Which Is The Best Grill Grate Material? Detailed Comparison
Choosing the right grill grate can be one of the most critical decisions you make when buying a grill. Your grill grate has an effect on the searing and flavor of the food since it is in contact with your food throughout the grilling process.Â
In this article, I will discuss the various types of grill grates, so that you can choose the grill grate material that is best suited to your needs.
What is a Grill Grate?
Grill Grates are wire meshes or perforated metal panels that hold the barbecue food cooked by the heat source below the grates. Excellent grill grates prevent food from sticking to the metal while ensuring excellent grill marks on the food. Some grill grates are also designed to prevent flare-ups.
Which Is The Best Grill Grate Material?Â
There are many other considerations for buying a new grill grate, but none are more critical than the grill grate material. A good grill grate material holds heat well, is non-stick, and is also durable and corrosion-resistant.
Today, we’ll compare Cast Iron vs. Porcelain-Enamel vs. Stainless Steel vs. Chrome- Plated vs. Cast Aluminum vs. Tempered Grill Grates. Remember that the best grill grate material is the one that best suits your requirements. Choosing the wrong type of grate will not give you the kind of grill performance and searing that you are looking for.
TL;DR
If you don’t want an in-depth analysis, skip to the summary. I have summarized my picks for grill grates – from budget to premium options.
Cast Iron Grill Grates
Cast Iron is the best grill grate material if you are looking for a grill grate material that can hold heat. Cast Iron grill grates can hold more heat since they generally have a larger volume. This means that the grates stay hotter for longer when the food is added on the grill, which produces beautiful grill-marks that we all know and love.Â
You must buy a Cast Iron Grill Grate if you are looking to cook delicate meats, like fish or thin slices of chicken. This is because the heat retention capability of a Cast Iron Grill Grate allows you to cook at lower temperatures, preventing these delicate meats from drying out.
Don’t buy a Cast Iron Grill Grate if you habitually cook on high heat. This high heat results in unwanted charring of the meat if heated directly. Furthermore, if you own a high-powered infrared grill and turn up the heat too quickly, the high temperature on one side of the grate can cause the cast iron to warp.Â
When choosing a Cast Iron Grill Grate, select a grate with as much of a smooth surface as possible. Grates with a matte finish have an attractive, rustic look, but they are often more prone to rusting. This is because they are more difficult to clean and dry and have a larger surface area exposed to the atmosphere. This combination makes them corrode faster than their glossy-finish counterparts.
You may also want to avoid buying Cast Iron Grill Grates that are very thick. These prevent smoke from touching the food, which means your food won’t absorb as much flavor as possible. Here’s a list of the best Cast Iron Grill Grates.
Advantages of Cast Iron Grill Grate:
- Great Heat Retention
- Cost-effective option compared to other materials
- Produces great grill marks
- Food gets cooked faster
- Delivers an even cooking temperature
- Lasts long if properly maintainedÂ
Disadvantages of Cast Iron Grill Grate:
- Cleaning and maintenance take more time.
- Prone to corrosion if not seasoned
- Needs to be seasoned to become non-stick
- It takes a while to come up to temperature (because of its higher volume)
- Heavy material which is sometimes difficult to handle
- If dropped on any hard surface, it can break or crack, especially once it has corroded
- Shorter warranty periods
Shopping for Cast Iron Grill Grates?
Here are the best Cast Iron Grill Grates available in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Stainless Steel Grill Grates
Stainless steel Grill grates are the perfect option if you are looking for low-maintenance, corrosion-resistant grill grates.
You must buy a Stainless Steel Grill Grate if you habitually cook food on high heat. Stainless Steel Grates withstand heat well and are the perfect type of grate to use with infrared grills.Â
Don’t buy a Stainless Steel Grill Grate if you are looking to cook delicate meats low and slow. Stainless Steel Grates don’t hold heat well and are therefore unsuitable for low and slow cooking.
Stainless Steel Grates are popular, so you will have a lot of options when shopping. Apart from various sizes, you will find multiple rod shapes (such as circular, rectangular, diamond, or hexagonal) and patterns (such as vertical, horizontal, and crisscrossed). Read the Buying Considerations section below to understand the effect that these shapes have on the food. Here’s a list of the best Stainless Steel Grill Grates.
