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So you've got your favorite griddle and have been loving the way it can cook all kinds of meals. Whether you go with one from Blackstone, Trager or any other number of griddle makers, there's a chance you'll run into the issue of flaking. Perhaps you are fortunate to skip that issue, but you have areas on your griddle that are getting some rust. It may be time to restore your cooktop.
Flaking is a relatively common issue on griddles and can be caused by a few different things. Probably the most common cause is not doing proper cleaningafter each cook. Uneven heating can also be a culprit, but unless your griddle has some serious burner issues, it's likely your griddle needs a deep clean and a bit of restoration. The process isn't overly complicated, but it will take a bit of elbow grease and time.
Gather your gear
When a griddle isn't well-maintained, it can begin to flake and lose its ability to keep food from sticking.
Chris Wedel/CNETRestoring a cast iron griddle cooktop is much like the process of cleaning and seasoning. The only difference is that you'll just add one more tool to your arsenal: a grill stone. If you're unfamiliar with it, it is an actual stone but very porous and relatively soft. It does a great job of breaking down baked-on gunk left on your griddle after cooking. These pumice stones are pretty inexpensive, like this four-pack for $10, or you can buy a kit to get started and then refill with stone packs.
The other tools you'll need to restore your Blackstone back to its non-stick glory days are some basic cooking oil, like vegetable oil, a roll of paper towels, some gloves, a scraper and your seasoning oil. Again, for this, I recommend pure grapeseed oil. With your supplies gathered up, it's time to start restoring your griddle.
How to restore your griddle's cooktop
If you don't clean your griddle and keep a layer of oil on it, you'll end up with flaking and rust.
Chris Wedel/CNETBefore you begin the process of restoring your griddle's cooktop, you need to warm up the surface. It's not too hot, just warm enough that you can still touch it with your bare hand. This can be done by simply letting the sunshine on it or by putting it on low for a few minutes. Either way, it's a good idea to check it with a temperature gun first to avoid accidentally burning yourself. These are great to have to find hot spots on your griddle, too. With the griddle surface warm, stuck-on grime will be easier to remove.
- Lightly scrape the griddle surface to remove larger pieces. Scrape in multiple directions to ensure you get as much off as possible.
- Wipe off the surface of your griddle with paper towels to remove hard particles.
- Add enough cooking oil, such as vegetable oil, to coat the entire griddle surface in a thin layer.
- Begin scrubbing the griddle surface with your pumice stone in a circular motion. If necessary add more oil to keep good surface lubrication.
- Wipe off the surface with paper towels. Continue adding small amounts of oil and wiping the surface until the paper towels no longer have dark residue.
Pumice stones are great for regular and deep cleaning a griddle surface to smooth it out and remove any uneven spots.
Chris Wedel/CNETYour griddle cooktop should be smooth and free of loose debris, rust, or flaking. Once you have freed your surface of grime, you are ready to begin seasoning your cast iron griddle.
The best grilling tip is that a properly maintained cooking surface is vital for a successful and tasty meal, whether on your griddle, grill, smoker or any other device you use for cooking. There are also some helpful grilling tools, like smart meat thermometers, that can come in clutch when cooking various meals on your griddle. None of these gadgets will matter if you don't have a clean and well-seasoned griddle.
Blackstone restoration is now complete
A well-seasoned griddle is a joy to cook on as it will give you a way to cook a wide range of food types and styles with less clean-up than cooking indoors.
Chris Wedel/CNETI wonder if the griddle brand Blackstone got its name from the look of a perfectly seasoned cast iron cooktop. Now that you have restored your griddle cooktop, you should have a hard, black, non-stick coating on the surface. As previously mentioned, this process of restoring your griddle is the same for a Blackstone as it is for any other brand with a cast iron cooking surface.
The next time you fire up the griddle and enjoy your deliciously prepared meal, don't forget to give it a good cleaning so it's ready for the next round. If it slips your mind, you'll know how to get it back into form should you need to.