The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The surfaces
on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult to clean off
the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does not
sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it in a water
tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always scrape off easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.

--
..
"john royce" wrote in message
...
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The
surfaces on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult to
clean off the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does
not sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it in a
water tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always scrape off
easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.


Is it too big to go in the Dishwasher?

Other than that, a wire brush, unless you want to buy a Sand Blaster machine
;-(

Mike

In article ,
john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The surfaces
on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult to clean off
the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does not
sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it in a water
tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always scrape off easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.

We have one similar. Cleans well on a hot BBQ... Failing that a wire
brush taken to it works OK too.

If you're not up to that, what about one of those oven-tray cleaning
bags and some caustic soda?

Gordon

Gordon Henderson wrote:
In article ,
john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The surfaces
on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult to clean off
the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does not
sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it in a water
tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always scrape off easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.

We have one similar. Cleans well on a hot BBQ... Failing that a wire
brush taken to it works OK too.

If you're not up to that, what about one of those oven-tray cleaning
bags and some caustic soda?

Gordon

Mine (albeit stainless steel) came up well with the application of a
pressure washer.

Andrew

In article ,
john royce wrote:
If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.

Cast iron doesn't actually rust badly - after all that's what external
waste pipes etc were made from and have a very long life.

--
*I don't work here. I'm a consultant

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The surfaces
on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult to clean off
the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does not
sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it in a water
tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always scrape off easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.



Why bother at all? I just let mine get dead hot, and use a wire brush on it.

The heat sterilises it and turns everything to carbon, and you simply
brush that off.

john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The surfaces
on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult to clean off
the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does not
sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it in a water
tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always scrape off easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.



Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

Stainless steel grills are chromium coated.

Normally the simplest way to deal with both these types of grill is to seal
or prime them first.

Coat them in vegetable fat and then bake them in a 180-200 degree C oven for
a couple of hours, and leave them to cool in the oven. Do this a couple of
times. You will then have a natural baked on non-stick coating which you
should NEVER use detergent on, just wipe off the big bits of residue with a
damp cloth.

If this proves problematic, then "bake" the bits of residue with the barbecue
on full blast for a few minutes after which point they should brush/crumble
off easily.

The same principle applies to cast iron pans and skillets...

On Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:02:58 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:


Why bother at all? I just let mine get dead hot, and use a wire brush on
it.

The heat sterilises it and turns everything to carbon, and you simply
brush that off.
aol
my thoughts exactly
/aol

On 10 June, 14:11, chunkyoldcortina wrote:

Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

Stainless steel grills are chromium coated.

Stainless steel grills aren't plated, as they don't need it.

Cheap grills that are chrome plated (most of them) are just mild steel
underneath, and they'll rust once wear has started the plating
flaking, or long-term rain exposure has permeated it.

chunkyoldcortina wrote:

Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

No.

Stainless steel grills are chromium coated.

No.

john royce wrote:

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.

Cast iron is ideal for cleaning with sodium hydroxide. You need a
shallow tray large enough to take the grill, and a large dose of clue.
If you've not worked with caustic soda or any form of chemical before
this may not be for you.

You add caustic soda to water, never the other way around. It will boil
and splash. Splashes on skin must be washed off immediately in cold
water, some recommend using white vinegar but that's not necessary IMO
if you rinse under free-running water.

Splashes in eyes can result in you losing your sight so you need to wear
goggles (at least) or a full face visor. You will also need chemical
resitant gloves (NOT rubber) and a devent quality waterproof apron, PVC
or polythene.

Any splash in an eye and you need to wash in huge amounts of water and
get to a hospital straight away, but the damage is likely to be
permanent.

You need about 25g of sodium hydroxide per liter of water. This solution
is highly corrosive. I would make up the solution in the tray ensure the
sodium hydroxide has dissolved by stirring gently with a wooden spook or
paddle then lay the grill gently into the solution and leave for at
least four hours, preferably overnight. You can, oif you are careful
scrube the grill very gently with a long handled nylon brush to loosen
the grease.

