Have you ever found out that your griddle has warped and didn’t know what to do about it? Well, you are not alone. I was also in the same predicament a while ago. I got scared, thinking that it was the end of using my favorite outdoor cooking friend.
It was not until I did my research that I found out that you can fix your griddle that has warped. The other good news is that you can also prevent warping, which is among the common problems of a Blackstone griddle. I am sharing with you all this information in this article.
How to Fix Warped Griddle
- Heat your flat-top grill to medium-high for 20-25 minutes.
- Remove it from the heat and place it on a heat-resistant surface with the warped side facing up.
- Take a piece of wood and place it across the warped area; hit continually with a mallet until it flattens out.
- Stop when the griddle cools.
Accessories You Will Need
You don’t need fancy tools or professionalism to fix a warped griddle. Get yourself a piece of wood and a wooden mallet, and you are good to go.
If your cooking surface is bent outwards, you need a slightly longer piece of wood than the flat-top grill. But if it’s curved inwards, you need a shorter wood piece.
The Process
- Once you have the piece of wood ready, heat your grill on medium-high for 20 to 25 minutes till it’s scorching.
- Turn off the heat and remove the griddle from the stovetop. Ensure that you use a potholder or a similar tool to prevent burning your hands when handling the hot grill.
- Place it on a heat-resistant, sturdy surface with the warped side facing up. If the warp curves outwards, place your flat-top grill face down. And if it warps inwards, place it face up.
- Place the piece of wood across the center of the warped area
- Hit the wood repeatedly on the bowed area with a mallet
- Stop once the flat-top grill cools off
Although this method works wonders in unwarping your grill, it would be better to take the necessary precautions to prevent warping.
Why Do Griddles Warp?
Griddles warp because of the law of contraction and expansion in metals. Heating a metal causes it to expand, while cooling causes it to contract. However, if the cooling process happens too fast, the contracting becomes uneven, causing the metal to warp.
This principle of expansion and contraction applies to all metals. Even as thick and heavy as it is, iron is not an exemption from this rule.
Having said that, it’s essential we look at the causes of warping in detail.
Change from Hot to Cold Temperatures
Blackstone makes their griddles from steel, which makes them prone to warping.
I’m by no means saying that Blackstone griddles are of low quality. No, not at all.
Warping is natural, and it’s bound to happen thanks to the temperature fluctuations in a griddle.
When the temperature beneath the steel increases, the steel expands. On the other hand, it begins to contract when the temperature cools down after using your grill.
The subsequent expansion and contraction cause warping.
Is there a need to worry?
Not at all.
The minor warping that occurs can hardly affect your grill’s performance.
At times, your grill may just ‘fix’ itself naturally after several uses. This happens when the steel reaches a comfortable position where it may not expand or contract further.
However, even if this does not happen, no worries because warping is correctable.
In rare cases, the warping might continue to some extreme extent. If this happens, you can contact Blackstone for advice and guidance on how to handle the issue.
For minor warping, however, just keep using your griddle normally.
The Size of the Griddle
The larger your griddle is, the higher the probability of warping.
Notably, a sizeable number of Blackstone griddles are relatively large.
In most cases, large steel tends to crown in the middle. Crowing here refers to the development of a slight bump at the center.
The crowning happens because, in most cases, the heat gets concentrated in the middle.
But…
The good news is that Blackstone is already aware of this and has fortified the area using reinforcing bars. This preventive measure helps ensure the center of your grill remains flat.
Irrespective of whichever grill you are using, warping might occur, especially if the griddle is large.
However, the bottom line is that a small degree of warping should not alarm you.
How to Avoid or Prevent Griddle Warping
Being careful about how you use and handle your flat-top grill helps to avoid frequent warp repairs, which risk cracking your griddle.
Although heat and grills go hand in hand, significant temperature fluctuation is one of the leading causes of warping.
- You can prevent this sudden change in temperature by preheating your griddle briefly and then adding your food before it gets too hot. Also, avoid cooking frozen food on the griddle top whenever possible.
- Avoid washing your flat-top grill with too much water. Consider using a spray bottle, as it allows you to monitor the amount of water you pour on the cooktop without soaking it.
Too much water results in a sudden temperature change that activates the steel atoms. As a result, the griddle contracts and expands, causing it to warp.
Even when your flat-top grill is cool completely, cleaning it with a lot of water risks warping because there will be a difference in temperatures.
When using a spray bottle, only apply water to the sticky spots. It is not necessary to wet the whole griddle.
- In the same regard, never add cold water to a hot griddle.
- Never submerge it in warm water or clean it in a dishwasher. The best way to wash griddles, cast iron or stainless steel, is by hand.
How to Take Care of Your Griddle After Unwarping
After unwarping your flat-top grill, wash it thoroughly with water and soap.
Then, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with some foil and position it on the oven floor.
Apply a thin coating of a high smoke point oil like canola or vegetable oil on the griddle surface.
Place your flat-top grill face down at the center of the oven and allow it to bake for an hour.
Switch off the oven and take the grill out of the oven. This process gives your pan a natural non-stick layer.
You can cook fatty food like pork chops as your first meal for an added seasoning layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fix a warped Blackstone griddle?
Yes, you can fix a warped Blackstone griddle using a piece of wood and a wooden mallet. Heat your flat-top grill to medium-high, place the wood across the warped area, and hit continually with a mallet.
If the warping is adverse and affects your griddle’s performance, consider replacing the top.
Can you restore a griddle?
First, scrape down the entire top to remove excessive rust. Then, drip 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil on the surface and rub it down with a grill stone. If you cannot get a grill stone, use medium-grit sandpaper or steel wool.
How do you keep a flat top grill from warping?
You can avoid warpage by preheating your grill briefly, avoiding frozen cooking food on it, and not washing it in a dishwasher. Also, do not wash your flat-top grill with too much water or pour cold water on a hot griddle.
Why did my Blackstone griddle warp?
Extreme heat to cold temperature changes is the leading cause of griddle warping. Steel naturally expands as temperatures rise beneath it and contracts when it cools down. Adding chilled or frozen food on a hot flat-top grill is a sure recipe for warping.
Wrapping it up
The subsequent change from much heat to cold, plus the size of your grill, can cause warping. However, you can reverse it once it happens.
Better still, the most appropriate thing to do is prevent it from happening. Follow the steps outlined in this article to protect your grill.