Pitmaster Wisdom:
If you find a grate coated with a rust-resistant coating (like porcelain coated or chrome-plated grates), the steel used will almost never be stainless steel. The underlying metal will be regular or tempered steel, which is not rust-resistant.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Grill Grates:
- They are extremely corrosion resistant
- They are easy to clean since seasoning is unnecessary
- They are lighter and easier to handle than cast iron grates
- They are not easily damaged if drop by accident
- They can withstand high temperatures
- They last for years and often come with a lifetime warranty
Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Grill Grates:
- Unless you use a non-stick coating, food will stick to it
- They don’t hold heat as well as cast iron grates
- It is expensive, but this cost is offset by the low cost of maintenance
- Too much exposure to high heat causes them to warp and pop out of place
- They undergo discoloration after a few uses making it look dirty
- Rust can still form on it if not maintained properly
Shopping for Stainless Steel Grill Grates?
Here are the best Stainless Steel Grill Grates available in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Porcelain-Enamel Coated Grates
Porcelain-coated grill grates are regular steel or cast-iron grills coated with a smooth non-stick enamel of porcelain. Their smooth porcelain-enamel coating makes them easy to clean and gives them a high corrosion resistance.
You must buy a Porcelain-Enamel Coated Grate if you’re looking for a great entry-level option since they are inexpensive and easy to clean.Â
Don’t buy a Porcelain-Enamel Coated Grate if you are looking for a durable grate. Porcelain-coated grates chip off very quickly, but their life can be extended by avoiding harsh chemicals, coarse scrubbers, and automatic dishwashers. However, since the underlying metal is much more durable than the coating, you are bound to end up with a rusty grill.Â
When buying a Porcelain-Enamel Grill Grate, ensure that you know which metal is under the porcelain coating. If the material is cast iron, you will have a heavier and more fragile grate with better heat holding capacity. If it is regular steel, your grate will be lighter and may not hold heat as well. Both materials will rust once the enamel wears off, but the grate made from cast iron will last you for longer if you season it as you would a regular cast iron grill. Here’s a list of the best Porcelain-Enamel Coated Grates.
Advantages of Porcelain-Enamel Grill Grates:
- Affordable
- Does not corrode easily
- Non-stick grilling materialÂ
- Easy to clean and maintainÂ
- Has better heat retention than stainless steel grills
Disadvantages of Porcelain-Enamel Grill Grates:
- Cannot withstand high heat as well as cast iron
- Not durable and prone to chipping if not cleaned improperly
- Chipping off leads to loss of rust-resistance and non-stick attributes
- Seasoning of the grates is recommended to pre-empt rust after chipping off
Shopping for Porcelain-Enameled Grill Grates?
Here are the best Porcelain-Enameled Grill Grates available in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Chrome-Plated Steel Grates
Chrome-Plated Grates are regular steel grills coated with a layer of chrome. These are inexpensive grill grates commonly found on budget-friendly portable and kettle grills.
You must buy a Chrome-Plated Grate if you want a low-budget option for infrequent or temporary use of your grill.
Don’t buy a Chrome-Plated Grate if you are looking to take up grilling as a hobby and are looking for grates that can hold a good amount of heat.
When buying a Chrome-Plated Grate, make sure that the grate is sturdy. Since the grill grate has thin rods, they are sometimes poorly welded to the frame.
Advantages of Chrome-Plated Grill Grates:
- Most Affordable
- They are corrosion-resistant
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Has a relatively long life if maintained properly
- Lightweight and portable
Disadvantages of Chrome-Plated Grill Grates:
- The coating chips off after a while
- Negligible heat retention
- Sear marks aren’t possible because of the grate rods are very thin
- Requires a non-stick coating or oil to make it completely-non stick
- They will warp under extremely high heat
Shopping for Chrome-Plated Steel Grill Grates?
Here are the best Chrome-Plated Grill Grates available in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Cast Aluminum Grates
Cast Aluminum Grates are a fantastic choice if you own a gas grill. They are a cross between a grill grate and a Flavorizer Bar.They have a semi-closed base that catches and vaporizes any juices that come in contact with it. This prevents flare-ups and also gives a nice smoky flavor to the meat by directing the vaporized smoke back into the food.Â
You must buy Cast Aluminum Grill Grates if you own a gas grill and are looking to replace your grill grate, or Flavorizer Bars, or both.
Don’t buy Cast Aluminum Grill Grates if you own an infrared grill. The holes in the base of the grate will result in odd sear marks on your meat.