Remove from the solution, wash well in water and dry immediately, if you
can leave it in an airing cupboard to dru off properly. You'll then need
to "season" the cast iron by wiping it over with edible oil. I'd then
store it in oil-soaked newspaper.

TBH it's a lot of messing about and strictly not necessary.

Andrew May wrote:
Gordon Henderson wrote:
In article ,
john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The
surfaces on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult
to clean off the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does
not sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it
in a water tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always
scrape off easily. If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it
would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.

We have one similar. Cleans well on a hot BBQ... Failing that a wire
brush taken to it works OK too.

If you're not up to that, what about one of those oven-tray cleaning
bags and some caustic soda?

Gordon

Mine (albeit stainless steel) came up well with the application of a
pressure washer.

Andrew

What make is yours? I have been looking for a gas BBQ with SS grill for
some time, but have never seen one for sale in the UK at a reasonable price
(all cast iron/ porcelain coat/ chrome plated).

Probably cheaper to make an SS grill to fit!

--
Jeff

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The
surfaces on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really
difficult to clean off the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it
does not sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can
soak it in a water tank for a week or two after use so the burnt
will always scrape off easily. If I soaked the cast iron one like that I
think it would quickly
turn to rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily
cleaning a rough surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.



Why bother at all? I just let mine get dead hot, and use a wire brush
on it.
The heat sterilises it and turns everything to carbon, and you simply
brush that off.

Yup Ten out of ten.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

chunkyoldcortina wrote:
john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The
surfaces on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult
to clean off the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it
does not sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can
soak it in a water tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will
always scrape off easily.

If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it would quickly turn
to rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a
rough surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.


Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

No, they are not.

Stainless steel grills are chromium coated.

No, they are not.

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
chunkyoldcortina wrote:

Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

No.


Yes- My Outback grill is. It is supposed to be heatproof but I have managed
to overheat the grills and cause the porcelain to melt.

Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

No, they are not.

Try a google search for Outback porcelain grill

Jeff Layman wrote:
Andrew May wrote:
Gordon Henderson wrote:
In article ,
john royce wrote:
The grill that sits on top of my little barbeque is cast iron. The
surfaces on the grill it are not very smooth, so its really difficult
to clean off the burnt on residue.

A stainless steel grill I also have (but dont use much, because it does
not sit well on the barbeque) is easy to clean, because I can soak it
in a water tank for a week or two after use so the burnt will always
scrape off easily. If I soaked the cast iron one like that I think it
would quickly turn to
rust. So would anyone have any experience of easily cleaning a rough
surfaced cast iron grill after use? Thanks.
We have one similar. Cleans well on a hot BBQ... Failing that a wire
brush taken to it works OK too.

If you're not up to that, what about one of those oven-tray cleaning
bags and some caustic soda?

Gordon
Mine (albeit stainless steel) came up well with the application of a
pressure washer.

Andrew

What make is yours? I have been looking for a gas BBQ with SS grill for
some time, but have never seen one for sale in the UK at a reasonable price
(all cast iron/ porcelain coat/ chrome plated).

Probably cheaper to make an SS grill to fit!

It's made by a firm called Hotspot, who iirc are based somewhere in
Somerset. But it's not gas. It a conventional charcoal BBQ with a spun
steel (or is it aluminium) pit and tripod legs. Doubles as a fire pit in
the evening after the BBQ has finished.

Andrew

Archie wrote:

"Steve Firth" wrote:

chunkyoldcortina wrote:

Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).
No.

Yes- My Outback grill is. It is supposed to be heatproof but I have managed
to overheat the grills and cause the porcelain to melt.

You're meant to run them on Propane, not MAPP gas!

Yes- My Outback grill is. It is supposed to be heatproof but I have
managed to overheat the grills and cause the porcelain to melt.

You're meant to run them on Propane, not MAPP gas!

Gas - Spit

I only use lumpwood charcoal. I tried the instant light stuff which promptly
melted the porcelain. I phoned Outback to complain and the lady told me
never to use instant light charcoal as in contains gunpowder and burns too
hot. They recommend briquettes but I don't like them.

