When working on a Blackstone griddle, it is natural to corrode and turn reddish brown because of all the rust; this impairs the Blackstone girdle’s cooking capacity and increases the risk of food combining with dirty particles from its corrosion.
Blackstone griddle rust can be a significant concern, but don’t worry. We’ll help you clean rust off a Blackstone griddle rust, whether it has come after a humid season or after a long time and you need to restore your Blackstone grill.
Let’s find out how you can clean the rust of your griddle.
How Can You Clean Blackstone Griddle Rust? Step-by-Step Guide.
Blackstone griddles are used for cooking a variety of foods for consumption. So, make sure that the cleaning agents that you used to remove rust from your Blackstone griddle are not toxic, for they can affect your food cooked on the griddle.
To help you clean your Blackstone griddle, the following methods are the safest and most effective for this situation:
Things You’ll needed to Clean the Rust
The first step is to gather everything you’ll need to remove all the rust from your Blackstone griddle. The equipment and materials you use will vary depending on the product you find and what you are comfortable with, but the cleaning technique will remain consistent.
What you’ll need are;
- Bucket
- Microfiber towels or cloth
- Sandpaper
- Metal spatula or scraper
- Non-metallic scouring pad or brush
- Pumice grill stone (the grill stones are of great help to scrub the rust.)
- Heat Proof gloves (When purchasing gloves, make sure that they are heat proof to prevent your hands from getting burned.)
- Dishwashing liquid
- Paper towels
- Vegetable oil
- Citrus Juice (For citrus juice, simply squeeze some lemon juice. Or you can also use vinegar.)
If you feel that getting all these tools can be a headache, you can simply get a Blackstone Griddle Cleaning Kit.
Steps to Clean Blackstone Griddle Rust
Now it’s time to clean your griddle.
Step-1: Make a Clean Sweep.
First, make sure you’re wearing heat-resistant gloves so you don’t get burned. Just in case, turn off the Blackstone griddle. Before removing the rust, make sure that the griddle surface is clean enough to expose the rust.
Step-2: Prepare the Griddle for Cleaning.
Turn the Blackstone griddle to the maximum heat setting and wait 30 minutes for it to get fully hot. The heat will help dislodge the existing rust that has formed on the griddle’s surface.
Afterwards, turn off the griddle and let it cool. Although the rust will not harden so quickly, start clearing it up as soon as possible.
Step 3: Remove the Rust.
Take your metal scraper and start removing the rust on the griddle while the rust is still soft and not adhering to it. The rust will simply come off the griddle.
Depending on the width of your metal scraper, you may pick up the rust with the scraper and dispose of it in a trash bag or waste bin. Repeat this process until the griddle surface feels smooth when rubbed with a scraper.
Step 4: Scrub the Blackstone griddle with oil.
Pour a few spoonfuls of the cooking oil of your choice onto the griddle. The amount of cooking oil you pour on the griddle depends on your griddle’s surface area.
Make sure you apply the thin film of oil. It’s also good to add some lemon juice, citrus juice or vinegar to the oil.
Scrub the griddle with your grill stone or sandpaper now. The scrubbing motion should be mild and circular, so you don’t miss any scrubbing directions and don’t damage the griddle’s metal. You must continue scrubbing until the griddle appears bright and smooth.
Wipe away the rust and oil’s black liquid. You may do this using rags or paper towels. After removing the residue, reapply the oil and scrape until the oil looks cleaner when wiped off.
Wipe up all the oil on the griddle with a sponge dipped in vinegar and warm water. This will remove any rust odors from the griddle while also cleaning it.
If the rust hardens before you scrape it completely off, you may reheat the griddle for a few minutes to activate and soften the rust.
Step 5: Season the griddle.
After you have cleaned your Blackstone griddle and it appears rust-free, season it as the last step. Seasoning your griddle protects it as the oil itself acts as a protective coating, preventing further corrosion.
Cleaning your griddle is still necessary at least once a month. However, seasoning it with a thin layer of oil on top after using it makes the rust form much more slowly.
For the seasoning, use some cooking oil with a high smoke rate like flaxseed oil or olive oil is the best cooking oil. These oils adhere to metal or bond with metal significantly more rapidly and effectively.
- Apply the first coat of oil on the griddle surface and spread it with the help of a paper towel. Now turn the flame high and let the griddle heat for 15-20 minutes until the oil smokes and you see a shiny surface with no oil. Turn the flame off and let your griddle cool.
- Apply a second oil coat once the first one dries for further protection. The thicker the protective layer, the more difficult it is for water or air to access the griddle’s iron surface. As a result, rust will be less likely to develop.
- Repeat the process for the third time.
How can you Remove Stubborn Rust to Restore Blackstone Griddle?
If the rust on the griddle has been sitting for a long time, cleaning it with baking soda, citric acid, and other substances might not get the job done. In such cases, it is preferable to remove it by rusting with tools that help you with grinding, scraping, and sanding the rust off the metal.
Grinde the Rust
Grinding is the most powerful abrasive that you can use on metals. Therefore, be careful when using an angle grinder on a rusty object, as it might harm the metal under the rust. Instead, use the grinder to remove the heaviest buildup of rust as rapidly as possible.
An angle grinder and its attachments are easily available at a local hardware store or online from sites such as Amazon.com.
It’s also worth noticing that the angle grinder can be used for smaller, more detailed regions of your grill. The reason is, they’re small and can get into many nooks and crannies, allowing you to clean particular areas in your grill with accuracy.
