A stainless stovetop griddle makes it easier to cook breakfast foods like pancakes, sausages, bacon, hash browns, French toast, and eggs. It also makes delicious burgers, grilled sandwiches, and fajitas.
The biggest problem users face is cleaning it after cooking. This article explains how you can clean an indoor stovetop after a cooking session and how to clean a rusted stovetop stainless steel griddle.
Regular Stainless steel Stovetop Griddle Cleaning
Cleaning your stainless steel stovetop griddle instantly after cooking is easier and less challenging than cleaning it after a few hours. Here’s how you can clean it right after cooking.
Things Required
- A griddle scraper
- A griddle scrub pad or brush
- Cleaning chemical/dishwashing liquid
- Hot Water
- Cleaning cloth/paper towel
Cleaning Procedure
Preparing the stovetop:
The griddle’s temperature is a critical factor that dominates the overall cleaning process. This is why cleaning a slightly hot griddle is recommended because the leftovers (grease, oil, and food particles) don’t stick to hot surfaces. You can achieve this by soaking the griddle in hot water for a few minutes before cleaning it.
Scrubbing off the residues:
Scrub the residue with a scrapper or spatula using a flat surface. You can also use a soft sponge to remove residues. Please avoid using abrasive sponges as they can damage the stainless steel finish.
Cleaning with salt to remove flavors:
Clean the catch-tray. Scrub the surface with table salt using a spatula or a soft sponge. Salt removes any leftover residue, odors and prepares the griddle for the next step.
Liquid Cleaning:
Spray a commercial or DIY cleaner over the surface and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Various commercial cleaners are available for stovetop griddle cleaning. You can make homemade cleaner using equal amounts of vinegar and water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
Final cleaning with a paper towel:
Use paper towels to clean the entire griddle in a back-and-forth movement. Depending on how dirty your griddle was, you may need to repeat the last two times.
Wash the griddle with clean water to remove any leftover cleaners. Make sure you dry it before storing it.
The whole process usually takes 10-15 minutes. You may not need to clean it so vigorously if you follow a daily cleaning routine.
Rusty Stainless Steel Stovetop Griddle Cleaning
Stainless steel stovetop griddles get rusty when you don’t clean it regularly or when the conditions are humid. It is a bit challenging but not impossible to clean a rusty griddle.
Things Required
- Metal scrapper
- Cooking oil
- Grill stones
- Paper towels
- Heat-resistant gloves
Cleaning Procedure
- Turn on the griddle to keep it warm and loosen the rust.
- Wear heat-resistant gloves before you start cleaning.
- Turn off the griddle after it gets hot.
- Use a metal scrapper gently to remove as much rust as you can. Please be careful doing this, as you don’t want to damage the finish.
- Spread 4-5 tablespoons of cooking oil over the griddle surface.
- Scrub the entire surface with griddle stones. You can also use scrubbing brushes.
- Wipe the surface with paper towels.
- You may need to repeat steps 5 and 6 depending on your griddle’s rust.
- Make sure you dry the griddle before storing it.
FAQs
1. Does vinegar damage the stainless steel griddles?
Long-term exposure to vinegar can damage your griddle’s surface but it’s a miraculous cleaning agent. So, do not leave it for a long time, a maximum of 5 minutes is enough to leave vinegar over the griddle’s surface.
2. How do you season a Viking stainless steel stovetop griddle?
Wash your Viking stovetop griddle with soapy warm water. Let it dry for a few minutes and then go for seasoning. Unsalted vegetable oil for seasoning is beneficial. Apply 1 teaspoon of oil over the griddle surface with the help of a paper towel. Your griddle is ready for cooking after 15-20 minutes.
3. Can you use silicon spatulas for scrubbing stainless steel griddles?
Silicon rubber spatulas are safe to use on stainless-steel surfaces as they are soft and more flexible than other spatulas. So, the risk of scratching the stainless steel surface is minimum with silicone spatulas. However, stainless steel spatulas are safer than silicon for stainless-steel griddles.
4. How to clean a burnt non-stick griddle?
Add 1-2 drops of dish or griddle soap in a bowl of warm water and pour onto the surface. Wait for 5-10 minutes, and then remove the burnt grease with a griddle scrapper or a silicone scrubber. Repeat the process if required. Please note that soap is only to be used with a non-stick griddle. Don’t use soap if you have a chrome-infused griddle.
5. How to clean a Chrome Griddle?
- Scrape the surface to remove the debris and grease while the griddle is hot.
- Pour warm water and scrub using a palmetto brush or a soft brush. Please do not use abrasive brushes for cleaning chrome griddles. You must also not use dish soaps or any cleaners to clean chrome griddles.
- Repeat if required.
- Let the surface cool and air dry.
- Cover the flat top with food-safe, nonabrasive polish.
- Wipe the surface with a clean, dry cloth.
- Use a clean damp cloth to remove the leftover polish.
6. How to clean a Blackstone Griddle?
- Let the griddle cool down (not entirely, it must be warm while cleaning), and scrape the surface with a spatula or metal scrapper.
- Wipe the surface with a paper towel or cloth to remove food debris and grease.
- Pour water over stuck-on particles to soften them.
- Gently scrub the surface with a griddle scrub pad.
- Rinse the surface with clean water and dry with a clean cloth.
- Coat the surface with a layer of oil.
7. How to clean a Cast Iron Griddle?
- Allow the griddle to cool. (A warm griddle is best for cleaning)
- Use a paper towel to wipe food particles or use a plastic scrapper to loosen the stuck-on particles. Please don’t use a metal scrapper or steel wool, as these items can damage the griddle’s surface.
- Dampen a non-abrasive sponge with hot water and add two drops of dishwashing liquid. Scrub the entire surface.
- Rinse with hot water.
- Dry the surface right away with paper towels.
- Season your griddle if food sticks during cooking.
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