Just when you start to think you know it all…

[CharliefromLI]

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.

[brokenappletree]

That's too funny.  I've been cooking on mine for 15 years, the wrong way the whole time.  Weber Silver bought around 2001.  I see no reason to change :-)

[Josh G]

If it works stay with it! If you were doing that on a kettle you might get a hard time, but on your genesis your fine. I looked at your link and had no clue which side to use either.

[Red Kettle Rich]

I looked for a place to ask "Why don''t you sell all your goodies in the US?"

[JDD]

Wow, thanks for the heads up @CharliefromLI , I've been using mine upside down also.

[Darko]

 That's why I always get round grates , I can't screw it up!

[firedude5015]

Mine have apparently been upside down forever...I'm not changing lol

[MikeRocksTheRed]

This is pretty funny.  Someone should do a side by side cook with one grate the right way and the other upside down.  Maybe the upside down wins!

[dazzo]

HA

Thanks for the info.

At least I'm doing one thing right!

[AZRaptor]

<sheepishly raises his hand> Well.... at least I'm not alone... 

[BluesDaddy]

I had one a few years back and cooked "upside down" as well. However, I'm not convinced they're orientation is correct. First, I think exposing the wider side to the flame would result in the grills themselves getting hotter faster and retaining heat. I think it also would be more conduce to getting nice grill marks, though I am aware of wanting the whole surface of the meat to be browned. Not that I really care since I no longer own a gasser and have no plans to, but I'd love someone to do some real world experimentation and report back.

[WNC]

I would have thought they were right side up too.

[fdeange]

I called Weber when I bought my new Genesis this year. The grates were pointy side up and weren't square. So I called Weber and they told me they were wrong. Mind you Home Depot delivered it that way, so they were wrong.