Cleaning Grill Grates Rust

What’s the Best Way to Remove Rust from Grill Grates? Few experiences compare to the joy of savoring grilled delights during summer breaks. Grilling is a favorite pastime for many, creating lasting memories with loved ones. However, the aftermath often involves dealing with a dirty grill and a pile of kitchenware needing cleaning.

But if we compare the most challenging thing to clean, grill grates would take the first place. With time, if the grill grates are not maintained appropriately, they become rusty and unsuitable to grill food on it unless they are rust-free.

Your barbecue grill grates will sooner or later get rusty if you leave them outside. It might be difficult to keep your grill’s grates rust-free if it spends most of its time outside. Let’s find out various ways to clean rust from grill grates.

Maintenance of The Grill

It is important that you clean your grill grates immediately after each use to maintain their condition. If you leave the burnt-on food on the grill grates for a long time, it will be hard to clean them.

Rusty Grill Grates – How To Clean

After leaving your grill out in the rain all winter, you’re wondering how to clean it. There are different methods you can use depending on the materials. The grates on grills are often made from stainless steel or another form of metal. When cleaning their grill grates, most people use a stiff wire brush.

It is effective for removing rust from most grill grates but may damage the finish of stainless steel grates. The following are a few ways to remove stubborn rust from grill grates. It may be wise to start with the mildest option and work your way down the list until all rust has been removed.

Preventing Rusting – Grill Covers

Investing in a grill cover will preserve your outdoor grill from corrosion. It is covered by flexible and long-lasting materials that can resist a variety of temperatures. Always cover the grill once you’ve used it. This reduces the grill’s exposure to air, hence extending its longevity.

Moisture may still sneak beneath the cover if you live in a humid location. In this situation, you must inspect your grill for moisture on a regular basis.

Preventing Rusting – Move It Indoors

Water is the most common cause of corrosion on grill grates. When the grilling season is over, cover it with a cloth-lined nylon or vinyl cover.

Bring the portable grill inside or store it in a covered shed if there is extreme humidity, heavy rain, or snow. If you live near the coast, it is especially necessary to clean and cover your grill since the high quantity of salt might damage it.

Why Grill Grates Turn Rusty

Well, there are plenty of reasons for it. The grill grates are usually placed in the backyards open to taking rainwater, so the grill grates turn out to be rusty due to frequent rainwater. Although companies coat a protective layer on the grates to protect them from rust, that layer wears off due to the user over time. Another reason for losing the protective rust-free layer is the wrong cleaning of the grates after grilling the food. People usually rub the grates with hard elements that scratch the protective layer from the grates. Eventually, the grill grates become unprotected and rust after some time. 

Cleaning rusty Grill Grates

After leaving your grill out in the rain all winter, you’re wondering how to clean it. There are different methods you can use depending on the materials. The grates on grills are often made from stainless steel or another form of metal. When cleaning their grill grates, most people use a stiff wire brush.

It is effective for removing rust from most grill grates but may damage the finish of stainless steel grates. The following are a few ways to remove stubborn rust from grill grates. It may be wise to start with the mildest option and work your way down the list until all rust has been removed.

Ways To Clean The Grill Grates

Now when you have a rusty grill, the question arises how to clean them. Readout some of the ways explained below:

Use Baking Soda To Clean The Grates 

Baking soda is considered one of the best natural cleaning elements to remove thick substances like grease from the grills. All you have to do is make sure that you remove as much rust from the grates as possible with a brush. To clean the remaining rust, place the grill back on the flame and sprinkle the baking soda on it. The heating will make the baking soda bubble, eliminating its rust. Once all the bubbles are finished, turn off the flame and cool down the grill. Afterwards, use the brush again for rubbing the grills, which will remove the remaining rust. 

Use Vinegar And Salt To Clean Grill Grates Rust

Another effective natural cleaner is vinegar that is used in various cleaning tasks. So you can also use it to clean the rusty grills. All you have to do is:

1. combine 2/3 of vinegar in 1/3 of salt and mix it properly. 
2. Then pour the liquid into a spray bottle
3. Spray the liquid on the grill grates thoroughly. 
4. Keep the grates covered in a plastic bag overnight.
5. Afterwards, wipe the grapes with a soft cloth, and it will take off all the rust. 

How To Clean Grill Grates Rust? Use a wire brush to clean the grates. 

The fastest way to remove the rust is to rub a wire brush on the grates, apply this method, take out the grates from the Bar B q and place it on a flat surface like a driveway. Then rub the brush on the grates, and the rust will fall off. Make sure to wipe the grates afterwards using a soft wet cloth to ensure it’s completely rust-free and place it back on the BBQ.

Conclusion

After each use, clean the grates; left-over food debris rusts the grill faster. Coat the grill grates with vegetable oil after cleaning them. Oil repels water and prevents the corrosion of metals. In the winter, inspect your grill grates for rust regularly. As soon as you notice any traces of rust, remove them to prevent further damage to the metal.