iron With Vinegar
Mix basic white vinegar with water in equal parts and submerge your pan in it. Use a bucket or plug the sink for really big pans the entire skillet should be covered with the vinegar mixture. The vinegar will dissolve the rust, but once thats gone, the vinegar will go to town on the original cast surface of the pan.
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Can Eating Food Cooked On A Rusty Grill Cause Tetanus
No. Contrary to a popular misconception, tetanus isnt actually caused by rust itself, but by a bacteria known as clostridium tetani. This bacteria tends to hang around the same places that rust does, hence the confusion.
Since the grill will be hot enough to destroy any bacterium, you dont have to worry about tetanus when cooking on a rusty grill. However, its best to keep your tetanus booster up to date, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
Mix One Cup Salt With Two Cups Vinegar
The first thing youll need to do is mix the salt with the vinegar. The salt will increase the natural acidity of the vinegar to the point where it can dissolve the already oxidized metal.
However, it wont damage the metal around and underneath it. The salt also acts as an abrasive when it comes time to start scrubbing.
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Done With Rust Grilla Grills Or Bust
We dont blame you if youre frustrated by grates that keep on rusting. Cooking with a Grilla Grill is the best way to ensure that your equipment doesnt wind up ruining your food or making you sick. Explore our complete collection of grills with stainless-steel grates to discover low-maintenance options that never leave you rusty.
Remove Rust And Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates With Sandpaper
Sandpaper is an excellent tool for removing stubborn rust from cast iron grates. However, it tends to scratch the metal surface, so caution is required. If you do not have any sandpaper, steel wool is an excellent substitute for scrubbing away grime.
- Paper towel
To clean cast iron grill grates, first, remove the grate from the grill and prop it against a sturdy surface. Wrap medium grit sandpaper around each rung of the cast iron grate and carefully rub the metal using an up and down action.
Dont use too much pressure. After tackling all parts of the grate with steel wool or sandpaper, spray the grating with cold water and dry with paper towels before setting it back into the grill to remove debris.
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How To Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates Easily
BySaba Akbar
Are your good old iron grates also getting affected by rust or food residues? Looking for the most workable way about how to clean cast iron grill grates again?
You have landed just the right place. In this thread, we will discuss the best procedures to keep your iron cast grill grates new.
Hop on, the joyride to find how to clean cast iron grill grates in the best manner.
Contents
How Do You Keep Porcelain Grill Grates From Rusting
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.
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Wash The Grates In Warm Soapy Water
Washing them before soaking them in a solution helps remove excess food and dirt from the grates, therefore making the vinegar/baking soda solution more effective.
Use a steel brush to remove dirt that is stuck in between grates, or we can also use crumpled aluminum foil if we dont have a steel brush.
Taking Care Of Cast Iron Grates
Its vital to clean and season the grates of your cast iron grill after each use. While the grill grates are still heated, wipe them clean with a paper towel or a dishtowel after the fire has been completely extinguished.
Scrape any trapped food particles off the grill grates using a wire brush or a nylon sponge, then wipe the grates clean and free of food accumulation. Make a cleaning paste by mixing salt or baking soda with water if the cooked-on food is stubborn and wont come off readily while scraping the grates.
Apply the paste with a sponge and clean the area until it is free of any stubborn residue.
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Are You Looking For How To Clean A Rusty Cast Iron Grill
Are you interested in learning how to clean a cast-iron grill? One of the most fantastic reasons to purchase a cast iron grill is its durability. However, just like any other type of grill, youll need to clean and maintain your outdoor cooking equipment regularly to keep it looking good and working correctly. Therefore, keep reading to learn how to clean a rusty cast iron grill.
Baking Soda And Scour Sponge Grate Cleaning
If you have porcelain or enamel grill grates, this is the method for you. Metal such as a wire brush or aluminum foil can scratch the finish of coated grill grates, so using a scour sponge or nylon bristle brush is best. Dont worry though, the power of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda will help dissolve and abrade the charred on food bits to get your grill grates clean.
- Remove the stainless steel grate from the grill and place on a flat surface.
- Moisten the grill grate with water.
- Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda liberally over the stainless steel grates and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Using a damp scourer sponge, scrub the grate going up and down each wire.
- Rinse with water and return the grate to the grill.
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Is It Safe To Grill On A Rusty Cast Iron Grill
Because of their durability and resilience, cast iron cooking grates are a popular grill feature. However, cast iron does have one enemy, and thats water. This means that when the grates are exposed to excess moisture, theyre prone to rustan unappetizing prospect, to say the least. The question is: Is it safe to grill on a rusty cast iron grill?
Contents
Scrub With Aluminum Foil
You can simply roll the foil into a ball and scrub the grates with it. You may also wrap the racks in aluminum foil and place them in a sink full of hot water. Place two dishwashing tablets on the foil. Leave it to stand for an hour, and then just go over with a sponge, and the dirt and rust will be removed.
Grilling is an easy tradition to start at any age.
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Steel Wool & Soapy Water
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.
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 cast iron that has become rusty. The same advice applies to grates.
