How to Clean a Cast Iron Grid Grate

Cast iron grid grates hold small particles of food without letting them fall through.

Clean a cast iron grid cooking grate to keep a grill running hot while reducing grease fires and flareups. Cast iron grid cooking grates have a crosshatch design that, with regular use, commonly develops a buildup of oils and food debris. Clearing away this grime allows the cast iron to get hotter and transfer this absorbed heat to foods more efficiently. Scrub the cast iron grid grate before the next time you use your grill to protect your grill and the flavor of the foods you cook.

Things You'll Need

• Squirt bottle
• Water
• Brass-bristle grill brush/scraper
• Shop towel

Instructions

1. Light the grill and set it to the high heat setting with the lid closed for a 10 minute warmup. Heating the cast iron grid grate makes it easier to scrape away burned-on food debris and grease.

2. Turn off the grill and make sure the flames have gone out before opening the lid and squirting the cast iron grill grate with a bottle of water. The water creates hot steam that will further loosen the grime that is attached to the grate.

3. Scrape and scrub the hot and steamy cast iron grid grate with a firm-bristled grill brush. Rinse the brush under hot running water to strip away grease before continuing scraping the grill.

4. Wet a shop towel or other thick cloth rag, and wring out the majority of the water. Wipe the still-warm cast iron grid grate with the damp cloth to get the last layer of fats off the surface.

5. Brush the cast iron grid grate before each use of the grill to discourage a thick buildup and to make the cleaning process easier.

References

• Outdoor Gas Grills: Gas Grill Grates: How to Clean Your Gas Grill Grates the Right Way
• BBQ Myths: Why We Clean the Grill