The Best Type of BBQ Tools for a Porcelain Coated Grate

Whether different tools are necessary for a porcelain coated grate is a common question that grillers have. Let's start with what porcelain is.

Porcelain Is a Ceramic

Most folks think of porcelain as a delicate white ceramic from which fine china is made. Indeed, it is a fired clay and in China, it was originally used for fine white plates, cups and other items. But porcelain associated with cooking surfaces is a material that is nonstick, as hard as diamond, and non-porous. It can withstand very high heat and is extremely easy to cook on. For indoor cooking, porcelain pots can travel from freezer to stovetop without a hitch. Some call it the best-kept chef's secret around. It is also used in porcelain coated grates for both indoor and outdoor grill surfaces because it is such a versatile and durable material. Porcelain coated grill grates may be porcelain overlaid on cast iron or on a cheaper metal; the former is the better cooking surface.

Vulnerabilities of Porcelain

As tough as it is, porcelain is also vulnerable to chipping. It is somewhat brittle and can be damaged by a number of misuses. For example, a hard blow to porcelain will result in breakage. So will flexing it against its grain or slamming or throwing it around. Anyone accustomed to throwing the grill grate into the sink with a thud probably should not use porcelain. Because of these vulnerabilities, porcelain actually has to be handled with care. If it becomes chipped and it is an overlay on cast iron, soon water will seep in and rust will follow. The grate will eventually be ruined.

BBQ Tools

BBQ tools include cleaning tools, and here porcelain demands gentle cleaning with soft cloths and dish soap. Although not very much sticks to porcelain, the high heat used in grilling may result in some sticky residue that has to be removed and doesn't come off with a gentle wipe. So add to your BBQ tools a soft plastic bristle brush to get the stubborn stuff off your grate. Wire brushes or scraping with anything highly abrasive is not appropriate with these surfaces.

Other Utensils.

You really cannot use typical nonstick utensils on a grill of any type (even stainless steel barbecues); the heat is simply too high for most plastics and quasi-plastics. But you can use your typical metal utensils on porcelain; it just requires a little care. It is not the fact of metal touching the grate that is the problem: it is banging, hammering or otherwise bringing force to bear so that chipping, crazing or splintering occurs. So if you are using tongs made of metal to turn your steaks, it should be no problem. In other words, you need not find diamond-cast utensils or specialized spatulas and forks to use with a porcelain grate. On the other hand, don't use cheap, cruddy utensils that have to be scrapped across the surface in order to accomplish their mission. You'll have to throw them away in a few weeks, anyway. Just use good quality tools and common sense.