How to take care of your griddle - complete guide

You just cooked an amazing meal for a huge crowd. Everybody’s satisfied with the awesome food, and it couldn’t get any better. Or you just had dinner with the family at the campsite, and you’re ready to get some shut-eye. But you can’t just cook up your meals and let the Blackstone go; you’ve got to follow some procedures that - we promise - aren’t that tricky. If you don't take care of your griddle, it can rust, chip, flake and even lose its non-stick surface. Blackstone Griddles are built to last a lifetime, but there are a few things you need to do to protect the cooking surface from the elements In this guide, we cover all the bases to get your griddle the care it deserves. Is It Hard to Take Care of a Griddle? How Can I Clean a New Griddle Before Using it? How Should I Season a Griddle? How Should I Clean a Griddle After Using It? Is It Possible to Recover a Rusty Griddle? How Should I Store My Griddle? Temperature Tips Pro Tips to Help Your Griddle Last a Lifetime Safety Tips

Is It Hard to Take Care of a Griddle?

Of course not! Every cooking machine that exists (even a campfire) needs a little bit of maintenance. So, in the case of a griddle, it’s like a walk in the park. No need for soap cleaning, brushing or drying. All you need to care about is the seasoning. It’s what makes the non-stick surface, so your meals don’t get stuck on the griddle. Basically, what it all comes down to is oil for seasoning and correct storage after use.  

How Can I Clean a New Griddle Before Using it?

  You just got your Blackstone - the outdoor cooking beast. We know you wanna just get at it, turn on the propane, and cook up some juicy steak with hash browns, pancakes, eggs, potatoes, and more! BUT, you can’t go straight at it. You need to do a little preparation. And that means a soapy wash just to clean off any dirt or debris from manufacturing and shipping.

1. Fill up a bucket with hot water
2. Mix it up with soap
3. Using a towel, scrub the entire surface with the soapy water to remove any residue from shipping and storage.
4. Dry off the water with paper towels
5. Let it dry completely before use or storage - this avoids rust

NOTE! Only use soap on brand-new griddles and rinse it thoroughly afterwards. If you’ve ever cooked anything on that flattop, ditch the soap! It's unnecessary and and may leave residue on your griddle that will effect the taste of your next meal.

And after you’ve cleaned it up, you have to season your griddle. This creates a stick-resistant surface, so your meals don’t stick to the metal. Read up on how to do it in the next section.

How Should I Season a Griddle?

A perfectly seasoned griddle is almost completely black and non-stick. The first "Seasoning" layer is the most important part of getting a perfect cooktop. Come on, your griddle deserves it. We promise it won’t take that much time - and it’s awesome to watch! So, first off you need to get your oil. We recommend these:

• Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner (recommended)
• Canola Oil
• Flax Oil
• Vegetable Oil
• Shortening
• Olive Oil

Now, after you’ve got your oil, this is what you do:

1. Add 2-3 tablespoons of oil to your griddle and using a dish towel or a handful of paper towel, rub the oil onto every inch of the griddle surface to create a thin layer (sides and back too.;
2. Turn up the heat on all burners. Keep the temperature high until the oil starts smoking;
3. The griddle will discolor. That means the oil is bonding to the metal - this is good! This will take 10-15 minutes;
4. Wait until the oil stops smoking, and then do it again. 2-3 tablespoons of oil, rub the entire surface with a thin layer and let it smoke;
5. Almost done folks! After the smoke stops, do it one last time. Add oil, rub the entire surface, let it smoke.
6. Once the smoke stops, turn off the griddle and let it cool.

If all goes according to plan, you’re looking at a black griddle top. Blackened like a night at the campsite with no stars. It’s natural, it’s stick-resistant. It’s Blackstone. You will only need to "season" your griddle like this the first time. Regular cooking will maintain your surface. Actually, the more you cook on it, the better your surface will become. Here are a few tips to remember AFTER cooking.

1. After cooking, clean it up (next step on this guide)
2. Rub oil on the whole surface
3. Remove any excess oil with a paper towel
4. Store it somewhere cool and dry

Got any questions? Read up our full seasoning guide to get that griddle blackened and non-stick - without the stress!

How Should I Clean a Griddle After Using It?

Cleaning is easy! All you need is a metal spatula, paper towels, hot water, a scouring pad, and cooking oil. Here’s the steps:

1. Let the griddle cool down after cooking. We don’t want any burned hands!
2. Scrape the surface with a metal spatula or scraper;
3. Wipe it down with a paper towel. You can use a dishcloth, but it can get greasy;
4. For stuck on food, pour some water onto the griddle while it’s still warm. The hot water will make it easier for the harder residue to come off;
5. Rub a Blackstone Scouring Pad gently on the surface
6. Rinse off the water with paper towels
7. Dry it gently with a cloth
8. Coat with a layer of oil in between uses (Blackstone Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner or Blackstone Non-Stick Cooking Spray are recommended)

Is It Possible to Recover a Rusty Griddle?

