Blackstone Griddle Sticky After Seasoning: Possible Causes And Solutions

Imagine having one cooking surface where you can cook complete meals for your family without worrying about time and effort. Cooking everything on one surface will save you time and effort as you feed your family. A Blackstone griddle is one of the best investments for this purpose, and it is becoming incredibly popular.

As you are using this tool, you need to know the right way to take care of it. If you don’t, then it will create issues, such as stickiness. So, if you are facing this problem, you are in the right place.

Here are all the possible causes and solutions to why your Blackstone griddle is getting sticky after seasoning.

Seasoning Explained

Before we move on to the possible causes and solutions, you need to understand what seasoning is and how it works. Seasoning is the best way to protect your griddle from any wear and tear. That is why you have to do it before you begin using the griddle for your cooking needs.

The seasoning creates a protective layer that ensures the durability of your Blackstone griddle. It involves coating the surface with a layer of fat and then heating it up to create a barrier. Doing this will protect the griddle from corroding and ensure it remains non-stick.

Blackstone Griddle Sticky After Seasoning: Possible Causes

Now that you know what seasoning is, you might wonder why your Blackstone griddle is becoming a little sticky after seasoning. Well, here are the top causes why this might happen:

Cause 1: You Used Too Much Oil

One of the top reasons the Blackstone griddle is sticky after seasoning is that you use too much oil on it. Yes, you need to use oil to create a protective barrier, but the amount should not be too much. If it is, it will create a paste that will cause the surface to be sticky when you cook.

Keep in mind that there is no rule book that will let you know how much oil to add. We recommend that you only take a little bit of oil and work from there. A process of trial and error will let you know what amount of oil is right for your seasoning needs.

Cause 2: You Don’t Clean The Griddle Properly

Cleaning is one of the most important steps that will ensure the longevity of the Blackstone griddle. You have to remove the seasoning layer after cooking and then add another light one to store it properly. If you don't clean this, there will be a lot of buildup, and it will eventually end up becoming incredibly sticky.

That is because the oil layer can burn because of too much heat, which can lead to a black mess on the griddle. So, you have to clean it after each use or after each heavy use so that it doesn’t become a mess after a while.

Cause 3: Not Enough Heat During The Seasoning Process

Another possible cause of the griddle becoming sticky could be that you didn’t heat the griddle enough during seasoning. That is because you need to heat it at the right temperature so that the oil can polymerize. This means you have to let it come to the smoke point.

If the oil you applied didn't come to this point, then it means it did not reach the right temperature. Because of this, the seasoning can become sticky because it needs heat to be smooth and create a protective layer.

Blackstone Griddle Sticky After Seasoning: Possible Solutions

Now that you know the causes, it is just as important to understand the solutions so that you can avoid this problem. Here are the top solutions that will guarantee your Blackstone griddle doesn’t become sticky after seasoning it:

1. Use Light Oil To Season

The first possible solution we recommend is that you use a light oil to season the griddle. This means that the oil you use must have a high smoking point so that the temperature can be right for seasoning. Using such oil will ensure that the oil heats at a high temperature and doesn’t make the surface sticky.

Some of the popular light oils you can use include olive oil, avocado oil, grape-seed oil, and much more. So, make sure that you choose the correct oil for seasoning so that the surface doesn’t result in a sticky mess.

2. Clean The Griddle Properly

You have to clean the surface of the Blackstone griddle properly if you don't want the stickiness to build up with time. The important thing is that you need to wipe down the griddle after using it each time. On the other hand, if there is burnt off on the griddle, then you also need to gently scrape it off before you scrub it.

Keep in mind that griddles are scratch-resistant, which is why you don’t have to worry about scraping or scrubbing. Once you remove the gunk, you can use some heat and water to steam the surface. The step will guarantee that tough stickiness and stains are gone in no time.

3. Avoid Overcooking The Food

No one wants to overcook food, but sometimes you might not pay attention and end up overcooking the food. Overcooking leads to burning some of the food on the surface, which can lead to stickiness. That is why it is crucial to keep the right temperature so that you can cook everything till it is perfect.

If you cook more than needed, it will burn the food while also making the oil sticky. So, keep an eye on the food when you are cooking it on the griddle and make sure that you cook the food perfectly so that it doesn’t ruin the griddle.

4. Don’t Add A lot Of Cooking Oil

Finally, you should not add a lot of cooking oil to the griddle surface, as it will build up and become a mess. The more oil you add, the more gunk you will have to clean, which can be difficult. Less is more, so avoid using too much oil.

As a general rule of thumb, you should only add a dollop of oil on the griddle and then spread it throughout the surface. Keep in mind that you will not need more than this. However, if you do, you should not add more than another oil dollop on the surface.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Eliminate Stickiness On The Griddle

Of course, if you need a method to remove the stickiness from the griddle, you are in the right place. Here is your step-by-step guide to ensure that the griddle is not sticky:

1. Clean The Surface

The first step you need to follow is clean the surface so you can eliminate all the debris. You can do this by heating the griddle for around four minutes. After that, you must turn off the heat and let the griddle cool.

Once it is cool, you must begin scraping and removing all the caked-up food on the griddle. Keep in mind to completely clean the surface, including all the edges.

2. Scrub The Griddle

After removing the buildup, you must add oil to the surface. Then, use a cleaning pan to scrub the surface. After scrubbing and cleaning, you can use paper towels to clean any debris and excess oil from the griddle.

Once you do, you must wipe the griddle to ensure that there are no sticky areas remaining on the surface. It will provide you with a clean and even surface that will enable you to cook the food with cleanliness in no time.

3. Heat It Up

Now that everything is clean, it is time for you to turn up the heat on medium-high and let the griddle heat up. The griddle surface will begin discoloring, but you don't need to worry about this. It only means the surface is bonding with the oil.

After a while, there will be a protective layer on the griddle because of the oil and the heat. As soon as the surface is matte, turn down the heat and let the griddle cool down.

4. Let It Cool And Repeat

Once it has cooled down completely, you must add another coat of oil and heat up the griddle once more. You have to repeat the entire process at least three or four times to ensure that the seasoning is perfect. Just make sure that you only use a small dollop of oil each time.

Final Thoughts

These were all the possible causes and solutions to why the Blackstone griddle is becoming sticky after seasoning. This is a common issue, and you can easily fix it by following our guidelines. So, make sure that you are doing everything right and seasoning the griddle perfectly.

Once you are, your griddle will become the perfect cooking surface, and it will last a long time to come. Seasoning properly also ensures the longevity of your Blackstone griddle investment.