How to clean a griddle?

[firedome]

The plug-in griddle accessory that came with our '56 Hotpoint range is made of cast aluminum and it has years, decades even, of baked & burned-on residue. Oven cleaner is not good for use on aluminum, so can anyone recommend an effective way to clean it?

 

[turquoisedude]

Roger, try diluted ammonia. But I'd caution you try some on the underside first just to make sure it doesn't discolour the aluminum. And please be careful not to mix the ammonia with any detergent - the gas formed by this mix will knock out out!

I have also used a product called Easy-Off MAX, an oven cleaner that is supposedly less harsh than the regular stuff on aluminum waffle grids and by golly, it worked and didn't ruin the metal.

 

[norgeway]

There used to be

Something just for aluminum called soak off.

 

[ken]

Have it

bead blasted. Ive bead blasted aluminum intake manifolds and they come out like new. Try a lower pressure to start and make sure the media being used isnt too harsh. There is different blasting media used for the type of material being blasted.

 

[jamiel]

ammonia will attack the aluminum...try paint remover.

 

[circlew]

Carbon Off

is a product made for removing carbonized grease from cookware and equipment. I see it for sale at GFS.

You will find it or a similar product at food service and restaurant equipment distributors.

 

[firedome]

some good ideas there...

thanks! Back when right out of college when I worked for a few years for Balto Dept of Health as a Restaurant Inspector (Sanitarian) many establishments used a product that we recommended, made by Economics Labratories for cleaning cookware, but I forget what it was called, plus by now the formulas may have changed, this was 40 years ago, and am not sure if EL is even around anymore, or even where one would get their products.

 

[yogitunes]

Dawn Power Scrubber is usually good for baked and burnt on stuff....just spray and let sit for a while, and then wipe the residue right off.....

http://www.casa.com/p/dawn-power-di...tewide&utm_term=_cat:kitchen&noappbanner=true

 

[gizmo]

I've been cleaning griddles at work (I'm a cook) for over 25 years. It is a filthy job when done the traditional way.

A few years ago we discovered the product linked below. it is AMAZING. It is used on a hot griddle, and even baked/burnt on black stuff melts away. Really baked on stuff - let it sit a few minutes. Yet the product is safe to handle - no dangerous caustic like most commercial griddle cleaning liquids. I highly recommend it. It won't harm aluminium surfaces. You MUST use it on a hot surface. When cold it does nothing. In use it will produce some smoke, that is normal. Use your range hood.

I'd contact 3M and ask them for reps near you, then ask them if any stores/restaurants near you use the stuff, and try to buy a little of the liquid from them, so you don't have to buy the whole kit. You could use a regular scourer or buy a black 3M griddle scourer from a cleaning supplies store. (a wholesaler of cleaning supplies to restaurants or cleaners should have them.)

Traditional method uses a 3 piece kit - griddle screen on the grill surface, then a black scourer (black ones can usually take the heat) , then a metal plate with handle on top. You flood the griddle with clean vegetable oil, and use the handle and scourer stack to push the grill screen around. The griddle screen is impregnated with an abrasive which will gently grind away the baked on muck.The screen looks like a square of flywire. It is a slow and dirty process, I strongly prefer the 3M quick grill cleaner (the orange liquid.)
Just to be clear - 3M make 2 systems - the older one is griddle screen, griddle pad, metal plate with short loop handle on top - use with vegetable oil.
The newer system is orange liquid, griddle pad, and long black handle.

Do NOT use any caustic soda based product. They are VERY dangerous.

This link is the GOOD system:

 

[jeffg]

Does 3M provide an ingredient list for that liquid cleaner? It looks like orange oil. It would also account for the lack of nasty fumes.

If that's the case I wonder if any orange oil will work as well or almost as well as 3M's.

 

[combo52]

Cleaning a Cast aluminum Griddle

Roger, I have the same griddle and when I got it was a mess. I dissembled it completely and removed the heating element and ran it through the Self-Cleaning oven, it came out like new.

If by chance you have a different griddle that has the element cast into the griddle I would take it and bead blast it, I find one of these methods much better than using endless amounts of time and chemicals, at our shop we are cleaning things like this every week, I have a load of gas range grates and parts in a GE SC oven now here at the shop, the extra warmth at the shop is welcome today as it was just over 20F when I got up today.

 

[firedome]

John, good idea...

I'll take it to VT next time we're up and run it through the '77 Frigidaire, and if that doesn't do it some bead blasting sure will. Nice to avoid the chemical route whenever possible. Thanks to all for the helpful responses.