Blackstone Griddle Rusting

**Hobo Bill** · 06-05-2019, 09:35 AM

I really do like the convenience of the combination with our Blackstone Tailgater (half grill, half flat top griddle), but I don't like the fact that the griddle keeps rusting bad. I realize it is steel (I would pay extra for a stainless steel top). It is outside all the time covered. I seasoned it correctly and keep it oiled between uses. But it still rusts and goodness I am going to go broke buying all the paper towels needed to clean the rust off every other day. It is pretty yucky looking. Perhaps it is my imagination, but the pancakes are beginning to taste a little rusty. Beginning to have second thoughts. Any ideas ?

**JColeman** · 06-05-2019, 09:52 AM

Clean it as best you can then get it toasty hot and throw a little water on it to aid in getting (scraping) the rest off. Once toasty hot again (metal should be discoloring a bit) then start wiping it down with oil. Let the oil smoke off and do that a few times until you get good color on the metal. Turn off, lube liberally and keep out of moisture like morning dew.

Works for me but our average humidity here in AZ is ~10%.

**jkwilson** · 06-05-2019, 10:06 AM

If it’s rusting, it isn’t seasoned properly. Seasoning isn’t a one time thing.

**Hobo Bill** · 06-05-2019, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by JColeman

Clean it as best you can then get it toasty hot and throw a little water on it to aid in getting (scraping) the rest off. Once toasty hot again (metal should be discoloring a bit) then start wiping it down with oil. Let the oil smoke off and do that a few times until you get good color on the metal. Turn off, lube liberally and keep out of moisture like morning dew.

Works for me but our average humidity here in AZ is ~10%.

Thanks for the info ... Yes, I know the procedure for cleaning it ... I have done that about 5 times ... I just don't intend to spend 30 minutes to scrape and clean and a roll of paper towels for 4 eggs and 4 pancakes. 92% humidity in Ohio. oh check that, it's raining ... 100% humidity. ... I guess I am just venting

**JColeman** · 06-05-2019, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Hobo Bill

Thanks for the info ... Yes, I know the procedure for cleaning it ... I have done that about 5 times ... I just don't intend to spend 30 minutes to scrape and clean and a roll of paper towels for 4 eggs and 4 pancakes. 92% humidity in Ohio. oh check that, it's raining ... 100% humidity. ... I guess I am just venting

Ya, it would be hard to keep rust off in a swimming pool. Sorry for your trouble, they are really nice tools.

**SGT ROC** · 06-05-2019, 07:21 PM

Heat it up, Steel wool it with water, then wipe it down, then oil. Seems to work on mine - so far.

**Joseph143** · 06-05-2019, 07:25 PM

For our cast iron pans I got a plastic scraper that you find with the lodge stuff in stores. I use it to scrape and clean cast iron after use. I can get them really clean and it doesn’t scratch. Then a light wipe and cleaning with oil and paper towel and done. I used to hate using all the paper towels too before I found the hand scraper thing.

**TheLexx** · 06-06-2019, 01:49 AM

Get something like this grill pumice stone. My parents used to have a restaurant and the kitchen staff would use this to scrub down the big commercial griddle at the end of the day. Get all the gunk off. Then season it well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071XK6XBB...6-bd9072b5bc3a

**Bradnailer** · 06-06-2019, 03:00 AM

The rust is almost impossible to avoid. Rather than cleaning it with oil and paper towels, try scrubbing it with coarse ground salt and steel wool while the flat top is cool.

**Fishwater** · 06-06-2019, 03:48 AM

My Blackstone sits outside under the Blackstone cover year round in New Hampshire with minimal rusting between uses, the key is to keep it oiled when done. What works for me is to coat it with vegetable oil spray (Pam) when done. It may be months between uses & there may be a small patch of rust so I do what you do, a few paper towels with oil to clean it up, cook on it, scrape it & then steam clean with water when done. While it’s still hot I spray a light coating of Pam on it then wipe it down with a paper towel making sure every surface is covered. I use the factory 36” cover on mine but I place a wood board on the top of the griddle to support the cover so it isn’t resting directly on the griddle surface allowing water to pool on top & it sits on the deck year round for the last three years. Maybe it’s the cover on the tailgater model? Does it contact the grill surface or is there an air gap? Is it fabric or the steal one?