In article ,
Archie wrote:
Yes- My Outback grill is. It is supposed to be heatproof but I have
managed to overheat the grills and cause the porcelain to melt.

You're meant to run them on Propane, not MAPP gas!

Gas - Spit

I only use lumpwood charcoal. I tried the instant light stuff which promptly
melted the porcelain. I phoned Outback to complain and the lady told me
never to use instant light charcoal as in contains gunpowder and burns too
hot. They recommend briquettes but I don't like them.

Uh - Melt porcelain? It melts at over 1400C, so I doubt it's really
porcelain...

I use good british lumpwood charcoal too - lights easy enough with
firelighters - I've been using these:

http://www.zipfires.co.uk/zip-natural.html

No parafin smell!

Our BBQ is a round steel (might be cast iron) bowl type of thing. Heavy
enough. Sort of like a pot-belly stove with a wide dish at the top for
the charcoal. Not 100% sure the grill plate is cast iron or just heavy
steel, but it's kept outdoors all year - 6 years old this year. It only
cost a fiver from the local cheap shop and we're more than happy with it!

Gordon

Archie wrote:

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
chunkyoldcortina wrote:

Normally cast iron grills are porcelain coated (but not always).

No.


Yes- My Outback grill is.

You don't appear to understand the word "normally" or the word
"porcelain". The overwhelming majority of cast iron grills for barbecue
use are not vitrified enamel, porcelain isn't used at all

It is supposed to be heatproof but I have managed
to overheat the grills and cause the porcelain to melt.

That would be impressive, were you using MAPP gas instead of propane?

Archie wrote:

the lady told me never to use instant light charcoal as in contains
gunpowder and burns too hot.

She was talking utter crap.

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Archie wrote:

the lady told me never to use instant light charcoal as in contains
gunpowder and burns too hot.

She was talking utter crap.

Indeed - they contain paraffin AFAICR and therfore burn colder until the
paraffin is gone. As for "melting porcelain" with an open charcoal
barbecue... I don't think so.


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

Bob Mannix wrote:

"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Archie wrote:

the lady told me never to use instant light charcoal as in contains
gunpowder and burns too hot.

She was talking utter crap.

Indeed - they contain paraffin AFAICR and therfore burn colder until the
paraffin is gone. As for "melting porcelain" with an open charcoal
barbecue... I don't think so.

Next time I'm down at the Cash and Carry, I'll have a look at Outback
stuff. It's the only place I know of that sells it.

If it was someone from Outback, I'm not surprised - their barbeques are
utter crap, too.


In what way are they crap? Can you justify that rather sweeping statement?

I use good british lumpwood charcoal too - lights easy enough with
firelighters - I've been using these:

http://www.zipfires.co.uk/zip-natural.html

No parafin smell!

I use a chimney starter and a few of sheets of old newspaper. The charcoal
lights up very quickly.

Yes- My Outback grill is.

You don't appear to understand the word "normally" or the word
"porcelain". The overwhelming majority of cast iron grills for barbecue
use are not vitrified enamel, porcelain isn't used at all


Did you try googling for porcelain coated grill?

This site list several. Maybe they don't understand the word "porcelain".

http://www.weber-barbecue-uk.co.uk/a...ue-Spares.html


It is supposed to be heatproof but I have managed
to overheat the grills and cause the porcelain to melt.

That would be impressive, were you using MAPP gas instead of propane?

I use charcoal.

Bob Mannix wrote:
"Steve Firth" wrote in message
.. .
Archie wrote:

the lady told me never to use instant light charcoal as in contains
gunpowder and burns too hot.
She was talking utter crap.

Indeed - they contain paraffin AFAICR and therfore burn colder until the
paraffin is gone. As for "melting porcelain" with an open charcoal
barbecue... I don't think so.


Oh, you cam melt glass and distort cast iron in an open fire. In a bit
of a breeze or with a good chimney etc.

Porcelain is not glass though. Its a ceramic, and those are used in the
highest temperature places man can achieve.

I've no idea what outback means when they say 'porcelain coated' but it
ain't the truth.

