So you’ve decided you’re ready to join the grilling craze that’s taken over outdoor cooking in recent years — great choice. Grills from brands like Blackstone have become incredibly popular, and for good reason. These heavy-duty cooking tools offer everything from high-heat searing to a large cooking surface for a big breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, hash browns, and more.
Although baking sheets are known for their sturdiness and the fact that they can withstand a little more beating than many other baking sheets, top grills at the market, you still need to do a few things to keep it maintained and ready to cook. Before you can even cook your first smashed burger, you need to season it properly. No, I don’t mean salt and pepper. Let me explain.
Be prepared
For the best cooking surface on your griddle, make sure you grease it well with heat-resistant oil.
The vast majority of griddles use a cast iron top, and while this material is a fantastic choice for cooking, it does require a bit more work to maintain than other cookware. Just as you would season a cast iron skillet, you should do the same for your griddle.
Essentially, the seasoning process transfers the properties of oil into the metal itself. This creates a non-stick surface that is highly durable and excellent for cooking all kinds of meals. The supplies you need to season your griddle are small and relatively simple: oil and paper towels.
For convenience, you can purchase ready-made herb oils for your baking sheet.
Ideally you want an oil with a high smoke temperature. I started using pure grape seed oilbut I have also used flaxseed oil and avocado oil in the past. There are also oils that are meant for seasoning, like this one from Black stonebut they can be pricey and work just as well as the oils I listed. For example, the grapeseed oil in the photo above cost me about $6 for over 16 ounces, while the brand name version costs $10 for 6.5 ounces.
It is recommended to use the oils above, you can use regular olive oil or vegetable oil if necessary. The problem with these oils is that due to a lower smoking temperature, food can stick or get a burnt taste. These oils are fine to use for cooking, but they are not ideal for seasoning.
How to season your baking sheet
A clean and well-seasoned baking tray is ideal for preparing a wide variety of dishes without them sticking.
Seasoning your griddle isn’t a difficult task, but it does take some time. Before you even begin seasoning, whether it’s the first time you’ve seasoned your griddle or you’re re-seasoning it, you need to start with a clean surface. If you don’t clean it, you’re introducing contaminants into the metal, which is not good for a good cooking experience and can shorten the life of your griddle.
- Clean the surface of your baking sheet and make sure it is dry.
- Pour in enough oil to form an even, thin layer on the baking sheet surface.
- Brush the entire cooking surface with the oil of your choice, using a piece of kitchen paper.
- Place the baking sheet over medium heat.
- The oil will begin to smoke. When the smoke stops, usually after 20 to 30 minutes, turn off the griddle.
- Once it has cooled, repeat steps 2 through 5 two to three more times.
Clean the griddle and grease it with oil. Heat it until it stops smoking. Then repeat the process.
By coating the metal in oil and then heating it, the pores in the metal open up and the hot oil can penetrate the surface. As the oil burns and you repeat the process, you fill all the pores of the metal. That will harden with the metal for a delicious non-stick experience.
When it’s done, the goal is to have an evenly colored griddle that’s a deep brown, almost black. When it’s time to cook on your griddle, simply add a little oil to the top and whatever you’re cooking will all end up on your plate and nothing will be left on the griddle. Just make sure to clean your griddle just like you would clean your grill, because that needs to be cleaned too, and maybe apply a light coat of oil if you’ve had a particularly heavy meal on it so it’s ready for your next meal.
There are plenty of options for different grilling tools, smart meat thermometers, pre-made oils for seasoning, and more, but you don’t necessarily have to use any of those things. As I mentioned above, you can get more bang for your buck if you only get what you need. Those grilling accessories can take your cooking skills to the next level, allowing you to create more advanced recipes. To help you get started, here are five grilling tips to make that next meal outdoors your best ever.
