Anyone using Grillgrates ?
 

I have a gas grill and round charcoal grill that both have cast iron grates . Functional and strong but prone to rust . Found these aluminum grill grates and thought not a bad idea . Dual sides allow grill marks or a flat surface . Aluminum won't rust . Any health concerns being aluminum ? I wouldn't think so but thought I would ask . Anyone here using them ?

https://www.grillgrate.com/shop-by-brand/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwh4-wBhB3EiwAeJsppOOlx8V5joWgSpsUu1E6bNh3HO9iaSK5IUXxo eXtnXLNmGsyvk_B5RoCXG0QAvD_BwE

I have used them for years. On my grill, 3/4 of the grill are the grates, about 1/4 is the flat griddle.
Well made.
I "think" I get better sear marks- but not a big difference.
Less flareups.
They are more difficult to clean.
Delicate meats, like salmon, don't like the elevated grates. I cook those on the griddle part and then a cedar plank.
I would get them again.
gary

^^^ Have you ever run them through the dishwasher ?

Hardcoat anodized aluminum should be safe but Al melts at 1200F.

I have been wanting to shoot my Weber grate with 1800F safe Cerakote to prevent rusting and sticking

I have GrillGrates on 2/3 of my Weber gas grill and I use them all the time. I hardly every used the cast iron grates any more. GrillGrates are modular and flat on one side with elevated grates on the other, so you could grill bacon and pancakes on the same grill at the same time :D, or grill salmon on a flat module and grill asparagus, complete with sear marks, on the other.

I've never put mine in a dishwasher, I just scrape them clean.

My concern would be ingesting Al over time (Alzheimer's).

Cast iron is a pain. I scrape and brush with lard and heat a bit but it's still not enough to rust-proof long term.

All reasons I am asking . I am 66 so maybe long term exposure isn't a concern I don't know . And no matter what I do the darn cast iron always rusts 😳

The secret to cast iron is to never clean it. That's for pans and stovetop grills/griddles.

Next time you use it, heat and wip with a paper towel

That's more expensive than upgrading to stainless.

I also don't use aluminum to cook on.

^I am with peppy^

You can scrub your cast iron with salt to clean it, that is about it.

No, never tried it.
I just fire up the grill on high for 20min, then scrub/scrape everything off.
gary

Are you talking making your own out of SS material ? Or ready made aftermarket ?

My feeling is grill marks are for amateurs. If i want a maillard reaction i want it on the entire surface.

When I bought my Napoleon BBQ you could upgrade to a SS from the cast one.

You like your cancer served uniformly?

I don't have a fancy grille, just a NexGrill four burner my son-in-law was getting rid of when they moved to Japan.
When it needed new grates because the iron ones were rusty I looked around and found some SS ones, but they were pricey as heck. I waited a while and found some that had been returned for like half price. They arrived and looked great but weren't 'flat' and would 'rock' a bit when installed. I tried straightening them out but they're pretty stout and wouldn't budge.
I figured what the heck, I don't need them to be 'flat', so I've been using them.
They've gone thru enough 500*+ heat cycles now with my cooking salmon in the cast iron pan that they've flattened out nicely. No more rocking. Best investment in my grille I've made so far.
I replaced the burners and shields at the same time and things are working great. In fact, I'm going to cook some salmon for dinner this afternoon before the weather turns bad here.

Prefer the microwave for your steaks?

I like my porcelain coated cast iron, but they got chipped and have some rust in the chipped spot. Fortunately it's in a corner so I can work around it.

My understanding is that black/burned is potentially cancerous, but heavily browned is not (but does add a ton of flavor).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1711662539.JPG
Got the salmon cooked just fine.

Damn! That looks tasty!

I haven't eaten anything that ever had eyes since 1985. And many things that never had eyes are on the list. Potatoes are the one exception. :D

Most of what I eat had leaves though.

well I'd no doubt be healthier if I did the same but can't do it.

We don't eat or cook anything off of aluminum.

We use charcoal but same thing. Get them really hot and make sure they are seasoned well. Sometimes I need to clean them first time in the spring though.

How much time does it take for aluminum to rot your brain? Asking for a 74 year old friend. ;)

Don’t clean cast iron until your ready to use it The grease from cooking keeps it from rusting.

Hardcoat anodized aluminum is inert, and extremely durable.

When I was cooking professionally, all saute pans were aluminum.

Controversial Alzheimer's Disease Risk Factors

WebMD

Medically Reviewed by Christopher Melinosky, MD on April 06, 2023
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Aluminum

One of the most publicized and controversial theories concerns aluminum, which became a suspect in Alzheimer's disease when researchers found traces of this metal in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Many studies since then have either not been able to confirm this finding or have had questionable results.

Aluminum does turn up in higher amounts than normal in some autopsy studies of Alzheimer's patients, but not in all. Further doubt about the importance of aluminum stems from the possibility that the aluminum found in some studies did not all come from the brain tissues being studied. Instead, some could have come from the special substances used in the laboratory to study brain tissue.

Aluminum is a common element in the Earth's crust and is found in small amounts in numerous household products and in many foods. As a result, there have been fears that aluminum in the diet or absorbed in other ways could be a factor in Alzheimer's. One study found that people who used antiperspirants and antacids containing aluminum had a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. Others have also reported an association between aluminum exposure and Alzheimer's disease.

On the other hand, various studies have found that groups of people exposed to high levels of aluminum do not have an increased risk. Moreover, aluminum in cooking utensils does not get into food, and the aluminum that does occur naturally in some foods, such as potatoes, is not absorbed well by the body. On the whole, scientists can say only that it is still uncertain whether exposure to aluminum plays a role in Alzheimer's disease.

It is the uncertainty that makes it not worth the risk.

Hardcoat anodized is different as you say.

My BiL was told cook everything in cast iron because he has an iron deficiency. Not sure the science behind it, but it has helped him.

I can understand that.

Interesting about your brother.

I just don't see how more than nanograms of any material is being incorporated into food cooking with it.

I don't know either, especially if the cast is well seasoned. But, if it works it works I guess.

We also don't eat microwave popcorn for the same reason as AL cookware.

My GrillGrates in action yesterday evening.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1711892471.jpg

As you can see, the aluminum that "causes" alzheimers is isolated with burnt on grease, which causes cancer.