How would you store this in the off season? I don't normally grill in winter and sometimes my normal cooking grate will rust.
517898
What is this winter thing you speak of? Seriously though, I live in CA and the BBQ stays outside, covered, all year long. When I first got it, even though it was pre-seasoned, I seasoned it myself with canola oil several times, both sides, both warm and cool. If I'm not going to use it for a while I'll clean it up and treat each side with a light spray of canola oil and it looks like new!
517899
I live in Upstate NY with bad winters....I season them and wrap in plastic then stored them inside the grill outside... They were fine.
517900
I put my grill inside but as this is cast iron it will probably rust very little.
517901
To be sure wrap it in cardboard and take it inside or just the 4 inserts and let the ring rust a bit. To store outside clean out the grill(ash somehow increases the humidity inside), leave it a bit open for air circulation on top and bottom and use a grill cover, you should be fine too. Mine was a bit rusty after the winter, I use a spatula to scrape it off and a cloth dipped in veggie oil to clean. Let the grill heat up for an hour and the grate should be like new.
517902
I just oil it up as you would after any cook..and store in a garbage bag for the winter..
517903
I cook on these grates all year long but there's times when its too cold to grill so after the last cook and while the grates are starting cool down I'll apply cooking oil on them. Be sure to leave all your vents open to prevent mold. Just a little tip.. Before every cook I'll apply peanut oil and after the cook while grates are hot I'll scrape the crud off and apply another light coat of oil. Be careful not to burn yourself and as aways safety first.
517904
I have the cast iron grates on my Weber grills at both of our places in Utah and Texas. We just returned to Utah after 7 months and the grill on my Performer (covered but outside all winter) was still in perfect condition. Never have had any issues. I always just clean them down with a brush like usual before leaving. They are the greatest - really surprised Weber doesn't have them on their grills.
1822473
The grates should be fine using your high temp self-cleaning feature but it will likely cook off the seasoning. Which means you will have to re-season the grates after that process.
48246
The grate is easy enough to scrape off with a small tool they give you and I do use a regular grill brush. It is easy to lift out once cool and I try to clean it off shortly after each use.....haven't had a problems.
84365
I've owned my grill for a few months now and haven't had that problem yet, but it's because I store mine in the garage. I also make sure to clean the smoker really well after each smoke and dry it completely before storing. The metal is very thin, so I wouldn't be surprised if it does rust out fairly quickly.
1005654
I bring mine in during the winter months. It was outside for 1 summer and now has a different appearance than when I first bought it. Its more of a dirty rust now. Can't imagine what a winter would do to it. I live in WI. and we have some pretty harsh winters. I guess it's your call!
515098
Well, I'm not the authority on this question. I would contact manufacturer because that is a really good question. Currently, mine is set up outside in the elements, but I have thought several times that I sure hope it doesn't rust. I just have not taken the time to move it into the garage...lazy. Let us know if you find out that it needs to be stored indoors. Thanks!
2076206
We store ours (top & bottom together) in the shower of our trailer. Husband says could be stored nested if legs were taken off bottom. BTW it's cooks food with the best smoke flavor ever.
828851
I woul take it apart and clean it once a season. I did not do this and the supports for the heat deflectors are rusting away. I think this is a fatal occurrence and would want to avoid at all cost. I think that is the grill's weak spot.
205092
i wouldn't put a cast iron grill in the dishwasher. If it's bare cast iron, just heat it up on the grill and burn up all the "stuff" then brush off with a wire brush. cast iron "seasons." The baked on stuff actually preserves the grill. now if you have an enamel coated one, it would be safer in the dishwasher. but still pointless to put it in there. just heat it up and cook off the stuff.
832820
I've left mine outside for the past 6 years - sometimes with lodge's awful leaky coverthe polymerized oils from "seasoning" will burn off from the intense heat that charcoal puts out. no way around it. also, heat accelerates the rate at which rust forms. also no way around this. don't worry about it not being seasoned.just cook on it. charred food bits cover the rust very very quickly.
