6 Signs That It’s Time to Replace Gas Stove Grates

It’s inventible. Any bustling, commercial kitchen will eventually need to replace its gas stove grates eventually. These components constantly take the heat, quite literally, and bear the brunt of hundreds of hours per week. When your grates become worn to the point that they’re affecting your kitchen’s efficiency and performance, then it’s time to upgrade to new parts. To get the most bang for your buck, it’s important to learn exactly when to deep clean your grates and when to toss them out in favor of brand-new ones. If you’ve decided that it’s time to upgrade, don’t fret. Replacing gas cooktop grates is an essential component to keeping your equipment running well into the future, and it’s a much more cost-effective solution than replacing your entire stove. At SharpTek Supply, we’ve got replacement gas stove grates for all the restaurant world’s best cooktop manufacturers, including Vulcan, Garland, Bakers Pride, Cecilware, Rankin, and more. Replacing your stove’s grates is relatively easy and affordable with us.

1. They’re Broken — Although most gas stove grates are made from super-tough cast iron, steel, and enamel-coated components, they do break from time to time. This is especially common in grates that have rubber feet or grate bumpers. In many cases, you can replace just the rubber components themselves. If any part of the grate has cracked or chipped, then you’ll want to go the replacement route. Broken pieces compromise the flame’s ability to evenly heat, and they also add the risk of injury to your employees.
2. They Have Loose Rust — There are plenty of ways to thoroughly remove mild rust and corrosion from your grates, but there comes a point when regular soaking just won’t do the job. When the rust on your grates begins to flake or peel off, it’s time to replace the parts. Unfortunately, loose rust can stick to your food and compromise the flavor. Not to mention, ingesting loose rust particles isn’t safe or desirable for your patrons.
3. They’re Beyond Cleaning — Regularly cleaning your stove grates using mild, soapy water—or the self-cleaning cycle on your oven, if the manual specifies that this method is okay—is key to keeping them in tip-top shape. If you’ve tried every cleaning technique out there and still see that the surface looks weathered or corroded, then it’s time to replace those grates. Deeply soiled cast iron or steel can alter food’s flavor and affect the stove’s ability to properly ignite.
4. The Stove Won’t Light — If your stove won’t properly ignite, your burner bases or igniters are most likely to blame. But there are some instances where the grate itself can cause the unit to stop lighting on cue, like if the grates don’t fit properly or if they have become dirty to the point where they’re clogging the igniter with food debris. It can be super frustrating to constantly turn the knob with no flame, and this is a relatively easy fix if the grates are the issue.
5. They’re Warped or Disfigured — You may have experienced what’s known as “thermal shock” with your cast iron cookware in the past. When you cool a hot grate or pan using ice-cold water, it can cause the material to change shape or warp. Years of hot-to-cold cleaning can compromise the shape and fit of your cast iron grates. When grates don’t fit properly, it’s more difficult to evenly warm pans. If your grates aren’t sitting flush on the cooktop like they used to, it’s time to replace them.
6. They’re Sucking Up Your Time — A good thing to remember in the restaurant industry—or any business, really—is that your time is money. Old, weathered, and dirty grates are much more demanding in terms of maintenance, which can suck up your employees’ time and disrupt your kitchen’s efficiency. If your staff is spending too much time cleaning and adjusting the grates on your gas stove, that’s a good sign it’s time to go with the replacement route. Of course, regular maintenance is always necessary, even with brand-new grates, but newer styles will require less elbow grease and time.

Remember, a good-quality commercial gas stove should last for years. Investing in high-quality gas stove replacement parts is almost always a more budget-friendly and economical solution than replacing costly equipment. As long as you keep the most vital parts in tip-top shape, your commercial cooktop should serve you well for decades.