Upgrade Nexgrill Grates: The Flat Top Insert | Arteflame

The Ultimate Upgrade: Turning Your Nexgrill into a Flat Top Griddle

Transform your standard Nexgrill gas grill into a versatile, high-performance cooking station by replacing the stock wire grates with a solid carbon steel insert. This upgrade immediately eliminates flare-ups, creates a restaurant-quality searing surface, and allows you to cook diverse foods—from smash burgers to stir-fry—that would normally fall through traditional grill grates. It is the most effective way to gain the functionality of a standalone griddle without buying a second barbecue.

Why Should You Convert Your Nexgrill Grates to Carbon Steel?

Most Nexgrill units come equipped with standard wire or cast iron grates. While functional, they limit your culinary range. By swapping these for a solid carbon steel plancha, you gain complete surface contact. This results in the Maillard reaction—the chemical process responsible for the delicious crust on steaks and burgers—happening more evenly across the food.

Unlike cast iron, which can be brittle and prone to cracking under thermal shock, the Arteflame carbon steel insert is virtually indestructible. It absorbs heat rapidly from the gas burners and distributes it laterally, smoothing out the "hot spots" often found on gas grills.

Comparison: Stock Grates vs. Carbon Steel Insert

What Are the Benefits of Cooking on a Solid Surface?

Switching to a solid surface changes the physics of how you cook outdoors. Without gaps for fat to drip through, you eliminate dangerous flare-ups that char food with acrid smoke. Instead, meats cook in their own juices, enhancing flavor retention.

Pro Tip: For the ultimate non-stick performance, apply a thin layer of grapeseed oil or flaxseed oil to the carbon steel insert after it heats up. These oils have high smoke points and polymerize quickly to create a durable seasoning layer.

Can You Cook Delicate Foods on a Nexgrill?

With standard grates, cooking breakfast outside is impossible without extra pans. The carbon steel insert essentially turns your Nexgrill into a diner-style flat top. You can easily manage:

• Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, and pancakes simultaneously.
• Vegetables: Asparagus, sliced peppers, and onions without foil packets.
• Seafood: Scallops and flaky fish fillets that typically stick to wire racks.

How Do I Install the Insert?

Installation is designed to be effortless and requires no tools or permanent modification to your grill. This preserves the warranty and structural integrity of your Nexgrill.

1. Remove the existing wire or cast iron cooking grates from your Nexgrill.
2. Clean the burner shields to ensure optimal heat flow.
3. Drop the Arteflame carbon steel insert directly onto the grate rests.
4. Light your burners; the steel will heat up rapidly.

How Do You Maintain Carbon Steel?

Maintenance for carbon steel is far simpler than traditional grill grates. You never need to remove the insert to wash it with soap and water. In fact, soap should be avoided as it strips the seasoning.

Pro Tip: The "Black Finish" is your goal. Over time, the steel will turn from silver to black. This isn't dirt; it is the seasoning layer (polymerized oil) that protects the steel from rust and makes it non-stick.

Cleaning Steps After Cooking

While the insert is still warm (but burners are off):

1. Scrape: Use a straight-edge spatula to scrape food residue into the grease trough.
2. Wipe: Use a paper towel with a small amount of oil to wipe the surface clean.
3. Protect: Leave a thin film of oil on the surface to protect it from humidity until your next cook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the insert fit all Nexgrill models?

Arteflame inserts are designed to replace standard grate sizes. However, you must measure your current grate dimensions (width and depth) exactly before ordering to ensure a precise drop-in fit for your specific model.

Will the carbon steel rust if left outside?

If left unseasoned and exposed to rain without a cover, surface rust can form. However, unlike chrome-plated grates, this is easily fixed by scouring the rust off with steel wool and re-seasoning the grill with oil and heat.

Can I use half standard grates and half insert?

Yes, if your Nexgrill uses split grates, you can often replace just one side with the insert. This allows you to keep one side for open-flame grilling and the other for flat-top searing.