Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will GrillGrates last?
GrillGrates will provide years of grate grilling! With moderate care and proper use, a set of GrillGrates should last or outlast the life of your grill. Moderate care is essentially cleaning up before or after grilling: wiping down with a paper towel during warm-up for Gourmet GrillGrates, or using a traditional wire brush for Hard Anodized GrillGrates. Just keep the rails clean to deliver the best searing and nonstick. Periodic cleaning in the sink is helpful- especially after a heavy marinade that coats the GrillGrates.

2. What makes GrillGrates better than my existing grates on my grill?
The Original Raised Rail Design of the GrillGrates creates a new engineered cooking system that sits atop any existing grill. GrillGrates sear and sizzle foods better than traditional grills, which have more open exposure to direct flame. GrillGrates shield foods from excessive flame and flare-ups and direct fatty juices away from the food. In open fire grilling much of the dripped fatty juice becomes fuel that is seared and carbonized into the outer layer of the grilled food by flaming and flare-ups. This type of charring is fat being burned onto the food surface as well as the food itself charring. GrillGrates virtually eliminate charring but accentuate the searing.

Heat is driven up the raised rails for perfect steakhouse searing every time, and good juices sizzle just below the food, and the fatty juices drain out through the elliptical fat draining holes. The backside of the GrillGrates will quickly season to a shiny charred black. The drained fat chars the back of the GrillGrates and not your food. The GrillGrates are coated with RealEase® high temperature nonstick porcelain enamel coating. RealEase helps keep fish, pasta, and lean meats from sticking and makes cleaning easier. GrillGrates make it fun and easy to grill more kinds of foods like fish (without foil), pizzas, vegetables and lean meats. The GrateTool™ plays a major role too, being able to lift from underneath to turn, move or serve food from your grill. The GrateTool handles pizza beautifully from quarter turning on the grill to carrying grilled pizza to the table. NOTE: Use Gourmet GrillGrates (RealEase coating) at temperatures below 600F. This translates to 450F-500F on the dial in the grill hood. Grills typically run 100-150F degrees hotter at the cooking surface than the air in the hood.

3. Are there times I should not use GrillGrates?
Yes. Do not use Gourmet GrillGrates for ultra-high heat searing. Do not use Gourmet GrillGrates at temperatures beyond 650F. This exceeds most gas grills, but not charcoal grills while coals are burning down. Charcoal is over 1000F midway through burning down to all gray and ready to cook. Avoid putting GrillGrates on too early with charcoal grills. Use caution with Gourmet GrillGrates and high infrared temperatures. The Hard Anodized GrillGrates do not have the temperature limitations and can be used for super hot / fast grilling. Both versions of GrillGrates grill steaks superbly at medium/high heat (450-550F). Above these temps the searing marks begin to char, and we suggest that as a sign to turn down the heat slightly to not overcook and dry out the food.

4. Can I damage the RealEase® coating?
Yes. There are essentially two ways to damage or destroy the coating:

i. Do not use abrasive wire brushes on GrillGrates – this is a coated cooking surface here! Just use a paper towel to wipe down during warm up or a sponge in the sink. No wire brushes, no abrasive cleaners.

ii. Excessive heat can damage and eventually burn off the RealEase coating. Avoid using a high heat burn-off to clean off the droppings from the previous meal. High heat carbonizes everything and tradition is to the use a wire brush to clean off the grill surface. No high-heat burn- off or wire brushes on the GrillGrates. RealEase is a porcelain enamel coating that is fired at high temperatures, and if those firing temperatures are reached or exceeded, the coating can blister and burn off. The firing temperature of RealEase is approximately 900F- outside the range of most gas grills and charcoal when all the coals are all gray.

5. Any special procedures for charcoal grills?
Yes. Avoid setting the Gourmet GrillGrates onto the charcoal grill until the coals are all gray. Preheat for 10-15 minutes, but not when the coals are flaming. Most charcoal purists are Weber or Green Egg aficionados who understand heat control well. Just wait until the coals are all gray to place the GrillGrates to pre-heat. GrillGrates functionality is the same for charcoal grills. Food is protected from charring flare-ups and good juices sizzle just below the food for noticeably juicer more tender meats – particularly chicken and pork. If you are a high-heat charcoal griller, choose the Hard Anodized GrillGrates.

You will find you will be able to do more direct (rather than indirect) grilling with GrillGrates on charcoal grills.

6. Is the RealEase® coating Teflon? Is it safe?
The primary components of RealEase are ceramic and have been used for centuries - porcelain and enamel. RealEase is a porcelain /enamel hybrid coating. Ferro Corporation, the makers of RealEase, is the world's leader in porcelain and enamel coatings. There is a small amount of PTFE (the primary component of Teflon) in RealEase. RealEase meets the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency regulations for non-stick coatings.

7. Is there a warranty on the GrillGrates?
Yes. Unused GrillGrates, in the original box may be returned for 30-days for a full refund with the buyer only paying return shipping. GrillGrates are guaranteed against manufacturing defects for 30 days from date of purchase. Normal wear and tear or modifications are not covered by this warranty. GrillGrate, Inc. at its option will replace defective products or refund the original purchase price (minus shipping and handling charges).

8. What is the best way to clean the GrillGrates?
The best way to clean both the Hard Anodized and the Gourmet GrillGrates is during the warm-up of the grill. Set gas grills to medium, with GrillGrates in place and close lid.

  • For Gourmet GrillGrates: Wipe down the rails with a paper towle after pre-heating 5-10 minutes. Rub down the rails to dislodge larger food remnants and you will see the rails begin to 'slick back up'. If the rails are dry wait a few more minutes and use some oil to help get the GrillGrates ready for cooking.
  • For Hard Anodized GrillGrates - you can use more traditional and aggressive cleaning- i.e. wire brush during warm up, high-heat burn off, and steam cleaning with a bit of water and a wire brush.

9. Can I clean the GrillGrates in dishwasher?
We do not recommend putting either version of GrillGrates in the dishwasher. We have seen it dry out the coating and impede the seasoning process, and they can make a mess in the dishwasher. Do no use caustic dishwashing detergent or oven cleaners on the Hard Anodized GrillGrates.

Periodic cleaning in the sink or in an outside bucket will help keep both the RealEase coating and the Hard Anodized GrillGrates at their best. Do not be concerned if the Gourmet GrillGrates are not perfectly clean, whatever does not come clean off the rails will be taken care of during warm up. The rails of the Anodized GrillGrates clean up well on the grill with a brush and in the sink with a sponge or brillo.

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