No matter how careful you are when using, handling, and storing your griddle, the cooking surface picks up scratches over time. Surface scratches are easier to fix, but deeper scratches need a bit more effort.
There are several ways to deal with scratches on griddle surfaces. Some require sanding, while others need thorough cleaning and seasoning.
How to Fix Scratches on a Griddle
You can fix deep scratches on a griddle by sanding the affected area, deep cleaning, and seasoning it. Minor scratches clear on their own as long as you cook on your griddle surface, often with oils.
The Process of Eliminating Scratches on a Griddle
You’ve probably heard that you should never use abrasive scouring pads on a flat-top grill. While that is true, you need some sanding and then seasoning to fix scratches on a griddle.
Here, I will show you how to safely deal with griddle scratches and restore your cooking surface to its original state.
But, if you use too much force to sand, the problem will worsen rather than improve.
How to Fix Scratches on a Stainless Steel Griddle Surface
- Insert 600-grit sandpaper onto a sanding block (optional) for easy handling and control. You can pour a little sanding fluid onto the sandpaper.
- Sand the scratched spot gently. Ensure that you sand in only one direction, parallel to the grain of the griddle top finish. For instance, if the grain runs horizontally, sand the scratch with a downward stroke and vice versa.
- Continue sanding for a few minutes as you observe the progress. If the 600-grit sandpaper appears not to work, replace it with a 500-grit and sand until the scratch smoothens out/ disappears.
- Then, sand the immediate area surrounding where the scratch was to blend the finish evenly with the rest of the surface. Remember to only sand in one direction.
- Apply some stainless steel polish to a clean piece of cloth. Then, buff it evenly onto the sanded surface.
How to Fix Scratches on a Cast Iron Blackstone Griddle Surface
How deep is the scratch? Is the metal gouged, or is it just the seasoning layer?
A minor scratch on the seasoning layer should not be a bother. It clears with time as you continue cooking and using oil on your griddle top. But you can also clean and season your pan as usual and see how it comes out.
If the scratch has penetrated the metal, seasoning alone may not fill it well enough. You can try sanding it down, then stripping off the old seasoning and re-seasoning it again.
The Process:
- Clean your griddle top well
- Pour some warm water and dish soap on the cooktop and let it rest for a few minutes. Scrub the surface gently but thoroughly with a Blackstone scouring pad.
- Doing so helps strip off the seasoning layer and expose the scratched area.
- Wipe down the surface with clean paper towels and allow it to dry completely.
- Sand down the scratches with fine-grit sandpaper or smooth steel wool until they disappear.
- Rinse and dry the surface with a clean cloth or paper towels.
- Apply a thin, uniform coat of oil to the cooktop.
- Heat your griddle on high until the oil smokes and the smoking stops. Switch off the heat and allow the grill to cool down.
- Apply another thin layer of oil, and fire up your flat-top grill on high heat until the oil smokes. Repeat the smoking process as many times as possible until you are satisfied with the new seasoning layer formed.
Note:
Ensure that you use an oil with a high smoke point for better results.
As the oil smokes, it bonds with the cast iron metal surface and fills up any dents, holes, and scratches on the griddle surface.
Common Causes of Scratches on a Griddle
There are several causes of scratches on the surface of a Blackstone griddle. However, here are the most common:
Poor seasoning and maintenance
Seasoning is among the essential steps to taking proper care of a flat-top grill. Failure to season your flat-top grill correctly exposes its surface.
The exposure makes it easy to scratch your griddle, mainly as you clean.
Remember, you should pre-season your Blackstone griddle before the first use. Moreover, it would be best to season your flat-top grill after every cooking.
Lastly, ensure you maintain the seasoning to prevent the coating layer from peeling off.
Use Force to Turn and Toss Food on the Griddle Cooktop
Being aggressive when turning or tossing food on the cooking surface could scratch the surface. The risk of scratching is even higher if you use a knife or a spatula.
Sharp-edged equipment poses a greater danger to your griddle’s cooking surface.
Observe great caution when using a knife or a spatula to turn your food on the cooking surface. As much as possible, avoid using much force.
Aggressively scraping food remains from the Cooking Surface
Sometimes food can stick on the cooking surface due to:
- Improper cleaning of the grill
- Poor seasoning
- Using sauces that contain sugar
- Too much oil on the cooking surface
In an attempt to clean the sticky food residues and oil, some people use extra force during scrapping.
When you apply so much force, especially when using a spatula, you can scratch the surface.
The best way to avoid this is to soak the grill in water for a while before cleaning. The sticky food will loosen up, and you can clean your grill as usual.
Use of Abrasive Scrubbers During Cleaning
Do not use abrasive scrubbers in the routine cleaning of your griddle. These scrubbers are notorious for scratching the seasoning layer and the griddle plate. It would be best if you only used them to remove rust.
Steel wool and other scrubbers are some of the leading causes of scratches on a griddle, mainly during cleaning.
Avoid using such implements for proper care of your grill. You can use a pumice stone or a non-metallic scrubbing brush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fix a scratched griddle?
You can fix a scratched griddle by using the correct seasoning process. Seasoning oil helps to fill up the scratches and smoothen them out.
How do you get scratches out of Blackstone griddle?
Minor scratches smoothen out on their own as you cook on your Blackstone griddle often. But if the scratch is severe, consider deep-cleaning your flat-top grill and then seasoning it afresh.
How do you remove scratches from a stainless steel griddle?
Use 600-grit sandpaper and sand the scratched surface gently until the scratch disappears. You can reduce the grit depending on the severity of the scratch. Then apply a stainless steel polish to the sanded area.
Can you use steel wool on a flat-top grill?
It is not recommendable to use stainless steel wool and abrasive pads on your flat-top grill. They can damage the seasoning layer. However, there is an exception. You can only use these pads when dealing with a deep scratch or severe rust.
Wrapping Up
Whether you are using a cast iron or stainless steel griddle, scratches can occur at any time. It could be a surface scratch on the seasoning layer or a deep scratch penetrating the metal.
How to fix scratches on a griddle depends on the extent of the damage and your griddle material. Minor scratches will clear on their own as you continually cook on the griddle surface.
However, severe scratches that affect the metal surface require some sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, deep cleaning, and re-seasoning.