Grill Replacement Parts
In a perfect world, we would only ever need to buy one grill and it would last throughout our lifetime. Unfortunately, that's not the case. At some point, parts break and, while we don't need to buy a whole new grill, replacement parts are needed. Below are common grill parts that may eventually need replacing during the life of a grill.
Grill Thermometer
Grill thermometers come in several forms: probe thermometers, infrared laser-guided gun thermometers, thermometers that rest on the cooking surface and thermometers that replace temperature gauges on the front of the grills.
Grill Heat Plates
Grill heat plates protect the burners on a gas grill from grease and food. They also help to evenly distribute the heat which, in turn, helps the food cook evenly.
Burners
Burners are the main source of heat on a gas grill. The food particles and grease that accumulate over time on them can cause the flames to be inconsistent and food to cook unevenly.
Igniter
The igniter is what creates the spark on a gas grill that causes the gas to flow through the burner which in turn creates the flame that cooks the food. The igniter is precipitated by pressing the ignition button.
Ignition Button
The ignition button activates the igniter that in turn generates the spark to start the gas. The most common reason that the ignition button fails to work is the battery dies.
Grilling Grates
Grilling Grates (also called grill racks or grill grates) is the surface where the food is grilled. This surface is usually made of stainless steel, porcelain-coated steel, cast iron or porcelain-coated cast iron. Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant and prevents food from sticking and will likely last much longer than other materials, but it won’t retain heat as long as cast iron does. Grilling grates allow for direct exposure to heat which makes them perfect for searing food.
Cooking Grates
Cooking grates are often used for a broader range of cooking beyond grilling. Like grilling grates, cooking grates are also made of stainless steel, cast iron or either of the two porcelain-coated.
Briquette Grates
Briquette grates, made of stainless steel or carbon steel, hold ceramic briquettes or lava rocks and are designed to evenly distribute heat.
Warming Rack
This rack is used to keep cooked food warm. Food is usually placed on the warming rack while other food is still grilling and you don’t want the cooked food to get cold. It can also be used to cook food low and slow — like food that doesn’t need to be cooked with direct heat.
Gas Grill Knobs
The gas grill knobs are the control knobs. These are what’s used to turn the grill on and off and open the valve to let gas into the burner. This allows you to control the flow of gas to the burner, the same way you would on a kitchen gas stove.
A tuber burner is a long metal tube with holes evenly spaced throughout its length. It’s designed to evenly distribute heat across the cooking surface, eliminating hot spots across the grill and in your food.
Important Things to Consider When Replacing Grill Parts
- Quality. The replacement parts should high quality and parts known for their durability, like stainless steel and cast iron.
- Make and Model Compatibility. Ensure that you know the make and model of your grill and the compatibility of parts that need replacing. Some parts may only be compatible with specific replacement parts, so be careful when searching for replacements. As always, refer to your grill’s manual when in doubt.
- Warranty. Ensure that the parts you choose are backed by a warranty.
- Good customer support. If you have any problems with your replacement part, you want to be able to contact a customer support team that you can rely on.
- Reviews. What are other people saying? If customer reviews are consistently bad, take this into consideration before your purchase.
Grill Parts That May Need Replacing the Earliest
For the most part, grill parts are sturdy. However, some grill parts typically require the most frequent replacements:
- Igniters – these get a lot of usage and tend to need replacement every two to three years.
- Burner – their lifespan is generally three to ten years.
- Cooking grates – these can last two to fifteen years.
- Grill knobs – these last about four years.
Grill Maintenance
Regularly cleaning your grill will help extend its lifespan and help keep your food tasting great. A dirty grill may not heat up evenly, which could lead to food that isn’t cooked evenly. Here are some things you can do to keep your grill in tip top condition and your food tasting great.
- After each use and while the grill is still warm, clean the grates with a grill brush to remove stuck on food and prevent bacteria build-up.
- Empty the grease tray. This helps prevent flare-ups.
- If you have a charcoal grill, empty the ashes after every use. Ash can sometimes get hard, making it difficult to remove.
- Cover the grill when not in use.
You should also deep clean your grill at least once a year. If you use your grill year-round, you should deep clean it more often. To deep clean,
- Disassemble the grates and burners and soak them in warm, soapy water. This will loosen the accumulated grease and debris.
- Scrub the grill’s interior with a brush with warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
- To ensure even gas flow, check the burners for any blockages. If you see any blockages, clean them with a brush.
For a more in-depth look at grill cleaning, read How to Clean a Grill.