Arteflame Classic 20" Grill – Tall Euro Base

Choosing Carbon Steel over Cast Iron

When deciding between carbon steel and cast iron for your cooktop, it's crucial to understand the key differences that make carbon steel a superior choice. While both materials excel in cooking and grilling, the varying carbon content sets them apart.

Carbon Steel contains around 1% carbon, whereas Cast Iron boasts 2%-3% carbon. This seemingly small difference significantly affects the metal's grain structure. In Cast Iron, the additional carbon tends to clump together into carbides, forming pockets of pure carbon (graphite). This process makes the metal hard, brittle, and prone to cracking.

Cast Iron is susceptible to cracks and breaks, especially when subjected to uneven heating. The stress caused by uneven thermal expansion, combined with pockets of carbon, leads to cracking. Cast Iron's brittleness is evident when dropped, as the high-carbon areas cannot withstand the shock.

In contrast, Carbon Steel's 1% carbon content makes it more resistant to these issues. The uniform grain structure in Carbon Steel is less susceptible to heat stress or shock. Additionally, Carbon Steel undergoes a rolling process in the steel mill, where it is forced between heavy rollers while hot. The subsequent cold-water dousing freezes the grain structure, enhancing its strength and durability. Even with uneven heat loads or accidental drops, Carbon Steel remains intact, ensuring a lifetime of use.

The susceptibility of Cast Iron to cracking and breaking is exacerbated by larger surface areas and thinner materials. In grills, where heat distribution is inherently uneven, Cast Iron becomes an impractical choice for inserts. This is why all Arteflame cooktops, inserts, griddles, and Burger Pucks are exclusively crafted from Carbon Steel, ensuring optimal performance and durability for a lifetime of use.

What is the Arteflame Grill made of?

Each Arteflame grill is crafted from CORTEN steel, also known as "weathering" steel. While this steel comes with a higher cost, its exceptional toughness and weather resistance make it a worthwhile investment. Specifically formulated for outdoor use, CORTEN steel develops a natural, enduring patina that adds to its beauty over time. There truly is no substitute for this unique and resilient steel.

Arteflame exclusively uses carbon steel for all cooktops, inserts, and grill grates, as it has demonstrated itself to be the optimal cooking material. Unlike cast iron, carbon steel does not break or crack. It also surpasses materials like aluminum, which can be harmful to the human body, and chrome-plated steel grates, which may contain cadmium. Moreover, carbon steel avoids the presence of lead found in porcelain-coated steel, making it the superior and safest choice for cooking.

Is Wood Used as Fuel?

Arteflame grills operate on a combination of wood and charcoal as fuel sources. Optimal choices for hardwoods include hickory, oak, maple, and fruit woods like peach, cherry, and apple. These hardwoods impart aromatic flavors to your cooking, allowing for a variety of taste experiences. It's advisable to steer clear of softwoods like pine due to their tendency to produce excessive smoke and embers. Additionally, manufactured logs, containing wax and fillers, should be avoided, especially when used for cooking, as they can pose potential harm.

What Sets Arteflame Cooktops Apart?

Arteflame employs a specialized manufacturing process for all grills and inserts, ensuring an exact and refined fit and finish. This process eliminates material imperfections and smooths all steel edges, preventing food particles from lodging and hiding. Although this method incurs higher costs, it guarantees the quality we aim for and that you expect from our products.

How Do I Season the Cooktop?

Seasoning the cooktop is essential for achieving a non-stick surface and preventing rust. The Arteflame Seasoning Puck is the easiest and most effective way to season the cooktop. Alternatively, you can use cooking oils like flaxseed or grapeseed oil. For detailed instructions, refer to the seasoning manual for a comprehensive guide.

Dealing with Rust on the Cooktop

The presence of rust on the cooktop indicates that the seasoning may have worn off. In most cases, remedying this issue is straightforward. Simply heat the cooktop to grilling temperature and scrape off any loose rust. Then, using a rag and cooking oil (we recommend grapeseed oil), wipe the cooktop until all rust is removed. This prepares the cooktop for the preseasoning process. Given that the cooktop is constructed from solid carbon steel, any rust is typically surface-level, and extensive sanding is rarely necessary.

Which Cooking Oils Are Suitable?

You can utilize any food-grade cooking oil for your Arteflame grill. However, it's essential to be mindful of potential nut allergies among future guests, making peanut oil less advisable. For effective cooktop seasoning, we particularly recommend using one of our specialized seasoning pucks. To maintain proper seasoning and prevent oxidation when the grill is not in use, a light coating of grapeseed oil is recommended.

How Long Does the Heating Process Take?

Once you ignite your Arteflame grill, you'll have ample time to prepare all your food before it's ready for grilling. The easiest way to light your Arteflame is with the Arteflame Airlighter—simply ignite a charcoal mound in the grill's center and add wood when the charcoal becomes hot.

Does It Require a Cover?

Once your cooktop is properly seasoned, oiled, and cleaned after each use, covering is not necessary. The Arteflame is designed to endure year-round outdoor exposure. We offer optional stainless lids for the grill's center and vinyl covers. Stainless lids prevent debris entry and help smother the fire after grilling, while vinyl covers contribute to prolonged rust resistance for the cooktop.

Is It Safe for Wood Decks?

For placement on wood/Tyvek decks or other flammable surfaces, we recommend using tiles or a grill mat under your Arteflame. The tall Euro base or the tall round base of the Classic 40 poses no direct issue on flammable surfaces, and the tall round base includes an ash catcher to prevent ash contact with your deck.

How do I clean out the wood and charcoal ashes from my grill?

Will My Arteflame Cause Stains on My Concrete Patio?

Each Arteflame is meticulously designed to ensure that the corten steel never directly contacts the surface it rests upon. Euro grills feature a stainless steel footer, while other Arteflame grills come with screw-in feet, lifting the grill above the ground. This design not only prevents stains but also facilitates airflow into the grill from below.

Will Grease Drain onto My Patio?

Every Arteflame cooktop is subtly dished, directing all excess grease to the center of the grill, where it safely burns off. The thoughtful design ensures that no grease escapes from the Arteflame.

Do I Need to Store My Arteflame Indoors During Winter?

No, Arteflame grills are built to withstand outdoor exposure throughout the year. If not in use for extended periods, we recommend applying grapeseed oil regularly to keep the cooktop well-seasoned. For winter use, covering your Arteflame with our stainless steel or vinyl cover will prevent it from filling up with snow. If you observe surface oxidization after prolonged periods of non-use, ignite a fire in the Arteflame, bring it up to temperature, scrape off any oxidization, and rub the cooktop with cooking oil to clean and re-season it.

Why Do Prices in Europe Appear Different from Those in the US?

In Europe, quoted prices include all taxes, which can be substantial, sometimes adding up to an additional 22%. In the US, we always sell products excluding any applicable taxes, with some variations in exchange rates and shipping fees. When considering these factors, the apparent price differences between Europe and the US are actually negligible.

As an additional safety measure, you can place sand or stones in the bottom of your Arteflame to catch any loose embers. However, low bases are not recommended for wooden or manufactured decks, as they function as fire pits, transferring heat to the deck. Using stone/concrete tiles or a grill mat underneath any Arteflame grill is recommended for safety.