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7 Things To Know About Rust On The Bottom Of Blackstone Griddles

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Blackstone Griddle Rust on Bottom

Blackstone griddle tops are made from cold-rolled steel that can be prone to rust when not protected by a seasoning layer.

While a good seasoning layer on the top protects it from rust caused by occasional contact with water and humidity, the steel on the underside of the griddle can develop rust over time.

In the short term, a small amount of rust on the bottom of your Blackstone griddle won’t affect the cooking performance. Though as the years go by it could lead to corrosion issues and pitting problems.

This prompts some Blackstone griddle owners to take measures to remove the rust. Some will even try to prevent rust by protecting the underside with high-temperature firebox paint or seasoning it with a thin layer of hydrocarbons like the top.

If rain, water, or high humidity has caused the top of your Blackstone griddle to rust, you should clean it and season it again before cooking on it.

Even though a little bit of rust on your food won’t make you sick the first time, it’s hardly good for you in the long term. It can also give your food a strange flavor and color.


How Do I Get Rust Off My Blackstone Griddle?

Taking the rust off a Blackstone griddle’s cold-rolled steel cooktop is relatively easy, though it does require a meticulous approach.

Tools & Equipment To Remove Rust From A Cold-Rolled Steel Griddle

A sturdy metal scraper

Cooking oil with a high smoke point like canola or vegetable oil

A lot of paper towels or clean shop rags

A grill stone or steel wool

Welding gloves or some other type of high heat-resistant gloves

Step One: Fire up your Blackstone griddle on heat high for 20 minutes to help loosen the rust.

Step Two: Allow the griddle to cool down for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step Three: Put on your protective welding gloves, then use the metal scraper to vigorously scrape down the entire flattop to remove all signs of rust and corrosion.

Step Four: Pour 4 to 5 tablespoons of an oil with a high smoke point on the cold-rolled steel griddle top, and gently spread it around with paper towels to coat every square inch.

Step Five: Use steel wool or a grill stone to grind over the entire griddle surface to remove tiny traces of rust from the cold-rolled steel.

Step Six: Use paper towels or clean shop rags to wipe the griddle.

Step Seven: Pour 4 to 5 tablespoons of oil on the griddle and thoroughly wipe it down again until all signs of rust and corrosion are gone.

Step Eight: Season the clean cold rolled steel griddle per the manufacturer’s instructions.


Is it OK to Cook on a Griddle That Has Rust?

It is OK to cook on a griddle that has rust on the underside of the cold-rolled steel, though you shouldn’t cook on a griddle that has signs of rust, corrosion, or other debris on the cooktop.

This could impart rust and other potential contaminants into the food you are cooking.

While it might not immediately make you sick, the iron in the rust is not dietary iron. Not to mention it will give the food a strange color and likely taste bad.


Do You Need to Season the Bottom of a Blackstone Griddle?

You don’t technically need to season the bottom of a Blackstone griddle, though some people do season every square inch of the cold-rolled steel to protect it from rusting.

Though some complain that there might be a risk of grease fire or smoking if you season it with a low smoke point oil.

Another alternative to protecting the underside of your cold-rolled steel griddle top is to cover it with a layer of firebox paint.

This is the same type of paint that they put on wood-burning stoves, and some of the best options are rated to withstand up to 1,200 degrees F.


Can You Burn Rust Off a Grill?

Heating up rusty grill grates or a rusted steel griddle top will only loosen the rust but won’t remove it.

Worse still, when you lay your food on the rusted metal, some of that rust will inevitably transfer to your food. Not only will this cause the food to look and taste off but eating a lot of rust over time can make you ill.

If you have a rusty grill grate or a rusted griddle, you should thoroughly remove the rust. You can then season the steel or protect it from rusting again before cooking on it.


Should You Season the Underside of a Blackstone Griddle?

You don’t have to season the underside of your Blackstone griddle.

If you are properly covering your griddle or keeping it indoors, away from the elements when not in use, the rusting potential on the underside of the cold-rolled steel is minimal.

If you are concerned about the potential for rust over the long age of the griddle top, you can carefully spray it with heat-resistant firebox paint.

Most are rated to be able to handle between 1,000 to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and will create a protective layer between the exposed cold-rolled steel and moisture from the ambient humidity.

Though this still isn’t considered “Necessary” by Blackstone themselves. You should also wait until after your first dozen or so cooks before you even think about protecting the bottom of the griddle top, as it takes time to go through thermal break-in.


Final Thoughts

The bottom of a Blackstone griddle’s cold-rolled steel cooktop can develop rust over time. Though it shouldn’t affect the performance of how the top surface cooks food.

If the top of your griddle develops rust, you shouldn’t cook on it, until all signs of rust and corrosion have been removed.

Then the cold-rolled steel needs to be properly seasoned again following the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you are concerned about protecting the bottom of your Blackstone griddle in the long term, you might be tempted to season it as well.

Though you will likely see less smoke and fewer hassles if you instead resort to a firebox spray paint with a high heat rating of at least 1,000-degrees F.