Cleaning a Flat Top Grill: Stainless, Chrome and Blackstone

The cleaning method you use to clean a flat top grill is dependent on the type of surface your grill top is made of. There is a different procedure for stainless steel flat top grills and for chrome flat top grills.  Most commercial kitchens have the chrome variety, but more manufacturers are making chrome residential grill versions than in the past.   The Blackstone Grill, another rising star in the grill market, has its own guidelines for cleaning the grill surface. You will find these easy steps below.

Cleaning a Stainless Steel Flat Top Grill

The following is a step-by-step tutorial for cleaning your flat top stainless steel grill:

1  Increase the temperature to around 300-350 degrees. While the grill is still hot,  grab your griddle scraper and scrape the surface of the flat top grill until it is clean. Make every effort to remove any food particles, debris, and grease from the surface to the best of your ability before moving on to the next griddle cleaning steps.
2 Pour warm water onto the grill surface. This will aid in the boiling away of the greasy accumulation on the surface of the grill.  Here, you must exercise extreme caution to avoid getting burned by the steam.

It’s also crucial  that utilizing warm water is absolutely necessary in this situation. You don’t want to use cold water since the thermal shock it could cause could cause your surface to crack or deform.

3  Assemble the griddle pad and screen onto your griddle scrub holder once the surface has cooled a little (preferably while it is still warm). Clean the whole surface of your flat top grill using a stiff brush to scrape away all residue.

4 Clean the flattop grill surface by rinsing it thoroughly and wiping it dry.
If the stainless steel is still not clean, it can be cleaned even more thoroughly with a vinegar solution of vinegar and water.  Alternatives include heavily spraying the grill with undiluted white vinegar before cooking.

5 To apply the stainless steel cleanser, take one of your rags and saturate it. Most cleaners come in the form of a spray that you apply and then wipe away.
After applying the stainless steel cleanser, ensure that the surface has been properly dried and cleaned with a clean cloth.

Your surface is now ready for a second seasoning application.

How to Clean a Chrome Flat Top Grill

If you have a high-end flat top, it is possible that you have a chrome-plated griddle. If that’s the case, these are the measures you may do to give your chrome top grill a thorough deep clean:

(Keep in mind that a griddle scrub will be more abrasive in this situation, thus grill brushes will be more appropriate.)

1  Increase the temperature to around 300-350 degrees. As soon as you get a hot grill, grab your griddle scraper or grill scraper  and scrape the entire surface of the flat top grill until it is clean. Make every effort to remove any food particles, food debris and grease from the surface to the best of your ability before moving on.
2  Pour warm water on the griddle top and scrape with a less abrasive griddle brush or grill brushes to remove any remaining residue. Repeat the process until the surface is completely clean.
3  Allow time for the surface to cool. Once the surface has cooled, wipe it down with a rag and apply a food-safe finish. Make certain that the finish polish is not harsh as well.
4  Using one of your dry wipes or rags, wipe the surface completely clean.
5  Make certain that all of the polish is removed at the end. You can follow the recommendations provided by the polish maker in this case; normally, a wet towel would suffice.

For years, restaurants have used a grill brick to clean their grills. This is a pumice stone brick that is used to scrape along the griddle top from one side to the other. As pressure is applied to the stone, the abrasiveness of the stone scrapes away at the food debris and grease and grime that is left on the grill. The advantage of a grill brick is the fact that it doesn’t leave grill bristles behind like a wire brush might.

Cleaning a Blackstone Flat Top Grill – Special Care and Instructions

Before cleaning, be sure that the Blackstone griddle and its components have cooled down to a safe temperature.
• Always make sure that the ventilation opening(s) of the cylinder enclosure are free of obstructions and debris.
• If you have baked-on grease buildups, you may need to use an abrasive plastic cleaning pad to remove them. Ensure that no loose bristles are left on any of the cooking surfaces after using a bristle brush to clean them.
• Do not use an abrasive pad on places with graphics to avoid damaging them.
It is not recommended to clean the grill surface with chemicals or dish soap because these may cause the surface to deteriorate.