
- Remove the grate from your barbecue grill.
- Scrape the grate with a medium-grit abrasive to remove big areas of rust.
- Sand the grate with a fine-grit abrasive to remove smaller pieces of rust and to polish the grate.
- Clean the grate with soap and water to remove any excess rust, food or other particles. Dry the grate immediately.
- Oil the grate with food-safe oil, such as canola or vegetable shortening, as soon as the grate is dry.
How do you get rust off of grill grates?
Rub the paste onto the rusty grill grates and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Use a wad of aluminum foil or a non-metallic brush to scrub the paste from the grates, taking the rust along with it. This tends to work best for mildly rusty grates, but might not be effective on heavier rust.
How can I prevent my Char-Broil® grates from rusting?
Many cast-iron Char‑Broil® products are porcelain-coated to prevent rusting. Keeping your grill grates cleaned and oiled is imperative. Make sure your grill cover is the proper size and fits well. The closer you live to water or extreme weather, the higher the potential for rust. If you see signs of rust, don’t procrastinate.
Why is my grill grate rusted?
As the temperature outside spikes, cooking inside, with all the heat it can generate, becomes less and less appealing. One solution is to fire up your barbecue; but if your grill didn't weather the seasons well, you might find that the grill grate has rusted.
Is it safe to cook on Rusty Grill grates?
If you notice rusty grates on your grill, you need to clean them immediately because rust can quickly get loose and can stick into the food you’re cooking. Some people argue that rusty grates are safe to eat as long as you don’t inhale a big piece of rust, but many health experts disagree.

How do you fix a rusted grill grate?
Vinegar and Baking Soda: Baking soda can work wonders on rust. When mixed with vinegar, it forms a potent paste. Rub the paste on rust spots and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Can you use grill grates that are rusted?
Is it OK to Grill on Rusted Grates? Theoretically, cooking on a rusty grill grate won't harm you. It might make your meat taste like a rusty nail, though. It's best to remove rust from grill grates before cooking on them.
How do you restore a rusty BBQ grill?
0:001:19How To Clean a Rusty Grill or Smoker - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a wire brush or sandpaper to knock off the first layer of rust. Now use muriatic acid rubberMoreUse a wire brush or sandpaper to knock off the first layer of rust. Now use muriatic acid rubber gloves and a paper towel to clean it to bare metal.
How do you restore old grill grates?
Restoring Non-Stick Properties Apply another layer of vegetable oil to the grates. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or preheat your grill on low. Place the oil-coated grill grates in the preheated oven or covered grill for 30 minutes. Check the grates and apply more vegetable oil if they dry out.
How do you fix a rusty cast iron grill grate?
1:565:42Cast Iron Grill Grate Clean and Season (Rust and old ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce. I got as much as I could cleaned off of all the greats I moved on to the vinegar bath I placeMoreOnce. I got as much as I could cleaned off of all the greats I moved on to the vinegar bath I place the grates into the boxes. And covered them with white distilled vinegar.
Why are my grill grates rusting?
Grease causes rust – oiling your grill grates prevents rust from happening. Cleansing food particles/cooked grease and junk away from the surface of your grill allows the Chromium to do its job – keep the rust away.
Does vinegar remove rust?
You'll want to attack rust at first glance because it can corrode and pit metal the longer it stays on the surface. Luckily, some of the acids found in everyday household items, such as vinegar, lemon juice, and potatoes, can remove rust.
Which rust remover is best?
The best rust removerThe best overall: Evapo-Rust The Original Super Safe Rust Remover.The best on a budget: Whink Rust Remover.The best multipurpose: WD-40 Specialist Rust Remover Soak.The best for household: Iron Out Spray Rust Stain Remover.The best for heavy duty: Corroseal Water-Based Rust Converter Metal Primer.
Can you burn rust off cast iron grill grates?
0:592:21Rust Removal : How to Clean Rust From Cast Iron Grill Grates - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake your scour and push down. Firmly. Now before you cook on this you want to make sure you get itMoreTake your scour and push down. Firmly. Now before you cook on this you want to make sure you get it up to at least 150 degrees that way it can kill anything that is left on the grill gate.
How do you restore iron grates?
