Thanks to their space-saving nature, electric griddles are increasingly becoming a most sought-after cookware in modern kitchens. They make it possible for anyone, especially those who are short on kitchen space, to include paninis, pancakes, and a variety of grilled meats in their everyday meals.
Naturally, you need to keep your griddle in excellent shape to enjoy the convenience it offers for a long time. Luckily, most modern varieties are easy to clean, with some being as dishwasher friendly as the rest of your utensils.
However, before you plonk your electric skillet in the dishwasher, be sure that it’s marked as dishwasher safe. Such information is readily available from the user’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.
Read on for a detailed tutorial on how to clean an electrical griddle. You have a choice of different cleaning methods depending on the make and model of your skillet and the kind of stains and dirt you’re up against.
Use A Dishwashing Machine
If you are keen to avoid a messy cleanup process, be sure to buy a dishwasher friendly electric griddle. Naturally, this is the easiest way to clean such cookware.
- Turn off the cooking unit and allow it to cool down for a while.
- Once the griddle is cool to touch, disconnect the power supply cord and detach the heat control unit. Detach the handles if your griddle comes with removable handles.
- Remove any food debris on the cooking surface with a plastic spoon or a wooden spatula.
- Chuck the entire griddle base into the dishwasher alongside the other dishes.
- Remove from the washer and towel it dry. Then leave it in an open space for a while before stowing it away until the next cooking session.
Hand Washing Your Electrical Griddle
If your electric skillet isn’t dishwasher friendly, you need to clean it by hand. Luckily, you can make a cakewalk out of this process and safeguard the lifespan of your expensive cookware.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Dishwashing solution
- Paper towels
- Sponge hot water
- Clean rags
How To Clean Electric Griddle
- Unplug your griddle from the electrical outlet and leave it to cool down for a while.
- Use the paper towels to mop up any residual cooking oil from the cooking surface. Dab away as much oil as you can.
- Spray a little dishwashing liquid on the cooking surface followed by some of the hot water.
- Use the cleaning sponge to clear out any food particles and gunk stuck on the cooking surface. Scrub only as much as you need to dislodge any food particles.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the cooking surface if free of food particles.
- Rinse the cleaning sponge in clean water and wipe off the cooking surface until there’s no trace of the soap. You might have to repeat this process a few times until the cleaning sponge stops foaming.
- Wipe down the entire griddle with a dry cloth or paper towels.
- Leave the griddle to air dry in an open space such as a kitchen counter for a little while. Be sure that the skillet is completely dried out before plugging it into an electric outlet.
Removing Hardened Grease
If you don’t clean your electric griddle soon after using it, the grease and food particles from your culinary adventures will solidify and harden. That call for some extra cleaning effort but it’s still easy to pull off.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Cleaning sponge
- A flat-headed spatula
- Heat resistant gloves
- Clean rags
- Warm soapy water
How To Remove Hardened Grease From a Griddle
- Switch on the griddle and set it to low heat to melt the hardened grease.
- Put on the heat resistant gloves then use the flat-headed spatula to scrape off the now melting grease off the cooking surface. Take care not to handle any of the griddle’s hot surfaces with your bare hands.
- Switch off the griddle after all the hardened grease has melted and loosened.
- Dip the sponge in the warm water solution and clean away all of the remaining grease.
- Rinse the sponge with clean water and wipe down the cooking surface until all soap residue is gone.
Removing Heating Element Discoloration
After continued use, the nonstick surface over the heating element tends to darken, giving your griddle an unsightly look. These discolorations are removable so don’t chuck your electric griddle into the trash can just yet.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Commercial grade cleaner such as Dip-it destainer
- A cup of hot water
- Rubber gloves
- Cleaning pad
Cleaning A Discolored Griddle
- Ensure that the grease drain tray in place in the griddle the preheat the skillet to 225 degrees Celsius.
- Dissolve a tablespoon of the cleaning liquid in a cupful of hot water.
- Put on the rubber gloves and sprinkle some of the hot water solution on the cleaning pad and sponge the cooking surface.
- Keep sponging the griddle until you’re out of hot water solution.
- Turn off the griddle and leave it until it cools down.
- After the griddle is cool to touch, wash it with soapy hot water then leave it to dry.
- After the griddle dries, season the cooking surface with a little cooking oil.
Tips For Cleaning Stubborn Stains From Your Electric Griddle
The last thing you want is to resort to using abrasive scrubbers or steel wool when you’re battling stubborn stains on your griddle. That will only succeed in ruining the cooking surface, especially when it’s coated with a nonstick layer. Here are some proven ways to battle stubborn stains on an electric skillet.
- Water and vinegar: A solution of two parts water and one-part white vinegar is an excellent substitute if you don’t have dishwashing liquid handy. Apply the mixture on the cooking surface and leave it to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. That lets the solution seep into hardened food and grease mixtures. Scrub off the debris with a sponge then rinse off the vinegar-water solution with clean water. Wipe the griddle dry with a clean cloth.
- Baking soda and water: First, clean the griddle with some hot soapy water to reveal the stubborn stains. Dissolve some baking soda in water to form a paste and then apply it generously to the griddle’s cooking surface. Leave the paste on the skillet for up to half an hour or longer. Wipe it off with a wet sponge. Repeat the process until you’ve wiped off all traces of the baking soda.
Proper cleaning is essential to increase the lifespan of this handy and convenient cookware. This guide shows you how to clean electric griddle and leave it sparkling even when it’s riddled with stubborn stains. Now you can ensure that your griddle will serve you for many years to come.
