Seasoning a grate is like adding more value to its life. Seasoning grate offers several benefits, such as ridding contaminants and repelling rust. It also seals the pores preventing food from sticking to them. Moreover, the process helps to clean the grates easily. Let’s find out how to season porcelain grill grates easily.
Seasoning a porcelain grill grate will help to prevent the delicate enamel from deteriorating.
How To Season Porcelain Grill Grates?
There are a few ways to season your porcelain grill grates. Before that, you need to ensure it is cleaned thoroughly.
Preparing the grill grates for seasoning
Go gentle while cleaning the porcelain grill grates. They are delicate to chip off easily if you go hard with cleaning. Let’s have a look at a few methods to clean your grates.
Using a Nylon brush, Aluminium Foil, and Vinegar
Wipe the grill using a nylon brush. Scrub the grates with the nylon brush while the grill still being warm. Concentrate on those areas where a lot of grease has accumulated.
Deep clean the grates by scrubbing them with aluminum foil. Aluminum foil facilitates to reach difficult to reach areas to remove grease layers. Make a ball of aluminum foil that fits perfectly into your fist. Using this ball, scrub the grates to clean them. If the grates are hot, you can use tongs to hold the foil.
To clean a specific area, spray it with vinegar. White vinegar sprayed on thickened grease dissolves it easily. Scrub the area with a nylon brush or aluminum foil to rid the grease and slime.
Using Grill cleaner
Let the grill heat for 10 mins, and then allow it to cool. Extra grease or food stuck on the grate will burn off with heating the grill. Ensure the grill cools down to room temperature before your start cleaning it.
Wear hand gloves to remove the grates and place them in a plastic trash bag. Do the cleaning outside of your house, in your yard, or lawn. The trash bag prevents the grill cleaner from spilling on your lawn or yard.
Spray the grill cleaner to apply a coat on both sides of the grate. Ensure the grill cleaner is compliant with porcelain. Leave the grate as it is for a minimum of 30 mins. Grill cleaners will break down the grease and slime due to food stuck food the grates.
Use a small quantity of elbow grease on a rag; scrub the grate to cleanse any leftover grease. Using a clean rag, scrub the grates to super clean them.
Once you are sure about the cleanliness, flush the grates with water through a hose. Rinse thoroughly till all grill cleaner is flushed off. Then leave the grates to dry naturally in the sun.
Caution:
It’s crucial to ensure all grill cleaner is flushed off, or else it may mix in food, which may be dangerous to health.
Using baking soda and soap
Procure a plastic tub that can accommodate your grill grates. Fill it with water, 64 grams of baking soda, and 2-3 drops of dish soap. Avoid using citrus-based soap. Citrus may corrode the grates.
Shake the solution to create a foam. Despite being mildly harsh, baking soda doesn’t harm porcelain grill grates. Immerse the dirty grates in the tub for about 30 minutes. Baking soda and dish soap will work their magic to cleanse the grates.
Wear gloves and scrape off the grease gently with a nylon brush. You can also use a toothbrush to reach tiny spots. Then flush off the grates with clean water to rid the soapy solution. Allow the grates to air dry before putting them back into the grill. After cleansing the grills, it’s ready to apply the seasoning.
Applying the seasoning
Peanut or Canola oil work ideally for seasoning the porcelain grill grates. Alternatively, spray-can vegetable oil or coconut oil are also good options. Apply a coat of oil on the grate surface before you turn the grill on. You can use a brush or cloth to apply the coating. Apply the coating in a circular motion.
Dab out any extra oil from the grate using a paper towel. Turn the grill on the highest point, for about 15-20 mins or till the oil begins to heat or smoke. You will notice the grate appearing darker than before.
Heating and maintaining the seasoned grill grates
Porcelain grates transfer heat by directly contacting the food. A well-maintained porcelain grate has oils left over from cooking fatty meats. It helps to build a layer of seasoning on the grate and adds more flavor to the food. Initial seasoning of the grate, proper maintenance, and cleaning will help to have a better taste.
Heating grill grates after seasoning help to create a non-stick grate surface. It prevents food from sticking and is easy to clean. The best temperature to heat the grates for seasoning is about 350-450 degrees F. The heating time should be around 30 to 60 mins. Dust off the food that remains on the grill after every use. Clean the grill thoroughly and re-season it for its longevity.
Do you need to season new porcelain grill grates?
It’s always beneficial to season new porcelain grill grates before you put them to use. The porcelain coat is delicate and can come off readily. To avoid catching rust seasoning is essential. It also helps to cleanse the grill effortlessly.
How do you clean porcelain grill grates after cooking?
Use a nylon brush or soft bristle to dust off the leftover food on the grates. Heat the grates to burn the leftover food. It then gets easy to scrub them off once the grates cool down.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of brush should I use on the porcelain grill?
Nylon brush or soft bristle brush.
Do I need to season the porcelain grill grates?
Yes, though the manufacturer may not recommend to season, it’s a better option to get it done.
What grill brush for porcelain grates?
Nylon brush, soft bristle brush, or brass bristle are good for porcelain grates.
Conclusion
Grill grates are the best cooking devices. The taste of food grilled with grill grates isn’t different from the ones cooked in a griller.
Before using a grill grate, it’s essential to season it. Seasoning prevents the grate from rusting, adds a protective layer, and removes contaminants. It also converts the grate surface into a non-stick one, helping you to clean them effortlessly.
Seasoning also helps to add more flavor to the food, as the fatty layer on the grate surface adds to the food.
