What Is Better Stainless Steel Or Cast Iron Bbq Grills

Comparison Guide: How To Choose The Best Cooking Grate For Your Grill

When it comes to choosing a grill, there are a lot of important details to consider.

Should you go with a gas grill or a charcoal grill?

Do you want something sturdy or something portable?

Should you go with a flame-heated grill or infrared heat?

Having so many options available can be exciting, but alittle intimidating.

However, one component thats easily overlooked is the cooking surface of your grill. While you do need todecide on the best heat source for your grill and what you want the grill to look like, its super important to choose a grilling surface that cooks your food the way you want it.

What you need to determine,then, is which type of grill grate is best for your grilling needs. Strength, durability, material, and having a non-sticksurface are all things to consider when choosing the ideal cooking grate.

In this guide, well walkyou through the different types of grill grates available, as well as how topick the best type of grill grate for you.

Not all Cooking Grates are created equal. We will go over the different types of grill grates and the best way to care for them.

What Is The Difference Between Cast Iron & Stainless Steel Cooking Grids

When looking for a Napoleon Grill there are many options to choose from when it comes to the perfect barbecue for your lifestyle. One of those choices includes what kind of cooking grids or grates you want to have. We have two options, cast iron and stainless steel. Find out the difference between these two types of BBQ grates and how you can take advantage of their unique properties.

Stainless Steel Grill Grates Vs Cast Iron

Another day, another debate: this time were pitting cast iron grill grates against stainless steel varieties. Since the grate is the only part of the grill your food touches, many pit masters agree its an element you shouldnt overlook.

Whether youre replacing warped grates or youve bought a grill with grates you dont like, the following list of pros and cons will help you pick a clear winner and settle the debate faster.

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Cuisinart 360 Griddle Cooking Center

Cuisinart takes the Flat Top Grill in a new direction. Similar to the high-end Evo , the 360 Griddle Cooking Center is round and can be approached from any direction. It makes cooking on it very convenient. You can actually walk around the grill while you cook, or several people can cook at the same time. The 22-inch diameter rolled steel cooking surface has 380 square inches of cooking surface heated by two 15,000 BTU stainless steel burners. This model has no raised walls to keep food on it, but a tray runs around the edge, so nothing falls on the ground. If this seems to small, consider the Cuisinart 360 XL for around $400.

What You Should Avoid

Now that you know what to look out for when buying gas grills, were going to outline some things that you should avoid.

The first thing you should do when buying a new grill, especially online, is to research the reviews of past users. Specifically, you should look out for reviews that talk about the grills structural integrity after a while. Pay special attention to paint peeling, metal rusting, and even control malfunctioning after just a few grilling sessions. These are big red flags that you should avoid at all costs.

Avoid gas grills that have cheap-looking wheels. The cheap plastic wheels wont be as stable as youd like during a cook session. Make sure that wheels can roll smoothly and are big and sturdy enough to last many years of use.

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Stainless Steel Grill Grates Vs Cast Iron Comparison Table

Is Cast Iron Grill Better Than Stainless Steel

As you can see, both cast iron cooking and stainless steel cooking grates offer their own benefits. Cast iron grates last longer, retain more heat and provide greater nonstick properties, whereas stainless steel grates are better protected against rust and corrosion and are easier to clean.

Moreover, what is the best material for grill grates?

• Porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates typically retain heat better and longer than the other types, making them desirable to those who bold sear marks are a must.
• Stainless steel cooking grates can last for a very long time if they are properly maintained.

Similarly, are porcelain coated cast iron grates good? Porcelain GratesPorcelain–coated steel or cast iron is a good choice, but the coating does have a nasty habit of chipping away. This can expose the metal underneath to moisture and may result in a rusty surface over time. This is especially true of coated cast iron, though coated steel can develop problems as well.

Also, do stainless steel grill grates rust?

Don’t corrode easily You can leave stainless–steel grates in your grill for longer periods of time than cast iron without worrying about rust. Easy to maintain You don’t have to do anything extra to maintain and clean stainless–steel grill grates.

What metal is used for BBQ grills?

Stainless Steel

Read Also: What Is The Best Way To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates

How To Prevent Food From Sticking To Steel And Iron

Either you use stainless steel or cast-iron grates now or intend to get one in the nearest future, one of the biggest issues we all have is preventing stuff from clinging to the surface. Here are some suggestions to help you avoid this.

