Why Do Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Parts Rust?

Why do stainless steel grill parts rust? This is another question we get asked all the time and there are almost as many answers as there are gas BBQ grills. I meet customers who purchase a stainless steel barbecue grill with a lifetime guarantee because they no longer want to buy a new grill every two years. Then two years later their big stainless steel grill is rusting and they feel betrayed. There are a lot of answers to this question but most of them are simple and sometimes obvious.

Why Do Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Parts Rust?

Why Do Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Parts Rust?

---

Why Do Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Parts Rust?

Why Do Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Parts Rust?

One reason is the quality of the grill parts. We know restaurants and resorts cannot waste time buying a new grill for their kitchen every few years so we assume if we purchase commercial quality items we can get the same level of quality as professionals. Now any cheap, low cost manufacturer can call their product a commercial series or a professional series item and the association is made. Add a few hundred Dollars profit to the price and the customer gets tricked. I have seen this in many industries when the terms "commercial" and "professional" get used as the name of a product model rather than a true description of the quality of the product.

Many of these manufacturers will use a low grade stainless steel to further the association with commercial quality. Many of us do not realize there are many different types of stainless steel. We do not understand the differences and we go looking for stainless as symbolic of a well made product. I cannot tell you how often a buyer will walk into my retail store claiming they want a stainless grill. In their mind, they have asked for a particular level of quality using the term "stainless steel". With a few extra questions, they will share their belief that stainless steel will save them the inconvenience of replacing grill parts within the year or buying a whole new grill next year. The fact is there are several types of stainless steel, many no better than regular steel and indistinguishable visually.

Look at who makes the grill - not the importer but the actual manufacturer. Barbeque grills that are made in America will generally disclose the type of stainless steel that has been used. If the manufacturer is providing a warranty, call them and see if a human answers or if the warranty is a sham. When we purchase an American Made stainless steel BBQ grill, we spend a lot more money and have much higher expectations of the product. Contact local dealers and find out if local professionals who repAir grills recomMend the product.

Commercial products do not say "commercial" on them and restaurants or resorts do not buy their appliances at the gigantic retail exchanges that advertise the lowest price in town. I have clients who purchase a 0. grill and feel they have spent a lot of money. For that BBQ owner the information above regarding different types of stainless steel is applicable. Keep the grill covered and clean it as often as possible.

Today, well built products are manufactured from a stainless steel designated as 304. 304 stainless steel is often referred to as 18/8 stainless because of the main chemical additives that make it resilient outdoors. In order to be considered 304 stainless steel not only are iron oxides drained to such a degree that a magnet cannot hold it but nickel and chromium are added during the smelting process in amounts of 8% nickel and 18% chromium.

Chemicals added to stainless steel protect the material in its specific application. A different stainless steel is used for an indoor refrigerator that does not contend with humidity, rain, Snow or heat. Outdoor gas barbeque grills use 18 gauge 304 stainless steel because of the nickel and chromium. Nickel is a hardening agent. Nickel is shiny and attractive but its main benefit is as a hardener. When stainless begins to rust it shows up as "pits". Pitting occurs as a small violation in the surface of the stainless like a dot. As a hardening agent, nickel will usually stop this from starting.

Chromium protects the surface of the stainless steel in the same way that oil protects a cast iron pot. Chromium reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere and creates a barrier at the surface of the stainless steel. If the stainless surface ever becomes damaged or scratched the surface can be lightly sanded and the chromium will recreate the barrier. Chromium is added during the smelting process so scratching-out rust does not remove the protective effects of chromium.

Mid-range barbeque grills like Weber and Broil King use combinations in manufacturing. While the majority of the stainless steel on these grills is of the 400 designation, the Cooking grates, heat shields and gas burners will be made of 304 stainless steel. This is because the inside of the grill gets wiped down less and gets a whole lot messier than the hood.

For the very expensive grill that has a lifetime guarantee against rust, the reason your grill is rusting is grease. I have seen DCS grills over twenty years old without a single pit on the outside of the barbeque but the burners have been replaced six times. On the rare occasion a customer claims the hood is rusting, it is usually not rust but a light discoloration caused by heat. When the grill shows rust, it is the burners, heat shields, rod trays, Cooking grates, etc. The grill parts inside the firebox get grease and drippings and carbon discoloration from heat. All of these things combine to coat the stainless and stop the chromium from reacting with oxygen in the atmosphere.

Once a year I take the Cooking grates, heat plates and burners out of my grill. I clean - really clean - the inside of the firebox and I clean the parts I have removed. I have a wire brush that attaches to my drill and I scrub the grates, burners and even the firebox with that brush spinning at 60 miles per hour. It does a great Job and the stainless looks great until I cook on it again.

For barbeques that use less-expensive stainless steel, know it is decorative. They know the decoration allows the assumption regarding quality to be made but no one who sells grills will point this out. Either accept that you will have to buy a new BBQ grill every two years or start buying replaceMent grill parts. Next time you buy a barbeque in the same price range, get an aluminum grill that is made in America. Pure aluminum will last forever.

