Initial Clean:

Start by giving your item a thorough wash to help remove any leftover residues, protective layers, or mill scale left over from the manufacturing process. Use a mild dish detergent, warm water and a scourer to gently scrub then dry completely.

Heat:

Preheat your BBQ (or oven) to approx. 400-450°F/200-230°C.

Place your product in your BBQ/oven for approximately 10mins during the preheat stage.

This ensures that the item is completely dry and that the oil can go on as thinly as possible.

Remove the item and let it cool, being mindful the item will now be hot.

Oil:

Once the oven/bbq is at temp, spread a thin layer of oil onto the item with a paper towel or cloth. We recommend using an oil with a high smoke point such as canola or grapeseed oil but plain vegetable oil will work fine.

Ensure that there is oil covering the entire cooking surface, making sure to wipe any excess oil off with a paper towel. Excessive oil can lead to poor seasoning results, leaving a splotchy, or sticky coating.

Cure:

Once coated place it into your BBQ (or oven) and leave the product in for an hour.

If you are using an oven, consider using a lined baking tray on the bottom rack, to catch any excess oil drips.

Cool:

After at least an hour turn off the heat in your BBQ or oven and let it cool down naturally with the product still inside. Leaving the item inside to cool helps the seasoning bond to the steel.

Repeat as needed.

Want to season your gear on the go? Here’s how I do it:

1. For the first cook, use plenty of oil while cooking with the item.

2. Once you’ve finished, clean the grill or plate and turn off the heat.

3. While it’s still hot/warm, apply a thin layer of oil using a paper towel and your BBQ tongs.

4. Close the lid on the kettle and let it cool slowly, this helps the oil absorb into the steel.

Checkout the this BLOG POST for more details

Our plates don’t require a coating to prevent them from rusting, which means you can use almost anything to clean them. Most of the time, a spatula or a scotch brite pad will suffice. If it’s heavily soiled with marinades or other substances, you can put it in the dishwasher or even clean it with a pressure washer. Using some water while the plate is hot to steam any grime off also works well. For further assistance, contact us at Sales@CLDFab.com.au or call 0431 307 995.

There are a couple of key reasons:

1. Price – Stainless steel usually costs around double the price of mild steel. For smaller production runs, that difference becomes even bigger, making stainless uneconomical.

2. Seasoning & Non-Stick – Unlike steel or cast iron, stainless steel can’t be seasoned to build up a natural non-stick layer. Stainless also tends to stick unless it’s heated into the right temperature range which is not always easy to manage when you’re cooking over charcoal in a kettle.

That said, stainless steel can still be a good option if you’re already comfortable cooking with it (many chefs are) or if you’d prefer to avoid the extra care and seasoning that comes with steel and cast iron.

Note: If your preference is Stainless Steel we can still make any of the items we stock as well as any custom work in Stainless Steel, please contact us for pricing.

Some options have been added for Pre-order, checkout the "Stainless" category for options.

We are limited to a 22kg limit for shipping. Once over that limit, the price defaults to a value set by us. To ensure we are not undercharged, we have noted a quite large shipping cost. For any large orders, please contact us for a shipping quote at Sales@CLDFab.com.au or call 0431 307 995.

We offer the option to pre-order items that we don't usually keep in stock but believe our customers would be interested in. Once the order is placed, we generally have a 2-week turnaround, and any deviations will be noted in the pre-order details. If we encounter any issues, we will notify you as soon as possible. If you have a specific date or time restriction, please contact us prior to purchase or as soon as possible at Sales@CLDFab.com.au or call 0431 307 995.