However porcelain enamelling is a term used for vitreous enamelling:
Even so it takes upwards of 1500C to bugger it.

Lord knows why Outback are doing it, if that's what they are. Total
waste of time.

Archie wrote:
I use good british lumpwood charcoal too - lights easy enough with
firelighters - I've been using these:

http://www.zipfires.co.uk/zip-natural.html

No parafin smell!

I use a chimney starter and a few of sheets of old newspaper. The charcoal
lights up very quickly.



I either use firelighters or a gas blowlamp. The gas blowlamp rocks.

Often use old small logs from the wood pile as well. Takes and hour or
so to charcoal itself, but nice flavour..

In article ,
Archie wrote:
You don't appear to understand the word "normally" or the word
"porcelain". The overwhelming majority of cast iron grills for barbecue
use are not vitrified enamel, porcelain isn't used at all


Did you try googling for porcelain coated grill?

This site list several. Maybe they don't understand the word "porcelain".

Probably not as it's a type of clay. But of course many just think of the
glazed finish it commonly has in practice. And that glaze is very similar
to vitreous enamel, both being basically glass.

--
*If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Probably not as it's a type of clay. But of course many just think of the
glazed finish it commonly has in practice. And that glaze is very similar
to vitreous enamel, both being basically glass.



Getting back to the OP, I generally clean the grill by getting it bleedin
hot over the charcoal and burning off any food residue. Any bugs that
survive deserve to live.

Whatever the material used by Outback for their grills, they describe the
grill as porcelain coated as do other manufactures. They also described it
as heatproof which is obviously relative to typical BBQ temperatures. There
is little doubt that the damage to the grill is caused by exessive heat from
the charcoal. The damage is a bubbling of the coating which changes from a
smooth surface to something like that of cast iron. I use a chimney starter
to light the charcoal and it gets very hot, presumably hotter than the
temperature required to melt the porelain /enamel coating.

I have one. It's crap. It doesn't get hot enough, it blows out too
easily, the cooking area is very small and it came with a totally
inadequate number of lava rocks. I'm going back to charcoal.

Can you justify that rather sweeping statement?

I don't actually have to. You see, I foolishly bought an Outback
barbie, it's crap, therefore I shall never buy another one.


I agree, Gas is crap. You foolishly bought a gas one.

My Outback charcoal BBQ get hot enought to melt the Porcelain/vitreous
enamel grills. It has never blown out. I have plenty of cooking area - it is
just a question of buying the right size for your needs.

Archie wrote:


If it was someone from Outback, I'm not surprised - their barbeques are
utter crap, too.


In what way are they crap?

The few I've seen are cheap construction at a (relatively) high price.
They seem pretty useless for cooking, and when we do have family
barbecue getogethers we have settled on luau pits and oil drum
barbecues. Costs little, does a better job.

Can you justify that rather sweeping statement?

Can you justify yours?

Archie wrote:

Yes- My Outback grill is.

You don't appear to understand the word "normally" or the word
"porcelain". The overwhelming majority of cast iron grills for barbecue
use are not vitrified enamel, porcelain isn't used at all


Did you try googling for porcelain coated grill?

No, why would I?

This site list several. Maybe they don't understand the word "porcelain".

Most likely. Marketing men talk ****.

Archie wrote:
I have one. It's crap. It doesn't get hot enough, it blows out too
easily, the cooking area is very small and it came with a totally
inadequate number of lava rocks. I'm going back to charcoal.

Can you justify that rather sweeping statement?

I don't actually have to. You see, I foolishly bought an Outback
barbie, it's crap, therefore I shall never buy another one.


I agree, Gas is crap. You foolishly bought a gas one.

Rubbish. Gas is the way forward. There is no difference whatsoever between
the way a gas BBQ cooks and the way a charcoal BBQ cooks - apart from the 30
min wait.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Archie wrote:
I have one. It's crap. It doesn't get hot enough, it blows out too
easily, the cooking area is very small and it came with a totally
inadequate number of lava rocks. I'm going back to charcoal.

Can you justify that rather sweeping statement?

