So, you just got a new flat top griddle. Congrats! You’re about to embark on a backyard cooking journey that you’ve never experienced before. (Unless, of course you’ve had a flat top griddle before.) This is one the most fun ways to cook, and a properly seasoned griddle is one of the most versatile cookers that you can have in your arsenal. Before you start cooking, set yourself up for success and learn how to season your flat top grill. It only takes about an hour or two, and makes a huge difference!
When you first get your flat top griddle, you might be anxious to grab your spatula and start perfecting your skills that you’ve seen at the Japanese steakhouse for years, however this is an important step that is completely necessary to give you a great cooking experience for years to come!
Seasoning your griddle with give you a naturally non-stick surface, and will extend the cooking life of your griddle. Simply put, you’re adding a layer of protection on top of your griddle.
Think of your flat top griddle the exact same way as you think about a cast iron pan. It needs to be seasoned, then maintained and you’ll have a long, long time using it.
Why do you need to season a flat top grill?
When you perform the seasoning process, sometimes called “burn in,” you’re accomplishing a couple things.
First and foremost, you’re burning off any of the oils that are left from the manufacturing and shipping process. When your new griddle leaves the factory, it is left with a protective layer that ensures that no matter what environment the flat top griddle is in along the way, it gets to you in pristine condition. While those are great for making sure there’s no rust. You don’t want it on your food – so you burn it off.
Next, you’re creating a non-stick barrier on top of your flat top griddle by “cooking in” multiple thin layers of oil that are forming a polymer bond on the surface that will last for years to come with proper maintenance.
I promise - it's a simple process and breaking in your griddle top will save you lots of time down the road. It's worth it!
Equipment
To season your flat top grill, you will need:
- Paper towels
- Tongs
- Vegetable oil (or a cooking oil with a high smoke point, like canola oil or avocado oil)
Some companies sell products to season flat top grills, like the Blackstone Griddle Seasoning. Although you absolutely can splurge on a product like this, it's not necessary.
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How to Season a Flat Top Grill for the First Time
The process for this is pretty straightforward and simple. Heat. Oil. Wipe. Repeat.
Heat
- When you’ve gotten your items ready, turn your flat top griddle grill on to the highest setting possible. Mine has a Sear setting which is past 500F on the dial. Let that run for about 15 minutes at the highest temperature setting possible.
- Remember when I said you were going to be burning off oils? You’ll smell it. It’s ok – this is all part of the process. Make sure you’re in a well ventilated area (even if it’s not where your normal cooking spot is going to be.) It may be a strong smell that comes off. That’s good and what we want. It’ll go away after 15-20 minutes.
- Once the first 15 minutes passes, make sure your temperature of your flat top griddle is over 450F. Yes, I know I said that I set it over 500F – once it hits 450F you’re ready to go. The temperature will continue to increase, that’s ok.
Oil
- Now that the temp is up, and the initial burn in process has happened, it’s time to add a thin layer of oil to your flat top griddle, I prefer vegetable oil. It’s easy to come by, and inexpensive. Most importantly though it’s got a high smoke point of around 450F. This is important because you want the oil to be able to withstand the heat to a high level to allow the bonds to form and not burn off.
Wipe
- Now that you’ve gotten your layer of oil on the flat top griddle, using tongs, wipe the griddle down with a clean paper towel. This is important because you want a very thin layer of oil without any pooling or heavy spots of oil. Be sure to not only wipe down the cooking surface, but also the edges, and outside of the lip as well. Rust forms there too – and we want to make sure that the entire surface is protected.
- You should have a bunch of smoke that’s being produced at this point – that’s perfect! We want to leave it on the high temperature, and let it burn until it stops smoking. When it’s done smoking, it’s time to repeat the process. Oil, wipe, smoke, repeat.
Repeat
- Repeat this process between 3-5 times until your flat top griddle is a nice dark black surface. You’ll notice this start happening first over the burners, then it’ll start to spread further out. It’ll start with a brownish color as shown below then will continue darkening. This is normal, and perfect.
Once you’ve repeated your process for a few times, and your surface has turned dark black over the majority of it, you’re ready to go.
As shown below – don’t worry if your ENTIRE surface doesn’t turn black right away. Specifically around the outside. This will darken over time as grease is cooked on the surface.
Now that you’ve gotten a perfectly seasoned flat top griddle, grab your bacon and eggs, it’s time to cook!
How often do you need to season your grill?
The good news is that the full seasoning process doesn't have to happen that often.
I do recommend using a similar method after each use though, just like cleaning cast iron.
After cleaning off the grill after cooking, crank up the heat, add a little oil to the center of the grill, spread it around, and let burn off for about 10-15 minutes.
After that, use a paper towel (and tongs) to wipe down the surface of your griddle until you have a thin coat of oil over the entire thing. Let it cool and it will be ready-to-go the next time you want to cook.
FAQs
What is the best oil for seasoning a griddle plate?
Since you're working at such a high heat, it's crucial to use high smoke point oils. Just imagine how butter would handle this process. It would brown and burn right away, leaving a brown residue on the grill. There are lots of oils you can use, but make sure it can tolerate being heated around 450F. This includes avocado oil, clarified butter, coconut oil, corn or peanut oil, and more. Just check the smoke point of the oil before you use it.
Do you need to wash your Blackstone before seasoning?
It is certainly not a bad idea to clean the griddle surface with warm soapy water before the initial seasoning. Just make sure you rinse it off with clean water and let it dry completely first.
Do you have to season a flat top grill before using?
Although some people don't, you're really putting the functionality of your grill on the line. Without seasoning, you're more likely to deal with foods sticking and potential rust. It's a very simple process that makes the grill easier to use and last longer. Again, it's similar to prepping cast-iron skillets.
The more they are seasoned, the more nonstick and durable they are long-term. This is a crucial step (and a simple one!) that will help you grill stand the test of time.
Recipes to Try on Your Flat Top Grill
Let's get cooking!
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How to Season a Flat Top Grill
Equipment
- Flat top grill like a Blackstone or LoCo Cooker
Materials
- Tongs
- Paper towels
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Wipe flat top griddle clean with a paper towel or soft cloth to remove any surface objects
- Turn heat on as high as possible, and let it burn for 15 minutes
- Lay down a thin layer of vegetable oil and using a set of tongs and paper towel, spread oil out into a thin layer all over including the edges and outside of the griddle. You should now be seeing smoke coming off the griddle.
- When smoke stops, (roughly 20 minutes) repeat process above
- Repeat 3 more times, for a total of 4 times until your cooking surface turns black over the majority of the cooking surface.
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