What is hard in cleaning a non-stick griddle? This thought crossed my mind multiple times, and yours too, probably. A non-stick grill appears to be the most straightforward kitchen utensil to clean from the first impression. But is that so?
Well, like other griddles, food and grease stick to a non-stick griddle! Cleaning stubborn burnt-on messes is not easy. More so because you need a lot of caution when working on a non-stick surface to avoid scratching the Teflon coating.
Here is everything you need to know about cleaning a non-stick griddle.
How to Clean Non-Stick Griddle
Allow your griddle to cool completely, then add some lukewarm water and a few drops of dish soap to the cooking surface. After 5 to 10 minutes, scrub the surface with a silicone scrubber or a brush with nylon bristles. The burnt food should come off with ease.
What You Need to Clean a Non-Stick Griddle
- Hot water
- Dish soap
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Silicon scrubbing brush or a brush with nylon bristles
- Microfiber washcloth
- Sponge
- Paper towels
Step-by-Step Guideline for Cleaning a Non-Stick Griddle
Step1: Let Your Griddle Cool Down Completely
I used to run my non-stick griddle plate in cold water immediately after cooking. I thought by so doing; I would prevent burnt residues from hardening on the surface once the grill cools.
I didn’t know that this sudden temperature change could cause my griddle to crack or warp due to thermal shock. Luckily it didn’t. And I no longer pour cold water on a hot griddle plate.
After cooking, allow your non-stick grill to cool down naturally before cleaning it. This way, you won’t have gradient temperature spots on the cooking surface in the future.
Step 2: Clean Up the Burnt Mess Using:
Baking Soda
The stubborn residues of burnt food and grease on a griddle top need intense cleaning. To make your work easier, ensure that you have baking soda at hand.
Baking powder is a mild abrasive that is ideal for removing burnt-on grease and cooked-on grime.
Pour some baking soda on the griddle plate and add some water. The amount of mixture to use depends on the size of the mess.
Turn the burners on medium heat for 5 minutes, then lower the temperatures to medium-low for 30 more seconds.
Turn off the heat and allow the grill to cool.
Using a brush with nylon bristles, gently scrub your griddle plate. Rotate the brush in clockwise and anti-clockwise circular motions. Doing so will ensure that you clean every part of the grill top.
Repeat this process if necessary until all the burnt residues are out.
Avoid applying too much pressure when scrubbing to prevent scratching or damaging the non-stick surface.
You can read my earlier detailed article on how to clean Blackstone griddle with baking soda.
Salt
You can also use salt to remove burnt food from a non-stick griddle. Salt is an excellent choice for mild burns and is accessible in every household.
When using salt, allow your grill to cool down completely. Wet the affected area with some water and sprinkle a little salt. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub off the burnt mess.
Hot Water and Soap
Sometimes, you don’t need anything fancy to remove the burnt grease. The daily cooking does not cause too much mess or damage to the griddle.
You only need hot or lukewarm water and dish soap if you have lightly burnt food.
Allow the pan to cool down completely, then add water and a few drops of dish soap to the cooktop. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Then, use a silicone scrubber to wash off the burnt food. This process is simple.
Step 3: Clean Off the Grease Using Vinegar.
After cleaning the burnt residue, it’s time to degrease and clean your Teflon non-stick griddle.
Vinegar mixed in warm water and lemon effectively cuts through grease and removes food residues left during the initial cleaning stages.
See my detailed article on how to clean a griddle with lemon juice.
You will follow the same process as when using baking soda.
Start by filling the griddle top with 1 cup vinegar-water mixture. If your griddle is large and messy, mix a more significant portion.
Heat your grill for at least 5 minutes to simmer. You will see bubbles forming over the top of your mixture.
When the vinegar-water mixture starts to boil, oils and fats float to the water surface.
Pour the mixture into a sink with warm water. Doing so allows even more oils to float on the surface.
Now that grease is off; you can wash your skillet with soap and a sponge.
