Chrome-plated or stainless steel grill grate?
September 21, 2017
Grillrost.com
Grillwissen | Produkte
Grillwissen | Produkte
Chrome-plated grill grate, cast iron or stainless steel - most grill grates on the market are made from these three materials.
Not only does the price differ greatly, but each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. In our last article, we showed you the advantages and disadvantages of cast iron barbecue grates.
In this article, we take a closer look at chrome-plated grill grates and why they are also harmful to health.
Stainless steel grill grate:
1. Stainless:
One of the most important advantages of stainless steel grill grates is that they do not rust and are therefore much easier to clean than other materials.
Our tip: Look out for the stainless steel rustproof label.
2. Less dirt:
The high density of stainless steel makes it harder for dirt to settle on the surface, making it easier to clean.
3. Food-safe:
Food does not suffer any changes in taste or discolouration on contact with stainless steel. There are therefore no health concerns when working with stainless steel.
4. Temperature resistant:
Stainless steel grill grates are more resistant to higher temperatures.
5. Flexible:
Stainless steel is flexible and can withstand abrupt temperature changes.
6.Easy handling:
Unlike chrome-plated grill grates, stainless steel does not require a protective coating to keep rust off. Scratches are not a problem with stainless steel grill grates and therefore handling is much easier.
7. Non-allergenic:
Stainless steel allergies are unknown and can therefore be used by allergy sufferers without concern.
8. Easy to clean
Stainless steel is not very fussy when it comes to cleaning aids. The only important thing is that only brushes made of brass or stainless steel are used; you can find out more about cleaning stainless steel grill grates in the following article.
9. Branding
Compared to chrome-plated grill grates, the food on the stainless steel grill grate shows a clear branding. However, it is important that the bars of the stainless steel grill grate are thick enough to retain the heat.
1. Higher price segment:
Stainless steel grates cost more compared to other grill grates. However, high-quality grill grates such as those from Grillrost.com last a lifetime and are therefore worth their price. The saying applies here: ‘Buy cheap, pay twice.’
2. Heat storage:
The absorption and storage of heat is not optimal with smaller bars, so it is important to pay attention to the bar thickness.
Therefore our tip: Look for solid bars! Grillrost.com therefore offers a selection of 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm thick bars.
Chrome-plated grill grate:
Advantages
1. Favourable price
The clear advantage of chrome-plated grills is the price. For this reason, most grill grates in barbecues are made of this material.
1. Not rustproof
Initially, the chrome-plated grill grate is rustproof. However, after a small scratch or as soon as something chips off the grill grate, this is over. The protective layer is then gone and the entire grill grate starts to rust very quickly and can no longer be used after a short time. Even with 3-layer chrome-plated grills, this does not take much longer.
2. Harmful to health
Chrome-plated grill grates are coated with a layer of nickel to protect against corrosion. In contrast to stainless steel, however, this is not firmly bonded to the material, but is permanently detached and can therefore migrate into the food. The state of Lower Saxony also advises against chrome-plated objects.
3. More difficult handling
If the protective layer of the chrome-plated grill grate is destroyed, the grill grate begins to rust. This means that even the smallest scratch can lead to rust. This makes handling the chrome-plated grill grate more difficult.
4. Allergy
According to the state of Lower Saxony, 5 to 10 % of the population are sensitised to nickel. An allergic reaction can therefore occur after skin contact or through the consumption of barbecue food containing nickel. Chrome-plated grill grate compared to stainless steel grill grates at Grillrost.com
5. Laborious cleaning
The material becomes brittle very quickly and various substances can bond very well with the grill grate. This makes cleaning extremely difficult and after a while it becomes almost impossible to get the grill grate clean again.
6. Complicated cleaning materials
Depending on the type of soiling, a chrome-plated grill grate requires a great deal of sensitivity. While stainless steel can be cleaned with almost any cleaning agent, chrome-plated grill grates require several things to be taken into account in order not to damage the protective layer.
7. Branding
Chrome-plated grates usually only have very thin bars. This means that the heat is retained very poorly and the griller misses the branding on the meat.
Chrome-plated grill grates only impress with their price
When listing the advantages and disadvantages, it quickly becomes clear which material is the better choice.
A stainless steel grill grate has clear advantages and can be used for a lifetime. Stainless steel is easy to clean and simple to handle. It is also food-safe and non-allergenic. Chrome-plated grill grates, on the other hand, are harmful. So harmful, in fact, that the state of Lower Saxony has issued a warning and only recommends using stainless steel barbecue grates and accessories.
So why are most grill grates in well-known barbecues chrome-plated? The only reason is the price. As chrome-plated grill grates are significantly cheaper than stainless steel grates, almost all complete barbecues are chrome-plated.
You can find more information about stainless steel grill grates on the Grillrost.com website - customised grill grates, matching replacement grill grates for branded grills, tripods, barbecue gallows and many other barbecue accessories.