• Keep your grates clean and tidy during and after cooking
• Grates should not be oiled. instead, grease your food
• Patiently wait. If the meal is sticky when you attempt to turn it on the other side, wait a little longer
• Heat your meat first to keep it from sticking. Food that is chilled will stick to a heated grate more than food that is heated.

Cast Iron Grill Grate

Cast iron is exceptionally sturdy and lasting owing to its significant carbon content. The alloy, however, is frail and corrodes swiftly.

Cast iron grill grates are classified into two categories. The first is cast-iron grates that have an uncoated surface. The texture of this type is close to that of our normal cast iron skillet. However, it is flabby and permeable due to the lack of a coat. As a result, we must regularly grease cast-iron grates to prevent the unprotected iron from the moisture that causes corrosion.

The second variety of cast iron grates is the one coated with porcelain enamel, such as Weber Porcelain-Enameled Cast-Iron Cooking Grates. It has a glossy and smooth finish. Meat is less likely to adhere to this one, making clean-up a piece of cake. On the other hand, excessive scrubbing and washing might scratch the surface and gradually wear it out.

Also Check: How To Convert Gas Grill To Natural Gas

Cast Iron Vs Stainless Steel Grill Whats The Difference

Stainless steel and cast iron are both iron alloys. That means theyre mainly made of iron but also contain various other elements. Cast iron has about 2% carbon in its makeup while stainless has 1.2% carbon and 10.5% chromium.

This composition has a major effect on several factors when it comes to the performance of these grills.

Stainless Steel Vs Cast Iron Grill Grates Compared

Both cast iron grill grates and stainless steel grill grates have their benefits and drawbacks.

Before buying a new grill grate, its important to understand the pros and cons of each material. This will allow you to choose the option that best suits your specific needs.

Lets take a look at the positives and negatives of each.

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Do You Need To Season Weber Stainless Steel Grates

Our grates do not require any seasoning or re-seasoning prior to use. The grates have a porcelain enamel coating on them that takes away the need for seasoning. Before using grates for the first time, we just recommend preheating the grill and brushing the grates with a bristle brush and you are good to go.

Keep Your Grates Clean

Leftover food particles turn into this gooey carbon residue if you dont clean your grate often. Keep in mind that food has these tiny, microscopic valleys and crevices. When you put fresh food on the grate, the carbon residue grabs onto those, forming a sticky layer between the grate and the food.

Cleaning your grate will tackle this problem. It also helps protect the grate. Additionally, its more appetizing cooking on a clean grate.

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Directions For Cleaning Grill Grates:

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

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

WHERE TO BUY

What Is The Right Choice For You

When determining whether a stainless steel grill grate or cast iron grill grate is the best choice for you, you must consider the types of food you will be cooking. The type of material you need is largely dependent on what you are cooking.

Cast iron will warm slowly, but after its hot it will evenly apply heat to the entire piece of meat. This ability will allow you to cook a mouthwatering piece of meat that is seared to perfection and sure to impress your friends. This is because the parts of the meat that touch the metal of the grate will slowly darken in color to a golden brown. This creates a crust on the exterior of the meat which improves the taste and holds in the juices.

Thicker meat in general grills particularly well on thick cast iron. These thicker cast iron grates are also the best option for fish and thinner chicken. Cast iron also works especially well for cooking smaller vegetables.

On the other hand, stainless steel grill grates are ideal for thinner pieces of meat and thicker chicken. They also grill large vegetables and pizza extremely well.

Also Check: Cleaning Infrared Grill Grates

Stainless Steel Vs Porcelain Grill

If a grill features a stainless steel body then its by all means a gas or propane grill. Stainless steel is not only durable and strong, but it also resists rust and corrosion that may occur due to exposure to harsh weather conditions. The gas burners provide a quick grilling option without the mess associated with most charcoal-fueled grills that produce ash.

Many grill manufacturers, including the well-known brand Weber uses a porcelain coating in both gas and charcoal grills. The classic charcoal grill typically comes with a porcelain enamel coating both outside and inside the grilling chamber.

The porcelain coating protects the core stainless steel body from heat damage. As porcelain is a better insulator, it can also help the grill retain more heat than the stainless steel structures. Cast iron is also an excellent material as it helps to retain a good amount of heat.

