Do you know that you can use your Blackstone griddle comfortably during winter? That’s correct. However, the winter season can also affect your griddle if you do not take good care of it.
The cold weather can result in rusting and some stubborn greases on your griddle. However, you need not worry; I will show you how to clean your grill after winter. I will also show you what you can use to make it shiny again. Read on to the end.
How to Clean Blackstone Griddle After Winter
You can effectively clean it using warm water, soap, and a sponge. If you have stubborn grease stains or debris, consider using lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda. The three cleaning agents are great for removing any grime from the griddle’s surface.
Below are simple steps you can follow in cleaning your Blackstone griddle.
Step 1# Heat up Your griddle.
A warm griddle is easy to clean. If there were any bits of grime on the surface, they would also come off easily during cleaning.
Check from the manual the appropriate temperature for cleaning your griddle. However, many manufacturers advocate for a temperature of 300°F-350°F.
You also need to warm your griddle because different soaps also require different temperatures for effective cleaning.
Step 2# Mix the water with soap
Mix the dishwashing soap with warm water inside a bucket and stir the mixture until it combines well.
Important Note: Read the instructions on the dishwashing soap packet to know what ratio of soap and water to mix.
Step 3# Scrub the griddle.
Dip the sponge into the soapy mixture you’ve prepared and wring it a little to remove excess water. Use it to rub all the surfaces of the Blackstone griddle.
Pay special attention to the cooking surface and areas where you may have some stuck food residue or grime. You may have to apply some extra force on these areas to remove the gunk.
Make use of a back-and-forth scrubbing motion while cleaning. Moreover, you can use up and down motion moving from right to left.
Important Note: Rinse the sponge as often as necessary in the cleaning solution while cleaning.
If your griddle doesn’t have a permanent drip tray, ensure you attach a disposable tray to help you collect the water you use for cleaning.
Step 4# If necessary, move on to a strong scrubbing device
Sometimes the sponge may fail to remove all the grime on the griddle. Consequently, you will require applying more force and perhaps a more abrasive cleaner.
You can opt for a griddle brush or even a scraper.
Tip: Alternating between the different cleaning instruments gives the best results. For example, use the griddle brush to loosen the stuck materials, scrape them off using a scraper then use a sponge to wipe the surface.
Step 5# Rinse the griddle, then dry it.
After cleaning your griddle, use fresh warm water to rinse the entire surface to remove any soap.
Once you have gotten rid of all soap, use a dry towel to thoroughly dry the griddle, then allow it to air dry.
Step 6# Season the griddle
Seasoning is very crucial in ensuring your griddle is ready for use. It helps to create a non-stick cooking surface and prevent rusting.
Seasoning is the last step in the cleaning of your Blackstone. Check out my comprehensive guide about the seasoning of a Blackstone griddle.
Best Cleaning Agents for a Blackstone Griddle after Winter
Boiling Water
You will need boiling water to sanitize the griddle’s surface during cleaning. Boiling water helps kill germs and bacteria.
Get the griddle’s cooking surface hot before pouring hot water. The combination of these two is hugely effective in killing germs and bacteria.
Boiling water also helps to loosen any grease stuck on the griddle surface. This makes it easy to remove the grease.
Vinegar
Can you use vinegar to clean Blackstone griddle?
Yes, you can use it. Vinegar is among the best cleaning agents for a Blackstone griddle. You can either use it alone or mix it with water.
Vinegar has acidic properties that are effective in removing stubborn food remains.
I also love vinegar because, despite its acidic properties, it does not interfere with my seasoning. As such, you need not fear using it in cleaning your Blackstone griddle.
Tip: Cleaning your Blackstone griddle with vinegar also helps to give it a shiny finish.
How do you clean a griddle with vinegar?
Simply apply raw vinegar onto the griddle’s surface and spread it evenly. Allow for about 5 minutes for the vinegar to break any food remains. Using a rag, rub the griddle surface in small concentric motions. Wipe the surface with water to wash away the vinegar and any food debris.
Vinegar may leave behind some slight smell after cleaning. However, this is not a major issue. The smell goes away within no time.
Caution: Although vinegar is a great cleaning agent for the Blackstone griddle, using it frequently can damage your grill.
Lemon Juice
Can you use lemon juice to clean Blackstone griddle?
Lemon juice is an effective griddle cleaner if you mix it with the cleaning solution. It has acidic properties, just like vinegar, that make it ideal for removing debris, stubborn stains, and food.
But there’s more!
Besides dealing with stubborn debris, lemon juice leaves behind a pleasant scent on your griddle.
Has your grill begun producing some meaty smell? Lemon juice is all you need to cancel that smell and replace it with a sweet one. This makes it one of the best natural cleaners.
How do you clean a Blackstone griddle with a lemon?
Heat up your griddle. Get some fresh lemons and roll them gently on a flat surface to help loosen the juice. Cut them into two parts and pour the juice directly on the hot griddle’s surface.
Spray some water on the lemon juice and spread the solution evenly on the griddle surface. Leave for about 10 minutes for the citric acid to deal with the stubborn debris.
After that, use a scraper to remove the debris, then wash your griddle with water before allowing it to dry.
Tip: Lemon juice is also great if you want to make your Blackstone griddle shiner.
Griddle soap
A griddle-cleaning soap makes your cleaning a breeze. You can look for a specialized soap that can cut through any grime on the griddle’s surface.
However, if you can’t get specialized soap, look for any local soap that can cut through grime.
Palmolive dish soap and Dawn are among the common soaps in cleaning a griddle.
Caution: Avoid using abrasive dish soaps, for they can harm your griddle.
Pumice Stone
A good pumice stone will clean and sanitize your Blackstone griddle. It is also ideal for removing grease stains and dirt.
You will also be happy to know that pumice stone is non-toxic and non-hazardous. It will not cause harm to your hands or the griddle.
Some of the best pumice stones from Blackstone include:
- the 6 Pack Pumice Stones
- the grill-cleaning brick block
- the griddle cleaner block
- the non-toxic grey grill brick cleaner
Grill stones are economical and non-chemical in nature. As such, they are ideal for cleaning your Blackstone griddle.
Check out my complete guide on how to clean a Blackstone griddle with a grill brick.
Baking Soda
If your griddle has some stubborn stains after winter, baking soda will effectively help remove them. It removes tough grease and stickiness from your grill.
I have prepared a step-by-step guide to help you understand how to clean the Blackstone griddle with baking soda. Check it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you leave a Blackstone griddle outside in the winter?
You can leave your Blackstone Griddle outside in the winter. However, you need to take precautions to avoid rust or ruining your griddle.
How do you store a Blackstone griddle for winter?
The best place to store your griddle is in a cool, dry place. This could be in a garage or a garden shade. Moreover, cover it with a griddle cover to protect it from harmful weather elements.
Can a Blackstone griddle be used in the winter?
Yes, you can still use your Blackstone griddle during winter. In fact, the experience of using it during winter might be more memorable than during summer. It feels fulfilling going out to the snow and enjoying a tasty meal and warmth from your griddle.
Wrapping it Up
Do not fail to enjoy the beauty of a tasty meal made outside on the ice during winter. Your Blackstone griddle is strong enough to handle such adverse weather conditions.
However, it’s crucial always to clean your griddle and store it properly. After winter, you may require to crosscheck your grill to see if it needs any special attention.
A thorough cleaning may be necessary to get rid of any grime and remove any rust.