How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle

Keeping your Blackstone griddle clean is essential for maintaining its performance and preventing rust. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how I clean my griddle after cooking, step by step. If you prefer a video walkthrough, I’ll link my YouTube tutorial at the end of this post. This post is for general cleaning after every cook. If you have a lot of rust or flaking check out my post How to Remove Rust and Reseason a Blackstone Griddle.

---

Before You Start: Quick Tip

Before we get into the steps, one quick recommendation—scrape your spatulas outside while they’re still hot. It’s so much easier to clean them now rather than letting everything dry and dealing with it later in the sink.

---

Step #1 – Scrape Away Food Debris

Turn your griddle down to low heat before you start scraping. You’ll need a spatula, scraper, dough scraper, or even a dedicated griddle cleaning tool. There are a few different tools on the market, some with scrubbers and scrapers combined, but for this guide, I’ll be using a simple spatula.

Start scraping off all the food debris and grease, pushing everything towards the grease trap at the back of the griddle. Don’t forget to check the corners—grease and food bits tend to collect there.

---

Step #2 – Wipe Down with a Paper Towel

Once you’ve scraped everything into the grease trap, grab a paper towel and wipe down the surface. Pay extra attention to the corners where grease builds up. Some people prefer using blue Scott shop towels, old rags, or even cut-up t-shirts instead of paper towels to reduce waste. Use whatever works best for you.

---

Step #3 – Squirt Water & Scrape Again

Now, take a squirt bottle filled with water and spray down the griddle. This helps loosen any stubborn bits stuck to the surface.

Just to reiterate, I have all four burners on low while doing this. The gentle heat helps break things up, but you don’t want it too hot.

If you cooked something like a stir-fry with a sticky sauce, you might need to use more water to lift any cooked-on residue. Blackstone recommends using only a few tablespoons of water at a time, which is why I prefer a squirt bottle over dumping large amounts of water on the griddle.

Important Note About Water & Heat:

• A small amount of water at low temperature is fine.
• A lot of water on a very hot griddle can warp it.

Scrape everything toward the grease trap again. Repeat this process two or three times until the surface is completely clean. Be careful—the steam from the water can burn you. Trust me, I definitely didn’t learn that the hard way…

---

Step #4 – Wipe It Down Again

After scraping, grab another paper towel (or shop towel) and wipe down any excess water that hasn’t evaporated. Now, turn off the griddle.

Again, focus on the corners and check for any stubborn spots. If needed, squirt a little more water and wipe it down again until everything is clean and dry.

Make sure the griddle is completely dry before moving on to the next step.

---

Step #5 – Apply a Thin Layer of Oil

The final step is applying a thin coat of oil to prevent rust. You can use:

• Canola oil
• Vegetable oil
• Blackstone seasoning oil
• Avocado oil (which I’m using in my video)

Pour about two tablespoons onto the griddle and spread it around using a paper towel. A thin layer is all you need. Make sure to cover the entire surface, including the corners and side walls.

And that’s it! Now just cover your griddle until next time.

---

Bonus: Griddle Covers

I get a lot of questions about orange silicone mats for covering the griddle. Here’s my take:

1. A hard cover is the best option for protection.
2. A soft cover works well, too.
3. If you want extra protection, you can add an orange silicone mat underneath a cover.

---

Want to Learn More?

Plugins 1

If you’re new to griddling, check out my beginner Blackstone playlist on YouTube. It covers everything from seasoning to temperature control and cooking techniques.

For a complete beginner’s guide, grab a copy of my eBook, "Griddle 101: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Flat Top Grilling.” It covers everything you need to know, plus includes 101 fantastic griddle recipes.

Watch the full YouTube tutorial here!

Happy griddling!