Expert: Henry Boyter - 6/10/2005

Question
Hi Henry,  I saw someone using a cast iron BBQ (hibachi) and I was wondering why cast iron holds up better in that situation than steel.  I also remember that cast iron is used for drainage pipes and they last far longer than steel ever would.  Any chemical reason why cast iron is more durable in certain situations than steel?  Thanks

Answer
We have to use the same terms.  Cast iron and steel are part of the same family of alloys with iron, carbon, and silicon.  There are hundreds of members of this family that have many different properties, so I think your general statement is very suspect.  Stainless steel will last many times longer than cast iron.

What you may be seeing is this.  Most back yard hibachis are left out in the rain.  The steel may start corroding first, and after you get a good inch of grease on the grill,
the iron is protected.  Also, if the grill is cleaned with anything abrasive (should never be done with steel), it will remove the surface of the steel which exposes the underneath which is much more susceptible to corrosion,  Scraping iron, just exposes more iron.

I think you are seeing, not a difference in the metals themselves, but in how they are treated.