Are you done with that tasty meal but troubled at how long it would take you to clean that messy griddle?
Is the process of cleaning that cooking surface so bothersome that it makes you think twice before using it?
Are you looking for the best rag that you could use to efficiently clean your griddle without scratching it?
You’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to clean your griddle and what to clean it with.
Let’s begin by viewing the best cleaning options available right now.
Blackstone scrub pads are large enough to cover your whole griddle with a few swipes, and no matter how hot the surface is, you won’t get your hands burned.
They come in packs of 10 and they cost you around $20 per pack. Best of all, you can use each pad multiple times!
Their only notable downside is their round edges which make cleaning the corners a little bit bothersome.
Pros:
- Very cost-effective
- Easy clean without scratching the surface
- Heat insulating to prevent burns
Cons:
- Round edges make corner cleaning difficult
Scotch-Brites are essentially Blackstone scrub pads, but they’re slightly smaller in terms of height and they have rectangular edges.
The reduced high slightly increases the risk of getting any hot splatter on your hand as you clean, so be careful and don’t go trigger happy.
However, they have a slight advantage over Blackstone scrubs with their rectangular edges, they can reach every corner of your griddle easily. They’re also very liquid-absorbent.
Pros:
- Cleans corners very well
- Large in size for easy clean
- High liquid absorbing
Cons:
- Low height may cause hand burn by splatter
Caluvar pads come with detachable handles that prevent your hand from even touching the pad as you clean.
The detachable handles make the pads versatile. You can use them to clean other things like sinks and ceramic walls.
They also have rectangular edges and good height to reduce the risk of any hot splatter reaching your hand.
They come in packs of 11 pieces that cost under $20, which is slightly less cost-effective than other pads but still wallet-friendly.
Pros:
- Detachable handles for hand protection
- Rectangular edges for optimum corner cleaning
- The handle provides multi-purpose use
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than other pads
Scott Rags are the only item on our list that’s not scrub pads, they’re actually heavy-duty disposable towels.
When folded correctly, they won’t leave lints like normal paper towels. Additionally, since they are closer to a cloth than they are to a pad, they deep clean and absorb a bit better than pads. Especially right before cooking.
Since they’re towels in the end, they might leave lints if they’re incorrectly used. Check how to use them here.
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Deep cleaning
- Highly absorbent
Cons:
- May tear if misused
This is the most expensive as well as the most versatile item on our list. The 3M Scotch-Brite kit offers you the ultimate cleaning experience.
3M kits come with six reusable cleaning pads, six liquid cleaning pouches, one pad holder, and one squeegee.
Every advantage in our list can be found here. This kit comes with rectangular-shaped edges for corner cleaning and a pad holder which is even longer this time for safe cleaning.
The cleaning liquid is ideal for throughout and safe cleaning of the griddle surface. Once you’re done with everything, the squeegee is used to wipe away any excess liquid on the griddle to prevent rusting.
This package comes at just under $100. It’s obviously a lot more expensive than our other options, but it’s ideal for restaurants and griddles that are used extensively.
Check it out in action here.
Pros:
- Liquid cleaner for ideal cleaning
- Long handle for safe cleaning
- Long squeegee for liquid wiping
Cons:
- Expensive
How to Clean Your Griddle
Having the best cleaning pads on the market isn’t going to help you if you don’t know how to clean your griddle.
It’s always recommended to clean the griddle right after the meal is over. The more you leave food remnants on the griddle, the harder they will get, and the more difficult their scrapping will be.
Here are the steps of cleaning your griddle efficiently:
- Start by setting it to low temperature, enough for your hand not to be able to touch it, but less than it should be to cook the food. 200 °F should be good.
- Fill a plastic squeeze bottle with hot water, and spray the griddle until it’s covered with enough water to clean with. If you have a liquid cleaner that comes with some scrub pads, you could use them instead of hot water.
- Use a large spatula or a scraper to clean off any food remnants. Keep spraying more water as you do this.
- You might need to repeat step number three a few more times till all the solid smudges are scrapped off.
- Use your cleaning pad or rag to clean off the liquid smudges. It’s important to clean the edges as much as possible as we push our food against them to pick it up.
- Once all smudges are gone, pour ½ cup of vinegar on the griddle’s surface to polish the surface of the griddle, then clean it again with water.
- The last step is pouring ½ cup of olive oil and spreading it all over the griddle’s surface to prevent rusting of the metal sheet. Olive oil is the ideal but normal oil could also be used without problems.
Clean It to Keep It
A clean griddle isn’t just for show; it also means healthier food. Any remnants or smudges could build bacteria over time and cause your cooking surface to rust.
Don’t forget to use hot water, vinegar, and end up with oil to keep the surface rust-free. Take your time as you clean to avoid burning your fingers.
Use any of the mentioned cleaning rags/scrubs to make sure any cleaning liquid you use reaches every surface of the griddle, especially the corners. And don’t stop scraping until you no longer see any smudges.
Keep it clean so you can keep it longer, and enjoy your meal!
