Unicook 4 Pack Porcelain Grill Heat Plate 14.56" L, Gas Grill Replacement Parts Burner Cover, Heat Shield Tents, Flavorizer Bars, Flame Tamer Guards for Gas BBQ

Why I swapped my grill’s heat plates

I replaced the scorched, warped flavorizer bars on my mid-size gas grill with a set of Unicook heat plates, and the difference was immediate. If your burners are exposed, flare-ups are constant, or you’re seeing uneven browning, upgrading the plates is one of the easiest, least expensive fixes you can make. After several weeks of cooking everything from weeknight chicken thighs to high-heat steak sears, here’s how these plates performed.

Fit and installation

Each plate measures 14.56" L x 3.25" W x 1.87" H and comes porcelain-coated in black. My grill is a Nexgrill model that uses fixed brackets for the tents, and these dropped right in with no tools required. The geometry is a classic “tent” shape with a slight lip on the edges to help channel drippings.

A few practical notes from installation:
- Verify the length. 14 9/16 inches is a common size, but grills vary—measure your originals end-to-end and confirm the support spacing inside your firebox.
- Count your plates. This kit is a four-pack; some grills use five or six. I needed an extra pack for a second grill in my shop.
- Expect minor tolerance. The manufacturer notes slight production variance; mine were consistent and sat level, but if your grill’s brackets are bent, you may need to nudge them back with pliers.

From box to installed was under five minutes.

Build quality and materials

These are 18-gauge (1.2 mm) porcelain-coated steel. That thickness matters. Many generic replacements are thinner (0.8–1.0 mm), which tend to warp quicker under repeated high heat. The Unicook plates feel notably more substantial in hand, resist flexing, and seated firmly without “oil-canning” as the grill heated up.

Porcelain coating is a smart choice here. It provides a hard, glass-like surface that:
- Helps resist corrosion compared to bare steel
- Cleans more easily since burnt sugars and grease don’t bond as aggressively
- Withstands typical grill temps without off-gassing

Like any porcelain-coated part, the weak point is chipping if you attack it with a steel scraper or drop it on concrete. Treat them like cookware: avoid metal-on-metal scraping and they’ll hold up well.

Heat performance

On first cook, the most noticeable change was steadier heat across the grate. Before, I had a hot band directly above the burners and cool corners. With the Unicook plates, my surface temps (checked with an IR thermometer) were more even, especially side-to-side. Front-to-back variation will always exist in most grills due to airflow, but the tents significantly narrowed the delta.

Flare-up control also improved. The angled surfaces vaporize drippings and route excess to the sides, away from direct flame. On fatty burgers and skin-on chicken, I still saw the occasional lick of flame—normal for any gas grill—but no rolling flare-ups that force you to babysit every second. That gives you a larger “useable” area on the grates for direct cooking.

Another small win: the plates act as thermal mass. They help buffer the burners from gusts and lid openings, so recovery time after flipping food felt quicker. Preheat time was similar to stock parts—roughly 10 minutes to 500°F on a moderate day—but stability at searing temps was better.

Food results

• Burgers and sausages: Far fewer flare-ups, more uniform browning, and less sooty residue. I could load a full grate’s worth without playing musical chairs with hotspots.
• Chicken thighs: Crispier skin without burning. The reduction in direct flame made it easier to render fat and hold a consistent sizzle.
• Vegetables: Even char on peppers and onions, with fewer singed edges from sudden pops of flame.

The vaporization effect of drippings on porcelain steel does contribute a light smoky note—milder than cast flavorizer bars but cleaner than bare, pitted steel.

Cleaning and maintenance

The smooth porcelain coating is genuinely easy to deal with. Here’s what worked best:
- After a cook, run the grill on high for 10 minutes to carbonize residue.
- Let cool slightly, then use a nylon brush or wooden scraper on the plates through the grate.
- For occasional deep cleans, remove the plates and soak them in hot, soapy water; wipe with a non-scratch pad.

Avoid steel wool or metal scrapers that can chip the coating. If you do get a nick down to bare steel, dab it dry after washes to slow rust formation. I also recommend wearing gloves when handling—the edges aren’t razor sharp, but they’re stamped steel and can be unfriendly to bare fingers.

Durability so far

After multiple high-heat cooks and a couple of slow sessions, the plates remain flat with no signs of bowing. The porcelain has held up with only light discoloration—normal patina you’d expect as grease cooks on. I can’t claim multi-year longevity from short-term testing, but the combination of 18-gauge steel and porcelain coating is a good formula for lifespan if you avoid harsh scraping and store the grill covered.

Compatibility and buying notes

The dimensions—14.56" L x 3.25" W x 1.87" H—fit many mid-size grills, including several popular Nexgrill, Grill Master, and Kenmore models. That said, brand/model cross-references can be hit or miss, especially if your grill has seen bracket tweaks over the years. Measuring your originals is the most reliable approach.

Practical buying tips:
- Count how many plates your firebox uses. This set contains four.
- Compare length first, then width. The height (1.87") is forgiving in most housings.
- If your grill sits near the coast or you grill year-round, consider keeping a spare set on hand; heat plates are wear parts and make a dramatic difference when replaced on time.

Value and alternatives

Against thinner, painted-steel generic plates, the Unicook heat plates are a meaningful upgrade: thicker, more stable under heat, and easier to clean thanks to the porcelain finish. Stainless options exist as well; those typically resist rust if the alloy is decent, but they can discolor and are often thinner to hit a price point. Heavy-gauge porcelain-coated steel sits in a sweet spot of performance, price, and cleaning ease for most home grills.

If your environment is extremely humid or you’re unwilling to baby the porcelain, a heavier stainless set might be worth the extra cost. For everyone else, these strike a good balance.

What could be better

• Four-pack constraint: Many grills use five or more plates. A five-pack option would help.
• Porcelain vulnerability: Easy to clean, but susceptible to chipping if mistreated. Clear “no metal brush” guidance in the box would save some owners headaches.
• No length adjustability: These are fixed-length plates; if your grill uses telescoping shields, you’ll need a different style.

Bottom line

Swapping in the Unicook heat plates made my gas grill cook more evenly, flare up less, and clean up faster. The 18-gauge porcelain-coated steel feels substantial, installs without fuss, and has stayed flat across repeated high-heat sessions. As maintenance items go, these deliver a high return for a modest spend.

Recommendation: I recommend these heat plates for anyone whose grill uses the 14.56" x 3.25" size and needs a straightforward refresh. They’re well-built, easy to install, and noticeably improve heat distribution and flare-up control. Just verify your dimensions and plate count before ordering, and treat the porcelain surface with a bit of care to maximize lifespan.