Although Blackstone griddles are top-notch, it is not uncommon to encounter some problems when using them.
If your Blackstone griddle is having some problems, worry not. These appliances are pretty resilient. This troubleshooting guide will help you identify the common issues and tips on how to avoid those problems and how to handle them if they happen.
Common Problems with Blackstone Griddle
Common griddle problems include warping, cooktop not getting hot, griddle top peeling/ flaking, and griddle top rusting. The best thing is that these problems are preventable and curable.
Below are four common Blackstone griddle issues and simple tips to solve the problems.
My Griddle Top is Warping
Blackstone griddles have cold-rolled steel cooktops. Like other metals, steel expands and contracts as the griddle heats or cools down.
The expansion and contraction can cause the grill to warp a little. Warping often occurs to a new griddle on the first cook. It is temporary and should flatten out in the subsequent cooks.
It is advisable to cook on your Blackstone griddle top at least ten times for it to get used to expanding and contracting. The more you use your grill, the stronger it becomes, and warping is no longer a challenge.
Although annoying, do not let minor warping ruin your grilling experience. But if the warping persists or gets worse with time and affects your griddling performance, consider replacing the top.
The Main Causes of Warping include:
- Extreme temperature change
- Excessive heating
- Uneven heating
Tips to Avoid Warping
Always use all the available burners
Suppose you heat one area of your flat-top grill to a higher temperature than the surrounding areas. In that case, the metal pushes against the cooler region as it expands. As a result, warpage occurs.
Using a single burner or two to heat a griddle can cause mild to severe warping. Even when cooking a small meal, turning on all the burners is advisable. If not, you can use a skillet instead.
Pre-heat gently
A flat-top grill has a large cooking surface and takes time to heat evenly. But once hot, it maintains that temperature for a long time.
The recommended way to fire up your grill is to set it to low heat and gradually increase the temperature to your desired level. Pre-heating slowly allows you to control the heat efficiently. A warmed-up griddle is also easier to make hotter.
Start low and do not overheat.
You might have the urge to turn up your burners to full blast the first time, but please don’t! A Blackstone griddle can handle temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit without damage.
Excessively high temperatures can cause your flat-top grill to warp.
Avoid exposing your griddle to extreme temperature changes
Do not pre-heat your grill too high when cooking frozen or chilled food. Also, avoid pouring cold water on a hot grill. That instant temperature fluctuation can cause warping.
Do not heat large pots of water on a griddle.
A large pot of water on a flat-top surface acts as a heat sink. It draws a tremendous amount of heat from the cooktop, resulting in warping.
Ensure that the griddle fits your stove
When the flat-top surface of your grill is placed on a smaller or larger stove, the burners will not heat the cooktop uniformly. As a result, some parts of the grill will warp.
My Griddle is Not Getting Hot
There are several reasons why your Blackstone griddle may not get hot and reach the desired temperatures. It could be a problem with the regulator or air gate.
Regulator
One vital safety feature found in all regulators is that they can slow down the release of propane gas. This mostly happens if the propane tank is left on. There will not be enough heat to get the griddle top hot in such a case.
Troubleshooting: Turn everything off, even the propane tank, to reset the regulator. Unhook the regulator from the propane tank and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes to fully reset.
Then, hook your regulator back to the propane tank and turn it on slowly.
Air Gate
If resetting the regulator does not solve the problem, try adjusting the air gate. Every burner comes with an air gate that helps control the air to gas ratio.
Loosen the tiny silver screw to slide open the air gate. Twist the adjustments until you find an appropriate setting. Then, tighten the screw.
Note:
The regulator or air gate troubleshooting options should correct the heating problem. But if neither works for you, you could be having a faulty regulator. You can order a replacement part or contact Blackstone customer service for further guidance.
My Griddle Top is Rusting
Rusting is a common problem among foodies who use griddles.
Thankfully, it’s a problem that you can easily avoid and eliminate. Do not panic if you see rust on your griddle; it doesn’t mean your grill is destroyed.
However, failure to deal with rust early enough can eventually harm your griddle.
But first…
What causes rusting?
