Every grilling aficionado loves gas grills.
Not only are these grills easy to use, but they also come with a number of exciting features.
They are also more versatile than conventional grills as well as easier to clean and to maintain.
If you have a Weber gas grill at your home, then you would have probably heard about one of its most coveted features, the flavorizer bars.
These bars were introduced by the Weber company first in the 1980s when they launched the Genesis model.
But what are these flavorizer bars and what purpose they serve?
As per my study, Weber flavorizer bars are v-shaped bars that catch drippings, and juices from the food being cooked in the grill.
Flavorizer bars have a number of advantages.
No. 1: To begin with, they boil away the drippings and sauces, imparting a smoky flavour to the food being cooked.
No. 2: They prevent flare-ups, which are a common problem for grillers.
No. 3: Flavorizer bars also keep the Weber burner tubes from becoming clogged.
As per my experience, I can say that those Weber burner tubes are tiny holes that are difficult to clean and often become clogged with food particles.
No. 4: Flavorizer bars deflect food particles, preventing food buildup and clogging of the burner tubes.
Thus, these flavorizer bars are an essential and useful addition to your Weber grill.
They make cooking easier and less stressful.
Though they have a number of advantages, there are quite a few problems with these bars which you need to deal with.
One of those problems is rusting.
These bars are often exposed to high heat and these bars rust easily.
Therefore, after some time, you may require frequent replacement of these flavorizer bars even with proper care.
I recommend to continue reading this article to learn more about Weber flavorizer bars and the dos and don’ts associated with them.
Click Here to Get New Replacement Weber Flavorizer Bars if They are Broken or Damaged.
Do Weber Flavorizer Bars Really Work?
Yes, based on my research and experience, I can say that Weber Flavorizer bars do work for sure.
They have a number of advantages to use on a regular basis, some of which are mentioned below.
No. 1: No More Flareups
While grilling, flareup is a common phenomenon.
It is also known as a grease fire.
It can happen due to sudden increase in the temperature when fire touches something combustible and it can sometimes be dangerous for you and the people around.
Flavorizer bars prevent these flareups.
This happens as they catch extra drippings and sauce, and don’t let the same reach the fire.
No. 2: Enhances the Taste of Your Food
Any sauce or dripping that flavorizer bars catch is then vaporized which creates smoke.
This adds smoky flavor to your meat.
It is actually mild and not of the same intensity as that of charcoal grills, but enough to enhance the taste of your food.
No. 3: Uniform Heat Distribution
Weber Flavorizer bars help in uniform cooking by evenly distributing the heat across the surface of the grill.
This makes the food evenly cooked and more appetizing for you.
No. 4: No More Clogging of Burner Tubes
Weber Burner tubes are harder to clean and they often tend to clog constantly.
Flavorizer bars don’t let the food particles reach these burner tubes.
Thus, these bars help in preventing the clogging from taking place inside the Weber burners.
Is it Okay to Cook with Rusty Flavorizer Bars?
Flavorizer bars rust easily because they are frequently exposed to high temperature or extreme heat.
A little rust and corrosion to these bars is fine.
It causes no health risks and has no effect on the performance of your flavorizer bars.
However, I recommend to replace your Weber flavorizer bars only when there are cracks or holes in them and they are extremely rusted.
Click Here to Get New Replacement Weber Flavorizer Bars When You See Cracks and Holes in them.
What are Weber Flavorizer Bars Made from?
Weber flavorizer bars are either made of stainless steel or porcelain-enameled steel material.
Usually, the bars made of porcelain-enameled steel are cheaper and easier to clean.
However, the bars that are made up of stainless steel material are more expensive and durable than the ones made of porcelain-enameled steel.
Neither of these flavorizer bars are however, rust free and they will corrode over time regardless of the care taken by you.
How Long Do Weber Flavorizer Bars Last?
The duration for which the flavorizer bars will last depend upon the material used to make these bars.
While stainless steel bars last up to 5 to 6 years, porcelain enameled bars have a lifespan of around 3 to 4 years.
Their lifespan is also affected by how frequently you use your Weber grill.
Are Weber Flavorizer Bars Covered under Warranty?
Yes, flavorizer bars are covered under Weber’s warranty.
For stainless steel bars, the warranty period has been defined as 5 years.
At the same time, for porcelain enameled bars, the warranty period is about 2 years.
Recommended Articles for You:
3 Reasons Why Your Weber Grill is Rusting
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Learn How Long You Need to Burn off New Weber Grill
Learn the Best Method to Properly Season Weber Grill Grates
When Should You Replace Weber Flavorizer Bars?
As already mentioned above, you should only replace the Weber flavorizer bars once they develop cracks or holes inside them.
You also need to replace them when they are burnt and get rusted extremely after few months of usage.
Just because you see a smaller proportion of rust on your bars, you need not have to replace them immediately.
To replace the flavorizer bars, it is important for you to know the name as well as the model number of your Weber grill.
Click Here to Get the Right Replacement Weber Flavorizer Bars Depending on Your Grill Model.
7 Easy Steps to Properly Clean Weber Flavorizer Bars
Dirty Weber flavorizer bars are not only unpleasant to look at, but they can also cause dangerous flare-ups if not cleaned properly.
To ensure the flavorizer bar’s longevity and effectiveness, they should be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis.
I highly recommend that you clean these bars after each use of the grill.
Leaving the residue unclean for days can cause it to solidify, making the bars more difficult to clean later on.
Cleaning the flavorizer bars is not that hard.
Simply follow the below mentioned 7 easy steps to keep the bars clean and hygienic.
Step 1: First, let your Weber grill run on a high flame for about 15 to 20 minutes and then, allow the grill to cool down completely.
Step 2: I recommend to only clean the bars when the grill is cool enough to touch.
After that, remove the Weber grill grates and then the flavorized bars.
Step 3: With a plastic scraper, scrape the flavorizer bars gently.
Alternatively, one can also use a putty knife scraper to scrape off the debris from the bars and grates.
Step 4: After that, you can use a steel grill cleaning brush for a more thorough cleaning of the grates and flavorizer bars.
Step 5: Then use a soapy water to further clean the flavorizer bars to get better cleaning results.
If you are using the soapy water to clean the bars, make sure not to use citrus based soaps.
Step 6: Here,do not use any dishwasher or a self-cleaning oven to clean the bars and grill grates.
Step 7: Once the flavorizer bars are cleaned properly, then assemble all the parts and your grill is ready to be used again.
References:
https://consumer-care.weber.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023605472-Why-are-my-Flavorizer-bars-rusting
https://virtualwebergasgrill.com/2014/08/all-about-flavorizer-bars/
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