How to clean a griddle: cast iron, carbon steel and electric

Step by step: how to clean a griddle

Safety first. Clean a stovetop griddle while it is warm, not smoking hot, and use a towel or mitt on the handles. Unplug an electric griddle and let it cool before you take the heat control out or put the griddle in water; never put the control, cord or plug in water. Pouring water on a very hot griddle throws up steam, so add it slowly and keep your face back.

1. 1

   Let it cool until just warm

   Turn off the heat and wait a few minutes until the griddle is warm but not scorching. Residue lifts more easily from a warm surface than a cold one. Unplug an electric griddle before you start.

2. 2

   Scrape off food and grease

   Push loose food and grease toward the drip tray or into a paper towel with a plastic scraper or flat spatula. Use the scraper at a low angle so you lift residue without gouging the seasoning or coating. Empty and wash the drip tray if there is one.

3. 3

   Deglaze stuck spots with water

   On cast iron or carbon steel, put the griddle back on low heat and pour a small amount of hot water over the stuck spots. Let it bubble and scrape as it boils. Pour off the water and wipe the surface with a paper towel.

4. 4

   Wash it the right way for the material

   Scrub cast iron with warm water, a little dish soap and a nylon brush. For carbon steel, hot water and a brush are usually enough; Made In advises skipping soap on its carbon steel griddle. Wash a nonstick electric griddle in warm soapy water with a non-metal sponge after removing the heat control.

5. 5

   Scrub stubborn residue with salt

   For sticky or burnt patches on cast iron or carbon steel, warm the griddle slightly, turn off the heat, and sprinkle on a tablespoon or two of coarse salt. Rub it around with a folded paper towel until the residue lifts, then rinse or wipe off the salt.

6. 6

   Dry it completely

   Towel dry right away, then set a cast iron or carbon steel griddle over low heat for a minute or two until every trace of water has gone. Dry an electric griddle with a towel, including the underside and the socket area, before you put the control back in.

7. 7

   Oil cast iron and carbon steel

   While it is still warm, wipe a very thin layer of neutral oil over the cooking surface with a paper towel, then buff off the excess. The surface should look satin, not wet. This protects the seasoning and keeps rust away until the next cook.

How to clean each type of griddle

The material decides the cleaning. Seasoned iron and steel need drying and oil; nonstick needs gentle tools; built-in range griddles follow the range manual.

For a cast iron griddle, Lodge says soap is fine, soaking and the dishwasher cause rust, and steel wool is for removing rust, not daily cleanup. Made In’s griddle guide covers the warm-scrape, boiling-water and salt methods for carbon steel. Outdoor flat tops are a separate job; see our Blackstone griddle guide.

How to clean an electric griddle

Unplug it, remove the heat control, then wash the griddle in warm soapy water with a non-metal pad. Only immerse it if the manual says it is fully immersible with the control removed.

Presto’s 20-inch griddle instructions say to clean the nonstick surface with a non-metal pad such as a Scotch-Brite multi-purpose scrub sponge, to avoid steel wool and abrasive cleaners, and never to soak it for more than two hours, which can damage the finish. Presto also advises against the dishwasher for that model, because dishwasher detergent discolors the trim and the bottom. Over time the coating can darken over the heating element from grease buildup; Presto suggests a commercial nonstick-safe destainer for that.

Cleaning a griddle that came with your range

Wash a range griddle with mild soap and a mild scrubbing sponge or brush, rinse and dry it. Many have a nonstick finish and cleaning directions vary by model, so the manual matters.

Whirlpool’s range griddle page warns against nonstick cooking sprays, which leave a sticky residue that is hard to remove, and suggests brushing on a thin layer of oil before use instead. It also says to dry the griddle after washing to reduce the chance of rust. For the rest of the cooktop, see how to clean a stove top.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving a cast iron or carbon steel griddle in the sink to soak, which rusts it overnight.
• Putting a hot griddle under cold water, which can warp it.
• Using steel wool or a metal scraper on a nonstick electric griddle.
• Submerging the heat control or cord of an electric griddle.
• Using aerosol cooking spray, which builds a sticky film that is hard to scrub off.
• Leaving a thick coat of oil on after cleaning, which turns gummy.