{"id":1323,"date":"2022-06-09T07:06:02","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T11:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freshairchef.com\/?p=1323"},"modified":"2023-07-03T10:27:54","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T14:27:54","slug":"common-problems-with-blackstone-griddles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freshairchef.com\/common-problems-with-blackstone-griddles\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Problems With Blackstone Griddles (And How To Fix and Prevent Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Blackstone griddles are some of the most popular on the market today. They’re durable and affordable and cook food evenly and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, like all products, they can have their problems. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common issues people have with Blackstone griddles-from sticking food to the griddle surface, griddle top warping, rusting, or lack of heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don’t worry, we also have solutions for each of these problems so that you can continue to enjoy your delicious grilled foods!<\/p>\n\n\n
If your Blackstone griddle is starting to rust<\/a><\/strong>, don’t worry, this is a common issue that is affecting pretty much all griddles with cold-rolled steel flattops.<\/p>\n\n\n Rust can occur for a few reasons, but the most common is simply exposure to moisture. When water or even air moisture comes into contact with the cold-rolled steel surface<\/a><\/strong>, it can cause rust to form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the reasons your Blackstone griddle might be rusting<\/a><\/strong> is that you’re not properly seasoning it. Seasoning your griddle<\/a><\/strong> is important because it creates a barrier between the metal and the food you’ll be cooking. This barrier not only acts as sort of a non-stick surface, but it also protects the metal from moisture and other elements that can cause rust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with proper seasoning, rust can still occur over time if your griddle isn’t properly cared for or stored. For example, if you leave your griddle outside<\/a><\/strong>, even when it’s not in use, it can rust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To prevent rust, make sure you’re cleaning your griddle after every use. After cleanup, don’t forget to season your griddle. You don’t need to season it like when you first got it, but a light coating will help keep the surface protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice any rust starting to form, make sure you remove it immediately. Otherwise, the rust will continue to spread and will be even more annoying to remove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an ideal world, you wouldn’t store your griddle outside<\/a><\/strong> at all, but if you must, make sure it’s covered. A combination of softcover and hardcover is best, but even a tarp or plastic cover will do.<\/p>\n\n\n If your griddle is already rusting, don’t despair, there are a few things you can do to get your griddle looking like new again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, you cannot fix rust. You can clean rust off a griddle<\/a><\/strong> and try to better prevent it from reappearing in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To remove rust, you can use several different tools, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the griddle is heavily rusted with pieces of rust flaking off, you can heat up the griddle to make the rust easier to remove. Let it cool down afterward and scrape off the rust with a scraper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you’ve removed all the rust, make sure to season your griddle again before cooking on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more: Are Blackstone Griddles Made in the USA?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Flaking or peeling is another common issue with not only Blackstone griddles. It is again very easy to fix and nothing to be worried about. Your griddle is certainly not ruined.<\/p>\n\n\n The stuff that’s flaking away is the seasoning, and it’s likely due to improper seasoning or harsh cleaning. If you didn’t season your griddle correctly when you first got it, the seasoning will be weaker and more prone to flaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you use harsh chemicals or scrub too hard when cleaning your griddle, it can also remove or damage the seasoning, causing it to flake off.<\/p>\n\n\n To stop your griddle from flaking, make sure you’re seasoning it properly after every use. When you first season your griddle, make sure to use appropriate cooking oil such as avocado or coconut oil, and coat the entire surface of the flat top.<\/p>\n\n\n First, make sure it actually needs to be fixed. If only a small amount of the seasoning has flaked off and the rest is staying in place, you may get away with just seasoning it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To test that, you can try scraping the seasoning with your fingernail. If it scrapes off easily, it definitely needs to be fixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a large amount of the seasoning has flaked off or it keeps flaking off, you’ll need to remove the rest of it and start from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, removing the seasoning is easy enough. The easiest way is just to heat up the griddle and scrape the seasoning off with a metal scraper. Some bits may be stubborn though. Steelwool or chain mail scrubber can help with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t forget that you’ll need to season your griddle again after removing the seasoning.<\/p>\n\n\n Warping is not an uncommon sight when it comes to flattops, and it’s not just Blackstone griddles that are susceptible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A warped griddle<\/a><\/strong> is when the surface is no longer flat, which can make cooking on it more difficult because all the fluids will run to one side. Most of the time, the warping is minor and doesn’t affect the performance of the griddle too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One important thing<\/strong> – Sometimes it may happen that the griddle you bought might have been warped from the start. For example, someone did a poor welding job at the factory. In that case, you should return the griddle or contact Blackstone support and they will help you. Don’t try to flatten the warped griddle top.<\/p>\n\n\n Warping is often caused by exposure to extreme heat or by extreme temperature changes. Griddle tops are made of steel, which is an iron alloy that expands when heated and contracts when cooled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you heat up your griddle too quickly or to too high of a temperature, it can cause the steel to expand unevenly, causing the surface to warp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conversely, if you cool your griddle too quickly or expose it to extreme cold, it can cause the steel to contract unevenly and warp too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can happen for example when you throw frozen food on a sizzling hot griddle. However, you’d have to put large amounts of frozen food on a hot griddle for this to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n To prevent your griddle from warping, make sure to heat it up gradually. Also, avoid heating the griddle to too high of a temperature. Sure, some of the Blackstone griddles can reach up to almost 600 degrees Fahrenheit or over 300 degrees Celsius. But do you really need that kind of temperature?<\/p>\n\n\n\n When cooking frozen food such as frozen pizza<\/a><\/strong>, try to avoid putting large amounts of frozen food on a hot griddle all at once. A couple of frozen burgers at once won’t harm the griddle, so there’s no need to get scared. It’s better to start cooking on lower heat and then turn up the heat as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your griddle has multiple burners, make sure to use them all when cooking. This will help distribute the heat more evenly, which will prevent warping.