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. This will remove any seasoning youve built up, but will also remove any surface rust, bringing your grate back to bare metal.
Once cleaned you will need to give your grates a good rinse before drying them very thoroughly. You dont want any moisture left behind because that will cause rust to come back again very quickly, even as quick as overnight.
The best way to dry them is a few minutes sitting in a very low oven, to completely make sure theres no water left in any pores.
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.
You can also mix it vinegar or baking soda or make a paste with water.
- Mix the salt with water to make a paste and then rub it on the rusty areas on the grate.
- Kosher salt is more effective than baking soda so you dont need to wait for it to sit. Salt will also cause the grill to rust if left on it for long thats why you need to start scrubbing right away using a scrubbing pad or steel wool.
- Once you are satisfied that all the rust has come off, rinse with clean water.
- Dry the grill grates with a towel and season it with vegetable oil to maintain its quality and prevent rusting.
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Using A Commercial Rust Remover To Clean Grill Grates
If you prefer using a commercial rust remover rather than a homemade solution, there are a variety of cleaners on the market. We find that the easiest and most readily available product is oven cleaner and is useful for cleaning grates on a gas grill or charcoal grill.
- Paper towels
As one of the best ways to clean a charcoal grill grate, remove the grate from the grill and spray oven cleaner liberally on both sides, making sure that you are in a well-ventilated area outdoors is preferable.
Place the grate in a large trash bag, seal it shut and place it in a warm area of the yard away from children and pets. After the BBQ grill grate sits for two days, remove it from the bag and spray it down with a hose.
Use a sponge wet with hot water and a dab of dish soap to wipe the metal surface clean of leftover gunk. Rinse the grate one more time and dry it thoroughly before replacing it.
Is It Ok To Grill On Aluminum Foil
This is a major NO-NO. Laying the foil on the grates can restrict the intended air flow inside the grill, which could lead to damage of the internal components, not to mention create a dangerous situation. Also, on the topic of aluminum foil, is the practice of lining the slide out bottom tray with aluminum foil.
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Using Other Techniques To Remove Rust
Grill Cleaner Or Oven Cleaner
If your grill has a lot of rust and/or baked on crud and you dont think any of the above methods will work for you, then a specialized grill cleaner, or even a standard oven cleaner is the be-all end-all way of stripping all your cast iron down to bare metal.
Before you start, assemble all required materials:
- Oven cleaner
- Garbage bags
- A large enough box or container to store the grills for a couple of days while the oven cleaner works its magic
- Some safety glasses and gloves.
In a well-ventilated area, spray an even coating on your grates, place them inside garbage bags, and seal the bags air tight. Now store them for a couple of days in a warm place where no children or pets could possibly get at them.
Once the crud has all broken down, rinse the cast iron and follow it up with a wash in soapy water.
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Removing Rust In A Cast Iron Grill
When cleaning your grill, rust is one of the problems that need attention. Luckily, you can use different materials, including those mentioned below.
Use Baking Soda
If you are into DIY cleaning at home, then you will know how baking soda can be your savior. You can use it as well in removing rust in your cast iron grill. Grime and grease are easy to eliminate with the latter, even if you do not use toxic chemicals.
Stary by mixing baking soda and water in a bowl until you make a consistent paste. Use a sponge or brush to scoop from the mixture and spread on the grill. Leave it for a few minutes. Next, tear aluminum foil and crumble until you have a small ball. Use this to scrub the baking soda off the surface, including the rust. Finish by rinsing the grate.
Use Vinegar
Like baking soda, vinegar is another common household item that you can use when cleaning cast iron grill grates. All that you need to do is put equal parts of water and vinegar in a container big enough to accommodate the grill. Soak the grill for a few hours. This will help soften deposits and remove the rust. Use a scrubber or brush to remove the rust that still lingers on the grate. Rinse and dry.
Use a Grill Cleaner
#Video: How To Remove Rust From Your Rusty Cast Iron Barbecue Grill
What About Rust On Cast Iron
Aside from burning meals by using the wrong temperature, novice cooks are intimidated by maintaining cast iron. It’s far easier than it seems, but if it starts to rust, as it did in this case, most people wouldn’t be bothered to repair the damage. It’s just $30 for a new pan or grill, after all.
But my dad was a TV repairman in the 1970s, and I come from a long line of poor hillbillies who fix things. To me, rusted cast iron screams “WEEKEND PROJECT.” I did something similar about three years ago, when I also found a Lodge 9-inch cast iron skillet on the curb. People really just don’t take care of the things they buy, and find it’s easier to just buy new things instead of fixing broken ones. Alas.
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Tips For Cleaning Rusty Grill Grates
You have several options when it comes to rust removal. Fortunately, most of them can be achieved using simple household ingredients. If you have access to any of the materials listed below, we would recommend using one of these techniques before putting food on a rusty grill.
Tip: If all else fails, you can place a couple of pieces of aluminum foil on the grate and cook the food on those instead. This technique works better if you fold the edges of the foil around the bars of the grate to anchor it in place. You might also want to poke a few holes in the foil to allow grease to escape, as the buildup could pose a fire hazard.
