Can you Cook On A Rusty Grill

If you don’t clean your grill properly, or you leave it out in the yard for too long, it will eventually rust. You might be wondering if you can still cook on a grill that is rusty or not. In this article, we’ll be answering your question, and we’ll look at ways to keep your grill rust free.

So, can you cook on a rusty grill? The answer is yes, you can. However, it’s not the best idea to do this. Rust can get loose, and if it does, it’s more than likely going to stick to your food. This might sound really bad, but it’s not as much of a safety hazard as you’d think.

The rust is basically just iron oxide. In small quantities, it’s perfectly safe to consume. However, you don’t want to eat that stuff on a regular basis, as it could potentially become harmful. If you’re in a pickle, and you don’t have time to clean the rust off your grill, you can use it without having to worry about getting sick. Just don’t make a habit out of it.

You might be wondering if you can get tetanus by cooking on a rusty grill. The short answer is no. Tetanus is caused by a certain bacterial infection, not from rust. Since you’re cooking at high temperatures, any and all bacteria should die off before getting on your food. But it’s unlikely that the bacteria would end up near your food anyway since it’s usually found in soil. So, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting an infection if you cook on a rusty grill.

If you don’t make a habit out of it, you shouldn’t have any problems. The worst thing that can happen is some rust getting on your food, but even then, it’s harmless. You should, however, clean your grill as soon as possible.

Cleaning Your Grill

So, you have a rusty grill in need of cleaning. How do you go about it? Let’s look at the ways you can clean that rust off, shall we?

One of the simplest methods is using some steel wool, a wire brush or aluminum foil. All of these work on the same principle; you take either one of these three and you start vigorously scrubbing away at your grates. A soft wire brush would be the best since this will not damage the grates in any way, but it does clean all the rust off.

If that isn’t enough by itself, try to use some white vinegar. Just rub the rusty areas with some of it, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then come back and try again with a brush (or whatever you used).

Don’t have any vinegar at hand? Try some baking soda. Mix it with some water and rub it on the rusty grates. Leave it be for an hour, then finish the job with a brush.

After cleaning the rust off of your grill, you should season it. This will help prevent further rust, and food will be less likely to stick to your grates. To season it, spread some high heat cooking oil all around the grates. Wipe away any excess oil, then heat up your grill until the oil starts to smoke. Let it cool down and add another coat of oil. This will be the first step to ensure your grill not getting rusty again. However, this alone will not be enough. For more information you can check out our article. (What Does It Mean to Season a Grill)

Preventing any Further Rust

If you managed to get the rust off of your cast iron grill grates, you probably want to keep it from getting rusty again. Here we will talk about the ways you can do this, and things you should avoid in order to keep your grates rust-free.

First of all, be sure that you don’t pour any liquid on the grill while cooking. If you’re using BBQ sauce on your food, try not to spill it on your grates, as it can clog them, or make them rusty. But what if you accidentally do spill some on them?

Clean your grates regularly. Every single time you use it, take out your grill brush and clean the grates thoroughly. Turn the burners off but clean it while it’s still hot. Your brush is very important here, try to get one with a long handle, so you don’t accidentally burn yourself. If it has a scraper on it, even better. Be sure to clean everything off your grates, then let the grill cool down.

If you clean your grill regularly, you shouldn’t have too many problems with rust. However, to be extra safe, you should try deep cleaning it sometimes as well. Simply detach the grates and soak them in hot, soapy water for about an hour. After that, clean them off with your brush. Don’t forget to clean your burners too, and – while you’re at it – the outside of your grill as well.

After you clean your grates, it’s not a bad idea to, once again, season them. After each cleaning, coat your grates in a thin layer of cooking oil. This will help prevent food from getting stuck to your grill, which would eventually lead to rust.

Take Care Of Your Grill

So, what if summer’s over, and you stop regularly using your grill for a few months? The best thing you could do is move it indoors, so no moisture can get into it. If you can, move it into your garage or shed. If that’s not an option, be sure to cover it with a vinyl or nylon cover. In fact, you should cover your grill even if you take it inside, just to be extra safe.

If you live in an area with lots of snow, heavy rain, or high levels of humidity, make sure to move your grill indoors. Humidity and moisture will surely cause rust if you don’t do anything about it. If you live near an ocean, the salty air could also lead to corrosion, so be extra careful with that.

Grills Grate That Don’t Rust

Maybe your rusty cast iron grates are just beyond repair. If you already know you have to buy a new grill, you might as well buy one that will not get rusty easily. In this section, we will go over the types of grates that you can use without worrying about corrosion.

There are two types of grates that don’t get rusty, porcelain-enameled ones and stainless-steel ones.

The first one is actually just cast iron, but with a porcelain coating. This allows the grates to have the excellent heat transfer expected from cast iron while eliminating the issues related to rust and corrosion. The porcelain coating makes cleaning easier as well, and it makes seasoning the grates obsolete. While this might seem like a really good option, this type has a few drawbacks of its own.

Porcelain is quite delicate. While the heat isn’t a problem for it, the tools you use to clean it could end up hurting it in the long term. Grill brushes that have stainless-steel bristles might end up scratching the porcelain or, even worse, it might chip small parts of it away. This would lead to the cast iron core being exposed.

Moisture and grease could easily get in through the cracks, and this would mean, you guessed it, corrosion. Unlike regular cast iron grates, however, you can’t simply just remove the rust with some vigorous cleaning. If you take good care of it, porcelain is an amazing choice. But it’s not your only option.

Enter stainless-steel. Now, it should be mentioned that some grates are advertised as stainless-steel, while in reality, they aren’t. If you’re thinking about purchasing stainless-steel, be sure to go to trustworthy brands for them.

Stainless-steel isn’t completely immune to corrosion and rust. But it does last for years longer than regular cast iron, provided you take good care of it. It’s highly resistant to food sticking to it, and it has a smooth surface.

They can heat up rather quickly, but they don’t retain that heat for long periods of time. Also they are easier to maintain than cast iron grates, but they can get warped over time. As well as they can also lose their resistance to sticking, but that can take years. And, of course, the more your willing to pay the better grates your going to get. Cheap ones will last you for a much shorter time than expensive ones.

If you want something that’s easier to maintain, and takes more time to corrode, stainless-steel is not a bad choice. But it all depends on how much you’re willing to pay for it.

Conclusion:

You can cook on a rusty grill, but that doesn’t mean you should. If you absolutely must, then use the grill once or twice. But be sure to properly clean it afterward. It’s not a good idea to consume rusty food on the regular. Not to mention it’s gross.

I hope you learned something from this article. Keep your grates clean, and they will serve you for a long time without getting rusty. Be sure to keep your grill safe from the weather, as moisture is the main cause of corrosion. And don’t forget to season your grates either. It takes little time, but its benefits are certainly worth it.

If you decide to just buy a new grill altogether, consider your options. Both porcelain-enameled and stainless-steel grates have their strengths and weaknesses. You’re the only one who can decide which one is the best for your needs.

As always, happy grilling!