Non-stick cooking spray is my secret to prevent meat from sticking to the stainless steel cooking grates in my Weber gas grill and smoker. I know some people have this same issue with their stainless steel grates and can’t figure out how to resolve the problem—this video is for them!
Watch this video for some helpful tips on using non-stick cooking spray next time you grill or barbecue in the backyard!
Questions & Comments
Since I first published this video, I’ve received several questions and comments I’d like to address.
Let me be clear that I’m using non-stick cooking spray to solve a very specific and difficult problem that I have with my particular stainless steel cooking grates. Not everyone has stainless grates, and some with stainless grates don’t experience the sticking problems that I do. So if you have another method or product that helps prevent sticking on your grates in your grill, more power to you—keep doing what you’re doing! I’m just sharing what works for me and my grill in case it can help someone else with the same stainless steel sticking grate problem that I’ve experienced for the last 20 years of owning my Weber Summit 450.
Q: Have you tried Weber’s grill spray? You can spray it on a hot grate and it doesn’t flare up.
A: Yes, I’ve tried it. For me and my grates, it doesn’t work as well as the leading non-stick cooking spray. The first ingredient in the Weber spray is water, then soy lecithin as the non-stick agent, then salt, hickory flavor, and some other stuff. The first four ingredients in the leading non-stick spray are canola oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and soy lecithin. There’s something about this mix that seems to work best for me and my sticking stainless steel grates.
Besides, I already have non-stick cooking spray on-hand for baking and other uses in the kitchen, so there’s no reason to buy a grilling-specific spray.
Q: Have you tried a spray pump filled with olive oil?
A: Yes, I have. For me and my grates, it doesn’t work as well as the leading non-stick cooking spray.
Q. Have you tried the olive oil (or avocado or duck fat) spray oil from (insert favorite store here)?
A. No, I have not.
Q: Have you tried brushing oil directly on your meat?
A: Yes, I have. For me and my grates, I find that using the leading non-stick cooking spray works better and is more convenient.
Q. Have you tried rubbing a cut onion on the hot grate?
A. No, I have not. That seems like a waste of a perfectly good onion.
Q: These spray cans contain propellants and produce waste that’s not good from an environmental perspective.
A: Yes, you’re right. But it works so well and my grates stick so bad that I can’t imagine not using it.
Q: I find that preheating and cleaning my stainless steel grates well before cooking prevents foods from sticking. Have you tried that?
A: Yes. I preheat my grates on HIGH for 10-15 minutes and scrub them well before grilling. The meats I mention in the video still stick.
Q: Meat will stick to the grate if you turn it too soon. Are you waiting long enough for the meat to release before you turn it over?
A: Yes, I think I’m waiting long enough. There are just some meats that really seem to stick to my stainless steel grates unless I spray them with non-stick cooking spray.