# Rust on a gas grill-need an opinion by tomorrow a.m.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 7, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853 "2019-09-07T21:15:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/1 "2019-09-07T21:15:52Z")
This does not apply to the heavy steel grill plates we cook on. Those are well cleaned and rust free.
The inside of the gas grill was left to sit all summer on the deck, and the inside of the grill, around the burners, is all rusted. What to do? Run the propane for a while? clean it with a brillo pad? Is it ok to cook with?
I repeat, the steel grill plates are fine, the inside of the grill is rusted. Someone here thinks the rust is going to migrate from the burners into the food, even though the grill plates are clean.
would you use a 2-year old gas grill rusty on the bottom and around the burners?
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### Author:  [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/2 "2019-09-07T21:35:34Z")
Would I use a rusty grill? Absolutely.
First: a gas grill is going to be self-sterilizing. Even the cooties that afflict those with OCD can’t survive the heat of a gas grill. Also, [iron compounds are common in breakfast cereals](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/676/do-iron-fortified-cereals-really-contain-iron-filings/) and other iron-fortified foods. They kind of have to be, unless you’re insisting on iron-free iron-fortified food.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/3 "2019-09-07T21:40:55Z")
If the grills are fine, then go ahead and use it. Hit the rusty areas with a wire brush to get any scale off, shop-vac it clean and go to town.
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### Author:  [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/4 "2019-09-07T21:50:40Z")
Nothing to worry about. If you do decide to brush the rust off, check the gas ports on the burners to make sure they’re not clogged.
Might be a good idea anyway, since it’s been sitting so long.
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/5 "2019-09-07T22:08:12Z")
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> Someone here thinks the rust is going to migrate from the burners into the food, even though the grill plates are clean.
Are you suggesting that rust migrates?
My grill (charcoal, not gas) has some rust, but I don’t worry about it at all. The rust is unlikely to get into the food, and even if it did, ingested rust is not harmful in small amounts. It’s just iron oxide, and iron is a common food supplement.
Cite:
> **[Ingestion of Rust](https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/12540)**
>
> Ingestion of Rust
And a previous discussion on this board:
> **[Toxicity due to consumption of rust](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=565751)**
>
> Let’s say I had some rusty cookware. Or knives. Or something. (I don’t, but imagine I did.) And I used them in the preparation of food. What is the danger, if any, from the consumption of rust?
If you really want to mollify the person who is concerned, you could spray it with rust remover and scrub with a wire brush.
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### Author:  [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2019, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/6 "2019-09-08T03:48:34Z")
Other people here have mentioned wire brushing the rusty surface(s). I am suggesting that you use a rotary tool with a wire brush attachment - wear gloves and eye protection, wear a mask if there is a lot of rust. From what you told me, I do not think it is that much. Stop right there if you don’t want to do any more…
Or: There is a product called “Naval Jelly,” made by Locktite. Get some and paint it on the rusty surface(s). This should remove all of the rust that remains from the wire brushing. Wash the surfaces with soap and water afterwards. Stop right there if you don’t want to do any more…
Or: Paint the surfaces that were rusty with some spray paint that will withstand up to 3000 degrees. You mentioned that some of the rust was on or near the burners themselves. So you might want to tape off the burners before you paint.
Ok, that is my suggestion
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2019, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/7 "2019-09-08T04:41:36Z")
Don’t worry about it. Cook your food, eat it. You won’t die from it.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2019, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/8 "2019-09-08T05:17:00Z")
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> would you use a 2-year old gas grill rusty on the bottom and around the burners?
Yes, without a second thought.
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### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/9 "2019-09-08T15:48:55Z")
All righty then! All signs point to YES, it’s OK to use. I’ll show this to the interested party, that we will not die!
Thanks for all the answers and suggestions.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/10 "2019-09-09T14:18:11Z")
I would be far more wary (read: not all that wary) of cooking on a grill that had been plastered with rust-remover than one that had rust on it.
Heck, the actual grill that the food sits on on my outside charcoal BBQ is pretty rusty. I just give it a wipe before cooking.
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/11 "2019-09-09T16:22:31Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Don’t worry about it. Cook your food, eat it. You won’t die from it.
You ever taste his cooking? :o
Seriously, as everyone else has said, a bit of rust is no issue. However, if there has been so much rust that you can see holes thru the metal then _potentially_ the integrity of the fire box is compromised. The concern there is bumping, jostling, or potentially tripping into a structurally weakened device that contains an active fire & suddenly has catastrophic metal fatigue. Though at two years old, unless you stored it outside, with the top open, & live in an area particularly known for bad acid rain I probably wouldn’t worry about that.
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### Author:  [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/12 "2019-09-09T16:35:16Z")
> [@Ficer67](#):
>
> Other people here have mentioned wire brushing the rusty surface(s). I am suggesting that you use a rotary tool with a wire brush attachment - wear gloves and eye protection, wear a mask if there is a lot of rust. From what you told me, I do not think it is that much. Stop right there if you don’t want to do any more…
>
> Or: There is a product called “Naval Jelly,” made by Locktite. Get some and paint it on the rusty surface(s). This should remove all of the rust that remains from the wire brushing. Wash the surfaces with soap and water afterwards. Stop right there if you don’t want to do any more…
>
> Or: Paint the surfaces that were rusty with some spray paint that will withstand up to 3000 degrees. You mentioned that some of the rust was on or near the burners themselves. So you might want to tape off the burners before you paint.
>
> Ok, that is my suggestion
The rotary tool brush is a good idea but DO NOT use “Naval Jelly” or any other chemicals on your grill. DO NOT paint the grill or any of the inside of your fire box. These products are not rated for food contact and can be toxic, hazardous, carcinogenic.
Brush the surface rust off, heat it up, and repeat.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rust-on-a-gas-grill-need-an-opinion-by-tomorrow-a-m/839853/13 "2019-09-09T16:36:14Z")
> [@Colophon](#):
>
> I would be far more wary (read: not all that wary) of cooking on a grill that had been plastered with rust-remover than one that had rust on it.
>
> Heck, the actual grill that the food sits on on my outside charcoal BBQ is pretty rusty. I just give it a wipe before cooking.
This.
I used my old charcoal grill until it rusted out. Like, the thing at the bottom that regulates airflow just rusted away. I still have it – it’s my backup for when one grill isn’t enough.
Heck, until a month ago, my husband brewed his tea in a kettle rotten with rust.