Do cast iron stove grates need to be seasoned?

Cleaning cast-iron stove grates is an essential part of maintaining your stove’s cleanliness and functionality. During cooking, splatters, spills, and overflows can soil cast-iron grates with food and oils. Worse yet, the high burner heat can create baked-on messes that are tough to remove.

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Preparation Before Cleaning

When washing cast-iron stove grates, avoid using certain agents and tools to prevent costly or irreversible damage. The following items should be avoided:

• Scouring powders
• Acidic cleaning agents like distilled white vinegar
• Harsh cleaning agents such as oven cleaner, ammonia, or chlorine bleach
• Metallic scouring pads, unless removing rust

Even though some grates might be labeled as dishwasher-safe, hand washing is recommended to avoid water exposure that can cause rust. Additionally, the dishwasher's extended wash cycles can be too long for cast iron.

Soaking cast-iron stove grates can be part of the cleaning process, but avoid soaking them for more than 10 minutes to prevent rust. For uncoated cast-iron grates, soaking should be avoided altogether. Consider cleaning the stovetop while the grates are soaking in hot, soapy water.

WARNING: Cleaning cast iron grates isn't the most entertaining task, but the results can be very satisfying.

How to Clean Cast Iron Grates

Just like cast iron pans, cast iron grates benefit from seasoning. Seasoning makes cast iron non-stick and easier to clean. This involves scrubbing it clean, applying a thin layer of oil, and baking it in an oven. Oven cleaner can also be used to clean debris, although it produces unpleasant fumes, and still requires seasoning after.

Refer to the photographs below to notice the difference between the cleaned and seasoned portions of the grates.

Materials Needed

• Nylon scrubbing pad
• Hot water
• Dish soap
• Drying towel
• High smoke-point oil (avocado, olive, or vegetable oil)
• Bar Keepers Friend (a gentle cleanser)

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Instructions

PREHEAT YOUR OVEN TO 350°F (176°C)

Follow these quick steps:

1. Remove the burner grates you want to clean.
2. Soak a scrubber with hot water and a drop of dish soap. Gently scrub to remove particles.
3. If the grime is tough, use Bar Keepers Friend. Rinse thoroughly.
4. Dry the grates with a clean towel and apply a thin layer of oil using a paper towel.
5. Place the oiled grates in the oven and bake for 45 minutes at 350°F (176°C).
6. Use a baking sheet or foil to catch any oil drips.

TIP: If you don't have Bar Keepers Friend, you can make a mild abrasive using a paste of baking soda and water (3 parts soda to 1 part water).

The difference between scrubbed and unscrubbed grates is quite noticeable. It's hard scrubbing work, but the satisfying result is worth it.

Hint: Leave the grates on the stovetop while it heats up. This makes the stuck-on crud easier to scrub off.

Blotchy Grates

• Stains (especially from tomato sauce) and natural seasoning can cause blotchiness even after cleaning.

The newly cleaned and seasoned grates may appear blotchy due to grease splatters, which create an impromptu seasoning. You can scrub off these areas if you desire a brand-new look, though it will increase the cleaning effort.

Alternatively, consider the blotches as a patina, a record of your culinary adventures.

Top Tip

For an emergency quick clean, you can place the grates in a dishwasher. However, be aware that this may remove some seasoning and cause rust.

How to clean cast iron grates

Active Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 2 hours

Learn how to clean and season cast iron stove or BBQ grates.

Materials

• Nylon scrubbing pad
• Hot water
• Dish soap
• Drying towel
• High smoke point oil (avocado, olive, or vegetable oil)
• Bar Keepers Friend (a great gentle cleanser)

Instructions

1. SCRUB the cast iron grates with a nylon scrubber, hot water, and dish soap until they are clean. Rinse them under water.
2. DRY the grates thoroughly with a towel.
3. OIL the grates using a small amount of avocado, vegetable, or olive oil on a paper towel.
4. BAKE the grates in a 350°F (176°C) oven for 1 hour. Use tin foil or a baking sheet underneath to catch any oil drips.

Notes

Leave your grates on the stove while the oven heats up. The transferred heat will help to make scrubbing easier.

If your grates haven't been cleaned in a while, use Bar Keepers Friend with a nylon scrubber; it works wonders.

Recommended Products

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• Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser

Once you’ve cleaned and seasoned the grates, you’ll want to maintain their appearance for as long as possible. After that honeymoon period is over, try making a stovetop cast iron pan pizza or consider building your own pizza oven for some real fun.

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