Grill Grate Tools

[Dave Doty]

My tongs and valley cleaner are rusting after minimal use. They are 3 months old. Cheap stainless steel.

[jfmorris]

Hmmm. I've had no issues with 2 of the Grate tools, or my detail tool/scraper. Wonder if they are made from different material? I leave the detail tool/scraper hanging on a grill hook, but under a cover on the grill. The grate tools end up in my bin of BBQ stuff in the floor of the pantry inside.

I would reach out to them. I think they are a company who will stand behind their product.

[ComfortablyNumb]

I only have the spatula that came with the grates. I use a pigtail instead of tongs and The Ringer for cleaning. Both can be had on Amazon. I can post links later when I get to computer.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Dave Doty Here are the links:

https://www.amazon.com/Pigtail-Food-Flipper-Turner-Hooks/dp/B01IRDE62E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1512512471&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=pigtail+food+flipper&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Ringer-Original-Stainless-Cleaner-Patented/dp/B00FKBR1ZG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512512440&sr=8-2&keywords=the+ringer

[xaugievike]

the ringer is a great tool! make sure you get the actual ringer brand and not one of the knockoffs.

[Spinaker]

Like most things nowadays, they are probably just cheap steel that is plated to look stainless. The valley brush is just regular galvanized metal. No stainless to be found. As for the tongs, they are simply plated. Made to look like stainless steel. So really, there is no stainless steel to speak of.

Regardless, if they are already rusting, I understand your frustration.

I also use the Pigtail.

[Sgt Tyree]

I picked up a small offset icing spatula (Ateco 1385) at a restaurant supply store that works really well for light cleaning in the valleys. The grate tool never gets used (find it awkward) and like ComfortablyNumb I gravitate towards the pigtail. The icing spatula works well for testing if fish is sticking or not as well.

[jfmorris]

The grillgrate website sets the warranty on those tools at 8 years prorated. Sure enough as others have pointed out, they do not actually advertise those items as stainless, and the brush is listed as galvanized wire. I must be lucky that I keep mine dry under the grill cover, or inside, as they still look good as new.

[jgreen]

I love the flipper. It lifts things so easily off the grates. I have had no rusting issues.

[DWCowles]

No rust problems with the two I have.

[Dave Doty]

Members, GrillGrate has sent me complimentary replacement tools. I will keep these inside from now on. Thanks to GrillGrate

[smokenoob]

I live on Gulf Coast surrounded by saltwater, seems "everything" rusts here, even 304 stainless!
Keeping a grill next to a pool will also have "life shortening" effects!
Keep the grease on!

[fzxdoc]

I had their Grate Valley Brush from Grill Grates rust after only a few months of use:



It didn't work that well for me anyway, so I'm not interested in a replacement. I went back to using the 1 inch wire brush that Meathead recommended to get the channels clean. Then I wipe the channels down with the Grate Chef Grill Wipes that GG also sells. Works for me.

Kathryn

[Frozen Smoke]

Being all my grates are expanded steel it presents a different cleaning problem. I left the wire brushes long ago due to the horror stories of bristles finding their way into people's stomach and causing some ah, shall we say discomfort
I have finally settled on the Cool Clean line of brushes. I think Char Broil makes them. They are stiff plastic made to clean your grates while they are cold. They are bright red in color so if one gets left behind on your grate you can easily spot it but I've yet to see this happen. Plus they never rust!

[wrgilb]

When doing a reverse sear on the flat side should you oil it first or just sear on the bare aluminum?

[Butchman]

I’d oil it the first time for sure. Probably won’t need to after the first cooks.