You cannot cook on your brand-new griddle until you season it. Nearly all the griddles don’t come with a pre-seasoned surface. Therefore, seasoning your Blackstone griddle is a must before you cook anything on it. The significant reasons for seasoning a griddle are enhanced performance and durability. But, how do you season griddle successfully? In this article, we shall guide you on how to season a flat top grill for tasty meals and a long-lasting griddle. Keep on reading.
What is Seasoning a Griddle and Why Is It Necessary?
Seasoning a griddle is as crucial as seasoning cast iron pans. Seasoning is a process of building a cooking oil layer on the griddle surface. Seasoning makes the griddle have a shiny and beautiful black color.
Also, seasoning a griddle helps to keep its surface protected from rust and corrosion. Also, it helps create a non-stick cooking surface in the griddle to prevent food from sticking. Seasoning also enhances the flavor of the food. Proper and regular seasoning of the griddle elongates its lifespan and serves you for a long time.
How to Prepare Your Griddle for Seasoning?
For a successful seasoning, ensure the griddle surface is clean. First, clean the griddle using soapy water and rinse well with clean water. Cleaning removes dirt and any chemical residue after manufacturing. Dry the griddle surface with a clean, dry towel.
Remember to choose a good-quality griddle built with food-grade materials.
Once the griddle is clean, fire up the burner to a high heat and place the griddle on fire. Let it heat for about 10-15 minutes. Now you can proceed to season griddle.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Season a Griddle
Follow these easy steps to learn how to season a flat top grill or griddle.
Step 1: Apply a Coat of Oil
Once the griddle is hot, spread the oil all over the griddle surface or the flat top. You can use any cooking oil of your choice, olive oil, or canola oil. Use tongs and paper towel to spread thin layers of oil evenly on the griddle surface or flat top. Apply thin layers of oil on the edges and sides.
Step 2: Place the Griddle on High Heat
Once the initial seasoning process is over, allow it to heat again. Let the cooking oil burn off the surface for another 10-15 minutes.
Step 3: Repeat the Process
Once the oil is all burnt in step 2, use tongs and paper towels to spread another coat of oil all over the griddle top and sides. You can use any cooking oil of your choice, such as canola oil or olive oil. Place the griddle on high heat and let it cook up to a high smoke point. Once it begins to smoke, remove it from the heat and let it cool.
Step 4: Three More Cycles
You can repeat the above steps three more times by heating and while you spread the oil on the griddle top, edges, and sides. Once you complete the three steps, you have completed the process of seasoning a griddle. Good job!
How Often Should You Re-season Your Griddle?
After the initial seasoning process, there is no need to season the griddle every time you cook. Most food won’t affect the stick surface. However, some food will compromise the layer and stick surface. Most of the time, you can just spread the oil thinly to maintain the seasoning on the cooking surface. Here’s when and how to season a griddle after the initial seasoning.
● When using the griddle for the first time, you should do the initial seasoning process before cooking with it.
● If you notice the non-stick surface feature is wearing off. If a lot of food is sticking to the surface, consider re-seasoning.
● After cooking acidic, rich foods, foods with high acidity will quickly compromise the seasoning than non-acidic food. Re-season when you cook acidic food two to three times.
● After 10-12 uses. As part of regular maintenance of your griddle, do a full seasoning after several uses. The seasoning tends to wear off with time, even if you are not cooking acidic food. Regular maintenance and seasoning of your griddle will keep it in good condition.
How to Clean and Maintain a Seasoned Griddle After Use?
Proper maintenance of your griddle will keep it in good condition. After every use, remember to clean it and store it properly. Here are a few tips on how to season flat top grill and griddle, plus maintenance and storage tips.
1. After use, allow the griddle to cool down before cleaning.
2. Use a scraper to scrape the surface and wipe it off with a paper towel.
3. Pour warm water on the stuck food to make it easy to come off.
4. Use a scouring pad and gently rub away the food residue
5. Use paper towels to rinse and dry off the griddle
6. Dry it entirely with a cloth
7. If you have seasoned your griddle or flat top for a long time, you can do the complete seasoning.
8. Apply a coat of oil on the griddle or spray the Cast Iron Conditioner.
9. Once you season the griddle, store it in a dry place and cover it with a cloth to protect it from dust, scratches, and damage.
Top 3 High-Quality Griddles that Are Easy to Season and Maintain
1. VEVOR Commercial Griddle, 22.4″
The VEVOR 22.4″ Commercial griddle has a user-friendly design, light, and compact for easy portability. You can create a mobile kitchen with this countertop griddle anywhere. It is fitted with a side oil storage compartment for convenient use of oil to avoid spillages. The grill plate is detachable, making cleaning easy.
Features
● Durable Material- The indoor flat top grill is made with hot-rolled steel, making it strong and durable. It is pre-seasoned with thin layers of oil to prevent rust and ensure its safety in food preparation.
● Versatile– The griddle is multi-functional, and you can prepare different types of meals. You can grill, cook, stir fry, or fry. Thanks to its portable size, it allows you to cook outdoors.
● Large Cooking Space– The commercial griddle has a large cooking space measuring 362 square inches. You can prepare multiple food types simultaneously.
● User-Friendly- The griddle is extremely easy to use. It has drip holes to drain the oil or water into the oil cup. It has a side oil compartment for oil storage and to prevent leakages and spillages. The compact and lightweight size allows you to set up a mobile kitchen anywhere.
● High Powered Burners- The unique design of this commercial flat grill allows for even distribution of heat, making food cook fast and become flavorful.
2. VEVOR Commercial Electric Griddle, 29″
The VEVOR commercial electric griddle is made of stainless steel that allows you to create various meals simultaneously without the need for using multiple pots.
Features
● Food Grade Material- The griddle is made with food-grade stainless steel material. The built material gives it superior stability, and it’s easy to clean. It also features a thickened cast-iron cooking plate.
● Easy to Clean- This electric flat top grill is fitted with welded splash guards to prevent spillage of grease or food items from splashing on your walls. It comes with a side drawer that collects extra oil and food spills. It has multiple side air vents to dissipate the heat.
● Large Cooking Space– It has a large cooking surface, allowing you to prepare various types of meals simultaneously. Its cooking surface is made with a 0.3-inch (8 mm) thick cast-iron plate. It heats evenly for consistent cooking results.
● Wide Application– The commercial electric griddle is versatile. You can cook all food items on it, such as pancakes, vegetables, fish, steaks, etc.
● Easy Temperature Controls- The electric flat top griddle has a dual temperature control button that allows you to create different cooking zones, allowing you to cook different types of food with varying temperature requirements at the same time.
3. Blackstone 36-Inch Griddle
The Blackstone is a renowned brand with high-quality griddles. The 36-inch griddle is made with high-quality materials to ensure durability and efficiency. The four adjustable burners allow you to cook different meals at once.
Features
● Versatile- The electric commercial grill features a large surface, allowing you to cook various types of meals simultaneously on the same surface without overcrowding.
● Independent Cooking Zones- The griddle has four burners to allow you to cook four different food types. The cooking surface is made with rolled carbon steel, which heats up evenly to prevent uneven heated surfaces.
● Convenient- The Blackstone griddle is large, with a rolled-steel cooktop, adjustable heat zones, and two prep shelves to help you cook everything you want at the same time.
● Double Shelves-The griddle has dual shelves on the sides for holding plates, spices, tongs, and condiments. Also, you can use the shelves as prep stations for food preparation and chopping vegetables.
● A Patented Rear Grease Management System- The commercial flat top grill electric features a rear oil trap for collecting the juices and oils when cooking.
Conclusion
You have learned how to season flat top grill. Proper seasoning of your griddle unlocks several possibilities in the cooking world, such as non-stick and enhanced tastes. Also, it ensures the durability and longevity of your precious griddle.
Don’t forget that seasoning your griddle is an ongoing affair. As discussed above, look for signs to remind you to re-season your griddle.
