Pitmasters and fans of barbecue understand what it means to finally lay your hands on that newly purchased Blackstone Griddle. Being among the most coveted grills, the least you can do is give it the best care you can. It is a flat top grill, making it prone to rust, corrosion, and dirt.
With proper cleaning, however, your Blackstone Griddle is capable of maintaining a look that makes it appear as good as new, years after buying it. This article addresses all the questions you have about cleaning your grill including the equipment you need and more.
Related: A Comprehensive Blackstone 36″ Griddle Review
How and Why to Season a Blackstone Griddle?
Seasoning your newly purchased Blackstone Griddle is an important way to maintain it. This also applies to its maintenance routine after an exciting grilling session.
This activity involves the application of a thin layer of oil to keep the flat top cooking area moist and free from particles that would otherwise cling to your food.
It also creates a thin oily layer on the surface to make it slippery and prevent the meat or other types of foods from sticking to it.
When you season routinely, your Blackstone Griddle’s cooking surface will be shielded from wear, rust, and other adverse effects brought by using and keeping the grill outdoors.
To season it, first, wash the surface with soapy water and a piece of clothing or sponge. It is the first step in getting rid of food particles and residue accumulated from the previous cookout and prolonged disuse.
The grill should then be rinsed and dried for at least 45 to 60 minutes. After that, season it as desired.
Applying oil to the frying surface is the first step. Using a piece of cloth, distribute this oil evenly so that every area is coated by a thin coating.
Increase the temperature to a medium-high setting after this step. Keep it running until smoke starts to come out of the oil.
Once the smoke is visible, turn off the heat and let the surface cool. After washing it with fresh water, soap, and a rag, you should let it air dry.
The griddle has finished seasoning and is prepared for use.
How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle?
This section gives you a step-by-step format on how to clean your griddle. It also has a list of the required cleaning supplies to help you with the regular cleaning process.
You Will Need
- Lemon juice
- Sandpaper
- Scraper
- Cooking oil
- Sponge/ Cloth
- Dishwashing detergent
- Water
Step by Step Instructions
- After cooking, leave the griddle switched off to cool down.
- Dip the cloth in warm water and wipe off the residues on your griddle. At this point, it is advisable to avoid using detergent, oven cleaner, or other types of corrosive cleaning agents.
- Detach the cooking surface to pave way for the removal of burner protectors and the griddle surface.
- Soak the protectors in water (preferably warm), and clean it using a sponge. Take them out of the water to dry.
After all the parts are dry, attach them to their rightful place and season the cooking surface using cooking oil. - To avoid oil patches after the seasoning process, use paper towels to dry the remaining oil, leaving the surface moisturized and shiny.
How to Clean a Rusty Griddle?
Blackstone Griddle is mainly used for outdoor cookouts. Due to weather changes and other factors, dust may accumulate on the cooking surface and disrupt your next cooking session. Too much exposure causes the surface to rust. This, however, can be corrected through a special method of cleaning outlined here.
You Will Need
- Grill stone
- Paper towels
- Cooking oil
- Metal scrapper
- Gloves (heat resistant)
Step by Step Instructions
- Turn the temperature to the highest level. This burns out the rust and loosens its particles from the surface.
- In 15 to 20 minutes, switch off the burner and allow your griddle to cool down.
- Scrape on the dry surface with the metal scraper to get rid of the corrosive layer.
- Sprinkle 4 spoonfuls of oil on the scraped surface and scrub with the grill stone or steel wool. Ensure that you have reached every part of the surface including the sides.
- Wipe the ripped-out particles using paper towels until the surface is dry. This will enable you to see the remaining rusty parts.
- Repeat the process until you can’t see any rust when you dry the surface using paper towels.
- Finally, season the cooking area with oil as explained earlier.
Deep Cleaning Your Blackstone Griddle
Unlike the other cleaning processes elaborated above, deep cleaning involves a thorough activity that takes place once every few days, weeks, or months, depending on how often you use your griddle. It is more involving than the quick wipe-downs that we do after every cookout.
Deep cleaning is the most recommended way of caring for your Blackstone griddle and prolonging its lifespan.
You Will Need
- Scrapper
- Soft brush
- Dish-cleaning detergent
- Lemon juice
- Sandpaper
- Water
Step by Step Instructions
- Use the scraper to remove the layer of leftover food and any other dirt that might have formed on the cooking surface over time. If you have no scrapper, you can opt for sandpaper and scrub the surface gently using it.
- Brush the dirt particles off the surface, scoop them and throw them away in the trash. This will prevent the formation of a mushy mess when you start cleaning with water. Continue scraping until the space is free from any dried-up food particles, oily patches, and rusty parts.
- Splash a mixture of water and detergent on the flat top griddle surface. Let it rest there for a while to soak in any remaining stubborn particles, for easier cleaning.
- Start scrubbing with the soft-bristled brush. Ensure that you reach all the corners of the surface. Scrub gently to avoid damaging the cooking surface.
- Use warm, clean water to rinse the cooking area. You can add lemon juice to the rinsing water to sterilize the surface as well as get rid of any unpleasant odors.
- Use paper towels to wipe the surface dry before seasoning it.
For a better and more thorough deep cleaning experience, detach the burners and all other removable pieces of your Blackstone Griddle and wash them separately.
How to Clean Griddle Burners?
Blackstone griddle’s burners are located beneath the cooking surface. They provide heat to the grill during cooking.
There’s a protector fitted around most burners to guard them against rust, grease, and other factors that can cause them to wear. This, however, does not guarantee full protection and prolonged use can lead to the building up of dirt around the burner.
To clean them, you have to detach them first.
The next step is to soak your burner protectors in warm soapy water. Leave the guards soaking for a while to loosen the dirt and grease clinging onto them.
After 10 to 15 minutes, use a cloth or sponge to wash the burner protectors. Scrub them thoroughly to get rid of all accumulated dirt and grease.
Once you’re done, use clean warm water to rinse them. Dry them using a clean cloth or towel then place them outside to air.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning a Blackstone Griddle should be counted as one of the easiest things to do. This is due to the simple flat-top design of the cooking surface.
The biggest challenge with cleaning this equipment is that due to staying outdoors for a long time, it is prone to rust, mold, food particles, and grease.
It is advisable to clean the griddle after every use then set up an official day for deep cleaning.
Another thing to look into is the type of detergents used. Some may not be suitable for the material used to make the grill while others may be too weak to clean it as thoroughly as it should.
During a deep cleaning session, it is important to pay attention to all other areas, not just the cooking surface. Detach the detachable parts such as the burner protectors and clean them separately.
Finally, when scrubbing the surface, do it gently to avoid damage. Save your energy, by sprinkling water on this part to soak up the stubborn particles and dissolve the dust. Cleaning is made easier after this. Don’t forget to season the grill after washing to prepare it for the next cooking session.