Just when you start to think you know it all…
I’ve been reading and posting here for the almost 2 years since that’s how long I have been cooking on and rescuing Craigslist kettles. In those two years I have learned a ton about the history, design, maintenance and repair of kettles. I’m at the point now where I am able answer questions now with full confidence. I take it as quite a compliment when some of the vets here post support for or confirm some of my advice.
While I may know a thing or two about kettles after only two years, apparently when it comes to gas grills I am still clueless, despite using them for two Decades!
I cooked on tons of cheap gassers growing up and was fortunate enough to get a genesis as a housewarming gift in 2011. I have used it hundreds of times in 5 years and thought I knew what I was doing and then I saw this:
http://www.weber.com/weber-nation/blog/which-side-faces-up-on-a-cast-iron-grate It turns out I, like many others, have been using my grates upside down too…for five years?!?
I cooked on gas last night (a rarity these days) to correct this mistake. I flipped the grates over and 5 years upside down left the actual “top” of the grates were looking pretty funky. Facing down towards the burners left greasy stalagmites and facing the burners caused some light rusting.
I used some of my kettle know how and went to work: This grease was caked on and scraping cold was doing nothing. So I gave the grill a solid preheat and went to start scraping but the grease was still pretty tough. I finally went all in and busted out the JT 850 garden torch that was a craigslist find for lighting a WSM.
While the grill was preheating I used the wand to gives the grates a getting heating from top and bottom. I then attacked with a metal scraper and the grease was removed. Since there was some light rust I oiled the grates and continued to heat to re-season them. After two coats or oil they looked good and I threw some chicken cutlets on (BSCB for you non Yankees) and the grates were nonstick and left some wide grill marks. You really do learn something new every day.
MODS: I know this isn’t directly kettle related but I posted here since I think the kettle guys will get a good chuckle at my expense.