Note: Do not pour grease down the drain. Collect it into a container and throw it in the trash.
Step 4: Hand Wash Your Griddle
Some manufacturers claim that their non-stick cookware is dishwasher safe, provided you use a low-heat, gentle cycle and
Whether safe or not, never toss your non-stick griddle into a dishwasher. Its coating will degrade over time, causing it to be less effective at preventing food from sticking to the cooktop.
Handwashing your griddle with mild soap prevents food residues from staining the cooking surface. As a result, your grill will last longer and serve you better before you need to replace it.
Note: Ensure you rinse your griddle thoroughly under running water to remove all the soapy residues. Any traces of detergent left on the griddle plate could damage the Teflon.
Step 5: Do Not Use Metal Utensils on Your Griddle
I use metallic tongs, spatulas, knives, and forks on my cast iron griddle. I also use steel wool when cleaning a rusted spot.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of using metal on my non-stick griddle.
When cooking on a non-stick grill, it is recommendable to use silicone or wooden spatulas.
If you have some hardened residue on the cooking surface, ensure that you follow the correct cleaning procedure. Trying to force the stuck residue off can scratch or scrub off the Teflon coating.
Scratched Teflon gradually flakes and wears off. You are also likely to ingest some pieces of the Teflon when you cook on the damaged grill.
To extend the life of your non-stick grill, avoid harsh scouring pads and stiff brushes. Instead, you can use a microfiber cloth, a sponge, or a brush that has nylon bristles to clean your Teflon griddle top.
Step 6: Store Your Non-stick Griddle with Care
After cleaning your griddle, ensure that you dry it well before storage. After wiping the water with paper towels or a cloth, it would be good to leave it to air dry for an hour or two.
If possible, you can store the griddle plate separately in a compartment. However, ensure a safe distance between your griddle and other sharp objects.
And if you have limited storage space in your cupboard, you can still stack your grill with other cookware. But, put padding with a paper towel on the cooktop to avoid scraping and scratching.
Note: An open storage space helps to keep non-stick griddles moisture-free.
Cleaning your non-stick griddle and leaving it that way is not enough!
Although non-stick griddles do not need seasoning, applying a layer of olive oil on the cooking surface will enhance its lifespan.
Use a kitchen rag or microfiber cloth to apply the oil to the griddle. Remember to use a limited amount of seasoning oil. A teaspoon or tablespoon is enough, depending on the size of your grill.
Wipe the surface with paper towels to remove the excess oil.
Non-Stick Griddle Cleaning Tips
- Avoid exposing your griddle to rapid temperature changes. Do not pour cold water on a hot griddle plate to prevent warping, cracking, or damaging the surface.
- Never use metallic scrapers, spatulas, and abrasive scouring pads or sponges on a non-stick griddle. Consider wooden and silicone utensils instead.
- Do not clean your non-stick grill in a dishwasher.
- Moisture can damage your grill. Therefore, ensure that you dry it well before storage.
- Coat your non-stick griddle with some oil after cleaning. Doing so will keep the grill plate protected for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean a non-stick grill plate?
You can clean a non-stick grill using hot water and dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, or salt. Avoid cleaning it in a dishwasher; do not use abrasive pads and metal utensils.
Can you use vinegar to clean a non-stick griddle?
Vinegar effectively cuts through grease and grime, leaving your grill spotless. You can use it on its own or mix it with an equal amount of water.
How do you clean a non-stick electric griddle?
Scrape off the excess grease using a flat-head spatula, allow the grill to cool and then wash it in warm soapy water. Rinse off the soap with a damp cloth multiple times and dry with paper towels.
Wrapping Up
Cleaning a non-stick pan is super-easy, provided you follow the correct guidelines. Do not wash it in a dishwasher, and avoid using abrasive cleaning tools and metallic utensils.
The cleaning products required are readily available at home and pretty cheap. And the cleaning process is straightforward.