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Why Cast Iron Grate?

Pjoe
Pjoe Posts: 224
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
I read a post about cast iron grates cracking and breaking. I was all ready to buy one until I read this. Realizing with most things in life there are trade offs, with the potential issues of cast iron grates, what are the benefits? I appreciate the responses I got on the other thread but I'm still not clear on this one. :huh:
LBGE AR SMALL BGE WOO RING
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Comments

  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    I think the advantage is simply the fact that they get hotter, so you get better grill marks and perhaps some better heat transfer (but I think mainly just the perty grill marks ;)).

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,806
    because of the heat retention of the castiron you can sear at lower temps, but other than that i dont see much advantage to it. i would rather just use my stainless grid from the ceramic grill store.
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • BobS
    BobS Posts: 2,485
    It is really just the heat capacity of the larger bars. They do not get hotter, that is a function of the temp of the fire, but the large size lets them hold more heat, so it takes longer for them to cool, when you hit them with cold meat, therefore, better grill marks.

    The heat radiating off the bars probably helps cook between the bars as well as under them, so the overall effect is a good sear.

    If you want a really good sear, try a cast iron skillet or grill on your egg.

    All this is good stuff. You get a very satisfying sizzle when you put food on a CI grate.
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  • Gator Bait
    Gator Bait Posts: 5,244
     
    I have one and have to agree that for the most part it is a luxury item. I do not T-Rex my steaks at high temps and mine has not had any cracking or breaking problems. I do not know if that is related or not. The one that NibbleMeThis is giving away HERE is a lot more functional and I would probably go that route today if I was going to buy one.


    Blair


     
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  • 2Fategghead
    2Fategghead Posts: 9,624
    pjoe, I say get you a ci grid and try it out. Why not live and learn because you won't be out very much money and you will experience cooking and searing on a ci grid.

    A while ago I purchased an adjustable rig from the ceramicgrillstore.com and I also got a spider from them to use in conjunction with a small ci grid from big green egg. Well long story longer I could not find a small ci grid with out ordering one so I did this. Six months ago I took medium ci grid from a bge dealer and ground it down to fit in my spider. Now six months later the modified grid works great and has not busted yet because I use the ci grid with a spider I only need sear at temps of around 400F to 500F degrees. I say live a little and get one.

    Here is my post from six months ago. Tim ;)

    http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&Itemid=112&func=view&catid=1&id=904868#904868
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  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,780
    pjoe they are an item like the platesitter that now I have a different idea on the need.
    But like the platesitter and ci's you have to have them to find out the money could be spent better on something that you need even less or more...............
    Hell, that may be half the fun of this :unsure:
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Just given another Mini to add to the herd. 

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