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Other Cooking Equipment => Other cooking Eqipment => Accessories => Topic started by: Tailgating is my game on June 10, 2018, 04:34:34 PM

Title: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 10, 2018, 04:34:34 PM
What I have read in the booklet surprises me. It says to spray with a Pam hot grill spray or hot temp cooking oil on the rails. But it does not say to clean them first. Do any of you wash them first & what else did you do to yours for the first cook on them? Thanks Richard
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: TMB on June 10, 2018, 06:16:50 PM
What I have read in the booklet surprises me. It says to spray with a Pam hot grill spray or hot temp cooking oil on the rails. But it does not say to clean them first. Do any of you wash them first & what else did you do to yours for the first cook on them? Thanks Richard
i washed mine with soap and water then on the grill with oil rubbed on them before I cooked with them
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 10, 2018, 06:27:13 PM
What I have read in the booklet surprises me. It says to spray with a Pam hot grill spray or hot temp cooking oil on the rails. But it does not say to clean them first. Do any of you wash them first & what else did you do to yours for the first cook on them? Thanks Richard
i washed mine with soap and water then on the grill with oil rubbed on them before I cooked with them

Thanks Tommy!!! That is what I thought but wanted to be sure. Thanks Again Richard
Title: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: rwalters on June 10, 2018, 06:49:14 PM
You might think them to be a pain to clean at first... but they get easier with time. A wide headed flat screw driver does a fabulous job of cleaning the majority of the gunk out from between the rails. That’s how I do it, and then I give the top of the rails a good scrub with my brush.
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: sschorr on June 10, 2018, 07:16:37 PM
You might think them to be a pain to clean at first... but they get easier with time. A wide headed flat screw driver does a fabulous job of cleaning the majority of the gunk out from between the rails. That’s how I do it, and then I give the top of the rails a good scrub with my brush.


Are you using grill grates, not the MAK built, on your MAK?  Theirs are made with no flat side, so nothing to scrape?
Title: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: rwalters on June 10, 2018, 07:37:09 PM
You might think them to be a pain to clean at first... but they get easier with time. A wide headed flat screw driver does a fabulous job of cleaning the majority of the gunk out from between the rails. That’s how I do it, and then I give the top of the rails a good scrub with my brush.


Are you using grill grates, not the MAK built, on your MAK?  Theirs are made with no flat side, so nothing to scrape?
I have the MAK sear grates for my MAK, and GrillGrates for my Weber kettle. I tried the GrillGrates on the MAK, but found I much prefer MAK’s version :)
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: sschorr on June 10, 2018, 07:38:35 PM
You might think them to be a pain to clean at first... but they get easier with time. A wide headed flat screw driver does a fabulous job of cleaning the majority of the gunk out from between the rails. That’s how I do it, and then I give the top of the rails a good scrub with my brush.


Are you using grill grates, not the MAK built, on your MAK?  Theirs are made with no flat side, so nothing to scrape?
I have the MAK sear grates for my MAK, and GrillGrates for my Weber kettle. I tried the GrillGrates on the MAK, but found I much prefer MAK’s version :)


Whew!  Thought maybe there is a gizzy I don’t have yet.   8)
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: CDN Smoker on June 11, 2018, 09:33:31 AM
IMHO, grill grates do a fantastic job on steaks..
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: TMB on June 11, 2018, 09:37:11 AM
IMHO, grill grates do a fantastic job on steaks..
That they do :thumbup:    Really want something good try grilld cheese (Texas toast and thick cheddar) on a campfire :thumbup: :thumbup:
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: UWFSAE on June 11, 2018, 09:41:43 AM
When I bought mine, I rinsed and dried them, then I seasoned them with canola oil and let them heat up (similar to the way I would a cast iron skillet).  For regular cleaning, I used a damp old golf towel to clean the channels (use tongs to grip the towel, of course).  For "spring cleaning", I just soaked them in a plastic tub with some Dawn dishwashing liquid and warm water; I re-season them with canola after that process.
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: teesquare on June 11, 2018, 10:14:40 AM
Please keep in mind that they are aluminum. There is an anodized, hardened surface - that is microns...only microns thick.

That is not a criticism of the product, I love mine and use them regularly. It is a reminder to all that you should NEVER "clean" them with anything that can abrade, scratch, cut, or otherwise damage the surface. This would also include the type of tools you use to flip or remove food from them.

