Primo Searing Grate, Cast Iron, for Oval Junior

Does this searing grate fit the Primo Oval Junior?

Yes, it is made for the Oval Junior specifically. Primo cuts a searing grate for each Oval size, so the fit comes down to buying the listing that names your grill. A grate sized for a larger Oval will not sit properly in a Junior firebox.

What does a searing grate do that the standard grate does not?

It concentrates the fire into the food instead of spreading it around. Cast iron bars hold much more heat than a light grate and hold onto it when cold meat arrives, so the contact points stay hot enough to mark and crust the surface rather than dropping off and letting the meat steam.

Do I leave it in for the whole cook?

Most people do not. Searing is a short, hot stage, so the usual approach is to sear over the cast iron and then move the food to gentler heat to finish. On a grill the size of the Junior it is easy to sear in batches and hold the finished pieces off to one side.

Do I need to preheat it?

Yes, and properly. The whole benefit is stored heat, and stored heat takes time to accumulate. Put it over the fire well before the meat is ready to go on. A cast iron grate that has only been on for a minute or two will sear no better than the standard grate did.

How do I keep it in condition?

Burn off residue while the fire is still up, brush the bars, then wipe them with a thin film of cooking oil once things have cooled. Keep it dry between cooks. Cast iron looks after itself if you never let it sit wet or dirty.