How to Season Cast Iron BBQ Grills and Burners

Co-authored by Santos Aviles

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 Approved

Outdoor grilling is one of the great pleasures of modern life. It's simple, it's tasty and it's healthy. To get the most out of your cast iron BBQ grills and burners, take care of them. Following the tips in this article will pay off with lower maintenance, a practically non-stick surface and years of barbecue heaven.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Season Your Cast Iron BBQ Grill

1
Preheat your regular kitchen oven to 275 to 350ºF (135 to 175ºC).
2
Wash and dry the grill with dish soap to remove any residue from the manufacturer so that it doesn't get baked into your grill rack. If your grill is older, make sure that you remove any residue and crusty bits. Start with a metal scraper and finish with a wire brush.

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3
Coat your grill rack completely with melted lard, shortening or vegetable oil. Cover the grill rack with foil.
4
Place the grill rack in the oven. To catch any drippings from the oil or shortening, put a foil-covered cookie sheet under the rack. Let it bake for at least 30 minutes to give the oil time to season the cast iron.
5
Remove the grill rack and let it cool. Repeat this process at least 2 more times until you have a dark finish. Each repetition deepens the seasoning, protects the metal and helps develop that virtually non-stick surface.
6
Reinstall the grill rack on your barbecue. You are now ready for some sweet grilling sensations!^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Maintaining The Seasoning Throughout the Year

1
Let your grill cool down naturally after you're done with the day's grilling. Never cool it with cold water because you could crack the grill rack.
2
Clean it after it has cooled down. Take the grill rack into the kitchen and wash it with very mild soap and water. Too much soap will strip the seasoning, but you do want to clean oils out so they don't get rancid.
- Avoid soaking your grill rack in soapy water because you'll strip away the seasoning. Rinse thoroughly.
- Either dry your grill rack with a paper towel or place it in a warm oven for a few minutes. Doing this will allow it to dry out completely between all the joints.
3
Re-coat your grill rack with a little melted lard or shortening after you've cleaned it and turned the burners off.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Seasoning Older Grills

1
Clean thoroughly. If your grill has become rusty or dirty, and food is sticking to it like superglue, cooking is no fun at all. The solution? It's time to re-season it. Start by giving it a thorough scrubbing with soapy water and a stiff-bristled brush.
2
Rinse. You want to make sure you get all the soapy residue off, and also check to make sure you got all the crusty bits cleaned as well. If not, repeat step 1.
3
Dry completely. Pop it in the oven for a little bit until it's dry as last year's fruitcake.
4
Re-season. Follow the steps outlined in the Initial Seasoning section, and soon you'll be enjoying your grilling again.

Community Q&A

Question

How to season a cast iron pan?

Community Answer

Pour some cooking oil into it, and cook the oil on a hot stove burner. Don't add anything.
Question

Should I use WD-40 or spray oil to season the outside of my new grill?

Community Answer

Do not use WD-40, as it is not safe for human consumption. Make sure that whatever you use is intended to be in contact with food.
Question

Do I oil the outside of the grill also?

Community Answer

You should oil the outside as well. You want to maintain moisture and everything throughout the whole pan, so oiling the outside will also keep off rust.

Warnings

Some people suggest cleaning your grill by running it at a high temperature to burn off any remnants. Be aware that doing this may also burn off the seasoning and invite rust.

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Never use a metal brush on any surface used to prepare or cook food. If a single metal fiber off that brush breaks off and becomes embedded in the meat you may face life-threatening health issues due to perforations of your digestive tract if it is ingested. You can use aluminum foil that you crush with your hand for difficult cleaning.

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