How To Season a Fire Pit Grill Grate (2024)

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Walden Backyards How To Season a Fire Pit Grill Grate (1)

How To Season a Fire Pit Grill Grate (2)

A lot of people have been asking us “can you barbecue on a fire pit?” The answer is not only yes, but that the wood-fired flavor of open-flame BBQ cooking is far superior to anything you could hope to achieve over a traditional gas grill. However, before you throw your first Flintstone-sized steak on your new backyard BBQ fire pit grilling grate, we recommend that you season it grate prior to its first use. Seasoning your grate is easy, and has two main benefits: 1) Easier cleaning – Food residue removal will be quicker on future cooks, and 2) Longer lifespan – Seasoning your grill regularly increases cooking performanceand your grill’s overall lifespan.

The good news is that seasoning your new Walden BBQ Grill Grate is extremely easy, just follow these 5 simple steps:

  1. Before you start your fire, and while the grate is cold, coat both sides of the crosshatched part of the grate with high heat cooking oil. Canola or peanut oil work best. We prefer using a spray bottle to quicken the process.
  2. Wipe off excess oil with a paper towel. A thin layer of oil should remain.
  3. Light your fire, and place your Walden BBQ Grill Grate over the flame, until the oil burns off or the grate begins to smoke.
  4. The shiny finish should turn dark brown or bronze. The darker and more seasoned your grate becomes, the hotter and more evenly your food will cook. Over time, well-seasoned grates collect fats and oils that will give your BBQ an amazing flavor profile.
  5. You are now ready to begin cooking. After each use, apply a light coat of oil for continued cooking performance.

There you have it… now get ready for some seriously awesome eats!

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How To Season a Fire Pit Grill Grate (4)

How To Season a Fire Pit Grill Grate (2024)

FAQs

How To Season a Fire Pit Grill Grate? ›

Apply oil: Using a brush or cloth, apply a thin layer of oil to the entire surface of the grill. Vegetable oil or canola oil work great, but you can also use coconut oil or olive oil. Heat it up again: Let the oil sit on the grill for about 10 minutes, then turn up the heat for about 10-15 minutes.

How to season a fire pit cooking grate? ›

Apply oil: Using a brush or cloth, apply a thin layer of oil to the entire surface of the grill. Vegetable oil or canola oil work great, but you can also use coconut oil or olive oil. Heat it up again: Let the oil sit on the grill for about 10 minutes, then turn up the heat for about 10-15 minutes.

How do you season grill grates for the first time? ›

First Time Use

Using a paper towel or brush, brush the grill grates with cooking oil. We recommend vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, or bacon fat. After the grates are coated, you can place them in a 400-degree oven for an hour or on a 400-degree grill for 40 minutes. After time is up, let the grates cool down naturally.

What oil do you use to season grill grates? ›

The Best Oil to Use

Seasoning your grates involves using very high heat, so it's important to use the right type of oil. Most grill manufacturers recommend canola or peanut oil because they have a smoke point over 450° F. You can also use vegetable oil, sunflower oil or avocado oil.

Should I oil my grill grates before cooking? ›

Oil your grates right before placing food on them and after each use for best cooking results. There are several ways to oil your grates, depending on whether they're hot or cold. Wipe It On: When the grill is cool, coat all surfaces of your grates with a bunched up paper towel that is coated, but not saturated in oil.

How to season Coleman grill grates? ›

Place grates in either your conventional oven or BBQ for 15-20 minutes at 275-300°F to complete the seasoning process.

What is the best oil for seasoning cast iron grill grates? ›

All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.

Can you use Pam to season grill grates? ›

To fully season your grill, using a brush or paper towels, coat the entirety of the interior and both sides of the grates with your choice of oil or fat. We recommend canola, vegetable or peanut oil for their high smoke point. Many pitmasters also swear by bacon grease and Pam cooking spray is also very convenient.

Do you need to prep new grill grates? ›

Before using grates for the first time, we just recommend preheating the grill and brushing the grates with a bristle brush and you are good to go.

How do you break in new grill grates? ›

Heat the grill on high and let it burn for ~30 mins. This will burn all the solvents and impurities off of the heating elements, grill grates, etc. Note that porcelain grates won't need a coat of oil, but will benefit from the burn in process to remove any chemicals/impurities that were applied by the manufacturer.

What temperature do you season grill grates? ›

Turn the grill on and heat the grill to between 350 and 400°F for 30 to 60 minutes. Remember to keep the temperature below the smoke point of the fat used, which will allow the oil to bond to the surface of your grids.

Can you spray Pam on a grill? ›

For those who live for the thrill of the grill, PAM Grilling is the secret to grilling success that has everyone all fired up. Specially formulated for no-stick performance at higher temperatures, this grill spray makes cleanup a snap and all your grilled foods simply turn out better.

Can you use olive oil to season a grill? ›

While you may not want to apply olive oil directly to your grill right before adding your ingredients, you can use it to prepare and season your grill beforehand. Seasoning is a protective process using heated oil that is typically used on cast iron pans.

Should cast iron grill grates be seasoned? ›

It is important to periodically season your cast iron cooking grids.

What is the healthiest oil for grilling? ›

Some healthier cooking oils that can withstand higher temperatures include olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, and safflower oil. Plus, they contain various unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and other compounds that may offer health benefits.

How do you season cast iron cooking grates? ›

Spread a thin coating of cooking oil over entire surface of the cast iron grids with a basting brush or oil mister. Be certain the entire surface, including all corners, have been coated thoroughly. We recommend using a HIGH SMOKE POINT OIL like one of these organic cold pressed cooking oils.

Do I need to season cast iron grill grates? ›

You may wash your grill grates with soap and water more frequently, but understand you will need to re-season each and every time. Cast-iron grates certainly require a lot of work, but when you show them proper love, they will surely love you back and more with amazing cooks and heat retention.

Do you need to season smoker grates? ›

With an electric or gas smoker, it is important to avoid getting any oil on any of the heating elements. Only season your smoker's/grill's grates before you use it for the first time. They do not need to be and should not be reseasoned. Just make sure to clean and wash them after each use.

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