The Blackstone griddle is one of the most versatile, fun pieces of cooking equipment you can have on your back patio. Quality food, artistry, and good times all come with the territory of owning a flat top grill.
If you’ve had your flat top for a while, you may have asked yourself how to clean a Blackstone griddle.
The easy answer to how to clean a Blackstone griddle is to rinse, scrape, wipe then season. Let’s break that down into more detail.
In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know for how to clean a Blackstone grill. That includes a step-by-step guide to cleaning before your first use, after each cook session, and for those occasional deep cleans. We will also touch on a few tips for regular upkeep to extend the life of your griddle.
You can also check out everything Flat Top Griddles if you want to learn all the tips and tricks to everything griddle.
How Can I Clean a New Griddle Before Using It?
Before we start talking about how to clean a Blackstone griddle after cooking, let’s quickly touch on how to prep your griddle surface before cooking. It’s important to remove any factory residue, dust, or impurities that might be on the flat top grill when shipped.
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Wash with Warm Soapy Water
Use mild dish soap like Dawn dish soap and a soft sponge, cloth, or paper towel to gently scrub the griddle. This will help remove any dirt or dust accumulated during shipping and storage.
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Rinse Thoroughly
After gently scrubbing with a mild soap, you’ll want to fully rinse the flat top down with water. You can use a squeeze bottle and squirt all over and then wipe up with a cloth or paper towel. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle on hand, just use a cup, lightly pour over the griddle, and wipe up.
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Completely Dry
This step is super important for all cleaning of the Blackstone griddle. You really want to make sure you’re fully drying the flat top to prevent any rust from forming.
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Season the Griddle
To properly use the Blackstone griddle, you’ll want to season the flat top by applying oil and then turning on the heat so the oil starts to slightly smoke off.
- Use heat oil like vegetable oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil. Apply a thin layer all over the griddle and use a paper towel to evenly spread out so you don’t miss any area.
- Turn on the griddle and allow it to heat up until the oil starts to smoke slightly. This process helps create a non-stick surface and provides a protective layer to prevent rusting.
- Once the oil heats up and starts to smoke, turn the griddle off and allow it to cool completely.
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Repeat Seasoning
Once the oil cools down, you’ll want to repeat this process again by applying a high heat oil like coconut oil, turning on your Blackstone griddle, and allowing it to heat up and slightly smoke. After this round of seasoning, you can then use a cloth or paper towel to wipe off any excess oil. Your Blackstone griddle is now ready!
How do you clean a Blackstone griddle after each use?
There are a few things you should do after each time you cook that will help you to extend the life of your grill and make deep cleans less frequent. Here are a few tips for routine cleaning of a flat top grill.
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Let Griddle Cool
Before cleaning, make sure the griddle has cooled down to avoid burns or injuries. You can spray down with water and give the surface a good rinse.
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Scrape Excess Off
Use a griddle scraper to scrape any leftover grease or food particles. You can push the remaining This helps speed up the process. leftovers into the drip pan to dispose of later.
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Wipe Down
Use a paper towel or rag to completely dry. You don’t need to press too hard here.
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Season the Griddle
To maintain the seasoning and to help avoid rust, apply a high heat oil like vegetable oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil to the griddle and heat until the oil starts to slightly smoke. Once you see the oil smoking, you can turn it off. Once the flat top cools down, wipe up any excess oil from the surface.
Some chefs recommend that you re-season the griddle after use to continually build up the seasoning. Others choose only to do it after a deep clean is performed. This comes down to personal preference.
How to Deep Clean a Blackstone Griddle
From time to time, you should take inventory of your grill and assess whether or not it needs a deep clean. The deep cleaning process will more or less “reset” your cooking surface to its original form.
It’s important to note that after a deep clean, you will most definitely need to re-season your grill before its next use. That’s because the deep cleaning process is thorough enough that it will take off any seasoning that has built up over time.
Indicators That a Deep Clean Is Needed
Knowing when it’s time for a deep clean of your Blackstone griddle depends on the frequency of use and the level of residue buildup. Here are a few tips to help determine if your Blackstone is in need of a deep clean.
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Reduced Non-Stick Properties
If your griddle is no longer as non-stick as it used to be, it’s a sign that it needs a deep clean and re-seasoning.
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Excessive Smoke or Flaring
If you experience excessive smoke or flaring caused by grease or food particles burning on the griddle.
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Visible Rust
If you see any signs of rust on your Blackstone griddle, it’s crucial to address it promptly.
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Your food is cooking unevenly, or there are hot spots on the griddle top.
If you notice it’s getting harder to cook food evenly or there are clear hot spots on the cooking surface, a deep clean might be the solution.
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You start to see grease buildup on the griddle surface
If you notice a thick layer of grease, oil, and food residue that regular cleaning doesn’t seem to remove entirely.
Pay Attention to Your Griddle’s Surface Material
A Blackstone griddle typically has a flat, smooth, and non-stick surface made of cold-rolled steel. If you are planning to deep clean another brand of griddle, it’s important you look into what the flat top surface material is made from before deep cleaning.
