Charcoal basket maintenance

[Finster]

Anyone do anything special to try to extend the life of their charcoal basket?
the current state of mine below after Sunday's cook
Starting to look a little rusty in spots
I know it won't last forever, but I'd like to delay the inevitable for as long as I can...

[HawkerXP]

I just give it a brush off once in a while.

[HawkerXP]

Let the meat juices put a protective coating on it!

[Jessterr]

Nope. Iron + Fire + Humidity = Rust. Spraying it with cooking oil might prolong its life a bit, but most of that would just burn off on the first cook. Over the life of the basket you’d probably spend more on cooking oil than you would on just letting nature take its course and replacing it when it rusts out. I lightly wire brush mine after each cook, just out of respect. Other than that I just revel in its well-used glory. Think of it as a work of art.

[hoovarmin]

Try keeping one from rusting out in Florida.

[Henrik]

Just brush it off with a wire brush. That is just surface rust, so no big deal.

[Stuey1515]

I've learned not to leave it on the wok burner for too long once they coals are lit.
Lasts a lot longer

[Alabama Smoke]

I have read, although I do not really know, that the burned charcoal dust and ash that we all sometimes leave in the cooker until next cook works negatively on the iron. Since I read that, I usually clean mine out after the coals are cold.

[Thomassen]

I've noticed that my coal basket has started to flake pieces of rust off it. Just a little charcoal dust and ash will absorb any moisture in the air and help develop rust.