One of the most common questions we get is how to clean porcelain coated grill grates. While instructions vary from manufacturer to manufacturer they are basically the same. One grill manufacturers instructions even calls for cleaning your grids with only soap and water. I believe that that is a little extreme.
(Legal disclaimer) Always follow your grills manufacturers instructions for cleaning your grills grates and ignore the paragraphs that follow.
The reason that grill grate are coated with porcelain is supposedly to make them easy to clean. I have found that this is not really the case. With the lower end grates found on inexpensive grills, the porcelain coating is just there to cover up poorly made cast iron. In the case of porcelain coated cast iron it will give you the cleanup of porcelain while providing the even heat of a cast iron grate. Untreated cast iron grates are rust prone and need to be oiled on a regular basis and the porcelain coating stops the need for that.
It has been our experience that the cheaper the grill the more likely the grates coating will damage easily.
Most manufactures recommend use of a brass bristled grill brush or a plastic scrubber type brush to clean porcelain coated grill grates , because they are softer. A lot of grill brush manufacturers are doing away with brass bristles and going to a stainless steel bristle, these will work just as well but they are stiffer then the brass. When softer bristles are recommended it is so you do not scratch or nick the porcelain coating.
You are better off trying to minimize the scrubbing and pressure you put onto your brush when scrubbing the grates. You can do this by cleaning your grates while they are hot, immediately after cooking is best, do not attempt this with a non-metallic scrubber brush it will melt. If you have a heavy accumulation of gunk (let’s say barbecue sauce on your grates) wet the grill brush before scrubbing or try some crumpled up tin foil .
Never use the scraper end of a grill bush to clean porcelain coated grill grates
All this is to prevent damage to the porcelain coating. However if your coating becomes damaged odds are that it was probably done with your metal spatula or a grease flare-up and not your grill brush. If your porcelain coated grates look rusted inspect them carefully. Chances are the porcelain coating has chipped away. If this is the case replace the grid before your next use.
To prevent damage manufactures should but recommend the use of silicone coated grill tools with these grates. However silicone is only heat resistant up to 500 degrees. Decent grills nowadays can exceed 800 degrees, so they would melt rather quickly.
Rosewood Porcelain Grid Grill Brush Outset
Round Brass Bristle Head
Rosewood Handle
17.5 Inches Long
Here is the grill brush that complies with most manufacturers recommendations and that we have found to be the most effective at cleaning this type of grill grate. The spiral bristle design on this brush just seems to be better than a flat brass brush head. It works better on the triangular surface of most porcelain grates.
This article is several years old so here is a link to the new recommended grill brush.
In conclusion just try to be as gentle as possible on your grill grates and they will be fine.
If your grates have been damaged you can replace them with a stainless steel grate but. they are expensive. A cheaper option is to place a grill grid or sheet on top of them.
Mike
aka Sultan of Sizzle
I have been blogging about and selling grilling tool for over 12 years. A Certified Food Safety Professional, KCBS member, award winning writer and have over 10 years experience in the food service industry.
“I have experienced some of the best food this country has to offer and nothing is better than the food that comes off my own grill!”
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I had never thought about going across it does seem to work better.
Very descriptive article, I liked that bit. Will there be a part 2?