Why Blackstone Says To Stop Using Soap On Its Griddles

If outdoor cooking floats your boat, a Blackstone griddle is worth the investment. Perfect for preparing every element of an all-American breakfast, from fluffy pancakes and bacon to sausage and eggs, the steel surface of this flat-top provides ample space for family-style cooking. You just need to learn how to care for it properly to boost its lifespan. Blackstone has lots of useful tips on maintaining the surface of its range of griddles, but one key bit of advice is to stop using soap to clean it in between uses. This is because it can leave a residue behind and negatively affect the taste of your next meal.

One of the disadvantages of a Blackstone griddle is the diligent care that the cooking surface requires. It needs to be seasoned, much like a cast iron skillet, to lend it a non-stick capability, which also imparts flavor into the foods you cook on it. However, this only has to be done once after the initial clean (but can be repeated if needed).The only time that you should clean the surface of a Blackstone griddle with soap is just before using it for the first time to remove any dirt that may have gathered on the surface via the manufacturing and shipping process. Otherwise, soap isn't required, as water is more than enough to clean off any food residues while the griddle is still warm.

While it's true that avoiding soap will ensure your next batch of pancakes doesn't have a soapy aftertaste, soap won't actually ruin the seasoned surface of a Blackstone griddle. In fact, it's a myth that soap strips the seasoning off cast-iron pans (Blackstones are made of a different material than cast iron but they behave similarly in the way they build up seasoning). As long as you use the soap sparingly and make sure to thoroughly rinse it off before drying it well to prevent rust, it can be employed as a cleaning agent without affecting the seasoning. Back in the day, old varieties of soap contained lye, which stripped the seasoning off cookware, but this is no longer the case with milder dish soaps. In contrast, heavy-duty cleaning products like detergents or oven cleaners can ruin the seasoning on both a Blackstone griddle and cast-iron cookware, so avoid all of them.

Blackstone flat-top griddles should be cooled first before cleaning. Then you can use a metal spatula to scrape off any burnt bits or accumulated grease. If required, splash water onto the griddle while it's slightly warm to dislodge any stubborn residues first before rubbing with a scouring pad. Finally, wipe it down with a paper towel, dry well, and coat with a layer of oil to prevent rust.