Among other causes, the following are common.
- Exposing your griddle to moisture
- Leaving your grill outside without covering it
- Frequent cooking of high acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits
- Keeping your griddle in the kitchen where it constantly comes into contact with steam
- Improper drying of your grill after cleaning
- Failure to season your griddle before you start using it
How to avoid rusting
Fortunately, you can protect your grill from rusting. Here are a few tips:
- Season your griddle before the first use and after every use
- Store it in a cool and dry place
- After every cooking, apply a thin layer of oil on the cooking surface to protect your seasoning
- Always cover your griddle using a griddle cover when not in use
- Avoid exposing it to extreme humid weather conditions
My Blackstone Griddle is Flaking
Flaking is a problem that involves the peeling off of the cooking surface of your grill.
It can be annoying to prepare your mouth-watering meal meticulously, only to find some metallic pieces in the food.
What are the causes of flaking?
They include:
- Poor seasoning of your grill: If you fail to season your griddle correctly, there is a likelihood that it will begin flaking with time. Read why you have to season your griddle here.
- Allowing grease to build upon the cooking surface. Grease residue on the cooking surface hardens over time and sticks onto the surface.
As it continues to build up, it ruins the smoothness of the cooking surface and eventually causes flaking.
- Lack of proper care of your grill. Using soap to clean your griddle interferes with the seasoning and may cause flaking.
Again, improper use of a scrapper on the cooking surface may cause scratches and eventual flaking.
How to Avoid Flaking
Clean a New Blackstone Griddle Before Use
One thing that flaking does is that it makes the cooking surface rough. A good layer of seasoning will help to keep the cooking surface smooth.
Always clean your griddle before you begin using it to remove any dirt, germs, or debris from packaging and shipping. After cleaning, pour a thin layer of cooking oil on the surface to create a seasoning layer.
Clean the Griddle After Every Cooking
After every cooking, clean the grill properly to avoid grease build-up. You don’t need to use soap or water, only a scraper to scrape off the grease.
Remember to use the scraper carefully to avoid causing scratches on the cooking surface.
Dispose of all the grease and every scraped substance carefully, then wipe the griddle with a soft cloth.
Re-season Your Blackstone Griddle
It’s essential to re-season the cooking surface of your grill frequently. After every 2-3 weeks, or anytime your griddle begins to flake off, you can re-season it.
Again, when re-seasoning, ensure you use quality oil that has high smoke points, such as:
- Canola oil
- Avocado oil
- Sunflower oil
- Coconut oil
- Peanut oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Olive oil
Is Blackstone Flaking Normal?
If you fail to season your griddle properly, then flaking will occur. In this case, we can say the flaking is normal.
However, if you have mastered the art of seasoning and you have done it well, you will not talk about flaking.
Why deal with flaking while you can prevent it altogether? Always work towards preventing rather than dealing with the flaking problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Blackstone chipping?
A Blackstone griddle’s cooking surface can peel off if you fail to season it for a long time. If you fail to clean it after cooking, it can also peel off, allowing food remains and grease to pile up and stick on the surface.
Can I Re-season my Blackstone griddle?
Yes, you can re-season your Blackstone griddle. Scrape off any food and grease residue, heat the grill on high for about 15 minutes, apply a thin layer of cooking oil, and heat the griddle again.
Can you scratch a Blackstone griddle?
If you scrape your Blackstone griddle inappropriately, you can scratch it. However, it’s possible to remove the scratches from the griddle, although it’s a lot of work.
How often should you re-season your griddle?
If possible, re-season your grill once a week, depending on how often you use it. The other indicator that it’s time to re-season your griddle is if your food begins to stick on the cooking surface.
Wrapping it up
Any complex equipment is bound to have some issues from time to time. A Blackstone is one of those complex cooking appliances.
With a Blackstone griddle, it’s normal to experience problems such as rust, warping, and flaking. However, you can easily avoid all these through proper grill care.
Ensure you season it well and always wipe away any residual grease or food remains after cooking. Ensure that you store it properly and follow all the other maintenance tips in this article.
With that, you can be sure that you will stay with your griddle for long.