How To Clean A Flat Top Grill Routine Cleaning
The processes we just went over outline a deep clean. You may need to deep clean only occasionally if you dont use your griddle much. It might be more frequently if you work in a commercial setting or use your equipment at home a lot.
There are a few things you should do each time you cook that will help you to extend the life of your grill and make deep cleans less frequent. Here are a few tips for routine cleaning of a flat top grill.
- After each use, use a griddle scraper to scrape any leftover grease or food particles.
- After the flat top cools down, spray with water and give the surface a good rinse.
- Use a paper towel or rag to completely dry. You dont need to press too hard here.
- Some chefs recommend that you re-season their griddle every day after use to continually build up the seasoning. Some only do it after a deep clean is performed. This part is completely up to you!
How To Clean A Stainless Steel Grill
This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker. Susan Stocker runs and owns Susans Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity and her energetic support of green cleaning practices. This article has been viewed 73,392 times.
When the weather is warm, there’s nothing like barbecuing at home. But if you want your burgers, steaks, and chicken to taste delicious, it’s important to keep your grill as clean as possible. When you have a stainless steel grill, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to clean it because it’s so easy to damage the surface. Whether it’s removing buildup from the stainless steel grate, keeping the interior clean, or buffing the stainless steel exterior, using the right products and techniques is key if you want to keep your grill looking and performing well.
Practical Ways To Keep Your Stainless Steel Grill Clean
It is important to note that there are a lot of things you can do to keep your grill as clean as possible. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes. By preventing your grill from getting dirty as quickly, you will extend its lifespan and preserve the beautiful patina of the stainless steel.
Here are a few practical things you can do to keep your stainless steel grill cleaner:
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Why Is My Bbq Made Of Stainless Steel
Napoleon chose stainless steel for both the interior and exterior of their grills because it doesnt need extra finishing or harsh chemicals to ensure longevity or cleanliness. The elements that make up stainless steel also contain no other chemicals that will leach into the food you are cooking. This makes it particularly great for culinary applications.
Cleaning Your Grill Depending On The Material
Flat top grills and griddles are available in various materials. your choice of cleaning method is important as it prevents damages. Otherwise, you might be harming the grill, making it unusable and inefficient instead of cleaning the surface. Below, well talk about the different materials and the best approaches to cleaning them.
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Why Regular Cleanliness Of Stainless Steel Grill Grates Is Essential
No doubt stainless steel grill grates offer several advantages that we dont get from cast iron or any other grates.
First of all, theres no chance of corrosion or rust, as is the case with cast iron grates. Secondly, stainless steel has a high melting point, making it able to withstand high heat intensities.
Thirdly, stainless steel grates dont have any coating that can leach into your food and thus contaminate it. Last but not least, stainless steel grill grates are easy to use and clean.
However, note that stainless steel grill grates also require regular cleaning. If you dont clean them for a long time, it leads to carbonization of the food particles on the grates.
Little by little, these particles can change their chemistry and serve as potential contaminants for whatever you grill on the grates. If your stainless steel grill grates need cleaning and you dont know how to do it, this brief guide can help you in this regard. Lets jump headfirst into our topic.
Cleaning A Stainless Steel Griddle
- Step 1. While griddle is hot, scrape surface clean of food debris and grease buildup.
- Step 2. Pour warm water on it to start boiling off the grease buildup, being careful of any steam generated.
- Step 3. Place a griddle screen and scrubbing pad on top of each other and place onto the griddle.
- Step 4. Using the pad holder, press down on the griddle pad and screen.
- Step 5. Scour the entire surface of the griddle.
- Step 6. Rinse and wipe clean.
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Baking Soda And Scour Sponge Grate Cleaning
If you have porcelain or enamel grill grates, this is the method for you. Metal such as a wire brush or aluminum foil can scratch the finish of coated grill grates, so using a scour sponge or nylon bristle brush is best. Dont worry though, the power of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda will help dissolve and abrade the charred on food bits to get your grill grates clean.
- Remove the stainless steel grate from the grill and place on a flat surface.
- Moisten the grill grate with water.
- Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda liberally over the stainless steel grates and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Using a damp scourer sponge, scrub the grate going up and down each wire.
- Rinse with water and return the grate to the grill.