Often, the best tool to fix a problem is education. Once we understand a problem, the solution will show up in our normal actions. Once you know the chromium needs oxygen to protect your stainless steel your regular post-grilling habits may change. The way you wipe down the grill may be directed at the problem instead of just brushing off charred Food bits.

Another point to remember is your barbecue grills placeMent in relation to your pool. Pool chemicals can cause the grill to corrode if in direct contact with high quality stainless steel. However, the stainless steel can also be damaged just by closeness to the pool or stored pool chemicals. When chlorine and other chemicals slowly dissipate into the atmosphere, they do so by chemically bonding to oxygen in the atmosphere. Near the pool, a shorTAGe of oxygen atoms can cause the same effect as covering the stainless steel with grease. Chromium becomes unable to react with the oxygen in the Air.

If you have a well-built stainless steel gas grill, cook on it often because of you're going to spend the money use it. Also the heat lessens mess. After Cooking, burn the grill on high or ten to twelve minutes to dry it out and then scrape the stainless. Once or twice a year, take it apart or call a professional. A properly maintained gas grill should last forever.

Why Do Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Parts Rust?

Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

Imagine Cooking some juicy steaks on your own built in BBQ grill. Sure it will take a lot of work and a good chunk of change, but it will definitely be worth it. Building you own backyard BBQ grill can be a daunting task, but with a little planning it will be a great project with excellent returns. Before you begin digging and building you will need to do some careful planning. Deciding how the grill will look and what functionality you need are the most difficult and important parts of this enTire project. As part of the design you will need to decide what design to use and how to customize it to fit your style. Before you begin construction it is imperative to choose what grill insert you will use.

Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

---

Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

Built in BBQ Plans can be purchased from a variety of online vendors or at a local home improveMent store and can be fAirly expensive. You can design your own grill using one of two methods: pencil and paper or with Computer design software. I recomMend starting with the pencil and paper until you have a good idea where you are going, then move into the digital world. There are a variety of design software packages available at many price levels. When I designed my backyard BBQ grill I used Google SketchUp, a free software package that is easy to use.

There are three basic designs to start with. You can customize them once you have decided on a basic design. The first design is a simple island. It can be as long and deep as you like, but the minimum size is really six feet long by two and a half feet deep. The second design is an L. A bar extends perpendicular to the island. This allows for a bit more counter space. The third design adds another bar on the other side of the island forming a U design.

The space that you have for the outdoor kitchen will dictate which design you use. If you are limited on space you will probably need to choose the simple bar design; if you have a large space available you may opt for the U Design. Once you have chosen a starting design you can customize it to fit your style.

After you have chosen the design and diMensions of your grill you will need to decide how you want it to look. There are a variety of facades to choose from including stucco, rock, and traditional brick. Counters need to be a weather resistant durable material both tile and stone work well. If you will install cabinets under the countertop choose a wood that weathers well such as cedar or redwood.

The final and most important choice you will have to make when designing your built in BBQ grill is what type of grill insert to use. If you will use charcoal you can just brick in a grate and start Cooking. If you like the taste of charcoal but want the look of stainless steel you can purchase a charcoal stainless steel grill insert, but it will cost you quite a bit of money. Because of convenience and Cooking style most will choose a gas grill insert. They come in a variety of sizes and models.

When choosing a grill insert remember the following tips. I know that you will want to purchase the largest and most powerful model available, but it is not necessary. Think about the amount of Food that you will be Cooking at one time. If you have a small to medium sized family and don't entertain large gatherings as 400 to 500 square inch model ought to work well. Make sure to have the insert handy when construction begins to ensure a proper fit.

Following the steps outlined above when planning and designing your backyard kitchen will ensure that your built in BBQ grill will fit your style and needs.

Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

Bbq Grill

I have always enjoyed Cooking on BBQ grills. Many people think that a barbecue grill is easy, and it can be. Sometimes, all you have to do is get the coals going, throw on some meat, and wait for the results. But just like any other things, barbecue grilling can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Just learning to get the perfect temperature, get good, even grill marks, and season the meat evenly can be an art in and of itself. To sum it up, you can take your barbecue grill as far as you want to.

Bbq Grill

Bbq Grill

---

Bbq Grill

Bbq Grill

Of course, the choice of barbecue grills will eventually affect your outcome. The simplest way of doing it, of course, is with the charcoal grill. In charcoalbarbecue grill > offers a lot of advanTAGes among other types. First of all, it is the most simple and easy. There are no gas tanks, hoses or tubes needed. All you need is simply the grill, the metal frame that rests on the meat, and a tray under it to catch falling ash. It also gives you the most even, uniform Cooking-that is, if you're doing it right. Of course, you have to give enough time to the coals ash over, make sure they are evenly distributed, and time the cooking well.

Barbecue grill-the difference

On the other hand, gas grill is much easier to use. Having a gas grills, all you have to do is light the gas and get to work. They allow you to cook outside and have fun with the barbecue ambiance without having to put up with the inconveniences of lighter fluid and waiting for the charcoal. All this comes at a remarkable price, however. The flavor will simply not be as good as the ones done in charcoal barbecue grill. You wont have that smoky taste than everyone associates with barbecues.

Barbecue Grill-An experiMent?

Bbq Grill