Outdoor grills made of stainless steel are subjected to many harsh conditions. These include weather, heat, chemical cleaning agents, and scratches, among others, making them particularly susceptible to corrosion and staining.
Even if the name of the material stainless steel does not suggest rust stains, there are not many things that are not susceptible to corrosion. Regular care and maintenance are necessary to increase its lifespan.
Stainless steel grills are an example of this. Depending on the type, strength, and surface of the stainless steel, it may be stained with rust spots or discoloration over time.
Not many people know how to fix rusted grill bottom so that the loose rust flakes do not appear on the food. Luckily, we have collected a variety of guides to tell you how to fix rusted grill bottom, as well as to prevent it.
Contents
What to Do If the Bottom Of Your Grill Rusted?
To make the pans shine again with brilliance and cleanliness, you just need to apply a few tools that are easy to make with your own hands.
Method 1
Step 1
Use a wire brush. Steel or copper fibers are great for removing rust from the rusty grill bottom, and for the greatest effect, add a little baking soda, rub it on problem areas with your wire brush and leave for 30 minutes.
Step 2
After that, wipe the gas grill rust spots again with an abrasive washcloth and rinse with warm water.
Step 3
Then mix salt and baking soda in equal proportions, rub the remaining rust stains with this gruel and leave for 30 minutes.
Step 4
After wiping the area with a cloth soaked in the vinegar mixture, and rinse with warm water.
Method 2
Step 1
First, thoroughly rub the rusty grill bottom as well as the whole grill body with an abrasive metal brush and some dishwashing soap. This will remove burnt food residue and the top rusty layer.
Step 2
Then wipe it dry with a cloth towel and leave the rusty grill bottom to dry in the air for 30 minutes. The Grill bottom must be completely dry.
Step 3
Put the grill bottom on the stove over high heat and heat until it warms up evenly. During this time, mix baking soda and table salt in equal proportions and pour them onto the grill bottom.
Step 4
Take a cloth towel, roll it into a ball and dry it thoroughly with a mixture of soda and salt on the problem areas of the grill bottom. As you rub, the mixture will darken and the grill bottom will clear.
Step 5
Once you’ve wiped everything off, turn off the fire, let the grill bottom cool, pour the dirty mixture out, and wipe the product with a dry clean cloth towel.
What causes a grill to rust?
Chemicals
Concentrated bleach and other cleaners that contain chlorine can cause rust stains, so they shouldn’t be used on a stainless steel grill.
Water
A barbecue grill rusts if left exposed to rain or high humidity for long periods. Grill rust can form on its surface and lead to a rusted grill bottom.
Saltwater
If you are familiar with sailing, then you must know that saltwater can cause rapid rusting of iron and steel, even stainless steel. You have to bear this in mind if you live in a coastal area.
Food residue
As you probably already know, most of the food cooked on a grill is meat-based. The juices from stakes, sausages, and so on can be highly corrosive and will contribute greatly to the rusting of your grill.
What Products Can Be Used For Removing Rust From a Grill?
White Vinegar And Baking Soda
If there is no detergent at hand, then you can use the improvised rust remover available in every home.
Instructions:
- Take a wide container to fit the grate, put it there, pour water, and add baking soda and table vinegar. The way baking soda reacts with rust makes it easier to remove, effectively acting as a mild acid
- Let it soak for 1-2 hours, then wash it
- Wipe with a kitchen towel to prevent rust
Citric Acid Mixture
Citric acid has the same effect as vinegar and can act as commercial rust removers. It possesses several advantages:
- Quickly corrodes rust and dirt
- Does not damage the metal surface
- Flexible: it is used for cleaning cast iron, and steel objects
Instructions:
- To prepare an effective composition, you need to make a slurry of 2 sachets of citric acid and water
- Treat the bottom of your grill with the resulting product using a nylon brush
- Citric acid will make the rust soft, it will be easier to remove it with a sponge
Commercial rust remover
If your grill rusted or blackened, you can also use household chemicals. Before applying the composition, we strongly recommend that you read the instructions for its use. Household chemicals can be very aggressive, you should take care to protect your eyes and hands.
Pros:
- economical
- effective
- non-toxic
The main advantage of chemical compositions is high efficiency. They also save time. But chemistry has a significant drawback – it is not cheap. After using it, wash the grate several times with running water.
Instructions:
- Use a brush to remove any excess material from the grill bottom
- Apply the rust remover and wait for it to soak into the rust
- Remove the resulting mass with a rag
How do you revive a rusted grill grate?