Apply vegetable oil thinly in the grates using a cloth; then put them inside the grill. After every 20-30 minutes, take them out, re-apply the oil, and continue the steps until the cast-iron grates are black and shiny again.
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About This Article
This article was co-authored by Bridgett Price. Bridgett Price is a Cleaning Guru and Co-Owner of Maideasy, a maid service company that services the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing. This article has been viewed 75,462 times.
General Overview
So after having a barbecue party with your family or friends or relatives, you left the grill out in your backyard without cleaning it.
Why You Should Always Clean The Grill from Grates Leftovers
Cleaning without a doubt seems to be simpler than it looks. But people tend to underestimate this activity considering it only requires your will to move the body and do the cleaning.
How Can We Fix The Rusty Grill Grates Immediately After Abandoning It So Long
While the grill has become rusty after we abandoning so long, luckily there are some of the methods we can use to fix the grill.
How We Can Prevent The Grill to Rust
This is a preventive way you could apply so you would never cross this problem again in the future.
Conclusion
There are many paths you can take to fix your rusty grill grates. The method you can take is also fairly easy to perform. You must clean the grill first so it would be fixed.
My Favorite Rust Cleaning Methods
You can use these methods on most common grill grate materials. After they’re applied, let them sit for the recommended amount of time and then clean them off with a rag or sponge.
How Do I Prevent Rust?
There are a handful of best practices that will help keep the rust off your grill. Additionally, there are a few methods for specific grate materials that you can try out.
Can I Grill on the Rust?
Simply put – I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s unsanitary and potentially unhealthy.
Cleaned Up and Cooking
Figuring out how to clean rusty grill grates and then doing it doesn’t have to be a long and arduous process. With a few household products, a little time, and some scrubbing your grate will look shiny and ready for whatever you’re cooking.
Is it OK to Grill on Rusted Grates?
Theoretically, cooking on a rusty grill grate won't harm you. It might make your meat taste like a rusty nail, though. It's best to remove rust from grill grates before cooking on them.
Why Are My Grill Grates Rusting?
Most grill grates have some type of a finish on them that prevents the metal from rusting. With time and use, the finish begins to fail. You'll find that even stainless steel grill grates eventually rust. Rust forms when condensation collects on the metal, typically at night when temperatures are cool.
How to Clean Rusty Grill Grates
The first step to cleaning rusty barbecue grill grates is determining the type of material they are made from. Cast iron grates are the easiest to remove rust from, while stainless steel grates may take a little more effort. The important thing is to understand how to avoid damaging the grates when removing rust.
How to Keep Your BBQ Grill Grates Rust Free
Once you've put the time and effort into removing rust from your grill grates, you'll want to prevent rust from forming. The easiest way to do this is to clean the grates after use and wipe them down with a little vegetable oil before putting them away. This prevents rust from forming in between uses.
Conclusion
If your grill grates are flaky with rust, they might be beyond saving. It might be worth looking at replacing the grill grates rather than cleaning them if rust has began eating into the surface. By spending a little time in between cooking sessions, you will avoid having rust growing on your grill that makes it look nasty and taste funny.
Grill Grate Maintenance
Keeping your BBQ grill looking good requires regular and immediate cleaning after use. Although it may seem tedious, this is not a difficult task. After you have finished barbecuing, wash the grates with water and dish soap. The longer burnt food grime stays on the grates, the harder they will be to clean.
Remove Grill Rust with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a fantastic natural cleaner that can be used to remove grease and grime from the BBQ grill. Begin by wiping off as much rust as possible using a soft brush.
Vinegar and Salt Rust Remover
White vinegar is a very versatile natural cleaning product and can be used to clean just about anything, including rust. Combine 2 parts vinegar to 1-part salt into a spray bottle. The vinegar solution should be thoroughly covered and stored in a bag for overnight.
Removing Rust with a Wire Brush
The quickest method for removing rust from charcoal grill grates is by using a wire brush. The grate should be removed from the grill and placed on a flat surface like a driveway or patio. The wire brush can be used to remove rust from the grates. Make sure you reach every grate.
Prevent Rust on Grill Grates
You can prevent rust appearing on the grill grates by covering the barbecue with a fitted cover. This will stop moisture from getting to the BBQ grill, preventing rust.
