The present invention provides a cooking grate for use within a barbecue
grill assembly comprising a cooking chamber and a gas burner positioned
in a lower portion of the cooking chamber. The grate has a plurality of
elongated members defining a cooking surface and multiple openings. The
grate further has a grease control assembly that is cooperatively
positioned over a burner flame region to direct and control the flow of
grease generated by cooking food on the grate. The grease control
assembly has at least one rib group and at least one ledge. The rib group
comprises a plurality of ribs, each rib having a first inclined surface
and a second inclined surface. The grease control assembly also has an
outer ridge and an inner ridge depending from a lower surface of the
grate. With these structures, the grate prevents grease and byproducts
from draining onto the burner flame region.