You can use an electric griddle to make eggs, hamburgers, pancakes, bacon, and many more at home. An electric griddle takes little space on your countertop. They consume less energy when compared to an oven or cooking stove. It is very important to ensure that the surface of your electric griddle is clean. This helps to avoid using your energy trying to clean off the burned debris and grease.
Cleaning an electric griddle does not need to be sophisticated. Most electric griddles are similar and they all follow the same basic cleaning rules. If you want to maintain an electric griddle, ensure that you preserve the cooking surface by regularly cleaning it using the correct tools.
Here are step-by-step instructions you can follow when cleaning your electric griddle to get the best results:
- After purchasing an electric griddle, ensure that you clean it before using it. You can use soapy water, rinse it, and dry it.
- Do not get the electric controls wet and do not use cleaning products. It is wrong to place your electric griddle in the dishwasher.
- When wiping food, ensure that you use nylon, wooden, or plastic utensils. Metal utensils should not be used because they scratch and damage the non-stick coating on the electric griddle. Excess oil can be removed using a paper towel.
- Ensure that the electric griddle is cleaned after every use. However, cleaning should commence after the surface has cooled down. Initially, use a non-abrasive kitchen sponge and water, which is enough to clean an electric griddle.
Here are four methods that you can use when you want to clean your electric griddle:
Method One: A Sponge and Hot Soapy Water
Dish soap and very hot water will help cut through the grease. A soft sponge scrub will also help prevent damaging your plates.
The required tools include:
- Hot water
- Dish soap
- Paper towels
- Sponge
- Dry cloths
The following steps should be followed:
- Disconnect your electric griddle from the source of power to facilitate cooling and prevent shocks and burning yourself when cleaning. An electric griddle can become extremely hot and thus can lead to severe burns. Give your electric griddle about 15 t0 20 minutes to cool.
- Use a paper towel to wipe the cooking oil. Lightly rub the surface of your griddle plates to remove as much debris as you can. You may need several paper towels to remove the grease.
- Remove the drip tray and wash it using hot water and dish soap before you allow it to dry
- Run a small amount of hot water onto the surface of your griddle and add a few drops of dish soap to help cutting through the grease and any debris
- Use your sponge and rub at the surface of the griddle to remove stuck-on food particles before dumping the dirty water out. You can use clean water to rinse the griddle surface
- Get a clean cloth and dry the griddle thoroughly. Ensure that all corners and crevices are also thoroughly dried up
- Clean the sponge before adding more hot water and soap dish to the griddle to clean it for the second time. Once it is all clean, rinse the griddle before drying it
- Ensure that there are no soap residues on the griddle as this can lead to problems in future
- Ensure that your griddle sits for hours to dry before using it again
Method Two: Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda can be used to make a cleaning paste. The bubbles formed with the combination will help lift any food particles that will get stuck on the plates of your electric griddle.
The tools required include:
- White Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Hot soapy water
- Sponge
The following steps should be followed:
- As usual, unplug your electric griddle from the power source and allow it to cool for 15 to 20 minutes
- Get your sponge and clean the griddle surface while applying pressure on stubborn or burnt surfaces
- Mix one cup of vinegar into two cups of water before dipping your sponge in the mixture. Wring it out and wipe the grease off the plates. It is important to ensure that your electrical parts are not exposed to the solution as they can be damaged
- Make a paste using baking soda and warm water to help remove stubborn grease. You will require a paper towel to gently wipe the grease and baking soda off the griddle surface
- Rinse out the sponge to get rid of any traces of vinegar or baking soda. Clean any drips on the sides and allow it to air dry for a few hours
If your griddle is outfitted with a griddle surface that can be lifted, remove it to make the process easier. After removing, fill your sink with hot soapy water and soak it for 15 minutes
Method Three: Use a Spatula
If your electric griddle has a lot of hardened residues, you will be required to take direct measures to remove the layers before cleaning the underneath. Failure to do this will result in having a greasy mess that will be a nightmare to clean.
The tools required include:
- Metal spatula
- Sponge
- Dish soap
- Hot water
- Heat resistant gloves
- Clean cloth
- Clothing protection
The following steps should be followed:
- Turn your electric griddle on the low setting and allow the grease to heat up. This helps to loosen the layers of grease
- Take the metal spatula and use the flat-head to gently scrape off the grease. Ensure that you have worn heat-resistant gloves to avoid grease burns and a clothing protection
- After removing the excess grease, safely turn off your griddle before unplugging and allow it to cool for 15 to 20 minutes
- If you notice hard grease forming again, get hot water and soap solution and pour on the electric griddle. Let is stand for 30 minutes before scrubbing with a sponge
- Get rid of excess water and use a clean cloth to wipe the surface. Remove the drip tray and get rid of soapy water or grease. Dump it out and wash it thoroughly and allow it to dry before putting it on the griddle
- Soak a clean cloth in cold water before running it over the surface of the griddle to remove any marks. This step can be repeated twice or thrice to make your griddle shine
Method Four: Using a Grease-cutting Soap and a Degreaser
Using a high grade degreaser with a grease-cutting soap is also essential when cleaning an electric griddle.
The tools required include:
- Dish soap
- Degreaser
- Warm water
- Paper towels
- Nylon scrubber
The following steps should be followed:
- Unplug your electric griddle and allow it to cool for 15 to 20 minutes
- Add a light layer of degreaser to your electric griddle. This helps to lift some grease before wiping
- Remove your drip tray, dump the contents, and clean it to avoid a mess. Fill your bucket or sink with warm water and add the grease-cutting soap to make your cleaning mixture
- Partially submerge your griddle into the mixture and soak it for 15 minutes. Make sure that your connecting port is out of the water
- Use a nylon scrubber to wipe the surface of the electric griddle. You will notice food particles sliding off the electric griddle
- Wipe the outside to get rid of food and drips before getting a clean towel to wipe the exterior and the interior of the electric griddle
An important thing to note is that water should not get to the connector port regardless of the method you choose to use to clean your electric griddle.
How do I get the residue off my electric griddle?
If there is still residue, you can use a light abrasive. Additionally, you can use baking powder and water to attain a natural and safe peeling for the electric griddle. Rub with a normal cleaning pad or a fine nylon cleaning pad. Scouring detergents and steel wool should never be used because they damage the surface of your electric griddle.
How to clean a burnt electric griddle
- While the griddle is hot, scrape the surface clean of grease and food debris buildup.
- Pour warm water and scrub using a palmetto brush.
- Do not use abrasives.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
- Allow the surface to cool and dry off
How to clean a new electric griddle
- Use dish soap and warm water to create a water mixture for cleaning
- Use a sponge to rinse the griddle plates. Make sure that water does not get to any electric controls
- Use a clean cloth to dip in clean cold water and wipe off. This helps to ensure that any soap residue is eliminated and also makes your griddle shiny
- Wipe off any water and allow it to air dry
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