965341
Not too bad to clean because it's outdoors. It will grill without sear marks. I would suggest keeping the griddle inside because mine did rust even being seasoned with oil and a cover!
684469
I've had this grill for four or five years and it has done a great job for me. Alas, however, I have never washed it. If you use it on your grill you may try this cleaning method: After cooking on it, I spread aluminum foil over the grill and let it stay until the next time I grill. I then turn on the grill on high (it's a gas grill) and cook the covered grate for about five minutes or long enough to turn all the residue left over from the the last meal into crispy little morsels that come right off with a grill brush and I'm sure all the germs have met their maker. I always oil the grill after use to keep the rust off and keep it seasoned. Good luck. I've had this grill for four or five years and it has done a great job for me. Alas, however, I have never washed it. If you use it on your grill you may try this cleaning method: After cooking on it, I spread aluminum foil over the grill and let it stay until the next time I grill. I then turn on the grill on high (it's a gas grill) and cook the covered grate for about five minutes or long enough to turn all the residue left over from the the last meal into crispy little morsels that come right off with a grill brush and I'm sure all the germs have met their maker. I always oil the grill... » Read More I've had this grill for four or five years and it has done a great job for me. Alas, however, I have never washed it. If you use it on your grill you may try this cleaning method: After cooking on it, I spread aluminum foil over the grill and let it stay until the next time I grill. I then turn on the grill on high (it's a gas grill) and cook the covered grate for about five minutes or long enough to turn all the residue left over from the the last meal into crispy little morsels that come right off with a grill brush and I'm sure all the germs have met their maker. I always oil the grill after use to keep the rust off and keep it seasoned. Good luck. « Show Less
1572751
Dave--the body of the grill is coated and easy to clean. It's recommended to put some water in the bottom for the best cleaning. We fried bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns on it while camping and had no problems--and you know how those spatter! The grate is like a charcoal grill grate. I don't think I'll ever cook directly on the grate, only with pots and pans, just because I don't want the hassle of having to really clean the grill body. Denise and Bob M
595284
Hmmm. Mine is pretty well seasoned so nothing really sticks even when I overcook. I wonder what would happen if you heated it up again (with good ventilation so your smoke alarm doesn't go off!). Maybe it would burn off like what you'd do with your gas grill. It might even help to brush some cooking oil on the remnants to help them burn/flake off. Otherwise I guess you can try just scraping with something that won't scratch it too much; maybe try wetting the grills a little by placing some wet cloths on them (since you can't actually soak them); then either scrape or see if it will cook off once the burnt stuff is softer. Good luck. I hope I'll be able to see a response that states how you made out. Hmmm. Mine is pretty well seasoned so nothing really sticks even when I overcook. I wonder what would happen if you heated it up again (with good ventilation so your smoke alarm doesn't go off!). Maybe it would burn off like what you'd do with your gas grill. It might even help to brush some cooking oil on the remnants to help them burn/flake off. Otherwise I guess you can try just scraping with something that won't scratch it too much; maybe try wetting the grills a little by placing some wet cloths on them (since you can't actually soak them); then either scrape or see if it will cook off... » Read More Hmmm. Mine is pretty well seasoned so nothing really sticks even when I overcook. I wonder what would happen if you heated it up again (with good ventilation so your smoke alarm doesn't go off!). Maybe it would burn off like what you'd do with your gas grill. It might even help to brush some cooking oil on the remnants to help them burn/flake off. Otherwise I guess you can try just scraping with something that won't scratch it too much; maybe try wetting the grills a little by placing some wet cloths on them (since you can't actually soak them); then either scrape or see if it will cook off once the burnt stuff is softer. Good luck. I hope I'll be able to see a response that states how you made out. « Show Less
1627271
yes you can store other things but not an extra tank. BTW, you will spend more time cleaning this grill than cooking on it. After 1.5 years I am ready to trash this thing
1242963
I do have a grill cover (the recommended Cuisinart model), but generally keep the grill in my garage. It's not so large and my guess is that over time it would age poorly if kept outdoors.
1020531
Place on grate same as cooking on charcoal or gas grill. Expect to discolor