What Are Flat Top Grills
A flat top grill is a piece of grill designed in a cast iron plate to cook food. Due to its design, the heat from the fire can be controlled from very high for searing to low for slow cooking . Usually when we think of grilling, we imagine a traditional red-hot charcoal or gas flame that sears meats and fish. Flat top grills are popular because they heat up quickly and to high temperatures. Theyre great for cooking all kinds of foods from veggies to steak, fish, pork chops and more!
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How To Clean The Outside Of The Grill: Polishing & Protecting
A grills high heat can also have a negative effect on stainless. Try something like Weber or Char-Broil suggests a dedicated stainless steel cleaner. Use a soft cloth or microfiber cloth. Avoid using a paper towel since they can too rough and scratch the surface. Also, avoid harsh cleaners like bleach.
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Make sure to wipe with the grain of the stainless finish, which is usually from side to side. Rinse with clean water if youre using soapy water to grab the remaining dirt. Dry with a good, clean soft cloth to prevent water stains that can occur from air-drying.
Cleaning on a regular basis can keep it looking new. Try to take a few minutes after each barbecue with a grill brush to scrub a grate or two. This will help make sure next time you use it, its looking great and ready-to-go.
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Remember that cleaning exterior stainless is not as simple as cleaning regular metal. You cannot use steel wool or wire brushes as they may cause scratches or also pits that will get filled with debris.
If you want to clean the grill without much effort, then vinegar is the solution to use. You may dilute vinegar with equal parts of water and spray it over the grill. Give around 10 minutes to sit and soak.
Stainless Steel Goes The Distance
With so many options for grill grates available, it can be hard to make a choice. In this instance, let history make the call for you. The overwhelming majority of professional grill grates are made of stainless steel. If that system works for the pros, it will work for you! Once you select your personal favorite stainless steel grill grate, use the above products to maintain the quality and efficiency of your high quality grilling equipment. Do you have porcelain coated cast iron grill grates instead? Find out how to clean those.
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How To Clean Stainless Steel Gas Grill
For those of you wondering how to clean stainless steel gas grill, heres what to do:
This 2 In 1 Bbq Tool Works With Most Grills And Is A Safe Effective Way To Prep Your Grill For Your Next Barbecue
Rusty, filthy grill grates can lead to foul-tasting and potentially contaminated food. But WIRE BRUSHES OFTEN SHED THEIR BRISTLES, which can then wind up in your meat. So what’s the solution? It’s the 2 in 1 Grate Grill Scraper in Stainless Steel by The Sage Owl.
This heavy-duty BBQ cleaner WORKS WITH MOST ANY DESIGN, BRAND, AND STYLE OF GRILL, featuring 3 notches for cleaning round grates and 1 notch for V-shaped grates.
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Aluminum Foil As A Stainless Steel Grill Cleaner
This method works, but should only be used as a last resort, as BBQ tools provide far better results. To remove food residue and grease from your cooking grates before cleaning, ball up some aluminum foil and scrub off the grime.
For aluminum grates, you can also try using a homemade aluminum cleaner recipe. If your grill grates are cast iron, its important to reseason them after cleaning a cast iron grill.
Ensure that you take care of seasoning a cast iron grill after cleaning it. This process involves using oil to rub all over the grates after washing to ensure that they dont rust and to provide a non-stick surface for your next grilled meal. Always reseason your cast iron grill after cleaning.
Keeping Your Grill Clean
After you cook your meal on the grill, its a good idea to scrape grates while they are still warm with a stiff-bristled brush or scraper as that removes all food particles.
Bottle brushes work great on burners, as they easily reach in between the slats. For cleaning a charcoal grill, remove old coals and ashes once cooled, and for gas grills, clean food from lava rocks and replace ones that wont come clean.
The rock bed requires cleaning with hot, soapy water. Coat the grates with cooking oil, close the lid, and cover your grill to keep moisture out.
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Out of the many different types of grills, the varieties that heat using charcoal require the most cleaning. Keep charcoal grills in peak condition by cleaning them after each use and thoroughly cleaning before and after each grilling season.
After each use:
Charcoal ash gathers at the bottom of the grill every time it’s used, so you must clean the grill after each use. Built-up ash can block vents in the bottom of the grill, making it difficult to control cooking temperature and increase fire risks.
