How to Get Rust off Cast Iron Grates

Cast iron grates are a much-loved favourite among both home and professional chefs, esteemed for their exceptional qualities in the kitchen. Known for its versatility and durability, cast iron grates boast the capacity to withstand high temperatures while delivering consistent, even heat—a key reason why many of our grill grates and accessories are crafted from this type of material.

At Broil King®, cast iron cooking grates are specifically engineered to absorb and distribute the intense heat from the burners, imparting a sear across your foods. Their reversible design offers flexibility, allowing you to choose between the pointed side for clean, distinctive lines on your steak or the grooved side, perfect for basting meat while it’s grilling.

However, knowing how to maintain your cast iron grates is crucial in protecting them and helping them maintain their performance over time. In this blog, we’ve compiled a few effective methods to rid your grill grates of rust and prolong their lifespan, even after rust has set in.

Removing Rust: The Key Steps

Preparation:

Create a cleaning station, either in your kitchen sink or outdoors for easier cleanup. You’ll need some old rags, a dish brush or scrubbing pad, and a surface cover to protect your surroundings.

Initial Burn-off: Before cleaning, fire up your grill on medium-high to transform any grime into ash. This step minimizes mess while tackling rust.

Light Surface Rust: If your grates have only minor surface rust, use a dish brush with dish soap and warm water. Scrub gently to remove surface rust and grease.

Baking Soda Paste: Alternatively, you can also create a paste by mixing baking soda and dish soap together and working it into the affected areas. Add lemon juice or vinegar for enhanced rust and grease removal. Please note that you should be cautious to avoid prolonged contact, as this solution could corrode the metal.

Vinegar Bath for Extensive Rust: If your grill grates have a significant amount of rusting, soak the grates in equal parts water and distilled white vinegar for 15-60 minutes. Remove when the rust begins flaking off, using a rag or dish brush for gentle cleaning.

Dry Immediately: After rust removal, dry the grates thoroughly with a clean rag to prevent further corrosion.

Re-Seasoning: Once dry, you’ll need to re-season the grates by coating them with quality vegetable oil, grapeseed oil or olive oil. Heat your grill to 180℃ and then apply oil to both sides of the grates. Once applied, let it bake for about an hour with the lid closed.

Official Broil King® Cleaning Products

In addition to the cleaning tips in this article, we also recommend exploring our range of excellent cleaning products to help you keep your barbecue in top condition. Our Grill and Casting Cleaner eliminates tough stains from grease, smoke and burned-on food and is suitable for use on the grill and the castings. The Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish delivers a wonderful oil-free shine to your barbecue and the Grill Revitalizer Cream will remove even the toughest of stains from your stainless or porcelain exterior surfaces.

Ready to restore your cast iron grates? Find your nearest Broil King® stockist in Spain and Portugal today and reignite your grilling experience!