How To Clean an Electric Griddle the Right Way

If you love electric griddles because of their versatility and ease of use, you’re not alone. And while it’s fairly easy to clean one of these devices, not everyone knows how to do this. While it may seem simple, if you do even one step incorrectly, it could ruin the griddle and render it useless.

Let’s take a look at some important tips you need to remember when cleaning your electric griddle.

Pancakes cooking on electric griddle that owner will need to clean
An electric griddle is great for making a pancake breakfast!

First Things First

The first thing you should do when you bring a new griddle home is give it a good cleaning. After all, it has been touched and handled by lots of people in the store or warehouse by that point, so even if you buy it online, it will need a good cleaning.

To do this, wash the griddle well in warm soapy water, but make sure none of the water or soap gets to any of the electric parts or knobs. After it’s rinsed well, let it air dry in a draining rack.

Keep in mind that these griddles have a non-stick coating, so you should never use any type of abrasive scrubbing pad on them. That will scratch the surface and cause permanent damage, which can affect the way it sticks from then on and possibly impact the way the food tastes. There are some very fine scrubbing pads that won’t scratch the surface, but you have to make sure you’re using the right type, or the scrubbing pad will ruin the griddle surface.

To be on the safe side, always clean your griddle with something other than a scrubbing pad.

Clean After Each Use

You’ll also have to clean your griddle after each time you use it. The best way to do this is to rinse it well with warm water. If you need to remove stuck-on food, there are several ways to do it:

  • Spray the surface of the griddle with a mixture of water and white vinegar, then let it sit for five minutes. Afterward, the food should be soft enough to remove using a rag or dish towel.
  • Pour a little kosher salt onto the surface of the griddle, then add a tiny bit of water to make a paste. Let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub it with either a soft brush or dish towel to remove the bits of food.
  • Pour some cooking oil on the griddle and turn the heat up to a medium-high setting. Let it sit for five minutes, then wipe up any excess grease with a paper towel and remove the food bits with a dish towel.
  • Mix baking soda and water to make a paste, then rub that onto the surface of the griddle. Keep scrubbing until the food bits are removed.
Pancakes and bacon cooking on electric griddle that owner will have to clean
With good maintenance, your electric griddle can last for a long time.

The most important thing you can do is make sure you clean and rinse the griddle with hot water after each use. If you do this every time, the food won’t have a chance to build up on the surface, and it will be easier to clean in the future.

Griddle-Cleaning Tips to Remember

An electric griddle can be a miracle worker in the kitchen but needs to be kept clean in order to work properly.

  • Before you clean your griddle, make sure it has cooled down and is no longer warm. This usually takes about 30 minutes, but it’s an important part of the cleaning process.
  • If you can, try hanging the plates on hooks in your kitchen or placing them face down on a towel until they dry completely.
  • If you dry your griddle by hand instead of letting it air dry, always use a cotton towel. These towels are softer and more absorbent and therefore cut down on your drying time.
  • Never use a metal utensil to cook with or to remove bits of food. Instead, use utensils made out of nylon, wood, or even plastic, which are safe and won’t scratch the surface of your griddle.

Cooking with an electric griddle is safe, efficient, and fun, but you must keep it clean for it to work right and last.