Chipped or Wobbling Grates on a Viking Rangetop: Are They Still Safe?

Every pot you cook with rests on the grates, so they must sit firm. A rock you barely notice on a weeknight turns dangerous once a full stockpot is on it and the family is crowding the kitchen.

What to look for

• Grates that rock when you press on a corner.
• Cracks near the feet or along the welded joints.
• Rubber or ceramic feet that have hardened, shrunk, or fallen out.
• Flaking coating that exposes bare metal, which rusts quickly in a damp coastal climate.

A chip in the enamel is mostly cosmetic. A crack running through the iron is a different matter, because the grate can give way under a heavy pot.

Simple fixes

First, make sure the grate is seated correctly. Each grate has a specific position, and swapping them or setting one slightly off the burner base creates rocking. Check for a bit of dried food under a foot, which can tilt the whole piece.

Replace missing or worn feet. Do not wedge in folded foil or paper to level a grate, because that material can burn or shift. Wash and dry grates thoroughly, and rub a little cooking oil on bare cast iron to protect it from rust.

When to stop

Quit using that burner when the grate is cracked, will not lie flat after you reseat it, or lets a pot lean. Hot liquid sliding off a lit burner means scalds, and spilled grease can ignite.

Wobble can also come from a burner base that has shifted or a rangetop that is not level. Our technician checks the grate, the burner base, and how level the unit sits, and tells you if a replacement grate solves it. If you want it looked at, our rangetop repair page has the booking details. The price is in writing first, and the work is covered by our 30-day workmanship warranty.