The Natural Ingredients You Can Use To Keep Your Blackstone Griddle Clean

There's nothing like spending the summer months outside grilling delicious food with family and friends. But at the end of the season, you're left with a dirty Blackstone griddle in desperate need of some TLC. Some people opt for commercial cleaning and degreasing products to bring their griddles back to life, but these products contain ingredients like quaternary ammonium compounds, a common additive in heavy-duty cleansers and disinfectants. While these chemicals are excellent when it comes to killing germs, the potential risk of adverse health effects pushes some to opt for all-natural cleaning methods. Thankfully, whether you're looking to clean your Blackstone or just freshen it up after a day of meal prepping, vinegar is a tried and true ingredient for cleaning these griddles. 

Vinegar is an item most people keep on hand in their kitchens but don't know it's a great cleaner for any type of flat-top cookware, including Blackstones. Even if you're dealing with a rusty griddle surface, vinegar can help break it down and make the rust easier to remove. The impressive cleaning and degreasing abilities are thanks to vinegar's acidic properties, which are also effective at killing bacteria, like Salmonella, that can make us sick. So, what is the best way to clean a Blackstone griddle with vinegar? Here's a quick guide to using vinegar and other natural methods, including lemon and baking soda, to clean a Blackstone griddle and keep it in the best shape possible.

To get started, preheat your griddle for a few minutes or let it cool slightly after cooking. Use a griddle scraper to remove leftover food or large areas of grease. If you don't have a scraper on hand, a putty knife or bench scraper are great alternatives in a pinch. Next, you can use a squeeze bottle to add a mixture of water and vinegar to the warm surface, as the steam produced can also help remove build-up. You may even add a cover over heavily soiled areas after steaming to trap in the heat-cleaning power. Repeat the scraping process as needed before wiping the griddle clean with a towel. After cleaning, you can also coat the griddle with oil to keep the surface in top condition.

A similar way to break down tough grease build-up is with another acidic option like fresh lemon. Start by squeezing fresh lemon juice over the hot surface, focusing specifically on areas of concern. Use a squeeze bottle to add water to create steam. Scrape and repeat if needed before rinsing and drying with a cloth. For even more cleaning power, try sprinkling some kosher salt on the warm surface and use a lemon half to scrub the griddle clean. 

If vinegar isn't your preferred product, there are other all-natural methods to keep your griddle spotless. For example, you can use baking soda to remove rust from a Blackstone, a technique that works for small or even large areas of rust without the need for harsh chemicals. All you need to do is create a paste with water and baking soda and apply it directly to the affected spots. Remember to rinse and dry thoroughly when finished. However, not all eco-friendly cleaning methods work for Blackstones, and they should be avoided to keep the steel surface safe. For example, you should stay away from using essential oils while cleaning, especially on items like griddles that come into contact with food. It's common for natural cleaning products to contain essential oils like wintergreen, which are not safe for human ingestion. If you're making your own natural cleaning products, be sure all essential oils used are rated food-grade safe on the bottle.

Now that you know how to clean and maintain your Blackstone griddle with all-natural cleaning options, you can enjoy the cooking process without the stress and worry of cleanup. Instead, you can focus on creating the perfect outdoor grilling station and mastering new recipes for your next get-together. And don't forget to clean your Blackstone after each use to prevent stubborn grease and food residue from building up.