The Blackstone griddle has become must-have kitchen equipment for many homeowners. According to Blackstone, 92% of its customers use it more than once each month. Moreover, 67% of them use it more than twice each week.
With such importance, a griddle is worth taking great care of. There is a raging debate on whether you can clean your Blackstone griddle with ice. I took my time to do intensive research. In this article, I bring you the results of my research and eventually answer the question. Read on.
How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle with Ice
Some people say ice helps loosen food stuck on the griddle’s surface, making it easy to remove it using a spatula. As much as this might be true, it poses a considerable risk to your Blackstone griddle. You need to tread carefully before using ice to clean your griddle.
Cleaning a Blackstone Griddle with Ice
Some of the professional kitchens I reached out to admitted using ice cubes to clean their Blackstone griddle.
However, I was a bit skeptical and wanted to know further. Here is how they do it:
Step 1: They add several pieces of ice cubes to the hot griddle
Step 2: They allow a few minutes to achieve ‘thermal shock.’
Thermal shock is the immediate cooling or heating of a griddle because of a sudden temperature change.
According to those professional kitchens, thermal shock leads to contraction and expansion of the griddle plate. This process causes the dirt to detach from the surface of the griddle.
Step 3: They use a spatula to remove the loosened dirt or food remains.
Step 4: Clean the Blackstone griddle normally after getting rid of the dirt.
Is it Safe to Clean Blackstone Griddle with Ice?
The method I’ve discussed above may appear ideal, but is it?
I decided to do further research on the matter, leading me to several discoveries.
First, the thermal shock causes the griddle surface to pull against itself. The magnitude of the temperature determines how big the shock is.
Secondly, continued exposure of your Blackstone griddle to thermal shock exerts a high-stress level on the plate material. Eventually, the griddle material will reach a breaking point and crack, which will force you to buy a new griddle.
Buying a new griddle is an expensive venture that you can avoid.
Remember, your griddle can last a lifetime if you take good care of it.
Thirdly, thermal shock can cause warping of your griddle. Depending on the thickness of your griddle, warping can disfigure or destroy it permanently.
Note: a warped griddle will be problematic to use because it can’t cook food evenly. Oil will move to one side, thus affecting how your food cooks.
Fourth, thermal shock can cause the finish on your griddle to come off due to sudden contraction. This finish may find its way to your food, posing a danger to you and your family.
Lastly, any damage that occurs due to thermal shock falls under the improper care of your griddle. Consequently, it nullifies your warranty, and Blackstone cannot compensate you.
What’s the Way Forward?
Avoid risking your Blackstone griddle by subjecting it to extreme temperature shock.
Always clean it immediately after use while it is still warm. Check the manual; some manufacturers state the ideal temperature for cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use ice to clean a flat top grill?
Avoid using ice to clean your Blackstone flat top grill. It will cause stress to the surface due to sudden contraction. The stress will eventually destroy your griddle; you may even end up having to buy a new one.
Do you clean a griddle hot or cold?
Clean your Blackstone griddle while still hot. Grease and other food residues will stick onto the surface if you let it cool down. Moreover, heat helps to make your cleaning easier.
Can ice crack a grill?
Yes, ice causes a sudden temperature change on your griddle, especially if the griddle is hot. This sudden change may lead to the cracking of your griddle.
Does ice warp a grill?
Ice causes thermal shock on a griddle, causing it to warp. Under severe circumstances, the warping may be permanent, forcing you to replace your griddle.
Wrapping it up
Although some people may advocate using ice to clean your griddle, my opinion is contrary. I’m sure you don’t want to imagine damaging your Blackstone griddle.
Ice will subject your griddle to extreme heat changes that risk damaging it. The best thing is to use the recommended and safe ways of cleaning your Blackstone griddle.