Griddles have come a long way in recent years. They’re no longer only for cooking pancakes for families on the weekend. Household cooks are getting creative and making a wide variety of grilled foods for all meals.
There is no doubt that by adding a grill to your collection, you can add depth to your cooking. But are they easy to clean?
Today, we are helping you know how you can clean your griddle without frustration. Let’s get started!
Types of Griddles
Walking into your local store to purchase a griddle may give you more choices than you desire. Some are cast iron-plated, while others are 100% cast iron. You’ll need to decide if you want an electric or propane heated griddle. After you’ve decided on your heating source, you also need to consider whether you want a single or double-sided heat source.
Ask yourself whether you want your griddle to rest on your counter, on a stovetop, or a substantial setup in your backyard?
These are all options you’ll have when investing in a griddle. There’s one for every type of cook, whether you just want to pull it out and plug it in quickly or if you want to feed the whole neighborhood from your patio.
How Often Should You Clean Your Griddle?
You should clean your griddle after every use. Cleaning it after each use will prevent food debris from building up on your cooking surface. Not only can food build-up be unsanitary and messy, but it can also affect future cooking experiences.
A build-up of food debris can alter the nonstick surface, causing frustration the next time you cook a meal.
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What You Need to Clean Your Griddle
You don’t need a lot of fancy tools to keep your griddle clean and in prime condition. You likely already have everything you need to clean it without making an extra trip to the store.
Keep a metal spatula, water, and oil handy after using your griddle to ensure you have everything you need to clean it. Different products claim to make clean-up as easy as possible. If you’re having a hard time keeping it clean, they may be worth trying.
How to Clean Your Griddle After Each Use
Avid griddle cooks will swear by their cleaning method. While there are many ways to clean it after each use, most will agree it should be easy. With a well-seasoned cooktop, cleaning up should only take a few minutes and require minimal effort.
Whether you’re the type of person to clean your griddle immediately after taking the last food off or wait until after you’ve eaten, the process will be the same. You’ll want to begin with a warm to hot surface. Scrape any extra bits of food off into your grease trap with a metal spatula, applying even pressure. Once you’ve successfully removed excess debris, add water to the surface and carefully wipe the area with a paper towel. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Once you clean the surface, you will need to apply a thin layer of oil to ensure your griddle remains conditioned for your subsequent use. You can purchase products made for this purpose, but a simple oil coating works just fine.
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Deep Cleaning Your Griddle
Sometimes your griddle needs a deep cleaning, especially if you’ve burnt your food and have tough-to-clean food remnants remaining. This can also happen if your griddle is not seasoned correctly. Deep cleaning it follows much of the same method as standard cleaning. However, you might need to put in more time and effort.
If it needs a good deep clean, it’s best to turn your heat on high with a bit of oil covering the entire surface. This will give it an extra boost in helping you scrape off the stuck-on food debris. At this point, many people suggest letting the surface cool down before applying warm water liberally and using a non-abrasive brush to scrub it.
Avoid using soap as it can be too harsh for the cooktop. You can use lemon juice or vinegar mixed with water if you need more help. Repeat this process until you feel your griddle is clean.
Seasoning Your Griddle
Your first and most important step in keeping your griddle clean and ready to last a long time is to season it. Seasoning creates a solid non-stick surface that makes your griddle easy to cook on and clean. You’ll want to thoroughly season it before using it for the first time and periodically to keep it in prime condition.
To season your griddle, turn on the heat on high and let it preheat completely. Once you’ve done an initial preheat, turn it off and apply a thin layer of oil on your surface with a paper towel, coating all surfaces before turning the heat source back on. The oil will begin to smoke, letting you know it has reached the correct temperature.
Wait until the smoking has stopped, turn off the heat, and allow it to cool. Repeat this process three to four times. After a few cycles, your surface will have blackened and conditioned for use.
Many suggest that your first item cooked should be something with many natural greases, such as bacon, to help further ensure a sealed non-stick surface.
For more in-depth seasoning instructions, check out the official Blackstone seasoning instructions.
Keep Your Griddle Ready for Your Next Meal
When you feel those hunger pains coming, and you’ve gathered all of your cooking supplies, the last thing you want is to walk over to your griddle and delay the meal because you left it a mess the last time you used it. Be sure to properly clean it after each use, even if it takes time. This ensures you’ll be ready to jump right into cooking the next time you are hungry.
What are your favorite things to cook on your griddle? Tell us your go to recipe in the comments!
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