As laborious as it may sound, cleaning your grill and preparing it for winter is essential if you want to keep the same setup in good shape for years to come. A little maintenance now can save you time, money, and plenty of scrubbing when grilling season rolls around again.
And the secret to keeping those grates in good condition? Seasoning. It’s not just a pre-cooking ritual; a bottle of grapeseed oil from Amazon can help protect your grill grates from moisture and rust while they sit unused through the colder months, making for a much easier return to outdoor cooking next spring. Here’s how.
Grapeseed oil is one of the best choices for seasoning cookware, whether it is your skillet or our grill grates. The high smoke point means that it does not burn easily when heated, while the neutral flavor doesn't affect overall taste.
Seasoning a grill is common practice when preparing a grill after winter to prevent food from sticking and burning, but it is actually one of the best things you can do before, too.
Seasoning and cleaning cast iron, when done correctly, creates a hydrophobic barrier that blocks out humidity, condensation, and water, preventing rust and corrosion on metal grates. When you open it up again come springtime, they will be ready for a quick clean and cookout.
While you can remove rust and restore cast iron, prevention is always better than the cure. Seasoning before you pack everything away at the end of the season protects the structural integrity of your grates and will take less time than scrubbing rust spots when you want to start cooking. Trust me, it is more than worth the effort in the end.
The trick is to use a high-smoke-point oil, such as grapeseed oil from Walmart, to coat the clean grates before heating them until the oil is baked on. This helps create a protective barrier against moisture and rust while also helping to eliminate lingering food residue that could attract mold or pests over the winter.
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As Grilling Expert Dylan Clay of Barbeque FAQ explains, 'In terms of oils, all you’re doing is avoiding ones that have a low smoke point. Those are things like butter, olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, etc. Anything neutral, such as grapeseed, vegetable oil, avocado oil, even Crisco, works. I prefer grapeseed − it's cheap and neutral.
'To re-season, apply a super-thin (thinner than you think you need) layer of oil or fat to all surfaces, and then even wipe off the excess. Bake at around 450-500 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.'
Finish with a well-fitting grill cover, and your barbecue will be protected through the colder months and ready to fire up when the first warm day of next summer arrives.
From cleaning essentials to winter protection, these are the must-have tools and accessories you need to keep your grill protected through the colder months and ready to fire up again next summer.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Cast iron grill grates need seasoning much like pans made of the same material. Grapeseed oil is one of the best options as it has a neutral flavour and a high smoke point.
While you can clean a grill without a brush, it is a lot easier with one to remove food debris. This no-scratch brush prevents damage while making clean-up simple. Check for metal bristle debris on your grates before cooking.
Fire & Flavor Chef's BBQ Hot Gloves
This rust eraser provides precision when removing surface rust and tarnish. It is not for use on hot cast iron cookware, however, so allow the grates to cool completely before removing rust, and then heat to season.
Placing a moisture absorber inside a grill can help to prevent rust and mold developing on grill grates. Be sure to check and replace throughout winter, however.
Grilltough Heavy Duty Grill Cover
A grill cover will always be the best line of defence against damage over winter. This GrillTough grill cover is crafted with premium fade-resistant polyester fabric and a waterproof vinyl coating, ensuring long-lasting durability against UV rays, rain, tearing, and cold cracking.
Meet the Expert
Dylan has been smoking, grilling, and dehydrating meat for over 17 years. He founded Barbecue FAQ in 2019 to help fill in the blanks of making great BBQ at home.
If a busy summer has left your grill looking a little worse for wear, check out our tips for cleaning a rusty griddle before storing it over the winter.
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