Materials You’ll Need
Here’s a list of equipment and materials that will help you deep clean your Blackstone griddle.
Griddle Scraper
A must have accessory for any flat top grill/griddle owner is a griddle scraper. These versatile tools are designed to easily remove burnt and caked-on residue that inevitably remains on your surface after cooking.
- Easily removes burnt & caked on residue with minimal strokes
- Splash guard keeps oil off of your hands
- Ergonomic design means comfort even with extended use
High Heat Cooking Oil
Vegetable oil is a common oil choice for griddle cooking and is also used frequently to season a flat top cooking surface. You can also use canola oil, avocado oil, and other options if you don’t have vegetable oil on hand.
Cleaning Agent
Most griddle surfaces we come across are made of stainless steel, so a solid stainless steel cleaner is the way to go. If your surface is cast iron, just be sure to grab a cleaner that works with that surface.
Dish Cloths
It’s generally a good idea to have a cloth or rags on hand for your griddle cooking area! They come in handy in a variety of scenarios and of course, are used for the cleaning process.
Warm Water
Nothing crazy here, warm or if possible hot water is just used at the end of a flat top grill routine cleaning!
Steps to Deep Cleaning a Blackstone Griddle
Here’s a step by step guide for how to clean a stainless steel griddle:
- Safety Precautions –Just like regular upkeep, make sure the griddle has cooled down before starting the deep cleaning process to avoid burns or injuries
2. Remove Excess Debris – Using a griddle scraper, remove any large pieces of food, grease, or debris from the surface of the griddle.
- Apply Cleaning Solution – Apply the cleaning solution onto the griddle’s surface, covering the entire cooking area. Use a soft sponge or scrub brush to spread the solution and scrub the surface thoroughly.
- Let Soak – Allow the cleaning solution to soak on the griddle for a few minutes. This will help loosen the buildup, making it easier to remove.
- Scrub – Using the sponge or scrub brush, scrub the surface and remove the residue and stains. Pay attention to corners and edges as well.
- Rinse Thoroughly – Once you’ve scrubbed the griddle, rinse off the cleaning solution and residue thoroughly with the hot water. Make sure there is no soap or debris left on the surface.
- Dry the Griddle – Use a clean cloth or paper towel to dry the griddle’s surface completely. Ensure there is no standing water, as it can lead to rusting.
- Apply Cooking Oil – To protect the griddle from rust and to re-season the cooking surface, apply a thin layer of high-heat cooking oil evenly across the griddle. Use a cloth or paper towel to spread the oil thoroughly.
- Heat the Griddle Briefly – Turn on the heat source and allow the griddle to heat up until the oil starts to smoke slightly. This helps reinforce the seasoning and provides a protective layer.
- Cool and Wipe Off Excess Oil – Let the griddle cool down completely. Once cooled, use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off any excess oil from the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Do I Clean a Blackstone Griddle Chemicals?
There are a few chemical free methods that you can follow to clean a Blackstone griddle.
- The first option involves a simple combination of water and steam. Use a grill brush to get rid of any remnants of food that you have recently cooked.
- Add some water and continue to maneuver the brush along, working it into the surface. It is worth noting that when you add this water, after interacting with the heat of the grill, it is going to turn into steam so you will need to be cautious.
- Another effective solution involves the use of an onion. You will need to scrub the surface of your grill with an onion whilst it is still hot.
- Alternatively, you may wish to use carbonation mixed with soda water. The properties of both products will soften any hard food that is clinging to the surface of your grill. After pouring the solution onto your grill you will need to scrub it thoroughly.
How Do I Make My Blackstone Griddle Not Stick?
Failing to prepare your Blackstone griddle ahead of cooking is likely to result in your food sticking to the surface. To avoid this issue, you will need to season your grill beforehand. Pour a small amount of olive oil onto the surface and rub it in using a rag.
The oil will form a shield between your food and the surface and will ultimately prevent your griddle steaks from sticking. A grill that is not sticky is going to be much easier to clean. You must make sure that you do not use too much oil because this can worsen the issue, leaving your grill stickier than it was to begin.
How Do You Clean a Blackstone Griddle That Has Rust?
To restore a rusty blackstone griddle you are going to deep clean the griddle’s surface by using a cleanser and scraper or wire brush to remove all the debris. Then properly preseason season.
- First, turn your rusty griddle on and allow it to heat up. Doing so will make it easier to remove any food debris. You will then need to turn the grill off to cool after around 20 minutes have passed. Take your scraper and scrape the surface. This will allow you to target the rust.
- Next, pour some oil onto the grill and use your grill stone to rub it in. You will notice that your grill seems overly oily so you will need to use some paper towels to clean it.
Wrap Up
Deep cleaning your Blackstone griddle regularly will help maintain its performance, non stick properties, and prevent rust. By following these steps, you can ensure your griddle remains in excellent condition, ready to cook up delicious meals for years to come!
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