How to Clean a Griddle, From Built-In Stovetop Pans to Small Appliances

Maintaining and cleaning the large and small kitchen appliances you rely on daily is part and parcel of being an efficient home cook. That means eradicating those crusty bits of mystery food and build-up that may accumulate on the surface of your stove—including the built-in griddle—or the griddle component of your indoor countertop grill. After all, tackling a dish, be it fish kebobs or a croque monsieur, on a grease-splattered griddle is as unappealing as prepping dinner while staring down a sinkful of brunch dishes. Here's how to make sure those cooking surfaces are spotless.

What Is a Griddle?

Griddles can refer to cast-iron cookware, but the focus here is on another type of griddle: the large flat metal pans that are oftentimes built-in as part of the configuration of a professional-style range or those sold separately as cooktop accessories. They heat up in no time and can accommodate large batches of pancakes and crêpes, along with dishes like seared steak fajitas.

The set-up depends on your range model, but typically, griddles fit across two burners right in the middle of your cooktop. Ranges can also have grates that extend over the burners, with the griddle sitting over the grates. In the case of indoor grills, the griddles are likely interchangeable with grills.

How Often to Clean a Griddle

It's common sense, but needs to be said: Don't let the food matter linger on your griddle. "How often you use your griddle will dictate how often you clean it," says Anna Carl, food science engineer at KitchenAid. She suggests cleaning your griddle regularly—that translates to a light cleanse after each use, followed up with a deep cleanse about once a week or as necessary, depending on usage.

Before Getting Started

The first thing to do is to dig up the owner's manual your appliance came with (it's probably available online if you trashed the original) and find out what your griddle is made of. "Cleaning methods will differ slightly depending on the type of griddle you have. Due to this, griddle owners should always use their owner's manual to determine the best way to clean for their particular material," says Carl.

Before washing dirty, nonstick griddles, Amelia Hensley, director of cooking systems for GE Appliances, says to set aside a few minutes for this key step: "Soak paper towels or a washcloth with soap and water, and let it sit on the griddle to break up food residue," she says. "We recommend starting with 10 minutes and adjusting as needed, as it will also vary depending on how soiled the griddle is."

How to Clean a Nonstick Aluminum Griddle

When using a non-stick aluminum griddle for the first time, rinse it with mild detergent and water and dry it thoroughly.

1. After cooking that mountain of grilled cheese sandwiches, let the griddle cool, then pour off any remaining grease.
2. Wash it in warm, soapy water.
3. If needed, soak it for a few minutes to loosen up stubborn debris, and remove any stuck bits with a non-abrasive plastic scouring pad, a silicone scrubber, or a griddle scraper.

How to Clean a Cast-Iron Griddle

When using your cast-iron griddle for the first time, skip the soap and wash it off with just hot water, then dry it completely. Season the griddle with a light coating of vegetable oil.

1. After cooking, let the griddle cool and drain off grease.
2. Wash it in hot water with a sponge or stiff brush (avoid steel wool and scrubbing pads) and towel dry. Do not use soap, abrasive materials, and cleaning chemicals.
3. Once again, apply vegetable oil or cooking spray.

How to Clean a Chrome-Infused Griddle

As with cast-iron varieties, when cleaning chrome-infused griddles, avoid soap, abrasive materials, and cleaning chemicals. Turn off the burners. If the griddle has cooled down, set the oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and wait 10 or 15 minutes before cleaning (your owner's manual may specify another temperature). Now, get started.

1. Pour one cup of tap water over the dirty griddle and allow the water to drip from back to front.
2. Let it bubble for a few seconds to loosen the grime.
3. Dislodge dirt with a wooden spatula with a non-scratch pad or sponge.
4. If it's still soiled, wrap a kitchen towel around the spatula pad and scrub until it vanishes.
5. Wipe off the surface and remove it from the heat.
6. Once cool, wipe it with a clean, damp towel, then buff it with a microfiber cloth.
7. If your oven model has a drip tray, clean it in the sink with warm, soapy water and replace it.

How to Clean a Small Griddle

Indoor grills and griddles that allow for smokeless, high-heat grilling right on your countertop also require a cleaning protocol. Kaitlyn Hebert, global head of marketing for Ninja Heated & Motorized, notes that the interchangeable grill and griddle plates of some models are removable and non-stick, so they're a cinch to clean. "Indoor grills and griddles should be thoroughly cleaned after each use," she says. Here's how:

1. Unplug the appliance.
2. Wipe the main unit and control panel with a damp cloth.
3. While the lid is dishwasher safe, the grill grate and griddle plates are not.
4. "If residue is stuck on the grill plate or griddle plate, we recommend removing them from the base of the unit and placing them in a sink filled with warm, soapy water, and allow them to soak," says Herbert.
5. Air dry or towel dry.