Is black mild steel food safe?

[nwolfe88]

I don't think so as it won't be in contact with the food. If in doubt as to whether there was any oil put on it to prevent rust in storage/shipment clean it with a good degreaser and you'l be fine. If it were a griddle top I'd say clean it to bright steel but not in your case. Or in the case of the tens of thousands of smokers built with hot rolled steel.....

My buddy who made them cleaned them with a degreaser. I think if I spray em with PAM and season they'll be good to go.

 

[nwolfe88]

I don't think so as it won't be in contact with the food. If in doubt as to whether there was any oil put on it to prevent rust in storage/shipment clean it with a good degreaser and you'l be fine. If it were a griddle top I'd say clean it to bright steel but not in your case. Or in the case of the tens of thousands of smokers built with hot rolled steel.....

Won't matter if the drippings from the food hit the plates and then vaporize correct? Probably overthinking this but don't want anyone to get sick.

 

[LanceR]

No, I wouldn't think it would matter. Mill scale is made up of iron oxides (AKA rust....). I understand that it can be removed with vinegar or a vinegar solution but am not familiar with the particular process.

 

[sky monkey]

If your not cooking the food directly on the steel millscale won't matter at all. You're good to go.