Remove the top cooking grate in the firebox.  Hang it on a nail on the wall in the garage.  You really should not leave it in place unless you are grilling on it.  Why burn it up?  Now insert a new ash pan upside down in its place. Season the surface with some cooking oil...like you would a new cast-iron skillet. Now you have a griddle surface to cook on or to use to place a pot on. You can leave the ash pan in this location all the time (except when you want to direct grill something).  It will further protect your firebox lid from the high heat below!  This is a tried and true way to prevent you from burning all the paint off of your firebox lid in those instances when you use too much fuel.  (Everyone uses too much wood sooner or later, or gets some logs that have a lot higher fuel value than expected.) That second ash pan is priceless.  Our customers come up with the best ideas!

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