Which Grill Grates are Best
Which Grill Grates are Best? The quality of your grill depends on your grill, so it’s important to choose wisely. Grill manufacturers use many marketing words to describe their grids, making choosing difficult. Because of its closeness to the meal, the grill is essential to your pot. An excellent frying surface conducts heat, prevents sticking, and is durable. Choose your grill carefully since it affects its quality. Grill manufacturers employ several marketing terms to describe their grids, making selection difficult. To simplify, we’ll list the main grill design differences. Give you all the information you need to decide.
Before comparing grill grates, read my grill marks essay. How to get a rich, dark brown meat surface without a tan. Non-grilled. Grilled ribeye has maximum flavor. Grill markings indicate overdone meat. Tan meat is less tasty than brown. The surface should be dark brown. Replace new grill grates for optimum meat browning. Gridirons store and distribute heat. Cast iron grates of mystery. They retain heat and sear meat. The grill grates shouldn’t cook my meat unevenly. The Maillard reaction turns drab, tan meat into a delicious brown crust. Heat, smoke, and combustion gases should work. Steaks are best seared in a frying pan. Black-streak-free grill, please.
Thick cast iron grates with minimal space between them prevent smoke from reaching the meat. Don’t we grill outside for smoke? Think rotisserie-equipped Brazilian steakhouse. Serving 1/4-inch slices of beef on the spear, waiters serve. Re-browning beef. The method produces medium-rare meat with a uniform brown surface. Grill-mark-free meat tastes great. Sometimes grill marks help. Radiation or convection alone may overcook thin items like skirt steak, asparagus, kabobs, and shrimp. Conduction only. Grates that transmit heat. Different barbecue grates are my favorites. Charcoal or gas? Gas barbecues have GrillGratesTM and thin stainless steel grates. Heat a new grate without food for 30 minutes to remove oil, dust, and manufacturing byproducts. Themselves.
Our Top Picks
- New & Improved Grilling Surface
- ELIMINATES FLARE-UPS: Stop shuffling your food around to avoid charring. GrillGrates patented design eliminates flare ups so common to all gas grills. The raised rails amplify heat while aluminum conducts heat efficiently to eliminate those pesky hot and cold spots.
- 【Dimensions】 - 17" x 13 1/4" each, 17" x 26 1/2" total. 【Material】 - Matte cast iron. 【Package included】 - 2 Pack cooking grate. 【Original Part Number】 - 341-025, 549-057, 13000123A0, 13000394A0, 55-09-152.
- 【Fits Home Depot Nexgrill】- 4 Burner 720-0830H, 5 Burner 720-0888, 720-0888N, 720-0830X, 720-0888S. Also Fits Nexgrill 720-0830D, 720-0958A, 720-0783E, 720-0783C, 720-0341, 720-0549, 720-0670A, 720-0670C, 720-0697E 720-0719R 730-0958A 720-0670 720-0670D. --【Fits Charbroil】 for Charbroil 4 Burner 463241113, 463449914 --【Fits Expert】 for Expert Grill 720-0789H 720-0789C 4 Burner Propane Gas Grill【Fits Cuisinart】for Cuisinart CGG-7400 Gas Grill
- 【ELEVATE YOUR GRILLING GAME】 - The GrillGrate Flavor Zone transforms any gas, pellet, or charcoal grill into a high-performance cooking machine. Achieve steakhouse-quality sear marks and juicier, more flavorful food with ease. Perfect for Grillmasters on the go or as a versatile gift.
- 【UNIVERSAL FIT & EASY TO USE】 - Designed to fit any grill at least 15” deep. Simply place on top of your existing grill grates, preheat for 5 minutes, and start grilling. Whether you're using a gas grill, pellet grill, or charcoal grill grate, the GrillGrate Flavor Zone is ideal for your grills outdoor cooking setup.
- 【A PERFECT FIT FOR PELLET GRILLS】- Designed specifically for your pellet grill, these grill grates rest on top of your existing grill surface, enhancing performance and cooking results. Set Includes: (3) 15″ Panels Assembled Dimensions: 15” Deep by 15.375” Wide
- 【ELIMINATES FLARE-UPS & EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION】 - Our patented sear station grill grates feature a raised rail design preventing flare-ups, and ensuring your food cooks evenly without charring. The aluminum construction efficiently conducts heat, eliminating hot and cold spots for consistent grilling results.
Reviews
Grill types
- Most grills are cast iron, stainless steel, or have an enamel covering.
- We’ll describe each grill material and highlight its benefits and downsides.
Stainless grates
- 🔥【Fits Weber Genesis II 300 Series Grills】- Fits Weber Genesis ii E-310, Genesis ii S-310, Genesis ii SE-310, Genesis ii E-315, Genesis ii E-325, Genesis ii E-330, Genesis ii SE-330, Genesis ii CE-330, Genesis ii S-335, Genesis ii SE-335, Genesis ii E-335, Genesis ii S-345(2017 and newer). Replace for weber part # 66095 #66802 grates. Also fits KitchenAid models 720-0954 720-0954A
- 🔥【Fits Weber Genesis II LX 300 Series Grills】- Fits Weber Genesis ii LX S-340, Weber Genesis ii LX E-340, Weber Genesis ii CSE-315, Weber Genesis ii CSS-315, Weber Genesis ii CSS-335, Weber Genesis ii CSE-335, Weber Genesis ii LX CSS-340, Weber Genesis ii LX CSE-340(2017 and newer). Replace for Weber grill accessories GS4 Parts 66805, 84136 7599
- Stainless steel grates are cheap. They’re lightweight, so moving them to reach the coals below is simple.
