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 (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.
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 :-)
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.
I looked for a place to ask "Why don''t you sell all your goodies in the US?" 8)
Wow, thanks for the heads up
@CharliefromLI , I've been using mine upside down also.
That's why I always get round grates ;D, I can't screw it up!
Mine have apparently been upside down forever...I'm not changing lol
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!
HA
Thanks for the info.
At least I'm doing one thing right!
<sheepishly raises his hand> Well.... at least I'm not alone... :-[
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.
I would have thought they were right side up too.
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.