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The surface that your food is grilled on is very important. It is perhaps the most important part. Finding a grill that meets the requirements for good cooking can be tough. Here we’ll look at some of the best grills on the market that will enhance your grilling experience.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Grill Grates
- OUR TOP PICK: Hisencn Cast Iron Cooking Grid Grates
- RUNNER-UP: GRILLVANA 14 Inch 201 Stainless Steel Grill Grate
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: LANEJOY Barbecue Wire Mesh
Comparison of the Best Grill Grates
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What Are Grill Grates?
Grill grates are made to give you a great experience while cooking your favorite foods. In basic terms, it is a surface that is placed above heat to prepare food. It also helps with even heat distribution.
This means food gets those much-desired sear marks while cooking right through. In general, grill grates are supposed to be non-stick for a better result. A lower-quality grate will be less pleasing when it comes to food sticking to it.
Types of Grill Grates
There are different types of grill grates, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Let’s take a look:
Stainless Steel
Grates made of stainless steel are very tough and durable. They are easy to maintain and clean, which explains their popularity. Although they last longer, these grates do not retain heat as efficiently. It is easy to find stainless steel grates that are thin and not as good quality, so be careful.
Porcelain
These type are very lightweight and economical. Porcelain will heat up faster but doesn’t retain it as well. For non-stick features, this kind is superior. That means maintenance is easier and a breeze to clean.
Cast Iron
Cast iron grates are also popular and are much heavier than other types. Many believe these are the best option because it is supremely durable. You get awesome sear marks and can even cook veggies with no problems. Cast iron retains heat very well and evenly and will last for years. However, they require a lot of maintenance and could rust. They’re also difficult to clean.
How to Choose New Grill Grates
Choosing a new grill can be quite the task - there are so many options. To make it easier for yourself, ask yourself some of these questions:
Would You Need Low Heat or High Heat?
Your preferences matter when choosing a grill grate. Fish and veggies normally do best over low heat. Cooking meat usually calls for higher heat.
Is Seasoning Used on the Grill?
Many people like to season their grill to add a yummy taste many of us love. But porcelain grills shouldn’t be seasoned, so if you do this, avoid that type.
How Long Should Your Grates Last?
Do you want to buy grates that will last for many years or just something to use now and again? Stainless steel options last very long and often have lifetime warranties. Iron-cast grills are also super durable and could last for generations.
What is Your Budget?
The amount of money you have to spend on your grill will influence your purchase. If you can afford to, it is recommended that you buy more expensive grates. It would be better in the long run.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Grill Grates
Here are the best grill grates:
Review of the Best Grill Grates
This review will guide you through the labyrinth to get the best quality grill grate for your gas or charcoal BBQ grill.
Best Overall:
Hisencn Cast Iron Cooking Grid Grates
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
These look and feel just like the original grill grates for the Char-broil grills and many other brands. For the price you pay for these, it is very affordable and is usually a perfect fit. Once you pre-heat these racks, they will retain the heat nicely.
Why It Stands Out To Us
You get a nice and even heat distribution with these grill grates from Hisencn, and it also retains the heat effectively. With these, you will get the grill lines that will distinguish your food from regular cooked and grilled food. You get 3 pieces included with the purchase.
Who Will Use This Most
These are great for replacement on most grills that have the same dimensions for a perfect and even fit. All backyard chefs will benefit from the purchase of these as a backup set. This will be suitable for everybody that wants those grill lines.
Bottom Line
These are very safe to use with the rounded edges, and it is healthy to prepare your food on it. With a nice oiling, these will cook your food evenly, and it will not stick to the grill. It is a good quality product.
Runner-up:
Grillvana 201 Replacement Grill Grate
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This can withstand lots of heat, and it is absolutely perfect for high temperatures of up to 700 degrees. This is great as a replacement for a charcoal BBQ, and it does not flake off. It looks nice and strong, and it is long-lasting for prolonged service.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product is made from high-quality and durable stainless steel that will last quite a long time of excellent service. It will withstand the elements very effectively and give you a rust-free surface every time you it. It is a perfect fit for your 14 inch round grill.
Who Will Use This Most
The Grillvana 14 inch 201 grill grate will be a perfect replacement for the Smokey Joe Weber 14 inch grill. And not just for that, but it can also be used on many other 14 inch round grills as a replacement. It is great for sear marks.
Bottom Line
You only get one of these grills when you purchase it, but it comes at quite an affordable price point. It is also not hinged for easy access to add fuel for your grill, but it still is of excellent quality. This grill grate is a worthy runner-up.
Best for the Money:
Small BBQ Wire Mesh From LANEJOY
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
These grills may be a little small for all types of grills, but the smooth edges are safe for use. The grill grid from Lanejoy seems quite sturdy and robust to last for a long time. The fact that it is made of stainless steel makes it very easy to clean.
