How to Season a Griddle: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever wondered what makes the food at a diner so delicious? A well-seasoned griddle is a big reason breakfast at those 24-hour restaurants always seems to hit the spot.

Home cooks are increasingly using griddles because the large cooking surface allows you to cook multiple types of food at once and quickly, reducing the number of pots and pans you'll need to clean after the meal.

Do You Need to Season a Griddle?

Thanks to the emergence of several consumer brands, the griddle — typically made of cast iron, but can also be made of carbon steel or non-stick-coated materials — is elevating mealtime in homes across the country.

Think of your griddle like your grandmother's cast iron skillet. It will get better with age, but only if you take the time to season it properly.

Seasoning is simply the process of applying thin, even layers of oil to the surface of your griddle. When you turn on the heat source of your griddle, a chemical reaction called polymerization takes place. The goal is to create polymerized layers of oil to act as a barrier between the metal surface and the food you're cooking.

Why is that important? Well, most griddles come out of the box with a bare metal surface, so they are prone to rust. Seasoning your cast iron or carbon steel griddle will help it last for years to come.

The other reason for seasoning a cast iron or carbon steel griddle is to create a non-stick surface. In fact, when done correctly, you can season a griddle to the point where it has a better non-stick surface than most non-stick pans you probably have in your kitchen.

Other benefits of seasoning a griddle include better heat distribution and heat retention. Your food may also taste better because oils and fats left behind from previous cooking sessions on a well-seasoned griddle impart a unique flavor.

What Tools Do You Need to Season a Griddle?

Prep

Seasoning a griddle is a simple process and you only need a few tools to complete the job:

• Heat source, which will likely be a propane tank connected to your griddle.
• Oil
• Paper towels
• Tongs
• Dish soap
• Scrubbing sponge
• Griddle scraper.

Types of Oil

You want to use an oil with a high smoke point to season your griddle. That means when you put the oil on the heated surface, it burns and smokes. A few options to consider are:

• Flaxseed oil
• Avocado oil
• Canola oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Sunflower oil
• Soybean oil
• Coconut oil

Depending on the manufacturer of your griddle, they may have their own oil they recommend using as well.

How to Season a Griddle

1. Clean Surface of the Griddle

Whether your griddle is brand new or you've done a few cooks without seasoning, you'll want to clean the surface thoroughly. This will remove any residue from the factory on a new griddle and remove food and rust from a used griddle. Soap and water are all you'll need to clean the surface, but you may need to scrape off stuck-on food and other residue with a sponge or scraper to complete the job.

2. Add & Spread Oil on Heated Griddle

Next, turn on your heat source on low so that it reaches approximately 200 degrees and pour a few drops of oil on the cooking surface. Use the tongs to hold a sheet of paper towels and spread the oil across the heated cooking surface evenly. Make sure you spread the oil evenly and cover the sides of the surface as well.

3. Heat Griddle on High

To create that polymerized layer, turn the heat on high so that it reaches approximately 500 degrees. Your oil will start to smoke; leave the heat on high until the smoke fades away. When that happens, it's time to reapply another layer of oil.

4. Let Griddle Cool Once Seasoned

If your griddle is brand new, check the manual for seasoning recommendations, but you may need to repeat this process up to six times. The color of the cooking surface should be black/bronze.

Once you complete the seasoning process, turn off the heat source and let the griddle cool.

How to Maintain Your Griddle

Like any cooking appliance, your griddle needs to be cleaned and maintained. After every cook, scrape off excess food and grease, and once the surface has cooled, use a paper towel and a small amount of water to complete the clean-up process.

You will have to re-season your griddle over time, and there are a few key indicators to determine when the time is right. First, if you notice food is sticking to the surface, it's time to re-season your griddle. Also, pay attention to the color of the surface top. When heated, it should be black/bronze with a sheen from the oil. If the surface is discolored or has signs of rust, it is time to re-season.

Another way to tell if it's time to re-season your griddle is by sprinkling a few drops of water on the surface. If the beads slide across the surface, the seasoning is intact. If it evaporates quickly, that's a sign that the non-stick surface from the oil has deteriorated, and you'll want to re-season.

The process to re-season your griddle surface is the same as the initial seasoning, except you won't have to repeat the process as many times.

With proper seasoning, cleaning and maintenance, your griddle will not only produce delicious dishes, but will last you for years.