How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle? Discover The Best Ways
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Blackstone is a popular brand widely known for manufacturing outstanding griddles that allow you to create a variety of delicious food items, thanks to its even heat distribution and other notable features.
But you can compromise its cooking performance as well as longevity if you neglect the cleaning process of your griddle when required.
So today, I am going to share essential insights on how to clean a Blackstone griddle, ensuring it continues to deliver exceptional cooking performance for years to come.
Importance Of Cleaning A Griddle
You can’t overlook the cleaning process of any cooking appliance, whether it is a grill, smoker, or griddle, because it plays a vital role not only in maintaining the appliance’s appearance but also in the quality of the food you prepare and its performance.
So, allow me to highlight some of the most prominent reasons why cleaning a griddle is crucial and why you can’t afford just to let it go.
Better Taste and Flavor
When you cook on a dirty griddle, the leftover food particles and grease from the previous cooking session can mix with your fresh ingredients.
As a result, this negligence can affect the taste and flavor of your food. On the other hand, a clean griddle allows you to cook your desired foods with their authentic taste and flavor.
Constant Cooking Performance
If you regularly clean your Blackstone or any other griddle, it promises even heat distribution, which results in optimal cooking performance with consistency.
If you don’t take the cleaning process seriously, it can impact the heat distribution of the cooking appliance, which might lead you to uneven cooking sessions.
Prolonged Lifespan
Those who clean their griddles after each cooking session and maintain them pretty well can significantly extend the lifespan of their cooking appliance.
But if you let the grease and residue build by not cleaning the griddle, it will gradually start affecting the cooking performance as well as compromise its structure.
As a result, you will be looking for a new griddle in no time.
Easy Cooking
Last but not least, cooking on a clean griddle or grill promises an enjoyable and effortless cooking experience that I believe everyone prefers.
You don’t need to worry about food sticking to the surface or dealing with stubborn residues whenever you cook.
To conclude, maintaining and cleaning your griddle isn’t just about appearances; it directly impacts the quality of the food you’re cooking and the longevity of your equipment.
Therefore, make it a habit to clean your griddle after each use for the ideal results.
Maintaining Your Blackstone Griddle – How Often to Clean It
Let’s keep it simple and to the point. Regular cleaning is vital if you want your Blackstone griddle to perform its best and last for years.
If you have just purchased a new griddle, make sure to season and clean it before the first cooking session, as it helps remove any manufacturing residues that might affect the taste and quality of your food.
Once your griddle comes into regular use, make a habit of cleaning it after every cooking session because it allows you to cook tastier meals and ensures the prolonged lifespan of your cooking appliance.
It is essential to mention here that a regular cleaning session would be much easier and quicker than doing it after a long time because frequent cleaning prevents stubborn grease and residue buildup.
How To Clean And Season A Brand New Blackstone Griddle?
You may not know, but a new griddle consists of factory oils, residues, and protective coatings that need to be properly removed through a proper cleaning and seasoning process to ensure optimal cooking results.
For the initial cleaning process;
- Start by heating your griddle for 10-15 minutes. It will soften any oils or residues that remain during the manufacturing process.
- Once done, gently scrape off debris and loose coatings using a spatula or griddle scrapper.
- Lastly, wipe the griddle’s surface with a paper towel or cloth.
For deep cleaning;
- Firstly, create a solution using mild soap and hot water.
- Scrub the griddle’s surface using a soft cloth or sponge with the soap and water solution you created at the beginning.
- Rinse the griddle’s surface thoroughly with clean water.
- Let it dry, or do it yourself using a piece of dry cloth or paper towel.
For seasoning;
Before I explore how to do it, keep in mind that it is an essential step to perform to make the cooking surface not stick. So,
- You need to start by applying a thin layer of high-smoke-point oil, olive oil, or canola oil to the griddle’s surface.
- Start heating the griddle until the oil smokes.
- After a few minutes, turn off the griddle and let it cool down.
- Lastly, wipe away the cooking surface with a paper towel.
The seasoning is complete, and you are good to go. For visuals, watch the video attached below to understand how to season your new Blackstone griddle successfully.
How To Clean A Blackstone Griddle After Each Use?
Compared to cleaning and seasoning a new griddle, cleaning your Blackstone or any other griddle is relatively easy after each cooking session. Here’s how.
- Let the griddle cool down: After you’re done cooking, turn off the heat and let it cool down, as a hot griddle can be dangerous to clean and less effective as compared to cleaning when it’s cool.
- Scrape off food particles: Once the griddle has cooled down, take a griddle scraper or spatula and gently scrape off any food particles or debris. It prevents them from sticking to the surface and getting cooked during your next cooking session.
