You have probably heard this, but I will emphasize it again; Avoid using soaps and detergents in the routine cleaning of your griddle. Instead, you can consider natural cleaning methods to deal with burnt food and grime.
Lemon juice is a natural cleanser, perfect for deep cleaning and removing stains on a griddle top. Besides, unlike vinegar, it leaves a pleasant aroma on your cooking surface. Now, let’s look at how you can use lemon juice to clean your griddle.
How to Clean Griddle with Lemon Juice
Make a lemon juice and water solution in equal parts and pour it into a spray bottle. Sprinkle the mixture on a cool griddle and let it sit for 10 minutes to loosen the food debris. Scrape off the residues and wipe the surface down with a damp cloth or paper towels.
Steps to Cleaning with Lemon Juice
First, you will need to make a mixture of lemon juice and water in equal parts.
Squeeze a few fresh lemons into a bowl to extract the lemon juice. To maximize the amount of juice you get, consider rolling your lemons on a hard surface with your palm.
Mix equal parts of water and lemon juice into a spray bottle.
Lemon juice works best at cooler temperatures. However, it would be good if you heated the griddle beforehand to soften the stuck residues. Then, let it cool completely before working on it.
Spray a generous amount of lemon juice on the entire griddle plate. Allow it to soak into the mess for 10 minutes. Using a scraper, scrape off the debris, then wash it down with water.
To avoid using lemon juice, consider boiling water on your grill after every use. This way, you will prevent food from sticking to your griddle.
Lemon juice should only be the first choice when you want to remove stubborn stains from the griddle plate. It is also ideal for polishing your grill.
Note: Lemon juice itself is not a cleanser. It becomes a part of a cleaning solution when mixed with water.
You can also use it to remove strong odors like garlic, onion, fish, and seafood from your hands.
Why is Lemon Juice a Good Cleaner for Your Griddle?
According to research, lemon juice is an excellent natural cleaner as well as a stain remover. Its citric properties will leave your grill looking brand new.
If you are planning to do deep cleaning, lemon juice is ideal.
In summary, the benefits of cleaning your griddle with lemon juice include:
- It has a low pH and antibacterial properties
- It gives your griddle a sweet fragrance
- It’s safe for your griddle
- It’s a strong degreaser
- It removes any foul smell
- It’s a rust remover
Let me tackle each of these benefits briefly to give you a clear picture of what I mean.
It Has a Low pH and Antibacterial Properties.
Failure to clean your grill well after use may leave behind some food remains for days or weeks. If you don’t get rid of such remains on time, they will act as a magnet for bacteria or rodents, which may eventually harm your health.
According to research, lemon juice has a pH of between 2 and 3. This means it’s more acidic than water by 10,000–100,000 times.
Tip: A pH level of a substance is the measure of its acidity.
With such acidity, lemon juice is a powerful antibacterial. Its acidity creates an environment that is highly hostile to any bacteria that may attach themselves to your griddle.
This acidic nature of lemon juice makes it an excellent cleaner for your griddle.
Important note: Lemon juice acid does not kill all bacteria. Some of them will only become inactive.
It Gives Your Griddle a Sweet Fragrance
After cooking meats with your griddle for a while, you may want to give it a fresh smell.
You need not worry; lemon juice is all you need.
Lemons have an astringent scent that is powerful enough to give your griddle a fresh and sweet smell.
You only need to clean your griddle properly with lemon juice, and voila! I can assure you that your griddle will smell so fresh you will feel like returning to cooking again.
It’s Safe to Your Griddle and You
I love using lemon juice because it’s an all-natural green cleaner.
This property means a lot to me and to you too.
Firstly, I don’t have to be afraid that it will affect the seasoning of my griddle. Consequently, it gives me peace of mind as I do my cleaning.
Again, unlike chemical cleaners that may be risky to me, lemon juice is 100% safe for me. I can therefore use it without fear of any health risks.
It’s a Strong Degreaser
Grease is one challenge that every griddle user faces. The more you use your griddle in cooking, the more grease accumulates.
If you leave it for long, grease may form a huge layer that may affect the taste of your foods and attract germs and bacteria.
Consequently, removing grease is invaluable to every griddle user.
Is lemon juice a degreaser?
Yes. Lemon juice is a superb natural degreaser. It contains acid that is powerful enough to cut through layers of grease, thus making it ideal for cleaning your griddle.
Add 2 cups of white vinegar to ½ cup of lemon juice to increase its efficacy. This mixture is strong enough to handle any grease.
It Removes Any Foul Smell
Have you ever cooked foods such as fish on your griddle?
Then you will agree that they can leave an unpleasant odor behind.
Fish contains a compound called amine that makes it so pungent.
Such a disgusting smell can be a huge turnoff.
But the good news is that there’s a solution!
The citric acid in lemon juice is powerful enough to eliminate such odor completely.
When cleaning your grill with lemon juice, pay special attention to the area where the smell is coming from. You can scrub this area a little bit longer.
It’s a Rust Remover
A rusty griddle is hygienically unworthy for use. Moreover, if you allow rust to remain on your griddle for long, it will shorten its lifespan.
I always ensure that I fix any rust on my griddle as soon as possible.
Is lemon good for removing rust?
Yes. Lemon juice is powerful enough to dissolve rust. You can mix lemon juice with a bit of vinegar to make a stronger solution.
Spray the solution on the rusty area and allow it a few minutes. Wipe it off, then rinse with warm water and a sponge or a soft cloth.
How long does it take lemon juice to remove rust?
Mostly, it will take between 15-30 minutes to achieve the utmost results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix lemon juice and vinegar for cleaning?
You can mix half a cup of vinegar with a half cup of water and a teaspoon of lemon juice to make an all-purpose cleaning solution. You can scale up this amount as needed.
Can you use bottled lemon juice for cleaning?
Yes, you can use bottled lemon juice for cleaning instead of making a fresh one. When mixed with vinegar, it forms a highly-effective natural degreaser with multiple uses around the home.
What is the ratio of lemon juice to water for cleaning?
Mix equal amounts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle for cleaning your grill. But if you want an all-purpose or glass cleaner, mix 1 cup of water and three tablespoons of lemon juice.
Wrapping it Up
If you have been wondering how to clean your griddle with lemon juice, I have explained that to you fully here. I believe it will no longer be an issue anymore.
Moreover, I have provided you with the benefits of using lemon juice in your griddle. Lemon juice is a natural cleaner; consequently, it removes odor and gives your griddle a fresh smell. It’s also a powerful degreaser, among other benefits.
Instead of using chemical cleaners that are both costly and at times risky, why not consider using lemon juice. It saves you money and is safe.