Wondering how do you remove rust from a griddle? Here, I will give you 5 simple steps to reviving your rusty griddle cooking surface and bring you back to griddling bliss.
As much as I hate to admit it, I have neglected my griddle a few times in its life, yes, even the Griddle King.
Fortunately, I like sharing my griddling wisdom. The best part? It’s SUPER easy. So, I’ll shut up and guide you back to griddle king standards.
Also, for the sake of semantics, this process is the same for you if you are looking for info on how to get rust off cast iron flat top grill. Ever wonder the difference between a Griddle and a Flat Top Grill? Its a bit confusing and simple at the same time, read up on that here.
Why Is My Griddle Rusty?
Most griddle tops are made of either cold-rolled steel or some being cast iron. All steel naturally wants to rust, it’s attracted to it you could say.
For those of you in a high humidity area, you most likely deal with this all the time. All it takes is an easy to get a combo of moisture and air.
This is why if you live in an area with high humidity, you will need to be extra vigilant to protect your griddle.
Apart from the elements, not all rust is going to be preventable, but luckily most griddles are very easy to clean, and with a few pointers, you should be able to prevent most corrosion and keep that griddle looking sexy.
PSSST!!: Want to step up your griddling game? Check out Grill Masters Club
Tools You Will Need To Remove Rust From Your Griddle
Here is the good news, rust isn’t a death sentence for your griddle, you dont have to learn some extensive course on how to restore a Blackstone griddle.
You will need the following to get this done right:
- Griddle Scraper (metal, not plastic)
- Your Go-To Cooking Oil of Choice
- Paper Towels
- A Grill Stone or Cleaning Block
Step 1: Bring The Heat (20 minutes)
The first thing to do is turn your heat up to HIGH. This will open the pores of the cooking surface steel and allow any rust or debris to loosen up and make it easier for you to clean up.
Next, turn the griddle off and let it cool down. Now, grab your griddle scraper and scrape as much corrosion, debris and rust off, as much as you can.
It’s important to mention, don’t use ANY WATER on this step, dry scrape here ladies and gents. Remember, water is one of the major causes of rust, and we’re going to strip any protective layer from the griddle.
So, throwing water into this party would give the opposite effect of what we’re trying to accomplish.
Step 2: Scrape It Like A Polaroid Picture (10-15 Minutes)
Once that top layer of corrosion and debris is removed and the surface has cooled, it’s time to apply a THIN layer of cooking oil to the surface. Using your cleaning block, rub the oil and scrape your griddle surface.
You’ll typically find the grill stones and the barbecue aisle of the store. But if you can’t find a grill stone, try using steel wool or a medium grit wet/dry sand paper.
Don’t overthink this too much, it’s time to take an abrasive surface and scrape that surface CLEAN. Don’t freak out when you start to see the bare metal showing, thats a good thing! We want ALL that shiny steel back.
Step 3: Wipe it Clean (5 Minutes)
In this step, you will want to use a combo of oil and paper towels to ensure that all the rust and debris particles are wiped off the griddle surface. repeat this step as often as need to ensure the surface is clean and shiny!
Step 4 Re-Season Your Griddle Top (30 Minutes)
Once your griddle top is clean, it’s time to season it again like the first day you got it. We’ll give it a natural protective coating to help prevent corrosion and give you a nice stick-resistant surface to cook on.
I highly recommend using either grape seed or flax oil to season your griddle. However, if you can’t find flax oil, you can use Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
On the other hand, some prefer using Crisco to Season a Griddle, its up to you, but, please, do NOT Use Bacon Grease to Season Your Griddle.
Apply a small amount of oil to your griddle and spread around a THIN LAYER with a rolled-up paper towel or kitchen rag. Turn your griddle on to medium, medium-high heat. You will see the oil start to smoke and the surface of your griddle will start to discolor. This is a good thing! This means the oil is bonding to the metal.
Keep your griddle on medium-high heat until the oil stopped smoking. Repeat this step about three or four times, until you have a fairly even matte black griddle top.
Step 5: A Final Kiss of Protective Oil
The final step. Once you’ve cleaned and re-seasoned your griddle, you will want to store it with a protective layer of oil. This will create a barrier between air and moisture.
Don’t forget to wipe down all the sides of the griddle top to make sure you do this every time you use your griddle. After this initial seasoning, simply cooking on your griddle will add to the seasoning. You can read more about the seasoning here in this Guide to Seasoning Your Griddle
Must Have Griddle Accessories:
Conclusion
While we’re on the topic, check out our write-up on Leaving a Griddle or Flat Top Grill Outside. And that’s it! You’ve brought that nasty rusted griddle back from its griddle grave and gave it a new lease on life! Your griddle will thank you! Griddle King, out.
