Traeger is a popular company designing high-quality grills made to last for years. But a common problem grill owners face is rusting. For this reason, it’s wise you know whether Traeger grills rust before investing in one to help you plan yourself.
Keep reading this article to learn more about the rusting problems in Traeger grills and how to address them.
Unfortunately, Traeger grills will rust inside and outside if they aren’t taken proper care of. Although the company designs grills for outdoor use, they will rust if kept outdoors in wet and humid weather for a long time. If your Traeger grill develops heavy corrosion, it may be hard to maintain a high temperature inside the grill.
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Do Traeger Grills Rust Out
Traeger most manufacturers pellet grills. The company is one of the best-selling brands in today’s grill market, manufacturing high-quality grills made of stainless steel.
These grills are designed to resist rust to some extent. However, for that to be possible, you need to take proper care of the grill. Otherwise, they may get rusty too.
To understand how rust is formed on Traeger grills, we have to understand what rust is.
Rust is a red-brown oxide that forms when iron and oxygen react. It usually needs a catalytic element like water or air moisture to form.
Rust forms through a process known as oxidation. The three elements involved in rust formation are water, oxygen and iron. When these three elements are present at the same time, rust can quickly form.
The environment can promote or slow down rusting, so storing your grill properly is essential.
If you store your Traeger grill outside where it constantly gets in contact with water and humid conditions, rust may quickly start forming.
A rusted grill loses its aesthetic value and functionality quickly. Therefore, it is essential that you keep the grill from the environmental factors that cause grills to rust.
Are Traeger Grills Rust Proof
Traeger grills are designed to be rust resistant. The manufacturer uses high-quality materials to allow users to use the grill outdoors.
So as long as you keep the grill clean and covered with a breathable cover when not in use, rust should not be a problem.
However, Traeger grills that are poorly maintained tend to rust. If you keep them outside for a longer period in wet and humid weather, rust will soon start to form.
When this happens, maintaining the temperature inside the grill becomes hard as it develops holes caused by heavy corrosion.
Traeger grills can also catch corrosion on the inside even if they are kept indoors far from moisture.
Please remember that while rust needs iron, moisture and air to form, dirt and dust particles on the grill can also contribute to rusting if they stay there for a long time.
For this reason, regularly cleaning your Traeger grill’s inner surface is essential. Make sure that you remove food and dust particles before storing your grill.
What Causes Traeger Grill To Rust
As earlier mentioned, rust on the grill occurs due to the oxidation of iron particles. When you expose iron to water and oxygen, reddish brown corrosion (rust) forms.
The more the rust forms, the more the grill elements get damaged, which reduces the effectiveness and value of the grill.
Some of the reasons why a Traeger grill may rust include:
Leftover Food Residue
Even if you are a careful cook, food particles may still fall on your grill when cooking.
Acidic foods such as marinades and sauces can lead to rust if left on the grill for a long time.
For this reason, individuals are advised to clean their grills after every use. Thankfully, this should not be challenging if you have the right cleaning tools.
Backyard Chemicals
Although most of us avoid chemicals as much as possible, some instances will force us to use them.
For instance, we need chlorine and bromine to clean our pools. Unfortunately, these chemicals are corrosive agents and can quickly promote rust on your grill.
They can damage even the highest quality model when they escape the pool as vapor and find their way into the grill.
Chemicals from your fertilizers can also promote rusting. It is essential that you keep your grill away from the pool and lawn.
If you cannot, consider investing in a grill cover to protect it from these chemicals.
Extremely High Temperature
This isn’t a common reason why Traeger grills rust. But, it is still possible to rust from very high temperatures.
Extremely high temperatures between 750-1150 degrees Fahrenheit can bond together the metal used to make your grill leading to rust.
Unfortunately, this issue is easy to fix since it involves a complicated heat treatment process. But you can find a professional to help you.
Snow Melting Solutions
Experts discouraged leaving grills outside during winter. If you do that, at least buy a good grill cover for your equipment.
However, the issue can worsen when you remove ice using a chemical agent. Chemicals for melting ice can promote rusting on your grill.
If snow is on the grill, remove it using the heat from the grill and get a grill cover to avoid this problem.
What To Do If You Have Rust On The Inside Of A Traeger Grill
As earlier said, rust may form inside your Traeger grill. This can be harmful in several ways.
For instance, if it catches bacteria from the atmosphere, it reduces the quality of food you cook on your grill.
Additionally, rust on your grill can spoil it and shorten its lifespan. For this reason, it is essential that you get rid of it immediately after it starts to form.
If you notice rust on the inside of your grill, here are the steps to take.
Clean Using Soap and Water
If the rust problem isn’t major, you can use soap and water to remove it.
You may also need a grill brush to help you shift the brush. But if you don’t have one, an absorbent cloth can do.
At no point should you use steel or wire wool on stainless steel. If you can’t find a cloth, use a sponge instead.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Add vinegar portion by portion into 1 cup of baking soda. Do that until you achieve a consistent paste.
Then, apply it to the grill with a sponge and let it sit for around 20-30 minutes.
After, scrub it clean using warm water and a soft cloth or sponge. Then rinse with warm water.
Lemon Juice and Detergent
Lemon juice is effective in dissolving rust. Mix it with water and a powder detergent to form a paste.
Then apply the paste where you spot the rust and let it sit overnight.
After, scrub it using clean, warm water and a sponge or a soft cloth and rinse it.
Soda
Soda has phosphoric acid, which can help in rust removal. If the rust is on one part, you can easily remove it using this ingredient.
Just soak that part in soda overnight and rinse with clean water in the morning. Make sure you scrub the area using a sponge or soft cloth.
Commercial Rust Remover
Lastly, if everything above fails, you can always invest in a commercial rust remover. But ensure you follow the instructions on the package to the latter.
How Do You Prevent Traeger Grill From Rusting
There are various ways you can prevent your Traeger grill from rusting and increase its lifespan. But everything narrows down to better care and maintenance.
Here are some ways to prevent rust formation on your Traeger grill:
Clean the powder coating outside your Traeger grill using warm soapy water.
Clean it regularly- after cooking, ensure that you remove the food residue left behind.
Remember to clean both the inside and the outside of the grill. Please do not use oven cleaners, scouring pads or abrasive cleaners on your grill’s outside.
Dry your grill thoroughly after cleaning- leaving water inside the grill can promote rust formation.
So, always confirm that no water has collected inside the grill and every time you clean it, use a soft dry cloth or paper towels to wipe it off.
Season your grill- grill seasoning is an effective way of preventing rust build-up on the grates. Clean the grates using a wire brush, remove any rust present, and coat the inside using vegetable oil.
Helpful Tips To Know About Do Traeger Grills Rust
Although Traeger grills high-quality design grills to be used outside, they can and do rust.
For this reason, it is essential to take proper measures to extend the lifespan of your grill. Apart from the care measures listed above, you can also;
- Buy a grill cover for your grill and cover it every time you are not using it.
- Repaint your grill often. You can buy Traeger paint from their website
- Once in a while, deep clean your grill
Final Thoughts
Traeger grills tend to rust on the inside and outside if they aren’t well cared for.
But thankfully, there are various ways you can take better care and maintenance of your grill to prevent rust and make it last longer.