Chef at my old spot swore by oiling the grill grates before every single service, and I rolled my eyes for 2 months

Sage Cooper · 2026-10-11T14:40:03.752076+00:00

I worked saute at a spot in Portland for 2 months and watched this guy wipe down the grates with a rag and oil every single night before service, even when we were slammed and I thought he was wasting time. Then one Friday we skipped it during a 180 cover shift and lost 6 ribeyes to sticking, which cost us about $140 in product and a very angry expo. Anyone else have a small habit like that they picked up from a stubborn coworker that actually saved your butt later?

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Chef at my old spot swore by oiling the grill grates before every single service, and I rolled my eyes for 2 months | Chefs - Free To Speak