No matter how expensive or high-quality grill you purchase, its metallic construction makes it prone to rusting. Oxygen, hydrogen and water cause the metal to oxidize, leading to rust. You can identify rust from its reddish-brown tinge formed over the iron surface. Rust has adverse effects. It ruins the product's aesthetics and decreases its efficiency. A rusty grill is also injurious to health. Therefore preventing it is paramount. This article will tell you all that you need to know to protect your grill.
Not cleaning the grill is unhygienic and hazardous to health as it causes meat residue to remain on the grates. Being exposed to the environment, these residues rot and become petri dishes for harmful microbes.
Since water is an agent of rust, it is important that it doesn't remain on the grill. Therefore, drying the grill becomes essential in rust prevention. Check out each corner, side and crevice for water droplets and wipe them off. You can use a paper towel or dry cloth. For a gas grill, keep it on for about 15 minutes, as they'll automatically dry out.
It's not only your hair that needs oiling but your grill grates do too. Unless you have porcelain finished grates, you must oil them frequently. Oil repels moisture and prevents rust. Being a strong hydrophobic agent, oil keeps water off the surface and protects the metal body. Regular oiling is recommended for extending a grill's life. Oiling must also be done after each use.
Humidity is another abundant-in-nature factor which causes rust. Using a grill cover helps a lot. It will not only protect your grill from humidity but also other factors like snow, rain or sunlight. These covers are quite cheap, so if you don't get one with your grill, you can easily buy it separately. Moreover, you should keep them in your garage or other covered areas to further protect them.
Try not to pour any liquid directly on the grill grate. You can apply as much sauce as you want on the meat while it's still in a dish, but once it's on the grill, don't pour anything on it. Pouring liquid in a high temperature environment exacerbates the oxidation process and causes rust to deposit on the metal surface quicker.
If you want to have a long-term return on your grill investment, you must keep it clean, covered and oiled frequently. The aforementioned tips are all quite simple, easy and almost free. Protecting your grill will increase its life and efficiency. You won't need to re-purchase a new grill often and thus, will save money in the future. So take care of your grill and it will surely take care of you.