Can You Use Butter To Season Your Blackstone Griddle

Cooking on a Blackstone griddle makes easy work of feeding a crowd. But before you get flipping those smash burgers or whipping up an extravagant breakfast spread, you'll need to ensure the surface is perfectly seasoned. Just one word of advice: don't use butter.

Blackstone griddles don't come pre-seasoned, which means they need to be cleaned and seasoned before they're used for the first time to create a non-stick patina on the steel flat-top. This process is similar to seasoning a cast-iron skillet with a layer of oil and baking it in the oven to produce an easy-release surface that simultaneously imparts flavor to foods cooked on it.  

While butter is incredible for cooking with, it isn't the ideal fat to season a Blackstone for a couple of reasons. First, it has a low smoke point, which means it emits smoke and produces an objectionable smell when heated to high temperatures. This occurs because butter contains milk solids, which are sensitive to heat and therefore more susceptible to burning. Second, when butter is used to season surfaces like cast iron, it can turn rancid or leave a sticky residue on the surface instead of a smooth and consistent non-stick coating.

It's best to season a Blackstone griddle with cooking oil because it has a higher smoke point than butter and won't burn and turn acrid when repeatedly heated. Blackstone recommends using canola, flax, vegetable, or olive oil in particular but also carries its own-label product called griddle seasoning & cast iron conditioner that's a blend of coconut oil, beeswax, and soy shortening. Shortening isn't an oil but is composed of 100% fat, which polymerizes on the surface of the steel to create a hard, baked-on shield. Meanwhile, avocado oil has a neutral flavor and can withstand very high temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an incredible option too.

One Blackstone fan on Reddit explained that cooking with butter on the flat top is fine at lower temperatures after it's been seasoned; "Grilled Cheese with buttered sides? sure. Buttered grilled buns for a burger or dog — yup. Why not eggs and French toast? Just clean it and reapply oil." Of course you can also use regular butter to fry seafood, sear meaty steaks, or prepare sizzling chicken for loaded tacos if you want to benefit from its rich and savory flavor while simultaneously capitalizing on the non-stick perks of a flat-top that's been well seasoned with oil. Why not use a compound butter that features aromatics, like garlic and herbs, to elevate the taste of your dishes further? Just avoid using vinegars and wines on your Blackstone, as they can strip the seasoning.