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Those using a Blackstone griddle, a flat top cooking surface synonymous with alfresco patio dining, know that the steel and carbon appliance can transform a meal. “The durability and build of a Blackstone griddle, as well as its heat distribution, makes cooking on it easy,” says chef and pizzaiolo Jorge Sandoval of Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co. in Los Angeles. “And if it’s aged and seasoned, it gets better with time.” Sandoval has been using his Blackstone griddle to make plenty of sandwiches—from paninis to grilled cheeses with jalapeño slices. “Quesadillas and cheese steaks also do great on the griddle,” he says. A Blackstone griddle is ideal for outdoor cooking adventures, in which it may take hours to cook a hearty meal without a pile of dishes and utensils. Taco night never looked this good! Check out TikTok’s #griddletok for more ideas.
You may already know how to clean a cast-iron skillet or how to clean a gas grill, but what about your new Blackstone? “Flat top grills, also known as griddle grills, can be a great addition to your BBQ backyard setup,” says Joe Downey, senior merchant of grills at Home Depot. “They don’t have regular grill grates, so they typically require a different cleaning method for the flat top.”
These gas grills come in different sizes—from the smaller Blackstone 22-inch griddle, to the medium Blackstone 28-inch griddle, to the tailgate party-size Blackstone 36-inch griddle. Luckily the cleaning process for all Blackstone grills is the same.
Start cleaning your outdoor griddle as soon as it arrives at your door. After you’ve unwrapped your new cooking toy (and admired its beauty, of course), start by positioning your new Blackstone griddle in the perfect location. This spot should be a dry place with some shade for it (and for the chef). Fill a bucket halfway with hot water and soap. Grab a towel and scrub the cooking surface down with soapy water, then switch to paper towels to dry everything off. This will ensure that any dust or grime that settled onto the griddle top during the manufacturing and shipping process won’t be part of your meal. Since this is a new product, don’t go crazy with the dish soap. You’re not dealing with stuck-on cheese or hamburger juices just yet. Think of it as a rinse and a refresh. Let your Blackstone griddle air-dry, Los Angeles–based Vanessa Garcia, a tasker on TaskRabbit, advises. Then use microfiber cloths to wipe away any remaining moisture. Definitely make sure that the griddle top is totally dry before you start to cook on it or store it away. Even tiny water droplets can result in rust.
To make the cleanup as effortless as preparing your meals, follow these expert tips on how to keep this hot griddle in tip-top shape—no matter if it’s a portable tabletop or a full-service backyard Blackstone beauty.
What is the best way to clean a Blackstone griddle?
A Blackstone griddle comes with its own rules. “You don’t need big, fancy tools, as long as it is cleaned periodically,” Garcia says. With proper maintenance, your smashburger dream machine can last 15 to 20 years.
That said, it’s best to clean the flat top often. Chef Brandon Chrostowski, founder and CEO of Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland and 2023 James Beard Award finalist, believes that crafting quality food extends beyond ingredients. “Perfection on a Blackstone requires a balance of technique and care,” he says. “A well-maintained Blackstone can be a chef’s partner in the kitchen.”
Follow these five steps to make sure your flat top griddle is in tip-top shape.
Downey recommends to start cleaning the cooking space while the burner is still hot. Use caution to avoid getting burnt from the steam. To be extra safe, wear heat-resistant silicone griddle gloves to protect yourself. You can spray a cleaning solution directly onto the flat top griddle. You may need a few spritzes to cover a 36-inch griddle.
Note that the Blackstone company warns against using soap, as it can strip away the seasoning layer on the cast iron. However, many of our experts (including Downey) say that it is fine to use dish soap, a degreaser, or a homemade baking soda solution. You can also try the EcoLab Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser and Cleaner. “This formula will give you peace of mind, save you time from scrubbing stains that won’t go away, and prevent rust from occurring in the future,” Downey says.
The best way to clean a griddle top is to scrape it down with a metal-edge scraper to get all the large debris (like a burnt piece of hot dog) into the grease cup to be thrown away. (You can get Blackstone griddle grilling accessories at Walmart, Amazon, and Home Depot.) If there is anything still stuck to the griddle surface, you can use concentrated shots of water to loosen it up, or you can even use a scrub pad from a cleaning kit on blackstoneproducts.com for extra-sticky messes. The most important thing to remember is to minimize water.
To ensure the Blackstone grill’s longevity and optimize its flavor-enhancing potential, Chrostowski swears by the technique of applying this simple combo to the cooking surface: kosher salt scrub and a drizzle of grapeseed oil. “The salt’s coarse texture acts as a scrub, while the grapeseed oil imparts a delicate seasoning that’s essential for building layers of flavor—especially when cooking fish and red meat. This method not only cleanses and seasons the surface, but shows dedication to your craft and respect for the flavors you create.”
The last thing you want to do is leave a wet mess that can ruin the nonstick surface. Since you’ll likely have a lot of icky debris, paper towels are a good option for grease management. You can also use an old kitchen towel. Push the gunk into the grease cup. You definitely want to wipe down the cooking surface if you used a bristle brush to banish the BBQ gunk—you won’t want little pieces of bristles stuck to your hot dog next time you tailgate.
Seasoning is the preparation of steel or cast-iron cookware for use. “Seasoning is an easy but very important first step when using the Blackstone griddle,” Downey says. “It coats the cookware to prevent rust and creates a natural, permanent nonstick cooking surface.” Unlike synthetically coated griddles, steel and cast iron can be seasoned repeatedly, continuously restoring the cooking surface of your outdoor griddle.
Remember: Seasoning is an ongoing process that takes time and repeated use before a griddle or pan develops a shiny black surface like the one your grandmother’s cast-iron cookware. The more often you cook on and season your griddle, the more nonstick the surface will become.
