A clean cooking grate makes it easier to cook over a fire and care for the cooking surface. The right method depends on the grate’s material and finish. Start with its instructions rather than treating every grate like a kitchen oven rack.
1. Check the Grate’s Cleaning Instructions
Find out whether your grate is bare steel, cast iron, stainless steel or coated. Use only the cleaning tools, temperatures and products approved for that surface. Do not assume an oven’s self-cleaning cycle is suitable for a fire pit grate.
2. Remove Food With a Suitable Tool
Follow the recommended cooling or preheating procedure before cleaning. Use a scraper or brush intended for the grate’s surface, taking care around hot metal. Inspect the grate afterward and remove any loose brush bristles or debris before placing food on it.
3. Skip the Foil-Covered Burn-Off Shortcut
Do not cover the grate with aluminum foil and build an intense fire beneath it to clean it. Do not put a snuffer lid over a cooking fire to create an improvised cleaning oven. Follow a manufacturer-approved cleaning method instead of trying to trap extra heat.
4. Season Only as Directed
If your grate requires seasoning, use the specified cooking oil and method. Apply oil carefully with the grate in the condition required by its instructions. Never spray aerosol oil toward flames or hot coals. Do not apply paint, rust inhibitor or a non-food coating to the cooking surface.
5. Keep the Grate Dry Between Uses
After cleaning, dry and store the grate as directed. Check it for damage before the next cook. For an S&S grate, confirm its care instructions and fit with the exact fire pit; the current cooking grate selection is the place to check available options.
Reference: Weber’s warning about foil-covered grate cleaning. Follow the instructions for your own grate and fire pit.
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