Is your beloved griddle flaking and you are kinda freaking out? Have you noticed your Blackstone Griddle coating coming off? Maybe your Blackstone chipping?
No worries, we got you! Let’s talk all things Blackstone Griddle peeling and flaking. Blackstone griddles are really popular in the outdoor cooking world.
Due to their extremely durable build quality and the spacious griddle cooking surface, they are a fan favorite.
Blackstone griddles are made of premium-grade materials and can withstand extremely high temperatures for a long period.
With all of that said, what is the reason behind a Blackstone Griddle flaking?
No matter how sturdy and durable an equipment is, it can lose its integrity if it’s not properly taken care of regularly.
The cooking surface of a Blackstone Griddle can peel off if it’s left unseasoned for a long time, or, if you fail to clean the surface after cooking properly, the burnt residues and oil can pile up overtime, and cause flaking on your Blackstone Griddle surface.
It can be pretty annoying when you spend hours cooking on the griddle-top only to find your Blackstone griddle peeling burnt or metallic flakes in your prepared food.
So, let’s take a look at some of the reasons behind your Blackstone Griddle peeling.
Is it Normal for A Blackstone Griddle Surface To Be Flaking?
Blackstone Griddles are famous worldwide for the durability of their products. They use only the best and high-quality materials for their griddle tops and overall framework.
Most of their griddles feature a rolled carbon 7-Gauge Steel Top with a stainless-steel basting cover.
So, in short, no. It’s quite improbable for your Blackstone Griddle surface to be flaking off due to rust.
Alloying metals are used – which creates a protective layer on the steel and prevents corrosive properties.
That’s why, if you find your Blackstone Griddle flaking, then don’t freak out and think that it’s the griddle-top that’s peeling off.
Stainless steels are protected against corrosion and so, it’s really unlikely for your Blackstone Griddle to develop rust on its surface.
Recently, someone filed a customer support request with Blackstone directly to address this very issue, they gave a response you can read here.
What Causes A Griddle To Flake?
Most often than not, improper care will cause flaking in your Blackstone Griddle. Most people lack the knowledge of proper griddle maintenance and that can lead to situations like these.
Here are a few of the general reasons that can cause Blackstone Griddle flaking:
Lack of Proper Seasoning
Now when we say seasoning, we aren’t referring to the salt and pepper seasoning that we use in actual food.
In griddle terminology, seasoning means to baste the cooking surface of a griddle, grill, pan etc. with necessary oils or lubricants to give the surface a protective layer.
The seasoning layers create a non-stick surface on the griddle-top so that the burnt food residues cannot stick to it.
Many people either forget to season their griddle-top before using it or don’t realize the importance of proper seasoning.
Without seasoning, food bits get burnt way faster and it’s harder to peel them off the counter.
Again, you need to re-season your griddle-top every once in a while, and failing to do so will cause your previous seasoning layer to peel-off and cause flaking.
If you are unsure where to start and want more specific details, we have our easy Guide to Seasoning Your New Griddle.
Letting The Grease Build-Up Over Time
While cooking, it’s important to make sure that you are taking off the grease residues completely before putting in a new batch.
Since the griddle-top is always on high heat during cooking, these residues will harden over time, get charred and stick to the cooking surface.
The charred residues will continue to build-up over time, ruin the smoothness of the surface and cause Blackstone Griddle flaking.
Fatty greases like bacon fat have phosphates and salt additives in them that can mess up the integrity of your seasoning layer.
Again, if you try to wash the grease off with excessive soap and water, the soap will break down the seasoning layer as well alongside the grease.
Not only that will cause flaking in your Blackstone Griddle, but will also create tiny chips and cracks on your counter-top.
Lack of Proper Care and Maintenance
It’s not enough that you season your griddle-top once or take off the grease residues after cooking. If you aren’t doing it the proper way, it can do more harm than good.
Like I’ve already mentioned, using a soapy liquid to clean the grease is a no-go as it breaks down the seasoning layers as well.
Like this, several maintenance mistakes reduce the longevity of your Blackstone Griddle.
For example – when you are using a scraper to scrape off the food, if it’s used diagonally or in an uneven way, the sharp metal will cause scratches on the griddle-top.
These scratched areas will continue to lose their structural integrity over time and fall apart as flaking.
Again, being over-enthusiastic during seasoning and using too much oil will cost you as well.
If all of the oil isn’t used up in the seasoning layer, then the excess oil will end up getting burnt and cause premature griddle-top flaking.
What Can You Do to Prevent Blackstone Griddle flaking?
Its best if you get professional clean-up service for your Blackstone Griddle as that will ensure quality care for your griddle.
Even then, here are a few tips that you can keep in mind to reduce the chances of your Blackstone Griddle peeling.
1. Give Your Griddle A Fresh Layer of Oil Before (and After) Each Use
A good layer of seasoning will make your griddle-top non-stick and keep the surface smooth and even.
