Yikes! Should I be alarmed and what should I do

[hoovarmin]

Uncovered my griddle for the first time in a couple of months, due to the extreme heat, and found this. How would you address this problem?

[WI Bubba]

If it were me, I'd do a full strip an re-season.

[Uncle Bob]

Amen

[CaptainMike]

Wut dis guy sed.

[Huskee]

It is indeed the season for a full strip.

[Steve R.]

Nothing to be alarmed about except for some work to re-season it. I'd scrub the rust off with steel wool and go from there.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

scrub it, heat it, scrub it, season

[smokenoob]

it’s done, drop it off in Gulf Breeze and I’ll have it scrapped for you!

[Panhead John]

Dave, I’m only suggesting this because we’re friends and all. Trying to clean it and re season it could be dangerous! I’d hate for anything to happen to you. This is what I’d suggest doing, remember, I’m only looking out for your well being.





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[Bad Hat BBQ]

You give good advice....

[CaptainMike]

You are a true friend.

[djl]

Appears to a lot of storage space underneath.

Honey I purchased it for the storage space. Attempting to "clean" up my stuff. The flattop on top was totally expected…

[rickgregory]

Uncovered my griddle for the first time in a couple of months, due to the extreme heat, and found this. How would you address this problem?

Send it to Spinaker so he can dip it in his electrolysis rig

[MsTwiggy]

Totally serviceable, clean, reseason, and cook copious amounts of bacon or fatty burgers 🔥🔥🔥❤️🐿

[MsTwiggy]

hoovarmin I may have led you astray with my bacon comment above. In another post somewhere in the Pit Uncle Bob mentioned the sugars used to cure bacon can result in a sticky buildup, which is not helpful for a first cook right after you have painstakingly seasoned the griddle. So save the bacon for another cook. 🔥🔥🔥♥️🐿

[hoovarmin]

MsTwiggy no worries

[Andrrr]

I just sanded mine down and reseasoned. Pretty easy and it looks oh so pretty again

[Panhead John]

hoovarmin Don’t listen to these people! They don’t know what they’re talking about, please, listen to your ol buddy PJ.

[Panhead John]

captainlee I thought that’s what we’re all here for….to drive the other members into bankruptcy….😂

[captainlee]

And divorce

[bbqLuv]

hoovarmin Listen to your ol buddy PJ. and join the PJ Cult. 😀

[rickgregory]

OK more seriously? I'd scrape it, soap and water it to get off any overt grease. Then I'd coat it in a wet paste of Barkeeper's Friend let that sit, wipe and rinse. You'll probably have rust so it's steel wool time.

I do wonder if oven cleaner would work but I don't know if that is good for a griddle set like that.

Basically, my take would be to get as much grease and cooked on food (if any) off, then remove the seasoning and rust without scratching the surface.

[Uncle Bob]

Oven cleaner is just fine, it washes off, and..........if you use it on an oven you cook with, why not this (assuming you wash it off after it's work is done). Also, BKF contains Oxalic acid, a rust conversion product, so it does double duty.

[rickgregory]

Uncle Bob - I wasnt sure if it might get into the controls below, but you're right, if that was a problem, so would the grease etc be.

[Polarbear777]

I think the top is removable. In that case I’d steel wool it, strip it blowtorch it dry and then reseason immediately.

[Redwng]

Yep, time to strip and re-season. Not a big deal, just a little elbow grease.

[WillTravelForFood]

NO GREASE!

[jfmorris]

hoovarmin I've had that once or twice with my FTG900. It usually seems to be food residue that did not get cleaned off well from a prior cook, which discolors, rather than actual rust. The fact I can see smashburger shaped blotches when it happens is kind of telling.

I just scrub it clean with rags while cold, scrape it and clean it as good as I can, then heat it up and repeat with water and steam clean it with more rags. Cool down, oil and wipe some more, then fire it up as hot as it goes until the oil stops smoking. You are then ready to cook. Just be sure to have a very light layer of oil - too heavy will result in a sticky surface.

It's probably an extra 30 minutes of work, and you will kill a few rags, but not too bad overall.

The other item I suggest for when you really need to get it clean is a chain mail scrubber. I use that on my cast iron and on my griddle if it really needs a scrubbing.

Oh - on the Camp Chef site, they tell folks to pour some Coca-cola on the griddle top and let it sit for a bit, to help remove rust and clean things. Probably the acidity and carbonation help.

I'm uncovering mine tomorrow to cook hibachi for the family, and since I used it just last Monday, don't expect to see any strange surprises. The more I use it, the cleaner it seems to stay.

[Uncle Bob]

Coca cola contains phosphoric acid, another rust converter. Carbonation might appeal to the eye, but has little effect on grease or rust.

[hoovarmin]

You are right on about the smash burger splotches.

[Santamarina]

My Blackstone was "accidentally" left out in the rain a couple years ago and ended up with some gnarly rust. Used a wire wheel attached to a drill to get it smooth, washed with soap and water to get it clean, then reseasoned with 7-8 *very thin* coats of avocado oil. Good as new!

[DavidNorcross]

I dont think it needs to be stripped. I would clean it up and reseason. I would try getting it hot and wipe down while hot and drop some water on it while hot and wipe down again. Let cool and reseason.

[realdocBBQ]

I agree, clean while hot with some water and rags, see what it looks like, do a couple coats of seasoning and you're prolly good to go. No more than 20-30 mins worth of work, and that's with a break to crack a new beer in between each step!