Are all grill grates the same? Grilling geeks are well aware of the worth of grill grates. Not only do they provide support to your food but also aid in even a spread of heat among food.
Are all grill grates the same?
Not all the gill grates are the same. How can someone ignore those beautiful grill marks? There is a variety of options in the market. Choosing the right one is a critical but important decision to be made for enjoying your grilling experience.
In this article, we’ll discuss the varieties of grill grates available in the market and tell you which is suitable in which condition. All you have to do is sit back and read it from start to bottom to get all the information you may require before buying one for yourself.
What is a grill grate?
Most of the time, we hear it simply as a grill. In reality that is a grill grate. In simple easy words, the surface above your grill where you put your food is the grill grate. It has interlocked horizontal lines that give heavenly beautiful grill marks on your steaks and fish fillets.
Before you land in the actual market you must consider a few things. What are you exactly looking for where are you going to place it? Whether you opt for gas or charcoal grills. You want it to hook permanently in the backyard or you want something portable for your wild camping experiences.
What will be your heat source, infrared heat or flamed one? When you have a clear idea of what your grilling setup will look like and what will be your heat sources. Then comes the turn of grilling grates. With so many options available you might feel intimidated about what to choose.
What factors should be considered before buying one? Well, no worries we are here to assist you in this regard.
Consider the following factors for choosing the grill grate
- Durability
- Material
- Heat resistance
- Non-sticky surface
Types of grill grates:
As we stated earlier we have plenty of options in the market. Most commonly we categorized grill grates into three categories. All materials have different properties and they will react differently according to the surrounding environment.
We have explained all three of them in detail for you and which will suit which weather conditions. Let’s look into the types of grill grates i-e are:
- Cast iron
- Stainless steel
- Enamel-coated grill grates
Cast Iron
Cast iron grates are those that have a thick and black-rusty look with a matte finish. It is the most popular choice among grilling brands due to its thicker heavier weights. It is claimed that the heavier the grate is be better the grilling results will be.
They are better at heat preservation than the other ones available on the market. Hence, provides an even distribution of heat. Due to its heavy thicker base, it takes time to heat up and let the food cook on low heat.
Thus ideal for grilling as the food remains tender and soft from the inside. And, the best part is they leave bold grilling marks to make the food appetizing.
Not only do these smear marks look heavenly but also enhance the flavours of grilled food. When we look at the downside, not only do they rust easily if not cured properly.
Their maintenance is also hefty you’ve to take proper care of these grates. You won’t face any issues if the finishing is intact. Once it breaks out, iron will be exposed and dry out quickly.
Stainless Steel
As compared to the matte look of cast iron, stainless steel has a striking glossy look. These are best known for their long life. Because they do not rust or crumble.
Their maintenance is also easy although food sticks at the bottom. But it comes off easily when cleaning. They do not need special curing techniques so you can save yourself from a lot of frustration especially if you’re new to grilling.
When it comes to darker ends, they are not as good at heat preserving as cast iron is. And cast very pale and faded grill marks which might disappoint you.
Enamel Coated
The enamel-coated grill grates can be classified as a hybrid of cast iron and stainless steel in terms of their features. It doesn’t need curing like cast iron and leaves the bold grill to stamp them on food. But also with the additional comfort of nonrusting and is easy to clean.
In terms of heat retaining, it can hold up heat well and disperse it evenly. Compared to stainless steel it does not stick food at the bottom and provides a good grilling experience. The shortcoming of enamel-coated grill grates is that they are heavy to handle for beginners and are quite expensive.
READ ALSO: How To Measure A Grill Grate?
Tips to clean and maintain grill grates properly
Let it cool
Do not clean them while the grate is still hot after use. Cleaning them while they are still hot can damage the coating.
Remove debris
Before using it after a long time make sure your grill grate is clean and free of debris. You can use a degreaser or even a pressure washer with a low setting to give a sweep clean look.
Avoid sharp objects
When cleaning, try to avoid sharp objects as the coating is quite sensitive.
Use oil after cleaning
After cleaning, use oil and other recommended lubricants to keep it safe from rusting and drying out.
READ ALSO: What Is The Best Fire Pit In The Market?
FAQs:
Can we clean grill grates in the dishwasher?
We won’t recommend you to put grill grates in the dishwasher as the strong hard detergent can provide damage to the coating. Once the coating is damaged it dries out quickly and rusting may also occur.
Food is sticking on my grill grates. What went wrong?
If you’re using stainless steel grates, food sticking issues may happen. But they are easy to clean off. But there might be other possibilities too. Such as the grill grate may not be hot enough to use for cooking to start with. Or maybe the food you are grilling comprises of high concentration of sugar.
Conclusion:
If you are a fan of grilling then choosing the right grill grate is essential for you. If you were in an illusion all grill grates are the same then we hope it is clear to you now that you have quite a variety to choose from. And how you would choose one for yourself from the available options.
In the end, we would suggest you take good care of grill grates. The more you will pay attention to its maintenance the longer it will work for you.