Before you start to use the Blackstone Griddle, wash the surface with clean water using the griddles heat on “high” and get rid of the dirt, food and other build-ups using your scraper.
Then, pour some cooking oil of your choice on the surface, and rub it in with a cloth.
Repeat this step a few times and wait until the oil is completely vaporized off by the heat.
This will create a new seasoning layer. Now that your griddle is nicely seasoned and is ready to be used.
2. Clean Off The Griddle Cooking Surface After Each Use
Make sure to clean the griddle-top properly every time after use to prevent grease build-up.
You don’t have to use soap or water to clean off the gunk, just use a wide metal scraper to scrape off every inch of the surface so that no lumps of grease or flakiness remain.
All the scraped off substances should be disposed of instantly and the griddle-top needs to be wiped off with a soft cloth or napkin.
3. Re-Season your Blackstone Griddle
The griddle-top needs to be re-seasoned every once in a while. Preferably every two-three weeks or whenever it starts to flake more. To re-season, repeat step 2 and properly clean off the griddle-top.
Then use a wide cleaning brick tool, pour some canola oil over the surface and continue to scrub the area in a circular motion. Focus on the areas that are uneven and bumpy. This will help to get rid of any rust developments as well.
Wipe off the layer of dirty oil with a paper towel and all the food gunks and residues will come off with it. Next, pour some water and wipe it off with a paper towel as well. Repeat until the paper towel isn’t dirty anymore after wiping.
Finally, season the griddle-top by following step 1. Repeat at least two-three times to create a strong layer.
Do remember to spread the oil evenly and keep it on high heat until the smoking stops.
It can take up to 40-45 minutes or more to repeat this process at least three times. So, be patient and look out for areas that need extra attention.
And like I mentioned earlier, do not use excessive oil as that will contribute to flaking later on. Wipe off the extra oil using a paper towel and a tong before it starts to burn.
Griddle Accessories You WILL ACTUALLY NEED
Besides learning how to prevent your Blackstone Griddle coating coming off, let’s talk about some more info you will need.
If you’re new to griddling altogether, I recommend checking out these accessories as they will save you some headaches and some greasy laundry.
This is another big one. While your griddle does come ready to use….it’s missing some really BASIC items you will need.
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#1 Must Have Accessory
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Know Your Heat Zones
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Protect Your Investment
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Best Way To Keep it Clean!
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$45.99
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$19.99
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$90.99
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$39.99
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- Griddle Spade and Spatula: These are the backbone of griddle chefs all over the world. Due to the flat-top design of a griddle, you will need to have metal surfaced griddle spatulas and spades. Something simple like this works great, see it here on Amazon.
- Griddle Hood: This is a bit of a bigger deal than many think initially. A quality griddle hood will help you cook better by controlling heat and creating a “oven” as well as protecting your griddle cover from coming in contact with your griddle surface that can either be dirty or really hot. Something like this works great, see it here on Amazon.
- Griddle Cover: I didn’t think I needed one either. But, I found out very soon how great of a job they did from preventing unnecessary wear and tear from the weather when being stored in my back yard. Its a small investment that pays back big time. Something like this works great here on Amazon.
- Infrared Temperature Gun: See Step 4 above, these are really crucial to fully understand what your griddle can do and what areas are putting out the heat you need, and what areas can be used to just keep the food warm while working on others. This is a great option that won’t t hurt your wallet, check it on Amazon.
- Grease Tins: These are dirt cheap and save you an unnecessary headache when cleaning up. Simply drop them into the grease trap and toss them when you’re done! Check these here on Amazon.
- Griddle Bottles: Another must-have, you really only need two. One for water, and one for your chosen cooking oil. If you are not sure what I mean, check out our Guide to Griddle Bottles here. These on Amazon work great and are cheap, check them out here.
- Griddle King Apron: I know what your thinking “I’m not wearing an apron” and yeah, I get it. But all that changed when I got a griddle and realized how much grease is popping off the griddle surface and landing on my clothes. A simple apron solves that and my signature “Griddle King” or “Griddle Queen” apron is a cheap easy fix for you, grab it here on Etsy.
- 1lb To 5lb or 20lb Propane Adapter: Like mentioned above, just swapping out your tiny 1lb propane bottle will save the world and your trips to find a camping propane bottle every hour. Grab one here on Amazon.
Conclusion
So, as it turns out, if you find your Blackstone flaking, or if your Blackstone Griddle coating coming off, it’s nothing to be afraid of. It doesn’t mean that your griddle-top is ruined and even if it feels like so, it can easily be repaired and re-used.
With proper maintenance and guidance, the days of peeling or flaking on your Blackstone Griddle will be gone for good.
Thanks for reading till the end! Hope this article was able to helpful to you. you know the drill…Griddle King, out.