Why?.... Because the anodized coating is what prevents the coating from oxidizing under the heat/cool stress we place on these as pat of their normal use. Aluminum in your food is NOT a good thing. When we change the conductivity of our bodies via introduction of metals - above and beyond their design intent ;)....we risk exacerbation of any genetic proclivities for a group of neurologic disorders which all fall under the general term "dementia".

An absolute "risk" for everyone? I don't think so...but the more that is learned about metals in our food and water supply - the more that neurologists claim the link for such is growing stronger.

Just an advisement, suggestion and desire that all use a degree of prudence in the the use and care of their grates - they are a great product.
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 11, 2018, 11:43:00 AM
IMHO, grill grates do a fantastic job on steaks..

Now you are speaking my language ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 11, 2018, 11:46:58 AM
Please keep in mind that they are aluminum. There is an anodized, hardened surface - that is microns...only microns thick.

That is not a criticism of the product, I love mine and use them regularly. It is a reminder to all that you should NEVER "clean" them with anything that can abrade, scratch, cut, or otherwise damage the surface. This would also include the type of tools you use to flip or remove food from them.

Why?.... Because the anodized coating is what prevents the coating from oxidizing under the heat/cool stress we place on these as pat of their normal use. Aluminum in your food is NOT a good thing. When we change the conductivity of our bodies via introduction of metals - above and beyond their design intent ;)....we risk exacerbation of any genetic proclivities for a group of neurologic disorders which all fall under the general term "dementia".

An absolute "risk" for everyone? I don't think so...but the more that is learned about metals in our food and water supply - the more that neurologists claim the link for such is growing stronger.

Just an advisement, suggestion and desire that all use a degree of prudence in the the use and care of their grates - they are a great product.

Ok after that I just returned my grates ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 11, 2018, 11:48:39 AM
Just kidding TEE ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


thanks folks for all the good tips........Even Tee ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: smokeasaurus on June 12, 2018, 09:54:35 AM
The super big Grill Grates spatula cleans the inside grooves nicely...………...I used to always spray em down with quick release spray before every cook.
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 12, 2018, 10:11:20 AM
The super big Grill Grates spatula cleans the inside grooves nicely...………...I used to always spray em down with quick release spray before every cook.

So Smoke you don't buy into this statement  "That is not a criticism of the product, I love mine and use them regularly. It is a reminder to all that you should NEVER "clean" them with anything that can abrade, scratch, cut, or otherwise damage the surface. This would also include the type of tools you use to flip or remove food from them."
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Big Dawg on June 13, 2018, 05:19:40 PM
I don't really clean mine that much.  I mostly let the previous cook burn off while I'm warming up for the new cook.  If my previous cook was really messy, like using a lot of sauce, I have used the flat head screwdriver, but I don't really press it down, just use it to knock the sauce out of the channels.

Here's what Grill Grates sells to clean their product:

(https://cdn3.bigcommerce.com/s-1d158t7j/products/107/images/341/New_Brush_in_use_LR_1__28064.1443647038.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)





BD
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Tailgating is my game on June 13, 2018, 07:08:34 PM
I don't really clean mine that much.  I mostly let the previous cook burn off while I'm warming up for the new cook.  If my previous cook was really messy, like using a lot of sauce, I have used the flat head screwdriver, but I don't really press it down, just use it to knock the sauce out of the channels.

Here's what Grill Grates sells to clean their product:

(https://cdn3.bigcommerce.com/s-1d158t7j/products/107/images/341/New_Brush_in_use_LR_1__28064.1443647038.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)





BD

Thanks BD will be on a future list first I got to get them dirty ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: BlackC5 on May 23, 2019, 12:01:17 AM
When New, I washed my Grill Grates, then sprayed with Virgin Olive Oil before using.  Have not washed them again since New.  Always start my pellet grill to 375 to heat and burn-off prior seasoned cooks and scrape with a two-inch paint scraper.  I only use my Grill Grates "Flat Side" up for everything.  Hamburger, steak, salmon, chicken breast, turkey breast.  I get an even all over sear but no sear marks, which is okay for me.  I heat, scrape and spray with Virgin Olive Oil each cook, increasing or lowering the temp afterwards depending on what I am cooking.  The only time I do not use the Grill Grates is when doing pulled pork or bacon.
Title: Re: How to break in your Grillgrates
Post by: Hub on May 27, 2019, 12:51:36 PM
My GG's have about two hundred thousand miles on them and have turned totally black.  Every now and then I take a screwdriver and ream out the holes on the bottom, then put them in a plastic bag full of soapy water for a few days.  Next, I rinse them with the garden hose, spray them with cooking oil spray and set out for another hundred thousand miles or so ;D

Hub