When buying a Cast Aluminum Grill Grate, ensure that the grates have a fused unibody construction that is not hollow. Having more volume of metal ensures that you get better sear marks since it holds heat better. Some grates also have an interlocking feature that is a must-have if you are looking to own more than one grate. This ensures that you can place your food evenly across the grate without worrying about it falling through the grates. Here’s a list of the best Cast Aluminum Grill Grates.
Advantages of Cast Aluminum Grill Grates:
- They are extremely corrosion resistant
- They are light and easy to handle
- They hold heat better than stainless steel grills
- They are not easily damaged if drop by accident
- They are very durable
- They distribute heat well and can withstand high temperatures
- The holes on their base that can be used to heat wood chips or pellets for BBQ smoking
Disadvantages of Cast Aluminum Grill Grates:
- They’re expensive
- They need to be seasoned with oil for the first few cooks before they become non-stick
- They need specific grill grate brushes to clean them without damage
- They don’t hold heat as well as cast iron grates
- They become discolored after a few uses and don’t look shiny as when they are new
Shopping for Cast Aluminum Steel Grill Grates?
Here are the best Cast Aluminum Grill Grates available in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Tempered Steel GratesÂ
These grill grates are the most inexpensive grates on this list. They have a diamond shape grill, and when using these grills, you won’t have to rotate the food to get the crisscross sear marks.
I don’t recommend buying Tempered Steel Grates. These are the grills that are the default on the cheapest Disposable BBQs and not something you would want to buy separately on your grill.Â
These grates neither hold heat, are not non-stick, nor are they rust-resistant.Â
Advantages of Cast Aluminum Grill Grates:
- They’re inexpensive
- They are very lightweight
- They produce crisscrossing grill marks without repositioning the meat
Disadvantages of Cast Aluminum Grill Grates:
- They don’t hold heat well, and therefore, the grill marks aren’t great
- They are not corrosion resistant if kept without oil
- They are not non-stick
- They warp easily
- They have sharp edges that could cut you when washing
- Their diamond-like shape also makes it difficult to clean them
Other Considerations For Buying Grill Grates
The main factor to consider when buying a grill grate is the material, and we have discussed this in detail above. However, there are a few other factors that affect the grill grates across all materials.Â
We’ve listed these factors in our post about grill grate buying considerations.
Cleaning and Maintenance of Grill Grates
Dirty grill grates can cause you a whole lot of problems. Leftover food on the grill can cause food safety issues, cause the food to stick to the grill, attract bugs and rodents, and cause food residue to clog up your burner tubes.Â
On the other hand, proper cleaning and maintenance can increase the grill’s life and even enhance the cooking experience.Â
Cleaning Stainless Steel Grill Grates
Cleaning stainless steel grill grates is very easy, and it can be done in the following steps:
- Heat the grate for 15-20 minutes to turn the residual food into ash.
- Once the grate cools down, use a soft wire brush to get the ash off the grates.
- Wash the grates in soapy water to get rid of the oil and food residue. Be sure not to use a soft brush or sponge to avoid scratching the surface of the grate.
- Alternatively, you can spray a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar on the grates. Let the solution sit in the grates for an hour and then rinse the grates with water and a soft sponge.
- Wipe the grates dry with a soft cloth.
Stainless Steel grill grates become a little discolored over time. Don’t mistake this for rusting. However, stainless steel grill grates can get rusted because of superficial rust, insufficient chromium concentration, and extremely high temperatures. Read more about why stainless steel grills Rust.Â
Cleaning Cast Iron Grill Grates
The cleaning and seasoning process for cast iron grates is not as difficult and time-consuming if you know the right steps. The only inconvenience you may face is having to season the grates almost immediately after cooking. This can be annoying if you’re waiting to eat the tasty food you’ve just prepared.
Here are the steps to cleaning and seasoning your cast iron grates:
- Turn the burner on full blast for 10-15 minutes until the food residue turns to ash.
- Once the grill grate cools down a little, use a stiff wire brush to remove the ash.
- Once this is done, put on your heat-resistant gloves and pour a small amount of odorless cooking oil on a cloth.
- Massage the oil onto the grill grate with a soft cloth or paper towel until the entire surface of the grate is covered.
- Then use the dry part of the cloth to remove any excess oil from the grill grate.
If you are not using your cast iron grill grate for long periods, reapply some odorless oil with the cloth to prevent rusting. I always recommend an odorless oil because cooking oils with a strong smell often attracts bugs and rodents.
