Those rusty public bbq grills...do you use them?

[cantdrv55]

I think they’re nasty. All rusty and who knows what’s been crawling all over those things. Yet I see people cooking right on them, burgers and dogs on the grill. Yeah, I’ve heard fire and heat kills whatever germs may be living on those grates. But still, won’t you at least be putting your food on top of rust? Nasty.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I think they’re nasty. All rusty and who knows what’s been crawling all over those things. Yet I see people cooking right on them, burgers and dogs on the grill. Yeah, I’ve heard fire and heat kills whatever germs may be living on those grates. But still, won’t you at least be putting your food on top of rust? Nasty.

You've seen those teflon sheets that people put on the grill? They were INVENTED for that very purpose...at least the advertising says so. Aussie's on vacation, down at the beach, hanging and grilling things (at the barbie), they use them to keep the food off the disgusting rusted grates.

[look 171]

Yeah, but I am always concern with the half cut drum or barrels. Who knows what those drums carried before it was cut in half for doing those wonderful Texan BBQ that tasted so damn good?

[A930Rocket]

No. No way.

[vash]

My buddy is a park ranger. He says NEVER use the grate. He says people do vile things to them. Bodily things.

Me, I bring my own grate and sit it on top. I lose the height adjustment, but I manage. And I start with a fire you can see from orbit.

[GH85Carrera]

I prefer to grill in my own back yard.

I see no reason to go live like a homeless person and eat outside. So no, I don't use them.

[wdfifteen]

I used one once. It was cold out and we built an inappropriately large fire on it to keep warm.

[Tobra]

I had a grill I would strap to the bumper of the bug. Could use it on top of the public grill, or strap it to the pack and make a stand out of rocks on either side of the fire if actually going camping. It was the grill part of a little Weber that got squished, round to flat. Very handy

[aigel]

Some of the best food I ever cook is on public grates. It is fun to deal with an unknown structure and be able to get something good off it.

A scrub and 500+F will kill anything, including "bodily things". You guys are all a bit too urbanized IMHO. Give me a break!

G

[vash]

My park ranger buddy told me they have to shovel off human turds. He doesn’t break out any disinfect wipes . Just knocked it off with a shovel.
Honestly , he works at a park near Antioch. Haha. I’d like to think my wine country public grills haven’t seen the sane horrors.
My brother has a grate that rides full time in his truck box. We use that.

I can’t count on three fingers how many times I’ve camped at a site with a grill like that. It’s rare for me. Last time was Idaho elk hunting. We used the truck grate.

[rattlsnak]

Just put a piece of tin foil over the grate and cut a few slots in it. Works perfect!

[NeedSpace]

Originally Posted by aigel

Some of the best food I ever cook is on public grates. It is fun to deal with an unknown structure and be able to get something good off it.

A scrub and 500+F will kill anything, including "bodily things". You guys are all a bit too urbanized IMHO. Give me a break!

G

I couldn't agree more. While its been a while since I have done it, I'll typically warm it up really hot, scrap off with wire brush, then take aluminum foil with olive old on it or paper towel to clean off any excess klingons.

I have yet to hear about anyone who died from eating food cooked on a public grill. Same reason why I drink water from hoses or sit on toilet seats without a layer of toilet paper.

[aigel]

Vash! These grills certainly aren’t in Antioch ... you make it sound like you have to scrape off a turd every time you build a fire! By the time that grate hits 500+ F, it is all carbon, no matter what it started as and will make nice grill marks.

Did you know sausages are stuffed in casings that had pig poop in them before!? Ever worry about that!?

[fanaudical]

I have. I always bring a wire brush, scrub well, and sterilize with fire for a while before any food touches it. Like Aigel indicated - fire fixes a lot of things.

I don't recommend cooking on any "Teflon" (PTFE or the many other fluorocarbons) on an open fire at all - you don't want any of the thermal decomposition compounds anywhere near your food (much less ingested).

[look 171]

I am sure fire kill everything. I use to burn big bon fires out of those metal rings to keep my fat ass warm after a late night shower in the freezing rivers. Just the thought of someone peeing into the grill or taking a dump in it is enough for me. No thanks. Only my siht don't stinks, but you all knew that.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

I have. I always bring a wire brush

There have been too many scary stories about tiny pieces of the wire brush breaking off, getting stuck to the grille, getting in the burger, going down into a person's digestive system and wreaking havoc. There must be a better way to clean the grille. Maybe a stiff natural bristle brush?

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

There have been too many scary stories about tiny pieces of the wire brush breaking off, getting stuck to the grille, getting in the burger, going down into a person's digestive system and wreaking havoc.

That happened to my wife, got stuck into her esophagus.

Now we only use these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y2RTD28 they're more like woven steel wool, if the fibers come loose they're like 6 inches long and soft, you won't accidentally swallow a 6 inch metal ribbon...


These are the grill mats I'm talking about, teflon coated carbon fiber sheets. They transmit heat jsut fine, but don't let your food touch nasty grates. I also love them for bacon on the grill, because it can fry in it's own fat.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KUJCH66

[Cajundaddy]

I no longer cook with charcoal, just bring a portable Weber gas grill. It gets hot in 5 minutes and the chow comes out perfectly every time. (no bodily excretions involved)

https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/portable-grills/go-anywhere-series/1141001.html

[speeder]

Timely subject. I just bought a cast iron Hibachi grille on eBay for the RV, I’ve always wanted one. The RV and my trailer each have nice ovens and stoves as well so I don’t see the need to ever use a public grille.

If I was having a BBQ in a public place for several people, I’d bring my Weber grille.

[mattdavis11]

Our home grill grates began to rust, and that cured her. I cook a lot less now. My role has been reduced to smoking meat, and occasionally cooking something in/on the range.

I don't recall ever having used a public grill, or eating anything that was cooked on one.