How to clean campground grill grates before use

[Gambit McCrae]

How would one propose cleaning campground charcoal racks before using them? Last weekend I brought my own light weight grates to put on top of the rusty ones at campsite. Would pouring light fluid on the grate and igniting it work?

[rocketsocks]

aluminum foil

[perdidochas]

How would one propose cleaning campground charcoal racks before using them? Last weekend I brought my own light weight grates to put on top of the rusty ones at campsite. Would pouring light fluid on the grate and igniting it work?

I would never intentionally put the lighter fluid on the grates and light it.

What are you afraid of? If the fire is hot, it will kill any pathogen on the grate.

[Gambit McCrae]

Im "affraid" of crapping my brains out like I did last weekend and the past 2 days. I just want to ensure a clean surface to cook on.

[Ktaadn]

The hot fire would esentially 'clean' the grates. I'm generally more concerned about the rust at that point. Is eating rust harmful to your health?

[Gambit McCrae]

https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/...g.php?id=12540

[Gambit McCrae]

A quick search pulled this up ^^^^

[Hikes in Rain]

Rust is iron oxide; it won't hurt you. But mixed with all the dirt and soot, it wouldn't taste good, and would leave nastiness on your food. Bringing your own light rack, as you did, or cover the existing one with foil, as rocketsocks said, is really your best bet.

[Just Bill]

Im "affraid" of crapping my brains out like I did last weekend and the past 2 days. I just want to ensure a clean surface to cook on.

Sounds like you got a different problem.
Aluminum foil (a bit of aluminum foil, or a rock in a pinch) will clean it physically.
Fire will clean it fine, biologically.

Not cooking your meat to temp, maintaining good hygiene (personal and kitchen) or treating your water will solve your other problems.

A thought as well-
When I bring fresh meat- I freeze it all prior to leaving and wrap it in foil. Hamburger or pork products- use first day. Steak, second day. Ham Steak or other salt heavy item- maybe three days.
I don't take a chance with chicken or fish.
Dry ice is another good trick in this regard, and makes a nice chilled libation.

[DandT40]

Personally I don't care what the science and facts are. I wouldn't eat food off a campground grate unless I was really in a pinch. When car camping we bring our own small grate and usually balance it over it the existing grate. Safe or not - no thanks.

[Gambit McCrae]

Personally I don't care what the science and facts are. I wouldn't eat food off a campground grate unless I was really in a pinch. When car camping we bring our own small grate and usually balance it over it the existing grate. Safe or not - no thanks.

This is my same feeling. I just bring my own and be done with it

[rocketsocks]

This is my same feeling. I just bring my own and be done with it

that's what I do too, bought one years ago after fiddling around trying to clean up somebody else's mess, got a few different sizes.

[Just Bill]

Tent stakes on rocks work too.
The worms can be fried with a little butter- cook up just like caramelized onions on your steak.
Yum!

Don't forget to pick some random mushrooms- they never make you sick.

[rocketsocks]

Tent stakes on rocks work too.
The worms can be fried with a little butter- cook up just like caramelized onions on your steak.
Yum!

Don't forget to pick some random mushrooms- they never make you sick.

...and if your really lucky...escargots. I know this one campground where there's tons of Ed car gots slimin' around.

[Don H]

I wouldn't think eating a little rust off a campfire grate would hurt you. A hundred years ago people put iron nails in apples which were allowed to rust a little. Then they would pull the nails and eat the apples to help with iron deficiency. They also picked up iron in their diet by cooking on cast iron pots and pans.

So a little rust is probably good for you.

As someone else said food poisoning usually takes effect 8 to 12 after eating the bad food. What did you have for lunch that day?

[Wise Old Owl]

OMG - the owl concurs with Just Bill your upchuck issues have nothing to do with the grill.. Take a wire hardware brush instead. I suggest watching a little of Bobby Flay on burgers and avoid eating Bubba Burgers... - bit nasty if you know what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCz_BWpR56E

[Tuckahoe]

Im "affraid" of craping my brains out like I did last weekend and the past 2 days. I just want to ensure a clean surface to cook on.

Nomnomnomnom mmmmm iron oxide...

You do realize that your own kitchen sanitiation more likely to make you sick than a campsite grill, right?

[MuddyWaters]

Ashes and grease of yesterday, for burgers of tomorrow

[Gambit McCrae]

OMG - the owl concurs with Just Bill your upchuck issues have nothing to do with the grill.. Take a wire hardware brush instead. I suggest watching a little of Bobby Flay on burgers and avoid eating Bubba Burgers... - bit nasty if you know what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCz_BWpR56E

Never sid anything about upchuck...Diarhea all the way

[memphistiger02]

Yea I always use foil on those grills. People are crazy and not telling what is on it. If I was cooking directly on it I would make a huge fire under and let the flames rise up above the grate for a few mintes and then let it die down.