A clean kitchen is the best way to enjoy amazing food, and an outdoor grill is no different. From scrubbing the grill to searing the grill, learn how to clean your flatbed grill quickly and efficiently.
Flat grills and griddles are unique cooking appliances. Many may know them as the kitchens you see in teppanyaki restaurants, but they’re also found in backyards and food trucks everywhere.
Cleaning any type of grill is always a challenge, but flat grills can be one of the most difficult types.
Cleaning your grill is essential not only to keep it running smoothly, but also to ensure food safety. Many grills come with cleaning instructions, but these methods don’t always work effectively.
It is also imperative that you season it after cleaning. As with other forms of grilling or smoking, seasoning coats the surfaces with a protective layer of oil that protects them from rusting or general wear and tear.
What are the signs that your grill needs cleaning?
The main signs that your grill needs some attention are visible grease build-up on the grill surface and your food starting to stick to the surface more easily. However, there will be some more subtle changes. Due to dirt buildup along the grill surface, your food will start to cook unevenly and flakes of burnt oil will also form on your food.
If any of these issues arise, it’s time to take action.
How often should I clean a flat grill?
One of the best ways to protect a grill from general wear and tear and rust is to clean it regularly. While cleaning as often as possible may seem ideal, this is not always realistic. Anyway, you should clean it after every use. This will prevent excess fat from settling on the grilling surface, preventing unwanted bacteria from growing on the grilling surface.
In addition, you should clean it every month, even if it is not used. By their very nature, flat top grills are always exposed, allowing dust, dirt and bacteria to grow on their surface even when not in use.
What is the best way to keep my flat grill clean?
As with regular outdoor grills, investing in a good grill cover
Without further ado, here’s how to clean a flat grill.
Scrub the grilles
The grates are where food or meat sits while cooking, so they tend to have the greatest amount of bacteria and bacteria build up on them. These can settle and cake as the grill cools, making it all the more important to respond as quickly as possible.
It is recommended to invest in a wire or copper brush and use hot, soapy water to remove grease.
Be sure to work on both sides of the grates, not just the top, and work until all visible grease is removed.
Clean burner guard
Shields sit over the burners and protect against grease that may escape when food and meat are cooked. Of course, this means that they can clog up over time and become less and less effective until they quickly become unusable.
In most cases, these protectors are easily removable, allowing you to thoroughly clean them. Remove the protectors and simply soak them in hot, soapy water. After a few minutes, the grease should soften and flake off, allowing you to remove other dirt or heavy grease.
Clean Rust
Because the top of the grill or pan is iron, the grill is incredibly prone to rusting. This can cause chipping and leave marks on the food.
To get rid of rust I recommend heating your grill up a bit to loosen it up and make it easier to remove. Be sure to wear heat-resistant gloves to protect yourself from burns when handling the griddle.
Use soapy water and a roasting stone (or sandpaper) to remove rust from the top.
When finished, allow the top to dry and then apply a few drops of cooking oil to the surface. Then heat the grill for a few minutes at low temperature. This will dry out the oil and help it set, creating a protective layer on the top of the grill.
Use a vinegar solution
To really get into the vents, another approach is to use a vinegar and water solution. This will help break down much of the fat content that can build up on the grates over time.
Make a mixture of warm water and vinegar, then use a scouring pad to scrub the grates with the solution. The fat will begin to break down and wash away.
Clean floor
The bottom floor of the grill is by far the trickiest part of the grill, simply because that’s where most of the cooking fat and dirt ends up. It’s also extremely sticky, making it stubborn and difficult to remove with just a sponge.
What do you need
- Iron stood
- Frying pan scouring pad
- Screen grill
- Vegetable oil
- Chemical cleaning agents for stainless steel
- Palmetto cleaning brush
- Toot
- Warm water
CAUTION: Do not use scouring pads or abrasive cleaners on chrome grills. While they’re fine on stainless steel, they can protect the surfaces of a chrome grill. Use a palmetto cleaning brush instead.
Restart the grill too
While the grill is still hot, scrape up any food or leftovers that you can.
Pour warm water over the grill to move the fat and make it easier to remove.
For stainless steel: Stack a scouring pad and cooking grate on top of each other and use them to scrub the cooking surface.
For Chrome: Use a saw palmetto brush to scrub the grill surface before using a non-abrasive, food-grade polish.
Rinse and wipe clean.
How to Season a Flat Top Grill
Heat your flat top grill to 350°F. Leave to heat for 20-30 minutes. Turn it off and let it cool.
While the grill surface is still hot, use a paper towel to spread cooking oil on the grill.
Turn the heat down at 350°F. Allow the grill to heat up and wait for the oil to start smoking. After smoking, turn off the grill and allow to cool.
Once the grill has completely cooled, sift off the remaining oil between them.
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
