Flat top grills are considered to be one of the most versatile grills that you can use today. These grills produce very high temperatures allowing shorter cook times. The best part is, they don’t provide any possibility of flare-ups.

Because flat top grills have bigger cooking surfaces, you can cook more food at the same time. You can also cook various dishes, including those that you can’t cook on a regular grill, like scrambled eggs and pancakes.

This is great cooking equipment if you want to bring your outdoor cooking to the next level. However, the only disadvantage is that you may need to clean more areas than you would with a regular grill.

Cleaning a flat top grill is not hard. All you need to do is make sure that you clean it regularly to prevent grease and debris build-up.

In this article, we’re going to show you different ways of cleaning flat top grills by using several items you’ll find in your home. We’re also going to share how to clean a flat top grill based on the material used.

Different Ways of Cleaning Flat Top Grills

When you search the internet, you’ll find different and so many kinds of ways to clean your flat top grill. But in this article, we’re going to focus on the five best methods you can use:

  • Grill Bricks
  • Grill Cleaner
  • Lemon Juice
  • Steam
  • Vinegar

Let us break down step by step how you can clean the grill using each item…

Grill Brick

Let’s start with the grill brick.

Grill bricks are essentially small blocks made primarily of pumice stones. It’s mainly used to remove grease and other build-ups on a grill or griddle without absorbing them, as sponges do.

It’s ideal to use in a flat top grill as it prevents the removal of non-stick coating, which is very important.

Here’s how you use it on a flat top grill:

  • Step 1: Turn on your grill to heat the surface.
  • Step 2: Pour about one cup of oil on your grill’s surface.
  • Step 3: Using the grill brick, scrub the surface of your grill in a front-to-back motion to get rid of any residue left behind.
  • Step 4: If the grill’s surface is smooth and clean, pour the oil into the grease holder and get rid of it.
  • Step 5: Pour a mixture of vinegar and water on the grill’s surface (again, make sure that the grill is still hot) to soften and lift any hardened grease that was left.
  • Step 6: Scrub the surface again with a grill brick until there’s no residue or grease left, and pour the mixture into the grease holder again.
  • Step 7: Once you’ve made sure that the grill is clean, pour another mixture of vinegar and water onto the grill’s surface.
  • Step 8: Rub the grill with a clean rag to remove any remaining grease.

And you’re done!

Grill Cleaner

Another obvious material you can use is a grill cleaner, a liquid cleaner formulated to clean surfaces of grills and griddles.

It’s very easy to use.

You just need to spray the liquid on the grill’s surface and allow it to soak for a few minutes until the grease and debris are loosened. After that, grab a clean rag, paper towels, or anything clean, and wipe the chemical off.

That’s it!

Make sure to buy a high-quality grill cleaner that meets the US safety product standards. If the label says that it can be used on a flat top grill, the better.

Lemon Juice

Lemon has always been known to have properties that will help clean anything around the kitchen, and this includes your grill. It’s very easy to use, and here’s how:

  • Step 1: Switch on your grill to heat and soften grease and other food residues.
  • Step 2: Grab a grill scraper and scrape off all the debris found on your grill’s surface.
  • Step 3: Mix one part lemon to three parts water, and spray the mixture on the surface of your flat top grill.
  • Step 4: Get a grill brush to spread the mixture, and don’t forget to scrape any fat you see. Wait for five minutes for the mixture to seep in or until the grease becomes pasty.
  • Step 5: Switch the grill off and pour more of your mixture while waiting for the grill to cool down. Then, remove the debris and grease from the surface. If the stove is still very dirty, repeat steps 3-6.
  • Step 6: Once you’re done, grab a scouring pad to scrub the grill’s surface again for a final clean-up.
  • Step 7: Grab a clean rag to wipe the grill’s surface clean.

Steam

Another simple trick is by simply using steam. With this method, you won’t be using any other materials, just pure water.

To do this, you need to switch on the grill to heat it up and soften any debris. After that, you need to scrape off all those residues with a grill brush in a circular motion.

