How To Clean An Electric Griddle Without Damaging The Electrical Parts?

An electric griddle is a convenient kitchen tool that can help you make various dishes. You can use it for making pancakes, French toast, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and much more. This is why it is necessary to maintain the condition of your appliance.

If you’re looking to learn more about how to clean an electric griddle, your search ends now. Here is a complete guide to help you clean your appliance without damaging it.

Why Should You Clean Your Electric Griddle?

Some people can continue using their appliances for years without cleaning them properly due to fear of damaging electrical parts. However, it is necessary to clean the appliance for the best health. Here are some reasons to help you understand this better:

1. Cleaning Prevents Food Contamination

The primary benefit of cleaning electric griddles is that it will prevent your food from contamination. An unclean griddle is an easy breeding ground for mould, bacteria, and other microbes. These things can enter the dishes you cook on the griddle.

Of course, the contaminated particle will enter your food chain and may cause health issues. The worst part is that you may develop a health condition gradually and face severe consequences.

This is why you must clean your electric griddle to avoid food contamination and high hospital bills.

2. Taste Of The Dishes Can Be Retained Better

Another benefit of cleaning your electric griddle is that it will help your dishes retain their flavour better. Cooking items on an unclean griddle means that the surface will have residues from previous dishes. These residues will prevent your new item from achieving its best flavour.

The best part about cleaning a griddle is that it will get rid of old food particles. So your dish's flavour will not be affected. Chances of food poisoning also decrease because of ingesting old residues.

What Do You Need To Clean An Electric Griddle?

Cleaning an electric griddle is an easy task but it also takes some time. This is why you must be patient enough to withstand the entire process. It is also necessary to avoid skipping any steps to efficiently clean the electric griddle.

So here are the top items that you will need for cleaning your electric griddle:

1. Wooden Spatula Or Plastic Spatula With Flat Head

You require a wooden, plastic, or rubber spatula with a flat head for the first step of the cleaning process. This item will be used for scraping grease from a distance.

It is necessary to avoid using a metal spatula as it will get hot during cleaning and may hurt you. You must use a spatula with a flat head to avoid scratching your appliance.

2. Heat Resistant Gloves

Heat-resistant gloves are also required for the first step of the cleaning process. Your appliance will be hot, so you must take additional safety precautions. Wearing heat-resistant gloves will prevent you from burning yourself while removing grease from the spatula.

3. Warm Soapy Water

Warm soap water is necessary to wet the appliance, so that old grease can soften up. This is also a safer cleaning solution than heavy-duty products which can harm your tool.

4. A Microfiber Cloth Or Sponge

The last steps of the cleaning process will require you to wipe your electric griddle. This is why you must use a microfiber cloth or sponge. You can also use other cloth types, but you must ensure that the garment does not have rugged sides.

Meanwhile, if you’re using the sponge for wiping, be sure to avoid the side used for scrubbing. Adhering to these things will help you maintain your griddle’s non-stickiness easily.

How To Clean An Electric Griddle?

Here are the steps you must follow to clean an electric griddle thoroughly:

1. Heat The Appliance To Remove Grease

If you have not cleaned your griddle for a long time, a lot of grease must have accumulated on it. You can easily remove the bulk of this component by heating your electric griddle. As the tool heats up, start scraping the grease using your spatula from a distance.

2. Turn Off The Griddle

Once you have removed the excess grease, turn off the griddle and remove it from the electrical plug. You must let the tool cool off before moving to the next cleaning step.

It is necessary not to forget this step because it will protect your tool from unnecessary electrical damage. You should also keep the wiring folded to prevent water from reaching electrical parts in the next steps.

3. Apply The Cleaning Solution

When your tool has cooled enough, dip your microfiber cloth or sponge’s smooth side in warm soapy water. Use it to remove the remaining softened grease from the pan. Wipe the griddle slowly to avoid damaging it and make sure the water does not reach any electrical part.

Once you have applied enough soapy water on the griddle, allow the solution to remain on your tool for at least 35 minutes. Then, you should return to the kitchen and wipe the solution with a cloth or sponge dipped in clean cold water.

You will have to wipe the griddle with a clean wet cloth a few times to remove the cleaning solution properly.

4. Let The Griddle Dry

Allow your electric griddle to dry properly after removing all the cleaning solution. You should use a dry towel to remove excess water to prevent marks from developing on your tool.

Remember to let the griddle dry for at least a few hours before using it again. This will prevent the tool from suffering a short circuit or another electrical issue.

Final Words

This is everything you need to know about how to clean an electric griddle. The entire cleaning time can extend from 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the amount of grease present on the griddle.

Typically, the lesser grease your griddle has, the faster the cleaning process will be. This is because you will not be spending much time scraping the grease.