However, when compared with stainless steel, cast iron turns out to be more vulnerable to rusting. Hence, they are coated with porcelain or enamel to make them last longer. The coatings reduce the need to cure the material to protect it from the outdoor elements that cause rusting.

See Also: Charcoal Grill Vs Gas Grill : Pros And Cons

There Is One Topic Though That Stands Out As It Seems That Everybodys Got An Opinion On It Even If They Only Ran A Bbq Once Which Is Which Bbq Component Is Better Between Cast Iron And Stainless Steel

As stainless steel is still fairly new to the consumer market, a lot of veterans will only swear by cast iron as its all they have known for decades. On the flip side, stainless steel seems to be a growing trend as people who started playing around the BBQ with it just wont give cast iron a shot.

Unknowing if this will serve you to end the debate, or add fuel to the fire, lets run the facts on the situation.

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What Can A Flat Top Grill Do

As mentioned above, these outdoor griddles are capable of so many things. While many balk at the loss of open grate grilling, these units can perform many grilling tasks. If your model has a lid , you can add smoke flavor to your food. What makes this style of grill stand out, is it does a great job on those tasks that traditional units don’t. People buy flat top grills because they can use them more often. In all honesty, many backyard grills only get fired up a dozen times a year.

Breakfast? Eggs, pancakes, bacon, hashbrown, you name it. A flat top cooks all of these with ease. In fact, it can prepare these items faster and easier than a stovetop full of skillets. Full-sized flat top griddles generally have a lot of working space. They are also designed to drain grease away, making even bacon a bit healthier.

Ever been to one of those Japanese restaurants where they cook right at the table? You can do that. It isn’t even that hard, and you can find all the instructions you need on YouTube. In no time you will be building onion volcanos, cooking fried rice, steak and shrimp, and all the extras.

And yes, you can cook burgers and even steaks on these units. After all, most of your favorite burger joints cook on flat top grills. What you will find is that you can add more variety to your burgers. Throw diced onions on the cooking surface. Place a ball of ground meat on top and squish it all together. Now you have an Oklahoma Onion Smashburger!

Want The Best Try The Primo Ultimate Package

As you can see, both cast iron cooking and stainless steel cooking grates offer their own benefits. Cast iron grates last longer, retain more heat and provide greater nonstick properties, whereas stainless steel grates are better protected against rust and corrosion and are easier to clean. If youre struggling to choose between the two, you can always purchase both types of grates for your grill or smoker. With both types of grates, you can use the one thats best suited for your culinary activities.

But if you really want the best, then checkout our Primo XL400 Ultimate Package. Save yourself hours of research trying to choose the right grill grate, heat deflectors, kamado carts, and everything else that helps create a great grilling experience. Weve brought together the best of the Backyard BBQ world into one ultimate package giving you everything you need!

And of course, if you want to use your grate to cook over the best cooking wood available, check out our cooking chunks, cooking splits, and cooking wood logs on our our online store today. Cutting Edge Firewood offers a variety of species, including white oak, hickory, cherry, pecan and whiskey, all of which will allow you to smoke delicious meat. You can shop our most popular options below:

This is an amazing way to enhance the flavor of your cooks. Order today to receive complimentary shipping nationwide!

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Stainless Steel Vs Cast Iron Grill Grates: Which Is Better

When youre grilling food, its important to have the right surface that will allow for even cooking and easy clean up. Stainless steel grill grates are a great option because they can be used with any type of heat source and wont rust like cast iron. The only downside is stainless steel doesnt conduct heat as well as cast iron does, so if you want your barbecue to get really hot, then cast iron might be better for you.

Keep reading to learn more about the difference between stainless steel and cast iron grill grates!

Contents

What Is A Grill Grate And What Is It Usedfor

Many grill masters see thegrilling plate that cooks their food and simply refer to it as the grill. Inactuality, this is called the grill grate.

A grill grate is simply the surface upon which you cook your food above the heat source. Grill grates can be made of many different types ofmaterials and take on different forms.

The grill grate is one ofthe most important parts of your grill. Not only does it hold your food, but itaids in even heat transfer, keeps food from sticking, and can even providethose beautiful grill marks. Choosing the right grill grate is an essentialpart of your entire grilling experience.

Talk about being above the fire! Regardless of the material your cooking grids are made from, odds are they will eventually wear down and need replacing. Give your barbecue grill a face-lift with new grids.

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