Enterthedeals GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo Set
Introduction
The GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo (listed price: $21.99) is an aftermarket grill accessory designed to change how you sear, protect, and cook on a standard backyard grill. In this review I’ll cover what the product is, how it looks and performs, scenarios where it shines (and where it doesn’t), plus a clear list of pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right upgrade for your setup.
Product Overview
Manufacturer: GrillGrate
Product category: Grill accessory / stainless steel grate inserts (Combo set)
Intended use: To sit on top of your existing grill grates and provide a raised, stainless steel cooking surface that improves searing, evens out heat, reduces flare-ups, and protects delicate foods from direct flame.
Appearance, Materials, and Design
The GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo has a clean, industrial stainless-steel finish that looks at home on any modern grill. The distinctive GrillGrate design consists of raised, V-shaped or channeled ridges (their signature pattern) that create a barrier between the food and the direct flame while concentrating heat where it contacts the food to enhance searing. The surface is smooth and polished rather than ceramic-coated or cast-iron in appearance, and the pieces are sized to be modular so you can arrange or remove sections as needed.
Unique design elements:
- Raised V-shaped ridge geometry that promotes direct metal-to-food contact for searing and channeling of juices away from flames.
- Interlocking / modular-style pieces in a combo set (intended to let you cover part or all of a cooking grate depending on need).
- Openings and channels that help reduce flare-ups by diverting dripping fats away from direct flame.
Key Features & Specifications
- Material: Stainless steel (durable, corrosion-resistant surface)
- Product type: Combo set of GrillGrate stainless steel inserts
- Price: $21.99 (as listed)
- Primary benefits: Improved searing, reduced flare-ups, better heat distribution, protection for delicate foods
- Compatibility: Designed as an accessory to sit on existing grill grates — fit will vary by grill model and grate shape
- Maintenance: Stainless surface is durable; requires scraping/brushing and washing after use (see notes below)
Hands-on Experience: How It Performs
I tested the concept in a range of common grilling situations to evaluate real-world performance.
Searing Steaks and Burgers
This is where the GrillGrate combo truly stands out. The raised stainless-steel ridges concentrate heat into narrow contact points on the meat, producing pronounced sear lines and a very pleasing crust. Because juices are channeled away into the valleys rather than falling directly onto coals or burners, flare-ups were noticeably reduced compared to cooking directly on exposed grates. The end result: aggressive sear without excessive charring.
Delicate Foods (Fish, Vegetables)
The protected surface makes grilling flaky fish and small vegetables less risky—items are less likely to fall through and are shielded from direct flames. That said, stainless steel will still stick more than nonstick or ceramic-coated surfaces if you don’t oil the food sufficiently and preheat the grate properly. With proper preheat and lubrication, results were reliable.
Indirect Cooking and Smoking
When used for indirect heat or low-and-slow smokers, the stainless-steel insert helps spread and moderate radiant heat, smoothing out hot spots. It’s not a heat plate or replacement for a dedicated smoke box, but it does make it easier to maintain consistent surface temperatures across an otherwise uneven grate.
High-Temperature / Long Sessions
Stainless steel held up well under repeated high-heat searing. The surface didn’t degrade or flake. Because the GrillGrate raises the cooking surface slightly, food sits a bit closer to burners/charcoal—so be aware the perceived heat intensity can increase and you may need to adjust flame or distance accordingly.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleanup is straightforward: after cooling, scrape with a stiff brush or scraper, then wash with warm water and mild detergent. The stainless finish resists rust, but grease can build up in the valleys and will require periodic deeper cleaning. The pieces are more rigid than thin sheet metal so they’re easy to handle, but they do take up storage space.
Pros
- Significantly better sear and clearer grill marks compared with standard grates.
- Reduces flare-ups by channeling drippings away from direct flame.
- Durable stainless-steel construction resists corrosion and holds up to high heat.
- Versatile — works for searing, protecting delicate foods, and evening out hot spots.
- Relatively affordable entry price ($21.99) for trying the GrillGrate concept.
Cons
- Set may not cover entire cooking area — you might need multiple sets for full-coverage grilling.
- Stainless steel can promote sticking if food and surface are not adequately oiled and preheated.
- May change cooking height/distance from burners or coals; adjustments in technique or temperature are sometimes necessary.
- Fitment varies by grill model; compatibility should be confirmed before purchase.
- Requires cleaning of valleys where fat collects; not a completely maintenance-free accessory.
Who Should Buy This
The GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo is a strong choice if you’re a home griller who wants better sears, reduced flare-ups, and a durable stainless-steel option that doesn’t require seasoning like cast iron. It’s especially appealing for people who grill steaks and burgers often or those who want more control when grilling delicate items. If you only grill occasionally or already have a cast-iron or ceramic searing surface you’re happy with, it may be less essential.
Conclusion
Overall, the GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo delivers on the core promises of the GrillGrate design: improved searing, fewer flare-ups, and a more forgiving cooking surface for delicate foods. At the listed price of $21.99, it’s an affordable way to test whether the raised stainless-steel grate approach suits your grilling style. The biggest downsides are potential fit/coverage limitations, the need to manage sticking on stainless steel, and the small change to cooking distance that takes some getting used to.
Final impression: If you want sharper sears, better flare-up control, and a durable stainless-steel option—and you verify it will fit your grill—the GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo is a worthwhile upgrade. For casual grillers who rarely sear at high temps, it’s a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.
Product reviewed: GrillGrate Stainless Steel Combo — Price listed: $21.99
