How to Season a Carbon Steel Grill — First Use Guide

Carbon steel is the best material for a live-fire grill. It handles extreme heat, conducts evenly, and gets better with every cook. But before you use it for the first time, it needs to be seasoned. Here's how.

Why seasoning matters

Carbon steel is not stainless. It will rust if left bare and exposed to moisture. Seasoning creates a thin layer of polymerized oil on the surface that protects the steel and builds a natural non-stick coating over time. The more you cook on it, the better it gets.

What you need

A clean cloth or paper towels, a high smoke point oil such as vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or flaxseed oil, and a hot fire.

Step 1 — Clean the grill

Wipe down the grate and any bare steel surfaces with a dry cloth to remove any dust or factory residue. Do not use soap.

Step 2 — Heat it up

Light your grill and let it get hot. You want the steel to be hot enough that a drop of water evaporates immediately on contact.

Step 3 — Apply a thin layer of oil

Using a cloth or paper towel held with tongs, apply a very thin layer of oil across the grate and steel surfaces. Thin is important — too much oil and it will go sticky rather than polymerize.

Step 4 — Let it burn in

Leave the grill burning for 15 to 20 minutes. The oil will smoke and then stop smoking — that means it has bonded to the steel. The surface will darken. That is exactly what you want.

Step 5 — Repeat

For best results, repeat the oil and burn process two or three times. Each layer adds protection.

After that your grill is ready to cook on. From this point on, the natural fats from meat will continue to build the seasoning every time you cook.

Ongoing care

After each cook, while the grill is still warm, brush off any food residue and wipe with a lightly oiled cloth. Store in a dry place or use a cover. If you see surface rust starting, brush it off with a wire brush, reheat, and re-oil. Carbon steel is very forgiving.

All DD Grills products are made from heavy-duty carbon steel and come ready to season. If you have questions about first use, get in touch on WhatsApp.