Is your Blackstone griddle flaking and peeling? Don’t panic! We’ll show you how to fix it and how to keep it from happening again.
Blackstone griddles are made with top quality materials and they’re incredibly durable.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t need a little love and attention. Like any other cooking surface, the Blackstone needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly. If you don’t take good care of it your food could start sticking or the griddle will start peeling and flaking.
That’s gross. No one wants to see those nasty flakes in their scrambled eggs or fried rice.
What Causes Blackstone Griddle Flaking?
More often than not, Blackstone flaking is caused by improper care and maintenance.
If you fail to clean the surface thoroughly after each use, burnt oils, sugars, and food residue can build up and cause flaking on your Blackstone griddle. Flaking can also be caused by seasoning build up. Remember, when you season your Blackstone you only want to use a very thin layer of oil. Too much oil will result in build up and flaking.
Some people panic when they notice their Blackstone griddle flaking. They mistakenly think the metal surface itself it peeling off, but trust me that’s impossible.
How To Fix Blackstone Flaking
Blackstone flaking is pretty common and its a sign that your griddle needs a deep cleaning to get it back into shape.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting rid of flaking on your flat top. You’ll need a metal scraper, some cooking oil, a grill stone, and lots of paper towels. Heat resistant gloves are also good to prevent accidental burns.
- Turn on your Blackstone and set the heat to high. Once the surface is good and hot, use the metal scraper to remove as much of the flaking as you can.
- Turn off the heat and let it cool down. Then you can wipe off all the dust and debris.
- Add a few tablespoons of cooking oil to the griddle and scrub the entire surface with a grill stone (one of my favorite grill accessories!) or steel wool. Take your time and keep working until you remove all signs of flaking.
- Wipe down the griddle surface with paper towels. Add some more oil and wipe it down again. You may need to use the grill stone again if you missed any spots the first time.
- Keep scrubbing and wiping down with oil until all flaking and debris is gone.
- Season your Blackstone again to create a protective coating and prevent sticking.
Here’s a pic of the oil and grill stone cleaning in process:
How To Strip And Reseason A Blackstone Griddle
If the grill stone and oil method described above doesn’t get the job done, you’ll need to bring out some power tools.
The beauty of the Blackstone is that it’s pretty much never beyond salvaging. No matter how gross, caked on, peeling, or rusty the surface gets…you can bring it back to its former glory by blasting all that gunk away and getting down to the original surface.
I have another article where I go into complete detail on how to strip and re-season a Blackstone griddle step by step. Make sure you check that out if your griddle is in really rough shape.
A power drill or angle grinder with a paint and rust scrapper like this one will make quick work of even the worst Blackstone flaking or rust. Be patient and work the entire surface until all that nasty stuff is gone.
When you’ve gotten most of it cleaned you can use an orbital sander to get those last little bits off.
A pair of safety goggles and a face mask can be handy here because there will be lots of dust kicked up as you go.
It’s a messy and greasy job and you’ll need a shower when you’re done. And be prepared for some sore arms and shoulders!
Once you’re down to the original surface you’ll need to re-season it before you start cooking on your griddle again. Just remember to use just a thin layer of oil or you’ll be sanding it down again before you know it.
- Bbq grill bricks are made of 100% ecological material that is odorless and nontoxic do not absorb the grease and gunk and safe for people, animals, plants and water. It won’t scratch your ceramic tile or metal, these cleaning bricks is your safe solution
- These grill stones are used to remove the BBQ encrusted greases, stains, residues and dirt. They work on stainless steel or cast iron grill grates, and also on flat-top griddles like the Blackstone or Pit Boss. You can also use it on your oven, kitchen utensils, and enameled surfaces
- Lightweight and easy to use. The grill or griddle doesnt even have to be warm! Just gently scrape the surface with the grill stone and watch grease and food residue disappear like magic
- An essential tool for any grill master. Makes a perfect gift or stocking stuffer
- There are no bristles or spikes to break off and get into the food. cleans the grill much easier and more thoroughly than a brush, and you can blow off the dust particles or wipe with a wet paper towel and water after us
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Preventing Blackstone Flaking And Peeling
When your Blackstone is flaking, it usually means you’re not cleaning it correctly or thoroughly. Oil and food residue builds up and then starts peeling away and gets into your food.
To prevent flaking from happening, make sure you clean it thoroughly after each use and season it regularly.
The best way to clean your Blackstone after cooking is to use a scrapper to remove as much gunk as possible. Some warm water will help break up those stubborn spots. Don’t use soap, detergents, or other cleaners. They may be corrosive and they might actually taint the flavor of foods you cook on your flat top.
Use some warm water with a cloth or paper towels to wipe down the surface and get rid of any leftover grease or food residue.
Finally, before you cover your griddle up again, you should add a very thin layer of cooking oil and spread it evenly over the entire surface to prevent sticking when you cook.
Final Thoughts
In a perfect world we’d all clean our Blackstone griddle completely after each use and never have any problems.
But life happens. Sometimes you’re in a rush or you’re lazy and don’t want to clean it right then and there. You may have every intention of giving it a good cleaning but you just never get around to it.
Don’t beat yourself up. It happens to the best of us. The good news is that Blackstone griddle flaking and peeling is easy to fix with some basic tools and a little elbow grease.
Paul Mascaro says
what is the surface that cooking is done on ? Stone ?
Mike Collins says
The Blackstone cooking surface is rolled steel. When you season it with many thin layers of oil it creates a non-stick surface. Over time that wears down or becomes uneven and can start flaking or chipping. The steel itself is fine, just the seasoning needs to be repaired.