Cleaning Porcelain-Enameled and Chrome-Plated Grill Grates
Grates that have any kind of coating or enamel and have to be washed with care. Using a coarse brush on the grates can cause the non-stick and corrosion-resistant coating to peel off. To avoid this, use a soft scrubber and a putty scraper with smooth edges.
Also, don’t put your coated grill grates into a dishwasher. The high-pressure water jets in the dishwasher can often chip off the grates’ coating, leaving them prone to corrosion.
- Put your burner on full blast for 15-20 minutes so that all the food residue turns to ash.
- Wipe off the ash with a soft cloth once the grill grate has cooled off.
- Spray the 50-50 solution of water and vinegar onto the grates and let the solution sit on the grates for about one hour.
- Alternatively, soak the grill gates in a lukewarm solution of soapy water for 30 minutes before scrubbing it with a soft sponge and rinsing off with water.
- Wipe off the grill grates with lukewarm water and a soft cloth or sponge.
- Once the vinegar or soap water is completely removed from the grates, dry the grill grates with a soft towel.
- Massage some oil on the grill grate using an odorless oil and a soft cloth or paper towel.
Even though coated/ plated grates don’t need to be seasoned with oil, I recommend applying oil preemptively. This can prevent rusting when you get small cracks that are not easily noticeable.
Cleaning Cast Aluminum Grates
If you’re cleaning Cast Aluminum Grates, it’s recommended to get the right tools. These grills are the most unique and therefore need the most unique equipment. However, the logic for cleaning them remains the same.
Here are the steps to cleaning and your cast aluminum grates:
- Turn the burner on full blast for 10-15 minutes.
- Once the food residue turns to ash, scrape the grooves of the grill brush to remove the ash. Check out our recommended grill brushes.
- If you are particular about having clear groove corners, you can use a grill scraping tool, but this is not required.
- Once you dispose of the residue, you have to get rid of the grease on the grill with a simple soap water wash.
- Alternatively, you can spray on a 5-50 solution of vinegar and water. Let the solution sit for about an hour before scrubbing and rinsing the grates.
- After the grease is off, wipe the grill grates dry using a soft towel. Using a cloth with a valley brush will help dry the hard-to-reach spots.
- Finally, season the grate using oil and a soft cloth or paper towel.
Don’t expect your cast aluminum grates to look shiny as when they were new. Cast-aluminum grates are seasoned like a cast iron grate, and they should look black even after you’re done cleaning.
Related questions
Is It Safe To Grill On An Aluminum Grill Grate?
Absolutely. Fears of aluminum being bad for health arose from studies conducted in the 1960s that suspected it as a cause for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there has been no conclusive evidence to support this suspicion. There would be much more evidence if aluminum was harmful to humans since it is the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust (after oxygen and silicon).
Can You Grill On Rusty Grates?
It is not recommended to grill on a rusty grate since rust is not a food-safe material. However, most experts agree that consuming small amounts of rust isn’t harmful. So clean the rust off your grill grates, but don’t stress too much about consuming microscopic particles of rust.
How Do I Make My Grill Grates Look New?
A rusted grill grate doesn’t have to result in you throwing away your grill grates. You can remove the rust with the help of regular household items to get your grate shining again. Read detailed instructions on rust removal. However, remember that cast iron and cast aluminum grates are supposed to develop a patina, and not meant to look as good as new.
How To Prevent Grill Grates From Rusting?
To prevent grill grates from rusting, you must clean and dry the grill often while seasoning your grill with oil or wax. You must also cover the grill to keep your grill safe from the common causes of rust. Read more about preventing grill rust.
Summary
When you’re buying grill grates, you realize that the experience is a microcosm for barbecuing – there is something for everyone!
If you are looking for a hassle-free budget option, go for a porcelain coated grill. Here’s a list of the best Porcelain-Enamel Coated Grates.
If you are looking for a durable grate that can hold heat really well and don’t mind a bit of maintenance, go for a cast iron grill grate. Here’s a list of the best Cast Iron Grill Grates.
If you like cooking on high heat or own an infrared grill, buy a stainless steel grill grate as they will last you a long time. Here’s a list of the best Stainless Steel Grill Grates.
If you want a premium grill grate with excellent performance, go for a cast aluminum grill grate. Here’s a list of the best Cast Aluminum Grill Grates.
I hope this post gave you a good idea about picking the best grill grates for your grill.
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