- Once the charcoal has cooled, remove the bricks and brush out the ash.
- Cleaning grill grates is best done with a long-handled stiff-wire brush. If you dont have a brush, ball up some aluminum foil and hold with long-handled tongs.
- Use a rag or folded paper towels to apply vegetable oil to the clean grates. This will help prevent rust and food build-up.
- Clean the inside of the grilling bowl and lid using mild dish soap and a steel brush.
Before and after each grilling season:
In addition to cleaning out old charcoal, keep your charcoal grill in peak condition with regular maintenance. Follow these cleaning tips at the beginning and end of each grilling season, performing more often as needed.
- Clean the outside of the lid and bowl using soap and water. You can also use grill cleaner. Towel dry to prevent rust.
- Keep the grill protected with a grill cover.
After each use:
Before and after each grilling season:
How Do You Treat A Stainless Steel Grill
Remove any surface corrosion with steel wool. Allow the grids to dry completely. Using a high-temperature oil like shortening, flax seed oil, or canola oil, cover the grids completely, on both sides, with a thin coating. Turn the grill on and heat the grill to between 350 and 400°F for 30 to 60 minutes.
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Types Of Flat Top Grills
Flat top grills come in a variety of styles and use different sources for heat. Different types of flat top grills usually have specific cooking method, but most can accommodate many different cooking styles. To help you know what type of grill to purchase or use when cooking, here is an overview on the other names given to flat top grills: hot plate, electric griddle, stovetop grill, sandwich maker and panini press.
Hot Plate
As the name suggests, hot plates are usually used for heating food or to act as a base for cooking any type of food in saucepans or frying pans. Food with high moisture content like eggs should not be cooked on a hot plate because it will spit water onto the electrical element which can cause damage to the surface. Some hot plates have flat bottoms that allow them to sit on top of another heat source in order to provide more even heat distribution. Hotplates can become very hot when they are plugged in so use caution when placing anything on top of one during cooking. This is important information when using with children around.
Electric Griddle
Stovetop Grill
Stovetop Griddles
Electric Sandwich Maker
Panini Press
What Is The Best Cleaner For A Stainless Steel Grill
One cleaner to look for is Bayes BBQ Grill Cleaner, which works as a cleaner and a protectant, so it not only cleans your stainless steel but also helps keep it that way. Otherwise, you can clean your grill with a soft cloth and a good quality non-abrasive cleaner.
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What Is The Best Way To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates
When cleaning stainless steel grates, many grillers cover the top of the grates with tough aluminum foil and heat the grates on high for 10 to 15 minutes. The aluminum foil will concentrate the heat on the grates to burn off the leftover food. Let the grates cool and scrub them with a nylon cleaning brush.
No Scrub Baking Soda And Vinegar Grate Cleaning
If you have an extremely dirty grill with stubborn, caked-on grease or grime that doesnt loosen right away soaking the grimy grates overnight in baking soda and white vinegar can save the labor of scrubbing.
Try this method to deep clean your grates at the beginning of grilling season or use it after a cookout, especially if you cant scrub the grates right away.
- Once your grates are completely cool, remove from the grill.
- In a large garbage bag , combine 2 cups of white vinegar and one cup of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda. The mixture will begin foaming right away.
- Place all the grates into the trash bag and seal it with a tight rubber band or knotted string. Place the bag with the grates and the solution in a cool, out-of-the-way place and wait 8-12 hours or overnight.
- Remove the grates from the bag and rinse in a large sink or with a hose. Most, if not all of the grime should fall away from the grates. Rub any stubborn residue away with a ball of aluminum foil or sponge it will be much easier and looser than before soaking.
- Seal the garbage bag and discard it and any remaining solution.
- Return your grates to your grill.
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How To Clean Stainless Steel Grates
Stainless steel grates are very tough, and they can withstand high heat and rust. Cleaning a stainless steel grate is also very easy as it does not take more time. They can be cleaned quickly by using a brush.
Most people clean stainless steel grates by heating them on high flames. They cover the top of the grate with aluminum foil and heat the stainless steel grate for ten to twenty minutes. The aluminum foil will concentrate on heating and burn the leftover food materials stuck on the grate. Now leave the stainless steel grate some time to cool it. Now take a nylon brush and scrub the surface of the grate to remove all the burnt debris.
