I love cooking on my Blackstone griddle because it has numerous advantages.
However, with time I have discovered some invaluable griddle cooking tips that have made my cooking even more effortless. They have also helped me save time and enhance the lifespan of my griddle.
I’m sure you also would like to make your griddle-cooking experience better.
I would like to share some of the tips and tricks that have proved effective over time.
Here we go!
Tested and Tried Griddle Cooking Tips and Tricks
Get All the Tools and Ingredients Ready Ahead of Time
One of the best practices when using a gas griddle is to have everything ready before you start cooking. You will need a variety of foods and tools.
A gas griddle cooks pretty quick. You will not have enough time to chop ingredients on the spot while the food cooks. It is also not advisable to keep rushing inside the house to collect a tool.
Before cooking, ensure that every tool you need to use is within your arm’s reach. All the food you will be cooking should also be prepared in advance and ingredients measured in correct portions.
This way, you will have all your attention to cooking, resulting in better dishes.
Save Time by Using a Griddle Tool Caddy or Prep Cart
Cooking with your gas flat top griddle involves using many tools and accessories.
Among the must-haves in your list include:
- A scrapper
- Spatulas
- Paper towels
- Infrared thermometer
- Cooking oil
- Squirt bottles
- Grease trap liners
- Basting brushes
- Heat resistant gloves
- Griddle press etc.
Going back and forth to pick each of these tools and accessories can be a tiring task. But guess what? You don’t need all that hassle.
Here’s the trick,
Use a Blackstone griddle tool caddy or storage cart that can store all you need.
The storage carts can hold quite a lot. They also give you an adequate workspace for serving trays or anything you need for preparing food.
With all the tools you need in one place, your cooking experience becomes easy and blissful. It also helps you to save time significantly.
Don’t forget,
Your Blackstone shelves can also get extremely hot during cooking. You may not be able to place anything on them for fear of melting.
With a prep cart, you need not worry about this anymore. It gives you enough space to keep your tools, food, and accessories.
Open the Propane Tank Valve Slowly
Have you ever had issues with one of your flames appearing relatively weak?
I have been there several times before. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what the problem was until later.
How you open your propane tank affects the flames on your burners. If you open the valve too quickly, it may lead to uneven or low flames.
So, what’s the remedy?
Every time you open the valve of your propane tank, do it slowly. Slowly opening the valve helps to avoid issues related to the flame. It also helps to give you a solid and consistent blue flame.
If the issue persists, disconnect the regulator from the propane tank, then reconnect it. That should solve the problem.
If, after reconnecting the regulator, you still experience the same issue, there could be an issue with the regulator. Here, you may need to replace the regulator.
Use Water
Water is a crucial griddling component. Unfortunately, not everyone takes advantage of what it can do.
Water comes in handy when steaming vegetables, loosening stuck-on food, and cleaning the griddle surface.
If you are wondering how to remove stubborn stuck-on food, water is the solution. Pour some water on the affected spot and leave it to soak. After some time, the residues come off with ease with or without using a scraper.
After cooking, you need to clean your griddle before putting it away. Scrap off food residues from the cooktop and then sprinkle a little water. Wipe the surface down with paper towels and apply a thin oil coating.
Water is necessary when doing both routine and deep cleaning.
If you want to steam veggies on your flat-top grill, place them on the cooktop and sprinkle some water on them. Then, place a basting cover over the veggies.
The griddle heat will evaporate the water, and the basting cover will keep the steam trapped, thus steaming the food.
Propping up the Softcover to Minimize Penetration of Moisture
A griddle is both expensive and valuable equipment. As such, one of the things you would want to ensure is that it lasts for as long as possible.
Moisture is among the greatest enemies of your griddle’s cooking surface. Exposure to moisture will cause your cooking surface to rust, which will cost you to remove the rust and re-season your griddle.
The cooking surface is flat and thus can allow water to collect on top even with a cover.
So, how do you avoid this?
You can get a basting dome and place it between the hardcover or cooktop and the softcover. This helps prop up the softcover and ensures that water drains off to the sides.
A basting dome effectively prevents water from pooling on top of your griddle.
It helps to minimize the chances of moisture reaching the cooking surface. This simple griddle tip helps preserve your griddle from the effects of humidity.
If you store your griddle indoors, you don’t need to worry about moisture. This tip is for you if you store your griddle outdoors.
Replace Your Squirt Bottle with a Spray Bottle
Coating your griddle with oil often happens when cooking. Most of us use squirt bottles, which are great for this.
However, do you know there’s an easier way of doing it?
Today, almost every type of cooking oil you can think of is available in a spray bottle. Using a spray bottle makes it possible to apply a thin coating on your cooking surface.
Once you are done, all you need is to pop the cap back, and you are done. A spray bottle saves you from having to clean up your squirt bottle after finishing.
So, get yourself oil in a spray bottle next time you cook and ease your work. It’s among the griddle cooking tips that I treasure most.
Make Use of Disposable Drip Pans
You must have realized that your Blackstone griddle has a grease trap.
Do you know why?
It’s because, during your cooking, you will assuredly produce leftovers and excess grease. Eventually, you will need to dispose of all this, for it can get messy.
You can make the disposal of leftovers and grease relatively easy.
Here’s the trick,
You can use a foil drip pan to trap all this mess. Alternatively, you can use regular old aluminum foil to make yourself one.
This simple trick saves you from having to clean out all the mess from the metal trap. It makes cleaning up as easy as simply lifting the drip pan and discarding it into the dustbin.
Once you have disposed of your mess into the trash, make a new foil drip pan, and in no time, you are ready again to go.
Where can you get your drip tray from?
Get one from Blackstone. You can get other good ones from other vendors as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best oil to use on a Blackstone griddle?
Several types of oil are suitable for use with your griddle. However, Blackstone recommends flaxseed oil. The advantage of flaxseed is that it has a smoke point of 225 degrees Fahrenheit, which is relatively low. It bonds with the cooking surface fast immediately after you pour it.
How often should I condition my Blackstone griddle?
First, your Blackstone griddle needs seasoning with several coats before using it for the first time. Moreover, you will need to season your griddle after every cooking. This seasoning helps to maintain the cooking surface is non-stick.
Can you cook with the lid closed on a Blackstone griddle?
Yes. It’s absolutely okay to cook with the lid closed on a Blackstone griddle. It helps to maintain a constant temperature. It also helps to ensure your food cooks more evenly.
How do I keep food from sticking to my Blackstone griddle?
The best way to keep your food from sticking on your griddle cooking surface is by seasoning it. Seasoning provides a protective coating that stops food from sticking.
Wrapping it Up
Cooking on your Blackstone griddle should be fun. Using these griddle cooking tips and tricks above will make your cooking even easier and more effective.
Your cooking process doesn’t have to be such a cumbersome task. Grab the essential tips and make them flawless.
Again, your griddle is your best friend, especially in outdoor cooking. The above tips and tricks will help you protect it and ensure it serves you for long.