The heated air escapes via the grill’s bottom or underbelly. The grill’s metal may expand as it heats up. The metal pulls away from the grill skin and loosens due to the expansion. A grill with loose rust is dangerous because it can attach to the food; however, a grate with little surface rust can be cleaned and treated to keep it safe to use.
While consuming rust in one meal is unlikely to cause harm, ongoing intake may risk the intestinal tract. We’ll explain why the grill bottom rusts and how you may avoid it in this article.
Table of Contents
What Are The Main Reasons For Grill Rusting Over The Time?
Grills rust primarily due to a lack of maintenance and cleaning. You won’t have to worry about rusting if you follow the necessary care and cleaning guidelines.
On the other hand, many grills are poorly constructed and cannot withstand high temperatures. When you turn on the grill to cook dinner and becomes too hot, the grill might rust quickly.
Moisture is the most common cause of rusting and shortening the life of your barbecue. After grilling season is over, cover your barbecue with a tight-fitting nylon or vinyl cover with a fabric inside.
Greasy Residues
Leftovers on the grill might stick to the surface and produce rust. If you’re grilling, your meal may stick to the grill. The residue will rust if food is left on the grill for an extended period.
Salt And Water
Rust on grills is most commonly caused by moisture. Outdoor barbecues should be shielded from rain and snow as much as possible. Also, after cleaning your grill with water, always oil it. Salt and humidity in the air corrode metal, even stainless-steel grills, especially in coastal areas.
Chemical-Based Product Usage On Grills
Chemicals can cause rust on the grill. Chemicals might be found in the air or in preparing food. Additionally, any chemicals you use on your barbecue, such as cleaning products, might cause rust to form.
Ways To Deal With Rusted Grill’s Bottom
Stainless steel is used in most grills, which means they will not rust. However, all of the meat fluids and debris concentrate in the bottom of the grill, making it the most vulnerable to rust. Furthermore, the extent of the damage dictates the steps necessary to restore a barbeque grill.
Get Rid Of Food Build-Up
Preventing the accumulation of food residue is the greatest strategy to avoid rusting. After each usage, cleaning your grill with a damp sponge is one technique to keep food residue from sticking to the metal surface. In addition, you should never leave food residue on your grill.
If left unattended, food residue, particularly grease, can corrode. It’s good to coat the grill with silicone cooking spray before every cooking session.
Clean Grill’s Edges After Every Use
Your grill will most certainly rust if you ignore the edges. Because the grill’s sides are designed to be cleaned with a damp cloth, this is generally enough to keep it from rusting. If there is severe rusting around the hinges or handles, different cleaning equipment may be required.
Use A Wire Brush To Remove Rust
Using an abrasive item like a wire brush to remove rust is quick and easy. When using a wire brush, be careful because it might eventually remove the protective coating from the grill surface. To remove the ash and burnt flakes, dry brush it first, then use detergent and water to clean it.
Use Liquid Soap With Baking Soda And Vinegar For Grill’s Cleaning
A rusty barbecue bottom can be cleaned with dishwashing detergent and water for less tenacious stains after each usage. Because this portion is also exposed to your food, avoid using any harmful cleaning detergent. It could also erode your grill, making the rust worse.
The vinegar’s acid will dissolve the rust, while the baking soda reacts with the acid to create foam, helping the acid to penetrate cracks and crevices.
Use A Lemon As Citric Acid For Grill’s Mild Cleaning
Lemon and lime juice contain citric acid, which is a vinegar substitute. The weak acid easily dissolves rust on metal surfaces. Salt, dishwashing soap, or baking soda can be added to this mixture. However, because this takes longer than vinegar, soak the grill bottom overnight for the best results.
Rust on the grill bottom may be too widespread due to frequent usage or lack of care, necessitating replacement or repair.
Repair Grill’s Bottom Over The Time
An epoxy filler is one method of filling the holes. To remove oil and grime from the bottom and any loose rust, clean it with a dishwashing soap solution. Fill the hole and allow it to cure according to the package instructions. To achieve a glossy appearance, sand the area smooth and use high-temperature paint.
Another option is to use welding steel to fix the holes. Before welding, make certain that the surfaces are clean and sanded.
Conclusion
A lot of circumstances cause the bottom of the grill to rust. Make sure you’re not cooking on a contaminated surface. Do not use the grill if it is corroded. Furthermore, if the metal grill is old, it would be tough to clean and eventually rust. A wire brush should be used to clean the grill.
Preventing rust from forming and damaging your grill, in the long run, requires keeping moisture away from metallic surfaces and regular cleaning.
Fortunately, simple household mixes may successfully remove rust from your grill. Regardless of which method you use, remember to rinse, dry, and season your grill’s surfaces to keep it in good shape.
