Home Cleaning Cleaning How-Tos How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle It's easier than you think to keep your Blackstone griddle in tip-top shape! By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 18, 2024 Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process In This Article View All In This Article Season Clean Remove Rust FAQs Close Photo: Caziopeia/Getty Images Project Overview Working Time: 1 hour Total Time: 1 hour Skill Level: Beginner Yield: 1 clean Blackstone griddle Blackstone griddles have become an integral part of many outdoor kitchens—with the rolled steel cooktop used to whip up everything from burgers for a barbecue to pancakes for an al fresco brunch. But protecting your investment means caring for your Blackstone griddle properly. And fortunately, it's actually pretty easy to prep and clean your griddle to keep it in great shape for years to come. A proper seasoning when you first get your griddle home will make future cleanings a breeze. Here's everything you need to know to season and clean your Blackstone griddle. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Sponge Scraper Tongs or Heat-Resistant Gloves Materials Dishwashing Liquid Water Oil or Griddle Conditioner Instructions How to Season a Blackstone Griddle Before you cook, you need to season your griddle. Seasoning coats the surface of the griddle to create a natural nonstick surface. This is the most time-consuming part of your griddle care, but after you're done—as long as you clean your griddle and keep it out of the elements—this may be the only time you need to season it. Wash Down the Griddle This will likely be the only time you use soap on your griddle! Pour soapy water (use a grease-cutting dish soap) onto your grill, to remove any manufacturing residue. Then rinse away the soap with clean water. Turn up the Heat Turn the griddle on at the highest setting, and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes, until you see the cooktop start to brown. Then turn off your griddle. Rub in a Little Oil or Conditioner Apply a very thin layer of oil to your Blackstone griddle. You can use neutral oils like canola oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil—or Blackstone also has created its own proprietary conditioner. Use a paper towel and tongs or a heat-resistant glove to ensure that the oil is distributed across the whole griddle.Use paper towels to mop up any puddles of oil on the surface. Heat the Griddle Again Run the griddle on high again to help the oil bake into the surface. You'll see the griddle start to smoke—which is exactly what you want to happen. Turn it off once the smoking stops, usually around 30 minutes after you start. Repeat the Oil and Cook Cycle at Least One More Time Follow steps 3 and 4 again at least once, applying a thin coat of oil, then heating the grill to help season it. (Blackstone recommends repeating this three times—for a total of four oil and cook cycles—for the best results.) Add a Final Coat of Oil Once the Blackstone griddle cools a bit, apply one last coat of oil to help protect it. Once that's done, you're ready to cook! How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle With a properly seasoned Blackstone griddle, cleaning can be a cinch, and you shouldn't even have to break out the soap. Every time you cook on the griddle, it strengthens the seasoning layer. Here's how to clean a Blackstone griddle to help keep it in tip-top shape. Give the Griddle a Good Scrape After allowing the griddle to cool, use a metal scraper to remove any leftover food particles or moisture. Scrape the debris towards the drip pans on the griddle to avoid making a mess. Clean your Blackstone griddle right after you're done using it before the food debris has time to stick to the surface. Wipe Griddle With a Paper Towel After you've scraped off any crumbs and debris from your griddle, wipe it down with a paper towel to remove any excess cooking grease. Rinse It Down With Water Pour clean, hot water onto your griddle to help rinse away food residue. Turn the Heat Back On Run the griddle on low while you push the water around the surface with your scraper to clean it thoroughly. (You may need to pour fresh water and repeat this process until the griddle surface is clean.) Apply Oil or Conditioner Use a paper towel and your heat-resistant gloves or tongs to spread a very thin layer of oil over the surface. Then store your Blackstone griddle away in a cool, dry area. How to Clean a Rusted Blackstone Griddle Rust forms when water, oxygen, and iron mix together, so it's not uncommon for griddles to develop rust from time to time. This is especially true in humid climates, where more moisture is constantly in the air. But don't worry—follow the steps below to clean your rusted Blackstone griddle and it will look good as new in no time. Heat the Griddle Rust lifts more easily from a hot surface than a cold one, so the first step to remove rust is to heat your griddle. Turn it on high and let it run for a few minutes to get nice and hot. Scrape the Surface While wearing heat-resistant gloves, scrape the surface of your griddle to loosen the rust. Work in a grid pattern when scraping to avoid missing any rusted area. Cool and Wipe Once you've finished scraping thoroughly, turn off the griddle and let it cool completely. Then use paper towels to wipe off any loose pieces lingering on the flat top. Use a Grill Pumice Stone and Oil Drizzle about one-third cup of vegetable oil onto the surface of your griddle. Using a grill pumice stone, scrub the surface thoroughly, concentrating on any areas where the rust didn't lift during the initial scraping. After scrubbing, use paper towels or a microfiber cloth to wipe debris from the surface. Repeat as Needed Repeat the steps above as many times as needed to remove all of the rust from your griddle. Re-Season and Store Once you've removed all the rust, re-season your griddle with oil to protect the surface. Store it in a dry location to prevent any further rusting. Frequently Asked Questions How often should you clean your Blackstone griddle? Blackstone griddles need to be cleaned, dried, and coated with a light amount of oil after each use. They should also be cleaned and seasoned before first use. Seasoning your griddle will help it form a natural nonstick coating. According to Blackstone, you should only need to specifically season your griddle before its first use; regular cooking and rubbing with oil after cleaning will keep it seasoned. How should a Blackstone griddle be stored? Store your griddle in a cool, dry place, preferably inside or under a sturdy canvas cover. Leaving it exposed to the elements can cause it to rust. Make sure your griddle has cooled completely before moving it indoors or covering it. How can I make my Blackstone griddle last? You can do a few things to improve your griddle's longevity. In addition to properly seasoning, cleaning, and storing it, always preheat the griddle before use. Also avoid using any abrasive cleaning materials unless you're doing a rust removal. How to Season and Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Communications GEO of M and. Rate of rust formation.