Not All Stainless Grills Are Created Equal
20
Dec
Shopping for a grill you’re probably sorting through a myriad of online options. That’s natural! Most consumers search for the best value for their money.
Unfortunately online advertising can be confusing and misleading when it comes to stainless grills. I’m here to explain why all stainless grills are not created equal so you can make an informed decision to get the most value for your money.
What is stainless anyways? Stainless steel is a steel alloy composed mainly of iron with the addition of about 10-12% chromium. Under normal conditions chromium will react with oxygen in the air and create a thin and very protective passive layer on the material. This reaction is the reason that stainless steel is such a rock star against corrosion and rust.
When building a grill, it’s necessary to cut, grind, and heat the material to achieve the desired product. These necessary fabrication processes involve applying heat and pressure which break down the protective passive layer, reducing the concentration of chromium in those areas.
What does that mean? It means the affected areas become very susceptible to rust over time. Yikes. The reason most people invest in a more expensive stainless product is because they believe they’re getting in a rust resistant grill.
What can be done? After fabrication we use a process called “passivation” to reverse the damaging effects the fabrication processes have on the material. Passivization involves a very thorough cleaning and then treatments with a specialized series of acids and neutralizers. This process restores the passive layer making the material naturally rust/corrosion resistant once again. Phew.
Most grill manufacturers advertise rust resistant stainless products, but actually sell stainless products that will rust over time because they skip this important last process.
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