- Wipe with paper towels: To pick up and remove small food particles, wipe the surface using paper towels or cloth because the initial wipe helps remove the larger particles.
- Scrub the surface using hot water. Next, boil some water and pour it onto the griddle’s surface to loosen any stubborn food particles. Then, use a soft cloth and scrub the cooking surface to remove the remaining residues.
- Use water soap solution: (optional) If you’ve not cleaned the griddle for a long time or it contains stubborn residues, I recommend cleaning it with soap and hot water solution.
- Season the griddle: (optional) If you will be using it soon, it is recommended to season the surface with canola or vegetable oil to prevent rust and make it ready for the next cook.
How to Effectively Clean a Rusty Griddle To Restore Its Shine?
If your griddle has become rusty, it must have happened either because you did not use it or clean it properly for a long time. Also, it can happen when you don’t store it under proper conditions.
Anyhow, cleaning a rusty griddle and making it look newer again is possible. Let’s find out how.
Turn The Griddle To High Heat
If the griddle obtains rust, it is better to start by turning it to high heat as it helps loosen up the rust or grease buildup, making it easier to remove.
So, allow your griddle to heat up for about 10-15 minutes. Also, make sure you are wearing heat-resistant gloves to prevent burning your hands.
Scrape The Cooking Surface
Once you notice the griddle is on high heat and has loosened up the rust, get a scraper and gently start scraping the cooking surface.
I recommend using a back-and-forth motion to remove the rust and any residue that has accumulated. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or use a sharp object that could damage the griddle’s surface.
Throw Away The Rust When Griddle Cools Down
The next step is to let the griddle come down to a safe-to-touch temperature for handling. So, once the griddle has cooled down, use a paper towel and begin to dispose of the rust you scraped.
After this step, the basic cleaning of a rusty griddle is completed. Now, we will be looking forward to restoring its shine.
Apply Oil On The Griddle To Scrub It
Pour a bit of vegetable oil (like four or five tablespoons) onto the griddle’s cooking surface and use a special scrubbing stone called a pumice grill stone to clean the griddle.
It’s like rubbing away the stubborn rust and dirt. If you don’t have that stone, you can use a brush that isn’t made of metal. After scrubbing, wipe off the oily mess and dirt with paper towels.
Suppose you are still seeing rust; you will have to repeat this step until all the rust disappears. It is important to mention that each time you clean, put the required amount of oil on the griddle.
Season The Griddle
Lastly, season your griddle the way you usually do it by adding a thin layer of oil all over the surface. Heat the griddle until the oil starts to smoke a little. Then, let it cool down and wipe away any extra oil.
Do You Know?
Keeping the griddle in a humid environment is one of the prominent causes of its possible rusting. So, to protect it from air humidity, store your griddle in a cool, dry area and cover it nicely.
Griddle Cleaning Tips
Below, I have highlighted some pro cleaning tips for griddles that can help you keep their cooking surface in good working condition to ensure tasty meals and prevent them from rusting.
- Regular cleaning: It is a good habit to clean your griddle after each use to prevent grease buildup and make cleaning easier.
- Gentle scraping: Whether using a griddle scraper or spatula for cleaning, avoid harsh scraping to prevent damaging the cooking surface.
- Create a soapy solution: It is a good practice to clean the griddle with mild, soapy water as it effectively cleans the grease, grime, or residues.
- Smart storage: I highly recommend storing your griddle in a covered and dry area to avoid dust, rust, and moisture buildup.
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Final Thoughts
Mastering the art of cleaning a Blackstone griddle involves a simple yet effective routine. Regular scraping, soapy cleaning, proper drying, oil application, and suitable storage contribute to keeping it clean for optimal cooking results.
From cleaning to seasoning a Blackstone or any other griddle, you will get all the necessary information regarding this topic in the guide I have provided.
Your Opinion is Valuable to Us
How have our tips helped you in preventing rust on your griddle? So, clean your griddle step by step, and tell us in the comments which method worked for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which griddle pan doesn’t need seasoning?
A pan with enameled cast iron coating doesn’t need seasoning because it is thick enough with delicate, smooth layers of steel to avoid rust and contact with meat.
Where should you restore your griddle to keep it clean?
To keep your griddle clean, make sure to store it in a dry and covered place. This helps prevent dust, moisture, and other elements from accumulating on its surface.
Can you cook on an unseasoned griddle?
No, you can’t cook properly on an unseasoned griddle because it results in food stickiness. However, you can find some cast-iron griddles these days easily that are already seasoned.
