how to clean blackstone griddle after cooking

If you came into this post wondering what is the best way to clean a Blackstone griddle, we have an answer for you!

Actually, we have several different answers along with a step-by-step guide to help you season your Blackstone griddle. We all enjoy using Blackstone Griddle for its flat-top surface and versatile usage.

You can cook various different food items all at once. The only thing none of us enjoy is the cleanups.

In this post, you will find the easiest way to clean a Blackstone griddle without feeling annoyed to do it. With our step-by-step guide, you will master the art of griddle cleaning, something every grilling enthusiast should know!

When to Clean Your Blackstone Griddle

You will know it's time to properly clean your Blackstone griddle if any of these matches your situation:

Food keeps sticking to the griddle
Uneven cooking of meat
Grease buildup on the surface
The griddle surface feels sticky to the touch.
Burnt flakes on the surface.

How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle

It doesn't take much to clean your Blackstone Griddle after each use. But it sure is necessary to maintain the quality. If you don't clean your griddle, it will begin to rust and deteriorate over time.

The good thing about the Blackstone griddle is, the surface is made out of stainless steel. This means it does not require too much elbow grease to clean and maintain.

You will need:

Griddle scraper
Cooking oil
Sponge
Tablecloth/ paper towel
Lemon juice
Sandpaper

Step-by-Step Guide:

Turn up the heat to 300-350 degrees. As the griddle starts to turn very hot, bring out your scraper and scrape off the surface with it. This will help you to get rid of all the food particles, grease, and burnt pieces from it.
After you are done scraping the surface, pour some warm water on it. This helps to remove the grease buildups. As the surface is totally flat, you have to be careful not to burn yourself.
After the surface cools down a little bit, use your sandpaper or griddle pad to scrub away the entire surface. You don't have to put too much pressure on it. By this point, the grease and burnt will come off fairly easily.
Rinse the surface properly and then use your paper towel to wipe it off.
Use some lemon juice and a soft tablecloth to wipe away any leftover grimes. You can also use a stainless steel cleaner for this step.
Make sure the surface dries properly before you move on to re-seasoning it. It needs to be clean and bone-dry.

To Get Rid Of Rust from Blackstone Griddle

The joy of cooking outside with the Blackstone griddle is incomparable. The griddle, however, can not handle the harsh weather if you don't season and maintain it properly.

Maybe you didn't know about regular cleanups and now your Blackstone has rust all over its flat-top. No worries as we have easy ways to eradicate rust from Blackstone Griddle.

You will need:

Metal scraper
Sandpaper
Heat resistant gloves
Cooking oil
Grill stones
Paper towels

Step-by-Step Guide:

Before you do anything else, put on your gloves to prevent any accidental burns. Turn your griddle to high heat and let it sit for 2 minutes. This helps to weaken the rust on top of the surface.
Turn the heat off and let it cool down for a while. Once it is bearable to touch, bring out your metal scraper and start scraping off all the rust from it. It will also remove all the cooking buildups and grease.
After you are done scraping off all the corrosion from it, bring out your cooking oil and apply a few tablespoons all across the surface.
Start scrubbing the flat-top with griddle stone or sandpaper. Do it in a circular motion to prevent any scratch marks. You can also use steel wool for this.
Use a paper towel to remove all the oil and rust from it.
Repeat the process as many times as needed.
After you are properly done cleaning off the corrosion, add another 3-5 tablespoons of cooking oil and wipe it off with a clean towel.
This helps to remove any rust residue. Keep doing it until the paper towel looks fresh and white.
The next step is to season the griddle which we will talk briefly about in a moment.

How to Season a Blackstone Griddle

If you have never seasoned your Blackstone griddle before, you will be surprised by the result. Ideally, you should season your grill on a regular basis to keep it rust and damage-free. It also helps to cook food easily with less oil.

You will need:

Water
Cooking oil
Dish soap
Heat resistant gloves
Paper towel

Step-by-Step Guide:

First things first, you have to clean your griddle before you plan to season it. If you did clean your griddle a few days ago, it doesn't hurt to do a gentle wiping with dish soap and a paper towel.
This will remove all the dust and grease from the surface. After that, let the surface dry completely.
Now that the griddle is squeaky clean, preheat it at the highest settings for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can heat it up until the surface starts to go dark brown. When you notice this, turn off the burner.
Let the surface cool down properly. Then apply a very thin layer of oil all over the griddle. Use a paper towel to wipe it around and distribute the oil evenly.
Some people debate on what type of cooking oil to use. You can use any available cooking oil for this. We like to use olive oil for its high bonding abilities.
Repeat this process a few times then turn on the griddle again. Let it get super hot.
It will start to burn the oil but that's okay. We want the oil to be burnt. But this, a good portion of the oil will solidify on top and create a protective barrier against moisture.
After it's done, let it cool down completely and add another layer of oil. Then turn the burner on again. Repeat this process 3-4 times to create a durable and solid seasoning.

Blackstone Griddle Maintenance Tips

All the steps we have mentioned earlier are a part of using your griddle. They need to be done on a monthly basis.

But there are some things that you should always do to maintain the quality of the griddle. If you regularly take care of your Blackstone griddle, it doesn't take too much work to deep clean it.

Here are our tips to maintain the griddle overtime:

Use a griddle scraper after each use to remove all the buildups of grease and burnt food.
When the flat top is cold, spray the surface with dishwashing liquid and give it a good rinse. Use paper towels to wipe it clean.
Paper towels are your best friend. Use them to casually remove grease, to dry the surface, or to remove dust. It takes no time and effort but leaves the surface feeling fresh as new.
It is a smart idea to re-season your grill after each use. If you use the griddle on a daily basis, do it twice a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

01. Can I Leave My Blackstone Griddle Outside?

Yes, you can leave your Blackstone griddle outside. But you have to be careful about it.

Blackstone griddle, just like any other stainless steel griddle can rust when exposed to moisture. To ensure this doesn't happen, you have to keep it inside a shade or put a protective griddle cover on top.

If you actually do these things, you can use the griddle even in the wintertime to cook delicious warm dishes for family and friends.

02. Why is My Blackstone Griddle Sticky?

If you try to use your Blackstone griddle and notice food sticking to its surface, then the problem might be in your seasoning. You have to properly season your Blackstone griddle for it to feel almost nonstick.

Oftentimes we only season our griddles with one coating of oil. This is simply not enough. You need to apply multiple coatings of oil to fix the issue.

However, if you use too much oil, it won't create the kind of protective layer we are expecting from seasoning. As a result, food will stick to it.

03. What is the Best Oil to Season a Blackstone Griddle?

There are many debates on this topic. You can use pretty much any type of kitchen oil to season your Blackstone Griddle. But of course, some oil has better bonding abilities than others.

Blackstone even sells their own seasoning conditioner. We recommend trying that out for the maximum result.

For household oils, extra virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil have the best seasoning qualities to them. They can be used to create multiple layers of seasoning and they don't gum up like regular vegetable oil. You can also use canola oil for it.

Finally

A lot of griddle owners think investing in an expensive griddle is enough to keep it looking shiny and new. But the truth is, you have to put love and care into the griddle to maintain its performance.

Now that you know how to clean Blackstone griddle, hopefully, you will take care of yours.

Blackstone Griddle is super easy to clean and season compared to other options in the market. So keep it clean and enjoy delicious BBQs all year round!