Steel, air, and water don’t really match well. Putting them all together is the perfect recipe for rust. So, if you live in an area with high humidity, or if you live by the beach, it means you need to be extra careful to protect your griddle top from rusting. Do you know what rust is? It’s iron + water + oxygen. And Blackstone griddles are made of steel, which is iron + carbon. That means all it takes is too much exposure to water and air to get that flat top from black and shiny to rusty and dull. Luckily, if your griddle got rusted up, there’s a solution. Even heavy corrosion can be tackled with our tips! So, here are the cleaning tools you will need.

• A metal scraper
• Cooking oil
• Paper towels
• Grill stones
• Heat-resistant gloves

Now, here’s how you’ll remove the rust:

1. Turn the griddle on and keep the heat high. The rust will loosen and get easier to remove. Wear heat-resistant gloves to protect yourself
2. Get your metal scraper out of the Blackstone Accessory Toolkit and scrape off the corrosion. Keep the griddle dry and scrape like there’s no tomorrow!
3. Let the griddle cool down and then wipe off the debris.
4. Add 4-5 tablespoons of cooking oil on the whole surface and then scrub it down with a grill stone. It’s four times more effective than using a regular brush! Be patient and scrub the whole flat top area.
5. Wipe the griddle clean with a cloth or paper towels. Add more cooking oil and wipe it down again. Keep scrubbing with oil until all the rust debris is gone. Remember to add oil as you go.
6. Season the griddle top to create a protective coating to avoid rust again.
7. Keep your griddle stored in a cool, dry place and use a cover to protect it from humidity in the air.

How Should I Store My Griddle?

You have to find an appropriate place for your griddle to chill in between cookouts. It needs its space, and it needs to be suitable. Also, think about how much you use your griddle. Are you a weekend outdoor cooker, who every Sunday sizzles up some steaks for the whole family? Or are you more of a monthly guy that takes the griddle out to the tailgate when a big game comes on? What matters is that if you griddle up a lot, store it somewhere easy. And if you cook only from time to time, you can store it somewhere that’s not so accessible without any worries. But, remember these pointers:

A Cool, Dry Place

You need to store your griddle in a place that doesn’t get damp to avoid rust. And it shouldn’t be hot too since that’s dangerous for the propane tank. The griddle can fit in a closet, but never put any objects over it. And if the garage is your pick, remember to check on it from time to time to remove dust.

Cover Your Griddle

To keep your griddle in fine-working order, get yourself a heavy-duty canvas cover. Covers are a shield that fend off any scratches, damage, dust, and rust that life throws at your Blackstone.

Temperature Tips

Now it’s time to turn up the heat and start griddlin’. But, before you get at it with the seared meats, sautéed mushroom, and sizzlin’ veggies - follow these steps:

1. Turn up the heat to medium temperature. Keep the flames going for 3-5 minutes to improve heat distribution.
2. Turn the knob to reach the temperature you need. Pancakes for example cook on lower heat.
3. Remember that the griddle top gets hot fast. But it cools down slow. So even if you turn off the propane, the griddle keeps cookin’.
4. Let the griddle cool down a little before you start cleaning. You don’t want to burn yourself.

And why not also check our recipes?

Pro Tips to Help Your Griddle Last a Lifetime

Congratulations! You just got a griddle that’s sturdy, versatile, and built for delicious cooking. Treat it well, and it can last for generations. Imagine, that - your sweet grandson or even HIS grandson griddlin’ it up on a Blackstone! Wanna make that happen? Follow these tips to make sure your griddle is always functioning at its best!

Don’t bother with Soap or Cleaning Products

While it is a myth that regular soap will ruin your seasoning layer there really isn't any reason to ever use it. So, if your griddle has already been cooked on, ditch the soap and just use water while the griddle is warm. Definitely don’t use cleaning products like detergents or oven cleaners. They will ruin your seasoning layer and can even cause corrosion. Also, cleaning products leave a funky taste on your griddle that can ruin your next meal.

Don’t Use Abrasive Scrubbers

Abrasive scrubbers really only need to be used to remove rust! They scratch up the whole griddle plate. Use water and a Blackstone Scouring Pad instead.

Always Preheat the Griddle Before Cooking a Big Meal

Preheat the griddle before cooking! Especially if you’re throwing a party at the tailgate or even for the whole neighborhood. Takes 10 minutes and we guarantee it’ll improve the flavor. When you throw oil on a preheated griddle, it infuses with the steel and maintains the seasoning. This makes a non-stick surface for tastier meals. Think about all that seared steak - yum!

Store It Somewhere Nice - No Mess

You can store your griddle after cooking anywhere, but make sure it’s a safe spot. Don’t pile anything on the griddle plate or keep any pointy metal objects around - this might cause scratches.

Safety Tips

• Don’t let the kiddos fiddle with the griddle when you’re cookin’. Burned fingers or worse can ruin any family event. So, if you have small kids, always keep the griddle under adult supervision.
• Don’t leave any plastic bags, containers, or other flammable materials close to the griddle top. This can be a fire hazard.
• Cook in an outdoor space with enough ventilation. This is for safety in case of any propane leaks you can’t notice.
• If you can smell gas, stop cooking - cover the propane tank with a damp cloth. If you feel you’re in danger, call 911.