How to clean your baking sheet
Griddles have made a resurgence in recent years, thanks in large part to the Blackstone brand, and have become a go-to cooking option for many. While these flat-topped cooking tools aren’t new, their ease of use, new features, and lower cost have made the option of cooking almost any meal you want on a flat surface very appealing. It doesn’t matter if you have the best grill out there, there are some things that just can’t be cooked on a griddle, like pancakes.
The material used for the cooking surface is often cast iron, but stainless steel is also quite common. The steps for cleaning the surface of your griddle are largely the same regardless of the material used, but cast iron requires more general maintenance and work to get it ready for use. I’ll cover that process in a future article. For now, let’s clean your griddle from the last meal and get it ready for the next one.
Start with the right tools
The flat surface of a baking tray is ideal for preparing multiple dishes at once, saving you time and washing up.
As with many other tasks, cleaning your griddle is much easier and will be more thorough if you have the right tools. The same goes for cleaning your grill. No matter what you cook on your griddle, there will be residue left behind afterward. So, just like cleaning a grill after use, removing the residue from your previous meal is essential for the safety, flavor, and longevity of your griddle.
There are a few relatively simple tools that you should have on hand if you have a griddle to clean your hob and get it ready for use. To start, you need a good scraper. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and it can just be a good spatula. But I would recommend getting something that is your go-to scraper. I use this Cuisinart tools for my cleaning, but if it’s just a small area I’m cleaning, I use a scraper like this from OXO.
Next, you’ll want to have some cloths on hand to clean your baking sheet. I buy bulk white 100% cotton towels for this purpose and as general purpose rags. You do not want to use colored towels, as the dye can damage the surface of your baking sheet.
Lastly, you’ll need a squeeze bottle, like the ones used for spices at a concession stand. I like to these bottles because of the twist-lock lid to prevent the contents from spilling. Of course, you don’t need this bottle, since you’re only putting water in it, and you could use a regular cup. But these squeeze bottles are great if you need to add some water to your griddle to steam vegetables or rice.
Cleaning things up
A clean and well-seasoned baking tray is ideal for preparing a wide variety of dishes without them sticking.
Once you have removed your meal from the baking sheet, start the cleaning process while the top is still warm. This will help ensure that the food particles are still soft and do not completely stick to the baking sheet surface.
- Using your scraper, push the tool across the surface of the baking sheet with light downward pressure to remove the food particles. Make sure to keep the scraper flat on the surface to avoid scraping the spices off the baking sheet.
- You can push the smaller pieces into the grease separator on the baking tray and throw the larger pieces in the waste bin.
- Now heat the baking surface and pour some water on the hotplate and one of the folded white towels.
- Once the water starts to bubble and steam, place the cloth on the baking sheet and gently scrub it clean with the scraper.
- Turn off the heat and spread a thin layer of your chosen herb oil on your baking sheet. I like to use avocado or grapeseed oil.
Your griddle is now clean and ready for your next meal. While Blackstone may be the most well-known brand when it comes to griddles, there are plenty of other brands that offer these multi-functional cooking appliances. For example, Traeger Flatrock, the brand behind some of the best pellet grills on the market, has a griddle. Regardless of which brand you own, the cleaning process is largely the same. However, it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your griddle before cleaning it.
