Cooking Grate

"After cleaning the grate, the question is: "To oil, or not to oil."

Oiling your grill grate helps prevent food from sticking when cooking. To do this, dip a wadded paper towel in a little oil and, using tongs, wipe the oil evenly over the grate. Be careful not to use too much oil, because that's a sure fire way to start a good flare-up—a little goes a long way here."

If you cooking something that's been oiled itself, skip this step, because it's somewhat redundant. If you're unsure, it's always best to oil 'er up.

If you simply are not willing to care for the grates, you cannot expect any of them to last.