- Stainless steel grills heat fast due to their low weight. Thinner materials don’t retain heat effectively.
- Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant but not corrosion-proof. Coal heat and cleaning can ruin your barbecue grate over time. This generates a corrosive, sticky surface.
Pros
- Light, portable
- Fast-heating
- Newly corrosion-resistant
- Affordable
Cons
- Cooking surface deteriorates
- Damage may make food stick.
- Heat loss
RELATED: We have an entire post on the best presto 7046 big griddle review made from stainless steel if you want to learn more.
Cast-iron grates
- This has 2 grill grids each measuring 17.5" x 11.9", for a total of 17.5" x 23.8", made of matt cast iron. Make sure you measure the size and check the shape of your original cooking grill grids and compare with ours BEFORE you order. 【Please Note】:The listing is 17.5"grates. If you need the 17.25" grates, please search this purchase link "B01J7EIFBK"or"B01EOMB5IA". If you need the 17.4" grates, please search this purchase link "B019MODPNS".
- Replacement for Weber 3 Burner Spirit E-310, E-320 (2007-2017), Spirit S-310, S-320 (2013-2017), Spirit 700, Weber 900, Genesis Silver B/C, Genesis I-IV & 1000-5000, Genesis Platinum I & II, Genesis Gold B/C (2000-2001), Genesis Gold B/C (2002+) Gas Grills
- Cast iron grill grates retain heat and cook evenly.
- Cast iron heats considerably slower than stainless steel since it’s thicker. Once they’re hot, they’ll transmit heat well and sear well.
- A hefty grate makes it hard to reach coals and clean them.
- Cast iron grates rust easily and require frequent maintenance. Cast iron grill plates, if properly maintained and rust-free, will outlive your oven.
Pros
- Highly insulating
- Evenly cooks
- If maintained, durable.
- Sears well
Cons
- Corrosion-prone heavy
- Maintains
- Becoming non-stick requires seasoning.
Enamel-coated grill grates
- Porcelain-enameled cast iron
- Fits Weber Q3000, Q300 Series grills
- Standard stainless steel or cast iron grills are enameled. This coating is non-stick and prevents rusting.
- An enamel coating helps with cast iron corrosion and stainless steel heat retention but also has downsides.
- During cleaning, enamel may chip, enabling moisture to corrode the surface underneath. Chipped enamel grill grates lose their nonstick characteristics.
Pros
- Improves grill heat retention
- Prevents grill rust
- Non-stick coating added
Cons
- Prone to chipping if not cleaned correctly
- When chipped, it loses many of its virtues.
Cleaning and caring for your grill grate
Steel
Stainless barbecue grates are easy to clean. Burn off cooking debris with aluminum foil, then scrub with a nylon brush.
Iron cast
- Burn residue off your cast iron grate after cooking. When cool, use a grill brush and scraper to remove any residue.
- Oil “seasons” cast iron grills. This polymerizes their porous surface, preventing rusting and food adhering. Always do this.
- To accomplish this, preheat and dry your barbecue grate. Apply vegetable oil with a cloth.
Enamel-coated
Use a brass bristle brush, not a scraper, to clean an enamel-coated grill. Dropping an enamel-coated grill might crack the enamel.
Identify the best grill grate for your needs.
Designed for versatility
Most grates are only built for one style of sear. Reversible Broil King cast iron and stainless steel grills. Our grates feature distinct peaks for sear marks. The grooved side allows the grate to act like a griddle with built-in vaporization, producing a larger surface sear and better basting.
Fresh burgers are mushy and lack structure. If you cook it on the sharp peak side, soft flesh sags between the peaks, and your spatula shaves it off. Flip the grates for double the contact points and less burger from loss. Use the reverse side for wings, veggies, and anything that doesn’t require a large sear.
The Weight of Your Grill Grates
Grill grates should be substantial unless your barbecue mimics the sun’s cooking power. Energy is stored in and efficiently transferred to the food through conduction and radiation via thick cooking grates. For a more refined and uniform sear and a smoother finish, use this method.
When it comes to grates, weight is of the utmost significance. The searing intensity required to get as near to the meat as possible is only available by using heavy cooking grates, which are full of energy. It’s not your burners’ fault that the meat isn’t scorching, since they’re just a few inches away.
There are several benefits to using cast iron barbecue grates. However, just like any other piece of kitchenware, you’ll want to choose a grill grate that works for you. Does a certain grill grate get your stamp of approval? Have you? If so, please share your experience with us in the discussion below.
Conclusion
Grids made of stainless steel are high-quality and long-lasting. They are the priciest blisters because of their exceptional corrosion resistance. These blisters are rated the highest in terms of durability and thermal retention. Porcelain-coated cast iron grates are a close second to stainless steel. The heat it generates is retained for an extended period.
You may be confident that it will take many years for the rust to show through even if the porcelain chips are still there. Finally, there are porcelain-coated steel grids, which are the coolest looking but have the lowest heat retention rating of the three since they chip easily and corrode.
