Home Cleaning 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 May 5, 2023 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 Share Tweet Pin Email 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. How to Clean and Maintain Your Gas Grill 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. 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. How to Season and Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet Wash down the griddle This will likely be the only time you use soap on your griddle! Pour soapy water (use a grease-cutting dishwashing liquid) 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 up 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—as 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. How to Clean a Grill With Household Items Give the griddle a good scrape Use a metal scraper to remove any leftover food particles or moisture. Clean your Blackstone griddle right after you're done using it, before the food debris has time to stick to the surface. Rinse it down with water Pour clean 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.