Why it Stands Out to Us
At quite a reasonable price attached to it, you get two of these for the price of one. This is made from stainless steel wire, and that makes it very easy to clean after use. It is also available in larger sizes if you need it.
Who Will Use This Most
These small and easy to store grill grids can easily be used for a camping trip or when on a picnic. It is also suitable to use as a cooling rack or even as a dry rack in the kitchen. These are lightweight and portable for many more uses.
Bottom Line
The title of value for your money suits these grill grates quite well, and they are strong and of durable construction. With these grill racks, you can not go wrong if you want to use it for a BBQ grill. It is also versatile and can be used for many things.
Best Porcelain Grill Grate:
Porcelain-Enamel Grill Grates From Onlyfire
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Fits perfectly on your Weber and is very easy to clean after it is used for cooking. For the price, this a great set of replacement grill grates for many different Weber series brands. These are great for low and medium heat grill applications.
Why it Stands Out to Us
These porcelain-enamel grill grates will help to retain the heat effectively so you will get the sear lines on your food. They are also very easy to clean after you cook food on it. Two are included in the package for quite a reasonable price.
Who Will Use This Most
This is the perfect replacement grill grates for some of the Weber series grills as well as for other brands. It can be successfully used as a replacement part for the Weber spirit series and the Genesis Silver A model. It is suitable for applications where only low and medium heat is needed.
Bottom Line
This stands out for its great replacement value to some of the Weber series BBQ grills out there. The fact that it is made from porcelain-enamel makes it great for many types of cooking applications. You get great value for your money in this set.
Best Backpacking Grill Grate:
Onlyfire Stainless Steel Grid Grill Grate
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The hinge that is included with this is very handy for adding more wood to the fire. It works great for searing steaks and gets those authentic grill lines on the food. This is quite heavy duty and very easy to clean after cooking the food.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The thick rods of this grill grate can take lots of heat and allows for the searing lines on the food. It is made from strong and high-quality materials and very sturdily constructed for a long life of durability. You also get quite a large cooking surface with this grill.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a perfect replacement part for quite a long line of BBQ grills when a replacement is needed. It is also very suitable for use as a backpack grill for the fact that it is lightweight and strong. You are able to use this on its own.
Bottom Line
This is an excellent, easy-to-carry around grill that can be used in many applications and not just as a replacement part. It may be a bit expensive, but the value is equal to the price. This is a great versatile BBQ grill grate.
Best Campfire Grill Grate:
Dracarys 15 Inch Cast Iron Grill Grate
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This grill grate is incredible! After some seasoning with peanut oil, it worked great without the food getting stuck. This is a perfect fit for the medium green egg Kamado grill as a replacement grill grate. It gives your steaks a professional look and can only happen on cast iron.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With this cast iron grate, you will get a much better heat distribution for many different types of cooking. It will also retain the heat very successfully and allows for the authentic grill lines on the food. You also get quite a large cooking area.
Who Will Use This Most
This product is quite suitable as a replacement part for the medium green egg Kamado grill and some other grills. It can also be used for a campfire for many types of cooking applications. This is great for the home and picnic site.
Bottom Line
This cast iron grill grate comes with quite a high price attached to it and may be out of reach for many. But regardless of the high price tag, it still is of great value for use in many different cooking styles. This is the best for campfires.
Best Weber Grill Grate:
Hinged Cooking Grate From Weber
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This is made quite heavy and is very strong, and it is very well constructed for durability. The hinges on both sides are quite convenient to use for easy access to the fire to add more fuel. This is an excellent replacement for the 22.5 inch Weber kettle.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With this grill grate, you have a large cooking surface to cook a large variety of food in one go. It is also made from high-quality steel and is quite solidly built to last for a very long time. It is very easy to clean after use.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a replacement for the 22. inch Weber kettle grill, and it is a perfect fit for other grills. It is made from very strong materials and can be used in a variety of cooking applications. It will also give you the authentic grill lines.
Bottom Line
This comes at quite an affordable price point, and it is worth the money spent on this grill. There is, however, one problem, and that is that a cheap imitation may find its way to your doorstep. This is not good for the Weber name brand at all.
Best Stainless Grill Grate:
17 Inch High Heat Grill Grate From KAMaster
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This is an outstanding upgrade from the previous grill grate and works great as the new replacement grill. It is a perfect charcoal grill grate, and it withstands a lot of heat for many cooking and grilling. It is very well built, and it is strong.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This can be used as a bottom grate or even as a top grill to cook your food on for great effect. With this versatile product, you have quite a large cooking surface if used as the top cooking grill. This is made from high-quality stainless steel.
Who Will Use This Most
The KAMaster Grill grate can be used for a variety of cooking applications, and it will withstand lots of heat. It can be used as a replacement bottom grate for many different brands of BBQ charcoal grills to hold the charcoal. It can also successfully be used as a stand-alone grill.
