Quick bbq grill survey

[Plester]

Grill grate survey

Thanks.

 

[Spydermag68]

Cast iron

 

[BoomerD]

Stainless steel.

 

[Greenman]

Stainless cleans easier, cast seems to produce better results. I assume it's because the stainless is always very thin and doesn't hold as much heat.

 

[Plester]

thanks for taking it, need some more respondents...

 

[Anubis]

voted
Cast iron
holds heat SOOO much better and in my experience the cast grates are always designed better as well

 

[MtnMan]

Cast Iron, better searing (doesn't cool off when cold meat dropped on it) and grill marks.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Cast Iron, better searing (doesn't cool off when cold meat dropped on it) and grill marks.

There's virtually no difference between stainless and cast iron in terms of thermal properties. The reason that cast iron seems better is that it's cheap so grates made of it can me more massive at a lower cost. Given the same physical dimensions you'd not see a difference in performance.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

There's virtually no difference between stainless and cast iron in terms of thermal properties. The reason that cast iron seems better is that it's cheap so grates made of it can me more massive at a lower cost. Given the same physical dimensions you'd not see a difference in performance.

You are correct. However, in thirty odd years of working with commercial kitchen equipment, I have never once used, seen or, heard of stainless steel grates being built to the same dimensions or equal robustness of cast iron so, your point is moot.

 

[MtnMan]

There's virtually no difference between stainless and cast iron in terms of thermal properties. The reason that cast iron seems better is that it's cheap so grates made of it can me more massive at a lower cost. Given the same physical dimensions you'd not see a difference in performance.

BS, just rebuilt/replaced the innards of my Weber grill and went with cast iron over the previous stainless. Noticeable difference.

Cheaper, not that either, the Weber cast iron cost about 30% more than stainless. They also weigh about 4X more than the stainless, the mass holds the heat. Same reason the best cornbread and fried chicken comes out of a cast iron skillet.

 

[Jeff7]

There's virtually no difference between stainless and cast iron in terms of thermal properties. The reason that cast iron seems better is that it's cheap so grates made of it can me more massive at a lower cost. Given the same physical dimensions you'd not see a difference in performance.

BS, just rebuilt/replaced the innards of my Weber grill and went with cast iron over the previous stainless. Noticeable difference.

Cheaper, not that either, the Weber cast iron cost about 30% more than stainless. They also weigh about 4X more than the stainless, the mass holds the heat. Same reason the best cornbread and fried chicken comes out of a cast iron skillet.

This was Hayabusa's point, at least as far as the thermal mass is concerned.

Cost: If people are willing to pay more for cast iron because of its perceived value in this application, then sellers will charge what they think they can get away with.
Cost isn't always based on how much the raw materials cost. (Diamonds or bottled water, for example.)

Though according to this, there is a little bit of difference between cast iron and stainless, with cast iron being more thermally conductive. But it's nothing like the difference between steel and aluminum or copper.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Technically speaking, BBQ is made on a smoker, not a grill.

 

[Captante]

Voted

 

[Plester]

Technically speaking, BBQ is made on a smoker, not a grill.

Changed link title to reflect this :biggrin: