Cooking appliances do more than just cook what they are programmed for. One example of this is a grill, there are ways to prolong the life of grills so we will be talking about how to clean a flat top grill.
Flat top grills are one of the most versatile cooking equipment ever. They are fun to use and you get to use up all the areas that it provides so you can cook fast and efficiently.
One benefit of having a flat top grill is that you get to cook in the same appliance with different temperatures. This means that you can sear on one side and warm other foods on the other.
The disadvantage, however, with a flat top grill is that it can take a lot to clean it. It has crevices and hard-to-reach parts that are usually the favorite spot for dirt and leftover food to gather.
The simple solution to this is to make a mixture of different solvents to reach these areas. You can try and scrape them off but it will not clean the flat top grill thoroughly so you need other ways.
It is always a good reminder to keep our workspace clean. Whether you cook for yourself only or for other people, you always need to keep the area clean to be sure that your food is clean too.
Flat top grills are a little tricky because of the corners and sharp angles that cannot be reached by brushes or scrubs. You need to keep those clean so that you can prevent diseases from the food you eat.
You also get to taste other flavors from your past recipes when you do not clean a flat top grill. So in order to avoid all of those, you need to do it properly and follow these steps.
Table of Contents
Deep Clean
This is one of the best ways to clean your flat top grill. Deep clean will bring your flat top grill back to its original status when it was first used, well maybe not but this is close.
This is the most thorough cleaning process that you can do with your flat top grill. You get to remove all the dirt that is stuck in all the tight spaces and remove stains on the booking surface.
This process, however, is not recommended for daily or regular cleaning. It is done when the flat top grill is in really bad shape and you really need to clean it with the utmost attention to detail.
This cleaning process is so thorough that it is able to remove all the seasoning that you have done for a long time. It removes all the oil, food residuals, dust, and other debris from the grill.
That is why it is only done occasionally. Deep cleaning will remove all the oil and other important chemicals so you will need to season the grill again once you are done with the deep cleaning.
Indicators that your Flat Top Grill Needs Deep Cleaning
There are a few indicators that your flat top grill will show when it needs a deep cleaning. You must keep them in mind to avoid over-cleaning and destroying the integrity of the grill.
One is when you see burnt food residuals sticking to the fresh food that you’re cooking. The stuck food on the surface of the grill will burn and remove the non-stick quality of it.
Another thing is the transferring of other flavors to the food. When the flat top grill is overused, chances are there will be some food left on the surface which will stick to the fresh ones.
Aside from the burnt residuals, you also get to taste other flavors on the food that you have just cooked. So it is important to deep clean the flat top even before you get to taste other flavors in your food.
Grease is also a good indicator that the grill needs cleaning. Food will stick pretty easily on the grill if there is a grease build-up, it will be hard to remove just by cleaning it with a scraper.
This will also produce some hot spots on the cooking surface. Therefore, you really need to deep clean the grill if you start to observe even just one of these signs.
There is also the day-to-day cleaning process for a flat top grill which we will be tackling later on in this post. But first, let us start with the deep cleaning process.
Cleaning your Flat Top Grill (Deep Clean)
There are different ways and solutions that you can use to clean a flat top grill. This one, we chose because it is the least-damaging cleaning technique that prevents using too many chemicals.
The Things You’ll Need
– Warm water
– 3 dishcloths
– Griddle scraper
– Griddle scrub holder
– Stainless steel cleaner
– The oil that you use in cooking on the flat top grill
Know the Surface Material
Before you get to cleaning the flat top grill, determine the material that was used in making the cooking surface of the flat top grill as the cleaning method will be different depending on the material.
There are two common types of materials used in making flat top grill cooking surfaces. One is stainless steel and the other is chrome so check with your manufacturer if you are unsure.
Cleaning a Stainless Steel Flat Top Grill
Step 1: Turn Up The Heat
Turn the grill on and let it preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This will cook the food particles left on the cooking surface to a crisp so get the grill nice and hot.
After it heats up to the desired temperature, get your griddle scraper, and get as many food residuals that you can by scraping them off of the cooking surface.
Step 2. Pour the Warm Water
After getting all the charred food residuals, get the warm water to soften the remaining stains. Pour the warm water directly on the cooking surface and let it boil the grease off.
Make sure to use safety gloves because even if you do not touch the hot surface, the steam might still burn you. Use warm water only to prevent damaging the grill from thermal shock.
Step 3: Scrubbing
Once the cooking surface has cooled off a little bit, set up the griddle scrub to the holder and screen. Scrub the surface and try to get rid of all the stains on the cooking surface and sides of the grill.
Rinse the surface with slightly warm water and then let it dry. You can also wipe it with the dishcloth that you have to avoid leaving watermarks on the surface of the grill.
Step 4: Apply Stainless Steel Cleaner
Get the clean dishcloth and then apply the stainless steel cleaner on the cloth. Make sure the surface is wiped dry and clean before applying the stainless steel cleaner on the grill.
Let the grill sit for a while and then season it again with oil before cooking on it again.
Cleaning A Chrome Flat Top Grill
This kind of flat top grill is commonly used in commercial kitchens or restaurants. If you have a high-end flat top grill, chances are its cooking surface is also made with chrome.
You also do not need the scrub in this cleaning process. Instead, use a griddle brush, a less abrasive cleaning tool for the chrome surface.
Step 1: Turn Up The Heat
Just like the stainless steel cooking surface, you need to heat up the chrome surface to burn the food residuals to a crisp. This will slightly lift them off of the grill for scraping.
So get your griddle scraper and then try and remove as many food residuals as you can. You can also start removing the excess grease that has built up on the cooking surface.
Step 2: Pour Warm Water
Pour the warm water on the chrome cooking surface and then use the less abrasive griddle brush to get rid of the grease and other debris that are stuck on the grill.
Some dirt and debris will be a little more stubborn than the others. So repeat the process by pouring warm water and then brush again until the grill is thoroughly cleaned.
Step 3: Polish
Let the grill cool down and then wipe it dry. Use a food-safe polish and apply it using a dishcloth, make sure to also use a polish that is non-abrasive.
Remove the polish by the end and then season the grill once again with the type of oil that you usually use with the flat top grill.
Routine Cleaning
While the deep clean is the most thorough kind of cleaning, you do not need to do that all the time. However, there are daily cleaning techniques that you can do to prolong the life of the flat top grill.
By following these simple steps, you can avoid deep cleaning the grill frequently. These steps can be done after every use of the grill.
Scrape
After each use, make sure that you get the griddle scraper and remove all the food residuals on the grill. Remove the grease and other stains that you can to avoid build-up.
This will keep the surface like a brand new grill. This way, the food, grease, and debris will not build on top of each other and create a bulk of dirt that will be harder to clean.
Rinse
Spray a little bit of water after the flat top grill cools down. This will loosen up the dirt on the cooking surface so they can be wiped off easily, give it a good rinse, and then wipe with a clean cloth.
Seasoning
This is completely optional and you can do it as frequently or occasionally as you want. Seasoning the grill can be done after every use or after ever deep clean, it’s up to you.
Conclusion
Cleaning a flat top grill is only half the challenge. You need to maintain the cleanliness and integrity of the cooking surface in order to prolong the life of your grill.
With the simple steps presented above, you can be sure that your grill will be as clean and as good as new when you are done cleaning. Just make sure to use the right tools.
Determine the cooking surface of your grill before deep cleaning to prevent using the wrong methods and materials that might eventually damage the grill.
Follow the steps above and your flat top grill will be shining like a brand new grill when you are done cleaning!
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