Bottom Line
This comes at a high price, but it is well constructed and strong to give a lifetime of quality service. It provides much more airflow at the bottom to give a much hotter fire for better cooking. This is an overall great quality stainless steel option.
How to Season Grill Grates
There are two easy steps to seasoning your grill for maximum effects. The first step includes turning your grill on and coating it with high-heat cooking oil. For this purpose, canola and peanut oil should work just fine. If you want, you can use coconut oil too.
In the second step, wipe any excess oil off with a paper towel. Now, turn up the heat and let the oil warm-up for about 15 minutes. It will start to smoke. Your grill is now seasoned.
How to Clean Grill Grates
Cleaning your grates doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how to easily get rid of the mess after you’ve cooked up a storm.
You can clean off the big pieces of dirt with a rolled-up ball of tinfoil. Use your tongs to scrape off the food with the foil. By using oil, you will also prevent the meat from sticking, saving you from cleaning up the burnt-on pieces.
A paper towel soaked in oil will also work for cleaning. Again, use your tongs to clean off any dirt from the grates. For an in-depth discussion on cleaning your grill, check out this video:
Stainless Steel Grill Grates vs. Cast Iron Comparison
There are quite a number of noticeable differences between a stainless steel grill grate and a cast iron grill grate.
Stainless Steel Grill Grate
- The stainless steel grate is quite easy to clean after cooking food on it, and it is much lighter.
- Stainless steel grills are also much more resistant to corrosion than the cast iron, so it is safer to use for cooking.
- Stainless steel is less expensive than cast iron and cheaper to manufacture.
Cast Iron Grill Grate
- These types are a bit difficult to clean and need some seasoning for the food not to stick onto it.
- This is the reason that the cast iron grill grate will have a better non-stick capability after some reasonable seasoning.
- Cast iron are prone to rust and therefore need some oil treatments between uses to make it safe for cooking
- This type has quite a high heat retention and will create those searing lines much easier on the food.
- Some cast-iron grates come with a coating that covers the cast iron to make it a non-stick grill, so no need for seasoning.
Cast Iron Grate (Source)
Stainless Steel vs. Porcelain Coated Grill Grates
As with the cast iron, there are some physical differences between stainless steel and porcelain-enamel coated grills grates.
Porcelain-Enamel Coated Grill Grates
- These types are made from cast iron, and then it is coated with porcelain-enamel to make it food safe.
- Porcelain-enamel coated cast iron grills are very easy to clean after it was used for cooking just like the stainless steel grills.
- These are the most basic types of grill grates that are used for cooking in most gas BBQ grills.
- They will also retain the heat much better than other types and make them the favorite for that searing grill line.
- Porcelain-enamel coated grill grates need some very special care for it to last long. If the enamel is chipped, it will allow rust.
Stainless Steel Grill Grates
- Stainless steel grates will last very long if they are properly looked after, and will stand a lot of heat as well.
- All steel is prone to rust, but because of the high chrome in stainless steel, it will resist better than other steel types.
- The properties of stainless steel make a natural, safe material to use for preparing food on or in.
Stainless Steel Grate (Source)
Conclusion
It is hoped that with this review, it will be much easier for the reader to use the information for your benefit. You need to compare all these products available to see which of them is the best for you. Go right ahead and find the grill for your needs.
People Also Ask
With so many unanswered questions that are going around regarding the available grill grates, let us have a look at them. These are all questions that are very relevant and need answers to satisfy your curiosity. So without delay, let us get to the questions at hand.
Can You Replace Grill Grates?
Grill grates are not an integral part of the BBQ grill and can be removed and therefore, can be replaced. It will become necessary to replace a grill or grate if they start to succumb to the environment and start corroding. It is quite easy to replace.
How Do Grill Grates Work?
Grill grates are quite handy, so supply a larger surface of heat that is radiated to provide more heat to the food. Because of their weight, they lay close to the heat source and relocate more heat through the rails for better heat distribution. It also provides a larger heat surface.
When Should You Replace Grates?
Through lots of use and the heat it is continuously exposed to, the grate will eventually crack after time. Depending on the materials that are used in the grate’s manufacturing, it may sometimes start to flake as well. It also needs to be replaced if it is rusted.
Are Cast Iron Grill Grates Better?
With cast-iron grates and grills, you will have a better chance of a non-stick surface when cooking your food. Cast iron grates will, in general, last much longer than other types of materials. Cast iron grates, on the other hand, will rust easier and are not easy to clean.
Is Cooking on a Rusty Grill Harmful?
If a grill has a bit of rust on it, it can be cleaned very easily with a brush and be treated with oil. But if there is lots of rust that sticks to the food, it is not safe to use. A continuous intake of rust is harmful.
How Do You Restore Cast Iron Grill Grates?
You can restore a cast iron grill grate by using salt paste as a compound to scrub it with. For a light cleaning, you can use a vinegar and baking soda mix to clean the grill with. But for a more abrasive mix, coarse salt and water will do the trick.