Once the flat top is clean, apply a generous amount of cooking oil to the cooking surface. Downey recommends olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil. Chrostowski likes to use grapeseed oil to enhance tabletop griddle recipes. Amazon has plenty of cooking options for you to try. Blackstone also has its own seasoning and cast-iron conditioner.
Downey notes that if you live in a humid or coastal climate, you should season the grill more frequently to prevent rust and corrosion.
Use a paper towel to spread the oil all over your Blackstone griddle. The process is similar to how you clean a cast-iron skillet. At this point, the heat zones may still be warm, so use caution to avoid burning yourself.
Once the protective layer is in place, allow the griddle to air dry. “This step preserves the life of the griddle so it doesn’t rust,” Garcia adds.
Allow the flat top to cool completely. If you have a griddle cover, use it. Then place your Blackstone grill in a location with easy accessibility—no one wants a production before they start on their outdoor cooking.
How do you clean a Blackstone griddle after each use?
While a deep clean may take you up to an hour, you can speed up the five-step cleaning process every time. You should always clean your Blackstone griddle after an outdoor cooking session. Let the griddle cool down a bit, then use a metal spatula or scraper to gently remove food particles from the surface of the griddle. “You can also use non-damaging scour pads,” Sandoval says. “A pumice grill stone would work too.”
If bits of food are really stuck to the surface of the Blackstone griddle (even after using a stainless steel scraper), use a few squirts of warm water to loosen those pieces and go in with a nonmetallic scrubber (or if the surface is still warm, cool water helps). Keep in mind that you might want to skip a bristle brush here since little pieces of metal can break off onto the griddle during this process. If you do use one, make sure to wipe the surface down properly.
Once the excess food has been picked away, Garcia recommends pouring dishwashing solution into a bucket of hot water and then dipping a nonmetal scrub into it. “Apply it to the griddle carefully,” she says. “Continuously scrub the griddle until it’s clean while ensuring that water isn’t dripping elsewhere.”
Next, dry the griddle with a microfiber towel and then quickly apply seasoning with a paper towel. Double-check that there are no puddles of seasoning on the surface of the griddle; it should have an even coating.
How often should you clean your Blackstone griddle?
To season your flat top grill for the first time, pour about two to three tablespoons of oil directly onto the entire surface of your Blackstone grill. Use a paper towel or a microfiber towel to rub a thin layer of oil onto every inch of the griddle, and then make sure it’s completely clear before turning on all of the burners. Once they’re on, wait for the griddle to change color—which will take between 10 and 15 minutes—and the surface will smoke. This means that the oil is bonding to the metal top of the griddle, creating the much-needed protective layer that will ensure that your food gets an even distribution of heat too. Repeat this process twice more, adding a new layer of oil and waiting for the surface to smoke. Then turn off the griddle and let it cool. This is a good time to tune into the latest food podcast—just to give you ideas before your flat top griddle is ready to go.
While it may be tempting to push off the task of cleaning your griddle (say, after a big meal), Garcia notes that it’s best not to wait. “Don’t let your Blackstone griddle sit for a long period of time,” she says. “If you do, it becomes a lot harder to get everything thoroughly cleaned.”
Cleaning a Blackstone griddle can be similar to caring for cast-iron cookware rather than pots and pans with a nonstick surface. Since the griddle’s surface can rust or chip easily when it’s not cleaned regularly, you should wipe it down and reseason it after every meal—just make sure the surface has cooled first, Garcia says. This will keep buildup from getting in the way of your delicious food and ensure you won’t get any burn marks in the process.
You should also do a deep clean of the gas griddle at the start and end of each grilling season.
Can you use Dawn dish soap on a Blackstone griddle?
Blackstone customer service support says to “never use soap.” Downey also says that grease-cutting dish detergents will erase the seasoning on the griddle. Instead he suggests using table salt and hot water to deal with tough spots.
But some of our experts okayed using dish soap sparingly. (Just don’t squeeze it all over your Blackstone griddle as you would on greasy dishes in the sink.) Gentle soap can help dislodge grime, but you don’t want to use anything that works overtime on grease because the seasoning is oil-based and you don’t want to strip it. “If you do want to use [soap], stay away from dyes,” Garcia warns. “So in essence, any clear dishwashing soap works.”
When using dish soap, find a small bowl and add a few drops in. Then fill it with warm water. Once you have a soap bath, gently apply to stubborn splatters and scrub. Once you’re done, don’t forget to add a bit of oil to ensure that it is still seasoned properly.
How do you clean rust off a Blackstone griddle?
We all make mistakes, and leaving things outside is one of them. For a Blackstone without a griddle cover, the elements can be detrimental. (If you don’t have one, Home Depot sells Blackstone grill covers for $30.) But even if your griddle gets rusty, it doesn’t mean you have to toss it. To remove rust, put on a pair of heat-resistant silicone gloves and turn on the griddle to high heat. Scrape off the corrosion using a metal scraper, turn off the heat, and let the surface cool.
Another way to deal with severe corrosion is to use an orbital sander and 60-grit sandpaper to lift off the rust and grime from the surface of the griddle. Todd Toven, a self-proclaimed “American griddler,” shows how to clean a Blackstone griddle by sanding on his YouTube tutorial. He then shows the “birthing process” of his griddle top by generously covering it with oil, which he then rubs in with a small towel.
Depending on the size of your griddle top, you can start by adding about five tablespoons of oil to the surface, and then scrubbing it into the griddle using a pumice grill stone. Wipe the griddle clean with paper towels and repeat the process until the rust is gone. As soon as it is, add a protective layer of seasoning and be sure to cover it after every meal. “Along with seasoning, covering your griddle will ensure that it ages with you,” Sandoval says.