I don't actually have to. You see, I foolishly bought an Outback
barbie, it's crap, therefore I shall never buy another one.


I agree, Gas is crap. You foolishly bought a gas one.

Rubbish. Gas is the way forward. There is no difference whatsoever between
the way a gas BBQ cooks and the way a charcoal BBQ cooks - apart from the 30
min wait.

Ahhhh... But Holy Wars have been fought over less...

I'm in the charcoal camp myself - it's all part of the ritual, especially
if it's a social gathering. Bit like comparing some mid-europeans to some
more north... The midlanders would chat, sip wine, slowly get together
and cook a bit, shrug a bit, eat a bit, chat, etc.... The northerners:
Click, Whoosh, Now Ve Vill Eat. ... :-)

As for the way they cook - yes, heat applied to meat/veg cooks it more or
less the same... As for the flavour - well, there's no comparison there!!!

Gordon

"Gordon Henderson" wrote in message
...

Rubbish. Gas is the way forward. There is no difference whatsoever
between
the way a gas BBQ cooks and the way a charcoal BBQ cooks - apart from the
30
min wait.

Ahhhh... But Holy Wars have been fought over less...

I'm in the charcoal camp myself - it's all part of the ritual, especially
if it's a social gathering. Bit like comparing some mid-europeans to some
more north... The midlanders would chat, sip wine, slowly get together
and cook a bit, shrug a bit, eat a bit, chat, etc.... The northerners:
Click, Whoosh, Now Ve Vill Eat. ... :-)

As for the way they cook - yes, heat applied to meat/veg cooks it more or
less the same... As for the flavour - well, there's no comparison there!!!


In a traditional BBQ the flavour comes from the vaporising fat dripping on
the coals and the smoke from the wood chips.
If you like that taste then gas is no good.

If you like the flavour from a marinade or spray on smoke then gas is
easier.
Gordon

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
I agree, Gas is crap. You foolishly bought a gas one.

Rubbish. Gas is the way forward. There is no difference whatsoever
between the way a gas BBQ cooks and the way a charcoal BBQ cooks -
apart from the 30 min wait.

But you smoke, don't you? ;-)

--
*Some days you're the dog, some days the hydrant.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Archie wrote:
I have one. It's crap. It doesn't get hot enough, it blows out too
easily, the cooking area is very small and it came with a totally
inadequate number of lava rocks. I'm going back to charcoal.

Can you justify that rather sweeping statement?
I don't actually have to. You see, I foolishly bought an Outback
barbie, it's crap, therefore I shall never buy another one.

I agree, Gas is crap. You foolishly bought a gas one.

Rubbish. Gas is the way forward. There is no difference whatsoever between
the way a gas BBQ cooks and the way a charcoal BBQ cooks - apart from the 30
min wait.


But there is a complete difference in flavour and taste.

dennis@home wrote:


"Gordon Henderson" wrote in message
...

Rubbish. Gas is the way forward. There is no difference whatsoever
between
the way a gas BBQ cooks and the way a charcoal BBQ cooks - apart from
the 30
min wait.

Ahhhh... But Holy Wars have been fought over less...

I'm in the charcoal camp myself - it's all part of the ritual, especially
if it's a social gathering. Bit like comparing some mid-europeans to some
more north... The midlanders would chat, sip wine, slowly get together
and cook a bit, shrug a bit, eat a bit, chat, etc.... The northerners:
Click, Whoosh, Now Ve Vill Eat. ... :-)

As for the way they cook - yes, heat applied to meat/veg cooks it more or
less the same... As for the flavour - well, there's no comparison
there!!!


In a traditional BBQ the flavour comes from the vaporising fat dripping
on the coals and the smoke from the wood chips.
If you like that taste then gas is no good.

If you like the flavour from a marinade or spray on smoke then gas is
easier.
Gordon

Our gas barbie has heated metal sheets the fat drops on to. Result is
pretty much the same as a charcoal barbie.
The metal plates also keep the rain off the burners so it is possible to
continue cooking through showers - whilst the guests all shelter under
gazebos.