Updated: July 2025

While general griddle cleaning advice has its place, Pit Boss griddles have specific requirements that maximize their performance and longevity. The key to effortless cleaning lies in proper initial seasoning and establishing the right maintenance routine.

The secret to a low-maintenance Pit Boss griddle is getting the initial cleaning and seasoning right. Once you’ve built up that protective seasoning layer, daily cleaning becomes surprisingly simple and requires minimal effort.

In this comprehensive 2025 guide, I’ll walk you through Pit Boss’s official cleaning and seasoning recommendations, plus share proven techniques for maintaining your griddle’s performance after each cook. You’ll learn why soap and water are only used once in your griddle’s lifetime, and discover the simple routine that keeps your cooking surface in perfect condition.

Quick tip: While you don’t need specialized tools, a quality griddle cleaning kit makes the process much easier. Something like this 25-piece kit includes everything you need and pays for itself in convenience.

How To Clean a New Pit Boss Griddle: Initial Setup

Congratulations on your new Pit Boss griddle! Before you start cooking, there’s a crucial first-time cleaning and seasoning process that will determine how easy maintenance will be for years to come.

Important: This initial cleaning is the only time you’ll use soap on your griddle. After seasoning, soap and commercial cleaners can damage the protective coating and should be avoided completely.

Here’s Pit Boss’s official first-time cleaning and seasoning process:

Step 1: Initial Cleaning

• Clean the surface: Use warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth to remove manufacturing residue and protective wax coating
• Scrub gently: Remove any debris, oil, metal shavings, or dust from shipping and storage
• Rinse thoroughly: Ensure all soap residue is completely removed
• Dry completely: Use paper towels to ensure no moisture remains on the surface
• Let air dry: Allow 5-10 minutes for complete moisture evaporation

Step 2: Seasoning Process

• Heat the griddle: Turn heat to high and wait 10-15 minutes until the surface begins to darken and change color
• Choose your oil: Pit Boss recommends flaxseed oil for best results, but avocado oil (smoke point 520°F), canola oil, or vegetable oil work well too
• Apply oil sparingly: Use about 1 tablespoon for the entire surface – too much oil creates a sticky, gummy surface instead of the smooth non-stick coating you want
• Spread evenly: Using tongs and heat-resistant gloves, move a rolled-up paper towel across the entire surface, including corners, edges, and side walls
• Let it smoke: Wait until the oil stops smoking completely (usually 10-15 minutes) – this indicates proper polymerization
• Repeat 3-4 times: Each layer builds up the protective seasoning. The final result should be a deep blue-black finish that’s smooth to the touch

Why is seasoning so important? Proper seasoning creates a natural non-stick surface through polymerization – oil molecules bond to the metal and form a protective layer. This prevents food from sticking, protects against rust, and makes cleanup effortless. Without it, food will burn onto the surface, grease will harden, and cleaning becomes a frustrating chore.

Have an older griddle? You can restore any Pit Boss griddle to like-new condition by following this same process after a thorough cleaning. Even griddles that have been neglected can be brought back to peak performance with proper reseasoning.

Daily Cleaning: Maintaining Your Pit Boss Griddle

Once you’ve completed the initial seasoning, daily maintenance becomes incredibly simple. A properly seasoned griddle requires just 5-10 minutes of care after each use.

After Each Cooking Session:

• Clean while warm: Let the griddle cool for 5-10 minutes after cooking, but clean while still warm (around 200-250°F) for easier debris removal
• Scrape the surface: Use a griddle scraper or metal spatula to remove stuck-on food and debris, working from back to front
• Add water if needed: A small amount of water (2-3 tablespoons) creates steam that helps lift stubborn food particles – water only, no soap
• Scrub gently: Use a grill stone or griddle cleaning pad for stubborn spots
• Dry thoroughly: Use paper towels to absorb water and push debris toward the grease trough
• Apply protective oil: Spread a thin layer of cooking oil across the entire surface with a paper towel or cloth while still warm
• Clean the grease tray: Remove and wash the grease tray with hot soapy water, dry completely before replacing

That’s it! This simple routine takes less than 10 minutes and keeps your griddle in perfect condition. The key is consistency – cleaning after every use prevents buildup and maintains the seasoning layer.

Troubleshooting Common Issues:

Sticky surface? This usually means too much oil was used during seasoning or cleaning. Our detailed guide here will help you fix a sticky griddle. Heat the griddle to high, scrape off excess residue, and apply thinner oil coats.

Food sticking? Your seasoning may need refreshing. Simply repeat the seasoning process 1-2 times to restore the non-stick surface. Also check your cooking temperature – too low heat can cause sticking.

Rust spots? Light surface rust can be removed with a griddle scraper and fine steel wool, then re-seasoned. For deeper rust, you may need to strip and re-season the entire surface using the initial cleaning method.

Uneven cooking? This often indicates uneven seasoning or buildup in certain areas. Clean thoroughly and apply an even seasoning coat across the entire surface.

Pro Tips for Long-Term Care:

• Store properly: Keep your griddle in a dry location and consider a weatherproof cover for outdoor models to prevent moisture damage
• Regular re-seasoning: Every 10-15 uses, add an extra seasoning layer to maintain protection, especially if you cook acidic foods
• Avoid soap: Once seasoned, soap strips the protective coating – stick to scraping, water, and oiling
• Use appropriate tools: Metal scrapers and spatulas are fine, but avoid abrasive pads or steel wool that can damage seasoning
• Monitor oil smoke points: Different oils have different smoke points – choose oils that won’t break down at your cooking temperature
• Season after acidic foods: Tomatoes, citrus, and vinegar-based marinades can strip seasoning – add a light oil coat after these meals

When to Deep Clean Your Pit Boss Griddle

Even with proper daily maintenance, your griddle may occasionally need a deeper clean:

• Quarterly deep clean: Every 3 months, remove all seasoning and start fresh if you use your griddle regularly
• After long storage: If your griddle has been stored for months, inspect for rust and re-season as needed
• Performance decline: If food starts sticking despite proper maintenance, it’s time for a complete re-seasoning

Remember: A clean griddle isn’t just about appearance – it cooks better, lasts longer, and makes your food taste better. The 10 minutes you invest in proper cleaning after each use will pay dividends in performance and longevity.

By following these Pit Boss-approved cleaning and maintenance techniques, you’ll enjoy years of excellent cooking performance from your griddle. The initial investment in proper seasoning makes all future cleaning quick and easy – exactly how outdoor cooking should be in 2025!