Next, sprinkle water on the grill’s surface and spread that out with a brush. Once the debris has softened, scrape it off and then drain the water. Repeat the whole process until your grill is clean.

Drain all the liquid from the grill and wipe the grill’s surface clean with a clean rag.

This method won’t require you to use a lot of materials. However, it might take longer than it should be when using the other methods above.

Vinegar

Lastly, you can use vinegar.

There are two ways to do this. The first would be mixing vinegar with water, and the second is just using raw vinegar. Let’s explore these two options to find which you would prefer.

Using Water and Vinegar Mix

For this option, you just simply need to follow the same steps used with the lemon juice method:

  • Step 1: Turn on your grill to heat and soften any debris left on your grill’s surface.
  • Step 2: Scrape off all the debris with a grill scraper.
  • Step 3: Mix two parts lemon to two parts water, then spray the mixture on the surface of your flat top grill. Spread the mixture on the grill with a grill brush and scrape off any fat.
  • Step 4: Wait for five minutes until the mixture seeps into the debris and grease before scraping them off.
  • Step 5: For a final clean-up, grab a scouring pad to scrub the grill’s surface again.
  • Step 6: When done, grab a clean rag and wipe the surface of your flat top grill.

Using Raw Vinegar

Cleaning your flat top grill with raw vinegar is one of the easiest methods you can use.

You just start by spreading the raw vinegar on your grill and wait a few minutes for the debris to loosen. After that, get a scrubber and scrub the grill in a small circular motion. When done, scrape all the food debris off the grill, and you’re done!

How To Clean Flat Top Grill By Build Material

Flat Top Grills are built with two different materials – chrome or stainless steel. And sometimes, to make it easier on your part, it’s best to use a method that really works well on a particular material.

Stainless Steel

Here’s how you can clean a stainless steel flat top grill:

  • Step 1: Switch on your grill to around 300-350 °F.
  • Step 2: Once the grill surface is hot, grab your scraper to scrape off all food particles, debris, and grease.
  • Step 3: Pour warm water on the grill’s surface to help boil off any grease build-up. Be very careful with this method as the steam might burn you.
  • Step 4: Wait for the surface to cool down a bit before scrubbing the entire surface with a grill pad.
  • Step 5: Rinse the surface of your grill and wipe it with a clean rag.
  • Step 6: Spray a stainless steel cleaner on a clean rag and wipe your grill’s surface.
  • Step 7: Wait for the cleaner to dry, then wipe the surface of your grill with another rag.

And you’re done!

Chrome

If you have a chrome flat top grill, here are the steps to follow:

  • Step 1: Switch on your grill to around 300-350 °F.
  • Step 2: Wait for the grill’s surface to heat. Then, grab a brush instead of a scraper to brush off all food particles, debris, and grease.
  • Step 3: Pour warm water on the grill’s surface, then grab a less abrasive brush to scrub the surface again. Repeat this step until you’re sure that the grill is cleaned thoroughly.
  • Step 4: Wait for the grill to cool down.
  • Step 5: Once the grill is cooled, grab a clean rag to dry the surface.
  • Step 6: Apply a food-safe polish, then give your grill a final wipe using a damp cloth. Make sure that you’ve removed all the polish before you proceed to season your grill.

And you’re done!

Remember, these steps don’t just end after you’ve cleaned your grill. After this, you need to re-season your grill so that it’s ready to use for your next cook.

Recap

As long as you have:

  • Water
  • Grill Brick
  • Grill Cleaner
  • Lemon
  • Vinegar
  • Brushes and Scrape

You can clean your flat top grill at any time.

In other words, with the right materials and methods, flat top grills are not that complicated to clean.

What’s important here is to make sure that you clean your grill after every use to prevent more grease and food build-up, which will make your grill harder to clean in the future.

All the methods mentioned above are very useful. However, if your grill is built with a specific material, then you can use the methods specified above, too. This way, you can ensure that you don’t damage your grill.