If you plan to clean a grill grate from rust, then you can use the same mixtures from the previous part of this article.
However, if you need something more abrasive than baking soda or vinegar to remove rust from a grill, follow these instructions:
Step 1
Make a thick paste of kosher salt and water.
Step 2
Apply it to the rusted area, then use steel wool or a brush to scrub off the rust.
Step 3
Repeat if necessary.
Step 4
For particularly thick rust, you may need to start cleaning with a salt paste, but you can switch to a less abrasive baking soda paste after removing the first few layers of rust.
How Do You Keep The Bottom Of A Grill From Rusting?
Following a few guidelines for maintaining your grill will not only help extend the life of your grill and prevent future rust building but will also ensure that the food cooked on it tastes great.
Method 1
The first idea that comes to mind is using a grill with rust prevention coating and non-rusting material. Either buy a grill that has it already or apply the coating yourself. This way your grill will not gather as much rust as a grill without it.
Consider getting a grill bottom replacement with that coating already applied, as well as ceramic coated grates if you are concerned that your grill will form rust in the future and you don’t want to spend too much money on rust remover and dish soap.
Method 2
Light cleaning should be carried out after each use of the grill, especially for those models that are stored outdoors.
Remove any leftovers of food particles, all the meat juices, as well as vegetable oil and cooking oil inside.
Just use some mild dishwashing soap in a spray bottle in conjunction with a soft bristle brush on all the grill surfaces, not just the grate.
If soot has already formed, the grill should be cleaned mechanically using special brushes and scrapers from the accessories for barbecues and grills, or you can use improvised means.
With this method, you will be able to prevent the formation of rust particles on the grill cover, its bottom surface, and the drip pan.
Method 3
While the barbecue is still hot after cooking, use a brush or sprayer to coat the grill with vegetable cooking oil.
Then, armed with a spatula or wire brush, with sufficient force, proceed to remove the burnt fat layer.
While the metal is hot, this procedure is easy to do.
Fire burn is removed quickly and without any extra effort.
Then wipe the grate of excess cooking oil drips and ash particles with a paper towel and some dishwashing soap.
Method 4
If you do not plan to use the barbecue in the coming week, then it is better to clean it of ashes and remaining coals. To some extent, this will protect the metallic surfaces from corrosion and deterioration of appearance, since there will be nowhere for excess moisture to accumulate.
Cool the grill well and rub it with a clean rag to let it dry completely. Only then can it be closed and put away for storage.
With these preventive measures, you will be able to guard your grill’s surface, grease tray, metal sheets, and the bottom of your grill from the formation of moderate rust build up!
FAQ
Can you use a grill if the bottom is rusted?
The toxicity of the oxide depends mainly on the amount that a person ingests. If you’ve inspected the gas grill visually and seen no rust but there was a flake or two and they ended up falling into the food, you’re almost certainly not going to have a problem.
On the other hand, a heavily rusted grill can deposit large amounts of rust on the food, which is unhealthy and, according to Dr. Carlo Rosen of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, can cause damage to the intestinal tract.
Can you restore a rusted grill?
Definitely yes! Just follow any of the guides we’ve given you previously and your grill will be clean of rust in no time!
Depending on the amount of rust on the metal surfaces, you can use anything to fix rusted grill.
From a commercial rust remover in a spray bottle and steel wool to the home-made rust removers that we have mentioned previously, you can remove excessive rust from all the metallic surfaces.
Wrap-up
Properly and regularly care for the grill grate! Then the taste of your dishes will always be on top. And gatherings in nature with friends and family will become bright moments in your life.
To summarise this article, we have given you a wide variety of ways you can remove rust from your grill, be it a stainless steel grill or a regular gas grill. Moreover, now you are aware of how to clean different parts of a grill; grill surface, grill grates, and a rusted grill bottom.
Now you are safe and are always sure that you are not ingesting rust with your steak!
If you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends, so that you can have cozy (rust-free!) gatherings with a grill.
Read also our detailed articles: Why does the bottom of my grill rust out and How to clean cast iron grill pan.
Hello! In my free time, I like to pamper my family with delicious grilled dinners. In addition, friends often gather with us and a grilled steak is what you need for pleasant company!
I have been working as a salesman in a grill and accessories store for several years. I know all about grills and smokers. My friends and acquaintances always consult with me before buying a new grill. I am a master at this with vast experience!
Recently I was advised to start my own blog and I decided to do it. I hope to be useful to you!