After grinding away the rust, use a dish soap solution to clean up the griddle and clean it up using a paper towel or a dry cloth. After that, the griddle can be seasoned using a layer of oil for it to be ready to use.
Sand the Rust
Sanding is less aggressive than grinding, and it is recommended to use a sander to remove rust when the surface you are cleaning is a large flat surface.
To remove surface rust fast, inexpensive, and easily, use an orbital sander with hook and loop sanding discs. Sanders are classified according to their coarseness, which is measured in grit.
When using a sander, start with the coarsest grit possible (60 or 80 grit is a good starting point). The reason is, the coarse grits will remove the rust and oxidation efficiently.
You should also work your way up to a higher grit until you have a very smooth, clean-looking surface that you are happy with. You may go up to 400 grit if you want an exceptionally smooth surface.
NOTE: After removing the rust using the mentioned tools, follow the process of cleaning the griddle with a paper towel, cleaning it with oil, and reasoning it.
How Can You Prevent Your Blackstone Griddle from Catching Rust Again?
After going through all the trouble to remove the rust from your Blackstone griddle, you would want to prevent the rust from resurfacing again. Here’s how you can make sure the rust does not come back.
1. Make sure the Environment is not humid.
One of the main reasons the griddle may rust is because you placed it in a humid area. So, store your griddle in a cold, dry environment and cover it to protect it from humidity in the air.
2. Season the griddle regularly.
To season the Blackstone griddle, put the oil evenly over it and heat it for 15-30 minutes, or until it smokes. Allow your griddle to cook for 10 minutes after that.
Repeat this procedure until your griddle is dark brown, and then wipe it off with a bit of additional oil to prevent rusting. Season the flat top regularly to create a protective coating to avoid it rusting again.
3. Cover your Blackstone Griddle.
Covering the Blackstone griddle would also help to keep it from rusting. Get a heavy-duty canvas cover with dual-layer fabric for your Griddle to keep humidity at bay and protect it from wear and tear.
FAQs
How often should you clean the Blackstone Griddle?
Cleaning and seasoning any griddle, particularly a Blackstone griddle, is essential. You should season and clean the surface of the griddle after each usage to avoid corrosion problems. If the griddle is not in use, please check it once a month to check for rust.
Is vinegar effective rust-removing agent?
Vinegar is excellent to clean a flat top grill. When mixed with salt and baking soda, the combination can be extremely helpful to remove griddle rust.
Vinegar contains acid that eats away at the corrosion and rust that plagues cast iron. This makes it easier to scrape the rust out afterward with a scouring pad. So, yes, vinegar can remove rust from cast iron.
Can you season a Blackstone griddle with bacon grease?
Blackstone advises against using bacon grease for seasoning your griddle. The reason is that it’s not pure fat. In fact, it has sugar and other substances that form a build-up instead of seasoning the griddle in the true sense.
Is coke effective in removing rust from cast iron?
Yes. Coke dissolves any rust on your cast-iron tools. Simply soak the corroded cast iron in coke for about an hour or overnight. Scrub it away or wipe it clean the griddle with a dry cloth or a paper towel.
Why does everything stick to my Blackstone griddle?
The griddle surface of Blackstone griddles is made of cast iron. Because of the amount of cooking oil accumulated on the griddle cooking surface, your Blackstone Griddle has become sticky.
What is the best oil to season the Blackstone Griddle?
The top 5 best oils to season the Blackstone griddles are;
- Natural Flaxseed Oil.
- Grape seed Oil
- Canola Oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
What are some tips for using a Blackstone Griddle?
To get the most out of your cooking experience with the Blackstone Griddle, be sure to follow these steps:
1. Preheat the griddle to medium heat. Maintain the flames for 3-5 minutes to improve heat dispersion over the griddle surface.
2. Turn the knob to the required temperature. Pancakes, for example, should be cooked on a lower heat.
3. Keep in mind that the flat top heats up quickly. However, it takes a long time to cool down. As a result, even if you switch off the propane, the griddle continues to cook.
4. Allow the griddle to cool somewhat before cleaning it. Because it cools slowly, it can pose a risk if not handled cautiously.
Is it okay if I keep my Blackstone griddle outdoors?
Some Blackstone griddles are for outdoor use and even feature a waterproof finish. It shields them from the harsh external environment.
However, if you intend to leave them outside, cover them with a waterproof canvas; this will protect them from the humidity in the air, which might cause them to rust.
How can you use citric acid to remove Blackstone griddle rust?
When it comes to cleaning rust, you can purchase citric acid from any food store. It works like a charm, but not alone. You need to follow the above-mentioned process additionally.
Pour 3 teaspoons of citric acid into a bowl of hot water and cover the rusted metal with it overnight. The freshly dissolved rust may be readily scrubbed off the next day.
How can you remove the rust with baking soda?
Baking soda can also be helpful in removing small rust stains. It is also effective on thin metals.
Make a thick paste of water and baking soda and spread it all over the metal, making sure to get into all the rusty spots. Allow the paste to settle on the griddle’s surface for about an hour.
Scour the surface with steel wool or a wire brush to remove the rust. Rinse the paste with water and thoroughly dry it. Follow it with properly seasoning your Blackstone grill.
Final Thoughts
Like the Blackstone griddles, various things are made of iron. They are painted to keep them from rusting. But you can’t do that with griddles since they’re for cooking, and the chemicals in the paint may mix with the food and risk people’s lives.
That is why you must understand how to clean Blackstone griddle rust safely. And the procedures outlined above exactly describe that kind of safe solution.
How helpful has this article been for you? Let us know in the comment section.
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