Don't Forget This Rule When Cleaning Your Blackstone

Blackstone griddles are a hot addition to the backyard grilling family; the flat surface is great for developing caramelization, a key ingredient in the perfect smash burger or Korean barbecue. Plus, Blackstone Griddles have a great average lifespan when properly cared for. What is that proper method of care, though? Scraping blackened, hardened gunk off such an expensive machine is unappealing at best, and in fact every set of Blackstone cleaning instructions agrees that you should never clean a dry, cold grill. According to Neal Williams, also known as The Flat Top King, you should always set your grill to medium — not high! — heat before you start working in sections. This reheats the sugars that have cooled and hardened onto the surface, and once diluted with water, you can loosen everything up with a spatula before wiping it away with paper towels. There are a few more steps to follow to keep your Blackstone in tip-top shape, but once you know what to do, you might find it even easier to clean than your average backyard grill.

Part of what makes flat top griddles so effective for meals is the Maillard reaction, which gives your food golden-brown crusting and delicious cooking smells. Flat top grills do this quickly and uniformly, but even the increased efficiency can't prevent buildup and residue from the reaction that becomes a solid mess when it cools. That's why one of the keys to a good Blackstone grill experience is cleaning with medium heat on. You can clean while you're cooking, using your bench scraper or spatula to shift food residue after you've flipped, moved, or finished whatever meal you're working on.

If you're faced with a really crusty grill top, you'll probably need to steam your surface. If you squeeze a little water onto a hot griddle, you can shift just about anything stuck to your grill. However, it's absolutely essential to keep the heat on a medium setting across the entire grill. Steam will re-liquefy the sugars, but turn the heat up too high, and it'll evaporate before it has the chance to really permeate the mess. Try for a medium-low heat, so that the water evaporates steadily and you have time to work. Tackle the mess by working in sections, and don't be afraid to put in the elbow grease; as long as your grill is properly seasoned, there's very little danger of damaging the cooktop. There's a lot more to know about the proper way to clean and care for a Blackstone griddle, but by sticking to the medium-low heat rule, you can keep your grill clean almost effortlessly.