How Do You Keep the Bottom of a Grill from Rusting?


Are you wondering how to keep the bottom of the grill from rusting? A grill is an investment and you want it to last for many years before you replace it with a new one. How long a grill will last will have to depend on what materials it was made of, how it was made, and the cleaning and maintenance that you are doing. The main problem that affects grills is rust. Fortunately, there are several methods that you can do to help protect your grill from rust. Let us find out more below.

How do you keep the bottom of a grill from rusting? To keep the bottom of your grill from rusting, you need to do frequent checkups. This way, any signs of rust can be cleaned and treated to prevent it from getting worse. After using the grill, warm it up for over 10-15 minutes. This will burn away food residue. Thoroughly dry the grates after cleaning so that no water or moisture is left behind that can cause rusting.

Grill cleaning and maintenance are essential to prevent rusting. Take note that food residue, grease, and ash that collects on the bottom of the grill can cause the metal surface to break down. The good news is that it is easy to clean a rusty grill bottom with the use of non-toxic household items. Read the rest of the article below for more information on how to prevent grill rusting.

How do you keep the bottom of a grill from rusting
Photo by Lukas from Pexels

Why Does the Bottom of My Grill Rust Out?

Water, saltwater, food residue, and chemicals are some of the reasons why the bottom of your grill rusts out. Rust can still form on your grill even with preventive measures. However, it is important to understand the causes of rusting so that you can be able to avoid them from happening.

How to Prevent Grills from Rusting

To keep your grills from rusting, make sure to clean them after every use. The grill should be thoroughly dry to avoid moisture. It is also recommended that you oil the grill to prevent saltwater from damaging it. If you have a garage, store the grill inside to protect it from weather exposure. You can also invest in a grill cover. Below are the preventive measures that you can do.

Maintain the Grill Grates

Preserve the grates by rubbing oil into them after every cooking. You can do this to preserve cast-iron grates. It is also recommended that you rub oil into steel grates. Once you are done cleaning the grill, coat both gas and charcoal grates with a thin layer of oil to prevent food from sticking. By doing this, moisture and rust will be repelled. On the other hand, do not use oil in aerosol cans because they are known to explode near flames. To be on the safe side, use a dishrag and pour a small amount of oil into it to coat the grill.

Clean the Grill

After cooking, clean the grates with a brush to remove any food residue and ash that gets stuck on the grill. It is also recommended that you thoroughly clean the entire grill once in a while. When cleaning, use warm water, a sponge, and gentle soap.

Thoroughly Dry the Grill

Make sure to thoroughly dry the grill after cleaning because the water collected inside it can cause rusting. Check every corner of the grill for water or moisture. Use a soft cloth or paper towels to wipe it dry.

Invest in a Grill Cover

If you are keeping your grill outdoors, you need to invest in a grill cover. Take note that moisture and humidity can cause rusting. Keep your grill in perfect condition and prevent rust by using a grill cover. You can purchase a custom-sized cover that will perfectly fit your grill and protect it from harmful weather factors. You can choose from a wide array of grill covers that are available in the market.

Store Grill to the Garage

You can also move your grill to the garage when you are not using it. If you live in an area with high humidity or heavy rainfall, make sure that you cover the grill or keep it in a place that is safe from moisture and humidity. No matter what material it was made of, a grill will eventually rust if you leave it outside or if it stays for too long in unfavorable conditions.

How to Remove Grill Rust

If you have a stainless steel grill, you can use a soft sponge and detergent to clean it. For cast iron grills, you can use a wire or steel wool to remove any food or stain residue that gets stuck into the grill. No matter what type of grill you have, it is essential to protect them from rust if you want them to last for a long time.

Stainless Steel

When cleaning stainless steel grills, they should be treated with care and consideration. Meaning, do not use tough, rough, or metallic cleaning tools like wire or steel wool when cleaning. Instead, use a light and soft sponge. You can use baking soda as a cleaning agent. Using detergent is also an effective way to cleanly and safely remove grill rust.

Cast Iron Grill

These kinds of grills need a firm approach to cleaning. Cast iron grills can withstand tough cleaning tools like wire or steel wool. For the cleaning solution, you can mix kosher salt with water if you do not want to use baking soda. It works best at breaking down the rust on a cast iron. We have also shared this article that discusses if porcelain grill grates rust. You can check out the article and compare the difference between stainless steel and porcelain grills.

✅ Video – How to Remove Rust from BBQ Grill

MENDEZVILLE Entertainment shared the video below on YouTube. It shows how to remove rust from a BBQ grill. In the video, the steps on how to season a BBQ grill are also shown. Watch the video for the visual demonstration.

Can You Fix a Rusty Grill?

Fixing a rusted grill will have to depend on the amount of cleaning and treatment that it needs. Minimal rusting can easily be removed with the use of the right cleaning tool and solution. However, some rusts have infiltrated the innermost part of the grill and are beyond repair. Below are some cleaning solutions that you can use for removing rust on a grill.

Lemon Juice

You can use lemon juice to get rid of rust. Make a rust-busting paste using lemon juice and powder detergent. Rub it on the rusted area of the grill and let it sit overnight before rinsing.

Vinegar and Baking Soda

Baking soda is an effective cleaning agent when it comes to removing rust. Mix it with vinegar to create a potent paste. Then, rub the paste on the rusted area of the grill and it sits for about 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses why vinegar removes rust. We have shared useful tips that you follow when cleaning your grill.

Soap and Water

For a fast and easy cleaning solution, use soap and water. Add warm water to a bucket and mix dish soap into it. Wash the grill using a soft sponge or cloth. Use a nylon brush for hard to remove rust.

Is it Okay to Grill on Rusted Grates?

It is not safe to use a grill with rusted grates because rust can stick into the food that you are cooking. Ingesting a small amount of rust may not likely cause any harm, continuous ingestion can cause health issues especially for the intestinal tract. Make sure to clean your grates after every use.

How do I Keep My Grill Grates from Rusting?

To make sure that your grill grates are safe from rusting, clean oil, grease, and food residue after cooking. You can also coat the grates with oil after cleaning. This will help prevent the rust from forming. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses if you should clean your grill after every use. We have shared cleaning methods and tips that you can follow.

Do Grill Covers Prevent Rust?

If you want to protect your outdoor grill from rust, you can invest in a grill cover. They are made of flexible and durable materials that protect the grill from different weather conditions. Make sure to cover the grill after using it. By doing so, you will reduce the amount of exposure that the grill gets which helps prolong its life. However, if you live in an area with high humidity, there is a chance that moisture can still get under the cover and the grill will start to rust. Hence, you still need to regularly check your grill for any moisture that gets stuck into it. We have also shared this article titled, why is my grill rusting? Check out the different factors that lead to grill rust.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to keep the bottom of a grill from rusting. We have also shared tips on the best methods that you can follow to prevent rusting. While rust on the grill is not appetizing or ideal, it can be easily cleaned. On the other hand, prevention is the best thing to do if you do not want to deal with rust. Take note that it is inevitable for a grill to rust. However, by doing proper cleaning and maintenance, you can spot any signs of rusting and prevent any damages from worsening. Thank you for reading!

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