Some rust left on expanded steel grate

[chef willie]

Looking for some input on acceptable level of rust, if there is such a thing, on this grate. It was left out over winter at the Vets Club and I was hoping to do some chickens on it for the annual picnic sometime in August. A bud lent me a side grinder with wire wheel and it did a great job on the surface but, as always, in between the holes there is some rust that cannot be gotten off with just grinding. I suppose one could find more and spot weld it on etc but money is always tight as is finding someone to do it. Here's the pic....I was thinking a good oiling of course and a burn in with a bag of cheap leg quarters to season it up a little. Looking for some honest input...could this be used or best to start over?? This is the pit and what similar grates looked like before and the large one after I cleaned it up.

BBQ1.jpg

• chef willie
• Jun 9, 2014

after.jpg

• chef willie
• Jun 9, 2014

 

[jwcnj4502]

Just a novice here but it looks like you did a pretty good job of cleaning it. I would just season it like you said and wipe it down good while its hot with some veg oil on a cloth until the rust color that is picked up on the cloth is pretty much gone. May have to do it a couple times if the rust is substantial. Don't forget that metal is always oxidizing when exposed to  any moisture so you really don't have much to worry about here.  Respectfully just my opinion.  Jim

 

[barnold]

I agree pretty much with what Jim said.  I wouldn't waste any type of food on seasoning it, just wipe heavily with vegetable oil, hose it down, then wipe with vegetable oil again and heat it real good.

 

[chef willie]

Thanks for the input.....pretty much what I was thinking about the wiping down and a heat treatment.....just don't wanna freak anybody out

 

[daveomak]

Wilie, morning.... My grate looks like that.... I oil and scrub with a paper towel and repeat... top and bottom.... get it up to temp, about 300 ish.... lower the temp to cooking temp. and throw the meat on.... 35 year old grate has lots of built in flavor..

 

[chef willie]

Wilie, morning.... My grate looks like that.... I oil and scrub with a paper towel and repeat... top and bottom.... get it up to temp, about 300 ish.... lower the temp to cooking temp. and throw the meat on.... 35 year old grate has lots of built in flavor..

Thx for the input Dave. I'm looking forward to having some fun with that under used pit. I've got both sides of that bigger grate fairly cleaned off but will do some touch-ups here & there and then follow the oil/wipe/repeat advice from you & others. I'd REALLY like to do a whole hog as a fundraiser but will have to do some modifications so I can cover it, so starting with half chickens (I believe) to see how it goes. Regards.....Willie