http://tvwbb.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5980069052/m/988107462
Thanks Larry!
Some further suggestions on how to care for your Cast Iron Grill so that it lasts you longer than a lifetime.
Using Your Cast Iron Grate for the first time
Rinse with hot water (do not use soap), and dry thoroughly.
Before cooking, apply vegetable oil to the cooking surface
Once the grate is properly pre-heated, you are ready to cook.
TIP: Avoid cooking very cold food, as this can promote sticking. Allow food to sit out of the refrigerator for a few minutes so they “chill” before cooking.
Cleaning your Cast Iron Grate
After cooking, scrape the whole grill with the Iron handle or favorite grill brush. Next time, fire up the grill to a high temperature, the oil and residue will burn away like in a self cleaning oven. In addition you could spray it with vegetable oil so that the water in the air does not get in contact with the metal.
If the inserts are not removed for a long time, they can get "baked" stuck. Turn the grate over and gently beat the inserts rim. If you apply great force to the long rods they will flex and eventually snap.
If your grill spent a week in the rain, never fear. Simply scour off most of the rust with a wirebrush. If its only on a few spots, use fine grade sandpaper or steel wool.
If there is a lot of rust, there is probably some between the rods as well. The easiest way would be to use some lard from last times pork shoulder, mix it with some salt, smear it on the wirebrush and give the whole grate a brush over, thereby covering it in pork fat. Fire up the grill and watch the rusty fat drop in the fire. Brush it again till the rust is gone. This also reseasons the grate.
Re-Seasoning your Cast Iron Grate
This involves a lot of work and makes quite a mess, so we advise to use a stiff brush and pam/pork fat/vegetable oil coating every couple of cooks. This will keep your Cast Iron in good condition, but at some point you may want to repeat the seasoning process.
Wash the cookware with hot, soapy water and a stiff brush. (It is okay to use soap this time because you are preparing to re-season the cookware).
Rinse and dry completely.
Apply a thin, even coating of pam/pork fat/vegetable oil/solid vegetable shortening to the cookware top and bottom.
Fire up the BBQ on high heat. Thats it, like new.
