I don't know. I was talking out of my ass.

Build a fire in it, get it as hot as possible for a few minutes and then give it a good brushing. Then cook on the damn thing. If you're afraid of a little charcoal or dirt or rust you shouldn't be grilling. Get back in the house and turn in your man card.

One of my friends gave me some cast iron for my grill a while back that was somewhat rusty. I just smeared it with bacon grease, cranked up the fire for a while and went over it with this steel wool-like grill cleaning thing, and then wiped it off with a rag. Been using it for close to a year and I haven't died yet.

I would just clean it the best you can, then coat it in oil, fire up the grill hot and let that oil seal into those grates.

You can buy a new grate for about $20. You'll appreciate the results.

Option 2 is spray it with oven cleaner, let it sit for a few hours, scrub it with a SOS pad and rinse.

Personally, I'd spring the $20 for the new one.

You can't buy cast iron for $20. Although, if it's not cast iron, then yes, it's not worth trying to save.

Yes.

replace them with enameled cast iron. Don't go stainless, they don't hold the heat as well.

if you're still worried about the rusty after cleaning , stick it in a sandblaster cleans it up perfectly, i do mine every year before the season starts for grilling.

That's the plan now. Just have to buy a sandblasting cabinet.

I know, I :spock:'d at that one too. He said it as if we all just happen to have sandblasters laying around in our garages.

Well, to be fair, I've always wanted one. And I could use it for other things. This could be an excuse to get one.

Is that true about SS grates? My 10 year old cast iron grates need to be replaced and I was considering stainless steel.

http://www.ehow.com/video_8027816_cl...ll-grates.html



Watch the video, it could help you.

Fire Me Boy! will be along shortly to deliver a roundhouse kick to your head for even considering stainless steel.