The enameled cast iron griddle is a staple in Canadian kitchens, offering a versatile and flavorful cooking experience. To maintain its performance and extend its life, regular maintenance is essential.
In our article, you will find some useful tips for cleaning your griddle.
Why should I clean my griddle?
Cleaning your griddle is essential for anyone who cares about their equipment. Cleaning your griddle regularly allows you to:
- keep your griddle in impeccable condition
- extend the life of your appliance in bad weather and cold temperatures
- ensure optimal cooking performance
All these reasons make cleaning your griddle a must every time you use your appliance!
The advantages of an enameled cast iron plate for cleaning
In addition to allowing cooking without retaining odors, the cleaning benefits of an enameled cast iron plate are numerous :
- it does not grip, which allows for quick and easy cleaning.
- it does not scratch: the enamel acts as a protective layer and prevents the plate from scratching, allowing deep cleaning of your plate without damaging it.
ENO is proud to offer enamelled cast iron plates with a lifetime warranty* on all our griddles models, proof of our desire to accompany you over the long term and to offer you repairable products that last over time.
* (for griddles made from 2017 onwards)
Should I clean my griddle before a first use?
There is no obligation to clean your griddle before your first use, but for hygiene reasons, we recommend passing a wet microfiber to dust your griddle.
What should I use to clean my griddle?
Here are the essentials to have to properly clean your griddle :
- a stainless steel spatula: to scrape the last cooking juices
- a stainless steel ball and its support: to remove encrusted dirt
- paper towels
- from the special griddle cleaner
- a microfiber cloth
Note: consider putting a little water in the support tank to be able to use the stainless steel ball
ENO has created especially for you a complete cleaning kit containing all the aforementioned accessories to allow you to clean your griddle optimally!
What you should not do to clean your griddle?
Here is a non-exhaustive list of things you should not do when cleaning your griddle:
- use harsh chemicals such as bleach, industrial degreasers, or any other abrasive products.
- scraping with plastic objects: the heat of the plate could cause your utensil to melt.
- using very cold water on the plate or ice cubes on a hot plate: the thermal shock could damage the plate's enamel.
When should I clean a griddle?
You can clean your griddle in two situations: between cooking and after each use. In each of the situations, make sure that the hob is hot. If you come to the table and the griddle cools down, turn on your griddle and let it heat a little (it must be at least warm to wash properly) before turning off the burners.
1. Between two cooking
One of the advantages of enameled cast iron over other materials is that it is easy to clean. Not only does enameled cast iron allow you to cook multiple dishes in a row, but it also prevents food from sticking, making it quick and easy to clean between uses!
Here are the steps to clean your griddle between cooks. While the griddle is still hot :
- scrape off cooking juices with a stainless-steel spatula (for this, you can use the wide-angled spatula ENO).
- use the stainless-steel ball with its holder to scrape off encrusted dirt.
- you can continue to cook!
And for all those in need of a visual explanation, discover our special video cleaning the ENO gas griddle between 2 cooking sessions!
2. At the end of cooking
Here are the steps to clean your griddle after cooking :
Step 1 : scrape the residues with the wide elbow spatula
On your still warm but extinguished griddle, scrape off the food residues and fat deposits with the spatula and evacuate them into the grease tray.
Step 2 : scrub with the stainless-steel ball
Mount the stainless steel ball on a special support to scrape off the embedded dirt. In case of difficulties, use a little griddle cleaner to moisten the plate.
Step 3 : remove residue with paper towels.
Step 4 : wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Wet a microfiber cloth and wipe it over the surface of your plate to make it look smooth and shiny. Often neglected step, it remains essential to the proper cleaning of your device because it allows to remove any residue of cleaner.
Step 5 : empty the grease trap
To clean the grease trap:
- on Bergerac models : pull the grease tray, empty the fats and rinse it with water.
- on Enosign models : press the tray to make it stand out, empty the fats before rinsing it with water.
Find our tutorial just below!
How to protect a griddle during winter?
1st step : protect your griddle
Another fundamental point of good maintenance of your device, the proper protection of it during long periods of disuse such as winter is crucial to have a griddle that lasts over time.
The protection of your griddle is essential for it to last over time, whether to face harsh Canadian winters or long periods of inactivity.
We advise you first of all to protect it with a lid or a protective cover (the first will ensure optimal protection for your griddle, while the second will also protect your frame.
Step 2 : clean the griddle frame
For thorough cleaning of the griddle, remove the plate from the frame and clean the base with a soft cloth.
Step 3 : remove the battery
When storing your griddle for the winter, we recommend removing the battery from the battery holder used to light the burners on your gas griddle.
Step 4 : check that the burners are working properly when restarting the system.
If you are unable to light your gas plancha after a few months of winter storage, but you can hear and/or smell gas coming out, it may be that a spider or similar insect has spun its web or cocoon near the burner.
To check this, make sure that nothing is obstructing the flow of gas, particularly between the injector—the device through which the gas enters the burner—and the burner.
If necessary, clean away any residue that is still present.
