On grills, grates and grids
A grill can be constructed in all sorts of ways and the price can vary from “budget” to “the sky’s the limit”. Impressing neighbors and friends with massive, expensive grills is a bit of a lost cause – at least if the objective is to maximize the culinary experience – since, in the end, the grate – or grid – is what really matters.
Firm and close-set grate
A first-rate grid has firm, stable bars that are set close enough to stop most of your food from falling through. The very worst kind (that we have all bought for some reason at some point in life) can have a grid that looks a lot like braided, widely spaced steel wires and will not make grilling any easier…
Good grill, bad grate
Professional chefs we have spoken to agree that many high quality, expensive grills also have substandard grates. This is probably not because of ignorance or mistakes in production, but rather about the producer wanting you to spend more money on your grill by buying a better, more expensive grate.
Wrong material for a grill grate
Cheap iron grates will oxidize and – in the worst case scenario – release compounds like iron oxide (rust) that you don’t want in your food. Small amounts of iron are not harmful, but you have not asked for this added ingredient in your cooking. And it might affect the flavors.
Think twice about cleaning this kind of grate with soap, Coca Cola, or any other kind of “cure” available on the internet or in grill supplements. The result will almost certainly be even more rust. (Below you will find a more professional – and dry – method for cleaning a grill grate.)
The right material for a grill grate
Stainless makes a lot of sense when grilling. It can take a lot of heat and humidity without hardly oxidizing at all. It is a durable, steady material and it won't affect your food – except in the ways you want it to. It requires little maintenance and is probably the best choice for the home cook.
Cast iron grids popular
Many chefs prefer cast iron when grilling. It requires some knowledge and awareness – and that you never wash it with water or soap. One advantage is that it has properties that only get better with time, a bit like a cast iron skillet.
The right way to clean a grate
An easy and hygienic way to clean the grate/grid is simply to burn away dirt every time you start up the red hot coals. Like this:
- Get the coals into red hot mode (patience...).
- Put the grate over the heat, just the way it is from you last session.
- Give the grate time to heat up until the dirt chars.
- Scrape away any remains with bunched up newspaper, aluminum foil, or a steel bristle brush.
- Start grilling.
Grill like a pro
When you have the grate/grid issue sorted on your grill: