Over time, grill grates can corrode or get so sticky that it’s nearly impossible to pull food off in one piece. Food that sticks loses juice and dries out when you try to pry it from a sticky grate. But, you don’t have to grill this way. You can fix this problem by seasoning your grill grates.

Seasoning grates remove contaminants, repels rust and seals pores to stop food from sticking. Seasoning before and after you grill will make cleaning easier and make your food taste better.

Some argue that cleaning the grate before seasoning takes away natural flavors from past meals. However, the advantage of cleaning the grate first is that it’s easier to apply seasoning evenly, and the seasoning will last longer. The choice is yours.

Two Easy Steps to Seasoning Your Grill

Step 1. Before turning the grill on, coat the surface of the grate with high-heat cooking oil. Canola oil and peanut oil work well, but you can also use coconut oil or spray-can vegetable oil.

Step 2. Wipe any excess oil off the grate with a paper towel, then turn the grill on high for about 15-20 minutes or until the oil starts to burn or smoke. By the end, the grate should become dark.

Tip: After each use, let grill your grill cool. Brush away any food debri to clean off the grates. Then lightly apply a coat of high-heat cooking oil.

One more advantage of clean grill grates? Picture-perfect grill marks.