http://seriousbirder.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/cast-iron-vs-stainless-steel-grates-7-1024x186.jpg

I am running Cast Iron at the moment with stainless steel burners.
I hear they rust easier than stainless steel but stainless steel are harder to clean plus they cost a mint.

no cleaning, no worries

http://obrag.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/fire-pit-shot-420-06.jpg

;D what a great idea for beaches.

Reminds me of the two rocks and grill at the upper Colo River camping years ago. Just wrap the grill in paper when cool and throw in the boot.  ;D

Mattywisk wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 8:30pm:

;D what a great idea for beaches. Reminds me of the two rocks and grill at the upper Colo River camping years ago. Just wrap the grill in paper when cool and throw in the boot.  ;D

you don't need a beach .... get some bricks and some sand and make your own firepit .... it'll give you a much better flavour than any BBQ.

John Smith wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 8:31pm:

Mattywisk wrote on May 31st, 2014 at 8:30pm: ;D what a great idea for beaches. Reminds me of the two rocks and grill at the upper Colo River camping years ago. Just wrap the grill in paper when cool and throw in the boot.  ;D you don't need a beach .... get some bricks and some sand and make your own firepit .... it'll give you a much better flavour than any BBQ.

Interesting, I never thought of the flavor like that. Like smoking the meat a bit from the sand and wood. Sand also soaking up juices dropping down and re smoking. Hmmm

Mattywisk wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 8:36pm:

John Smith wrote on May 31st, 2014 at 8:31pm: Mattywisk wrote on May 31st, 2014 at 8:30pm: ;D what a great idea for beaches. Reminds me of the two rocks and grill at the upper Colo River camping years ago. Just wrap the grill in paper when cool and throw in the boot.  ;D you don't need a beach .... get some bricks and some sand and make your own firepit .... it'll give you a much better flavour than any BBQ. Interesting, I never thought of the flavor like that. Like smoking the meat a bit from the sand and wood. Sand also soaking up juices dropping down and re smoking. Hmmm

not so much that, although I'm sure that'll come into it and can only enhance the flavour, but food cooked over a real flame always taste better in my opinion ...., alternatuively, wrap the food in foil and bury it in the hot sand  ....

In my opinion, the difference between a convential BBQ to a firepit is the same as the difference between a wood fired pizza and a gas/electric oven pizza

Cast iron goes rusty no matter how well you care for it.

Black Orchid wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 8:41pm:

Cast iron goes rusty no matter how well you care for it.

I clean my grill with a wire BBQ brush then spray with oil to extend the life before rust sets in which it eventually will.

I always do that as well but when it hasn't been used for awhile and you open the lid there it is ... rust.

I think I used my last BBQ twice then didn't use it for a year.  I couldn't be bothered with the rust and hate the smell so I gave it away.

John Smith wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 8:40pm:

not so much that, although I'm sure that'll come into it and can only enhance the flavour, but food cooked over a real flame always taste better in my opinion ...., alternatuively, wrap the food in foil and bury it in the hot sand  .... In my opinion, the difference between a convential BBQ to a firepit is the same as the difference between a wood fired pizza and a gas/electric oven pizza

Burying the food would seal in the juices adding a nice flavor I reckon. The raw flame from wood would have to be its smokey flavor and ability to lick the meat seering it nicely I reckon.

Black Orchid wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 8:50pm:

I always do that as well but when it hasn't been used for awhile and you open the lid there it is ... rust. I think I used my last BBQ twice then didn't use it for a year.  I couldn't be bothered with the rust and hate the smell so I gave it away.

Yeah if you leave it a while it does start rusting. I'd like to from hear someone that uses a stainless steel hotplate and how easy it is to clean. I heard its quite hard.

Stainless steel saucepans and cookware are so easy to clean.

Black Orchid wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 9:04pm:

Stainless steel saucepans and cookware are so easy to clean.

Maybe I got it wrong.

Mattywisk wrote on May 31^st, 2014 at 9:05pm:

Black Orchid wrote on May 31st, 2014 at 9:04pm: Stainless steel saucepans and cookware are so easy to clean. Maybe I got it wrong.

S/S can stick more.

You can get dishwasherable (lol) sheets of non-stick materials that you place on your BBQ plate. No stick, easy to clean, wack it in the dish washer.

;)

I have stainless steel plates and steel burners which are rusted to the shithouse.

The stainless steel plates dont go rusty but they do get  a stain after a while. I cleaned them with oven cleaner with some success however the non caustic oven cleaner I had didnt clean as well as the real caustic ones you could buy in the past. Not sure if it is still available or not. Must have a look around the shops

Redmond Neck wrote on Jun 4^th, 2014 at 1:39pm:

I have stainless steel plates and steel burners which are rusted to the shithouse. The stainless steel plates dont go rusty but they do get  a stain after a while. I cleaned them with oven cleaner with some success however the non caustic oven cleaner I had didnt clean as well as the real caustic ones you could buy in the past. Not sure if it is still available or not. Must have a look around the shops

Drain cleaner usually has caustic in it!

Yeah, might try that, just hope it doesnt poison me!

Redmond Neck wrote on Jun 4^th, 2014 at 1:39pm:

I have stainless steel plates and steel burners which are rusted to the shithouse. The stainless steel plates dont go rusty but they do get  a stain after a while. I cleaned them with oven cleaner with some success however the non caustic oven cleaner I had didnt clean as well as the real caustic ones you could buy in the past. Not sure if it is still available or not. Must have a look around the shops

try your local cleaning chemicals place...  forget that watered down crap you buy at woolies or coles.

So keeping a well oiled cast iron hotplate probably suffices I guess.

Just spray it with oil before putting it away.

Why are you scared of rust?

Cast Iron holds heat longer & more evenly.

It's like the old carbon steel knives, held their edge longer & sharper, but they rusted.

Get some hot soapy water out & a steelo, spend 3 minutes washing plate then use.

Problem solved. ;)

And like you say a quick spray after use before storing will reduce problem even less.

This Topic was moved here from Food by MattyWisk.