<\/p>\n\n\n Slightly warped griddles are not a big deal and can still be used without any problems. However, if the warping is severe, it can make cooking difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, once a griddle is badly warped, there’s usually not much you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n You’ve been looking forward to cooking up<\/a><\/strong> a delicious lunch on your new Blackstone griddle all week, but when you try to turn it on, nothing happens. Or, you turn it on and it doesn’t get hot enough<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several things can cause a Blackstone griddle to not heat up properly or not get hot at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your Blackstone griddle is not getting hot enough, there are a few things you can try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, make sure that all the burners are turned on. If only one or two burners are turned on, it will be more difficult to reach high temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, check that all the griddle components are working as they should. This includes the regulator, igniter, and air valve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If everything is in order, you can increase the griddle temperature by using a proper griddle lid. This will help trap the heat and make it easier to reach high temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In windy conditions, it’s best to use a windshield which will help prevent the wind from blowing out the flame and will also help keep the heat from escaping.<\/p>\n\n\n Yes, I get it. No one likes dealing with stuck-on food. It’s a pain to clean and it can ruin your perfectly good meal.<\/p>\n\n\n The number one reason why food sticks to a Blackstone griddle<\/a><\/strong> is because the cooking surface is not properly seasoned. Seasoning your griddle will create a non-stick surface that will make it much easier to cook on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that food high in sugar content is more likely to stick to the griddle. This is because sugar caramelizes when heated and can create a sticky mess. Apart from using more oil<\/a><\/strong> or grease, there’s not much you can do to prevent this from happening. Luckily, the sticky residue is usually easy to remove either with a scraper or by de-glazing the griddle with a bit of water from a squeeze bottle<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n Cold-rolled steel griddles have to be seasoned. Some of them come preseasoned from the factory, but it’s not the case with Blackstone griddles. All their outdoor gas griddles have to be seasoned by the user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If done properly, the seasoning process will create sort of a non-stick surface. It may not be 100% effective during the first few uses, but it will get better with time once the layer starts building up.<\/p>\n\n\n If your Blackstone griddle’s cooking top is not smooth and showing signs of wear, it’s usually nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the time, the scratches that may appear on the surface are just in the seasoning layer and will not affect the performance too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dealing with scratches in the seasoning layer is quite easy and quick. Just season the griddle like you would after each use, and the scratches will quickly disappear. If they are deeper, it may take a couple of rounds of seasoning to fix them, but even the first repairing coat should prevent the food from sticking to the scratched areas too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I will be repeating myself but if you received a new griddle that is badly scratched<\/a><\/strong> or dented, you should return it or contact the support. Although scratches and small dents and chips are not a big deal and the seasoning process may make them disappear, that is not an excuse for receiving a damaged product.<\/p>\n\n\n Scratches in the seasoning layer can happen even if you’re using the proper utensils. The best way to prevent them is by being careful and not using too much force when scraping the surface with metal spatulas or scrapers. Avoid cutting on the griddle<\/strong><\/a> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoiding abrasive detergents, pads, and brushes is also a good idea when cleaning the griddle.<\/p>\n\n\n So, those were some of the most common problems with Blackstone griddles and their solutions. By following these tips, you should be able to enjoy your grilled foods without any trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember to season your griddle properly and to be careful when scraping off food residue-this will help keep your cooking surface in good condition and reduce the likelihood of rust formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, remember that Blackstone has pretty good customer support, so if you encounter any problems that are not covered here, make sure to contact them. They should be able to help you out quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n If the regulator fails, it will not be able to properly control the flow of propane to the burners. This can cause the flame to become too high or too low, which can lead to problems like uneven cooking.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Yes, wind can affect the Blackstone griddle. If the wind is blowing too hard, it can extinguish the flame. The strong wind also cools down the griddle surface, which can lead to uneven cooking. Blackstone sells special wind guards to help with this problem.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t The warranty on Blackstone griddles<\/a><\/strong> is typically 1 year.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Customer support can be contacted either by submitting a ticket on their website or by calling them. You can find the details on their customer support page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\nWhy is my Blackstone griddle rusting?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I stop my Blackstone griddle from rusting?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I fix a rusty griddle?<\/h3>\n\n\n
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My Blackstone Griddle Is Flaking<\/h2>\n\n\n
Why is my Blackstone griddle flaking?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I stop my Blackstone griddle from flaking?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I fix a flaky Blackstone griddle?<\/h3>\n\n\n
My Blackstone Griddle Is Warped<\/h2>\n\n\n
Why is my Blackstone griddle warping?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I stop the Blackstone griddle from warping?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I fix a warped griddle?<\/h3>\n\n\n
My Blackstone Griddle Is Not Getting Hot<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Why is my Blackstone griddle not getting hot?<\/h3>\n\n\n
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How can I make my Blackstone griddle hotter?<\/h3>\n\n\n
Food Is Sticking to My Blackstone Griddle<\/h2>\n\n\n
Why is food sticking to my Blackstone Griddle?<\/h3>\n\n\n
How do I keep food from sticking to my Blackstone griddle?<\/h3>\n\n\n
My Blackstone Griddle Is Scratched<\/h2>\n\n\n
How do I prevent scratches on my Blackstone griddle?<\/h3>\n\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\t\t
What happens when the propane regulator fails?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t
Does wind affect Blackstone griddle?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t
What is the warranty on a Blackstone griddle?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t
How can I contact Blackstone customer support?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t