If you have just done a deep clean, or accidentally cooked acidic food on your griddle, it may be a good time to give your griddle a new layer of seasoning to ensure that its natural nonstick properties are maintained. Follow the simple steps below.
The Grill Method / Gas Burner Method
Step 1: Clean the griddle thoroughly
It is important that your griddle is completely clean and free of rust before you start. Give it a thorough cleaning in hot soapy water with a rough sponge, brush or steel wool in areas where there is dirt or rust. You can dry with a piece of kitchen paper to check if the griddle is clean.
Step 2: Dry the griddle
Once the griddle is clean, dry it thoroughly with a cloth. We need to ensure that any remaining water molecules evaporate. Do this by letting the griddle warm up slowly on the stovetop for 2-5 minutes.
Step 3: Apply a thin layer of oil
Then add a small amount of neutral oil such as grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, rapeseed oil or sunflower oil. We recommend grapeseed oil because it is relatively inexpensive, flavor-neutral and has a high smoke point of approximately 220℃. You can also use our seasoning wax, which is created specifically for this purpose.
Distribute the oil or wax evenly over the surface of the griddle with kitchen paper or a cloth. The surface is sandblasted, so do this with care. Feel free to use tongs if the griddle is very hot so you don't burn your fingers. There should be almost no oil residue left on the surface when you are done.
Step 4: Heat the griddle on a gas burner / grill
Start by heating your griddle on low-medium heat on a gas burner or directly on a grill if you don't have a gas stove.
If necessary, you can also use an induction cooktop, but here the result depends a lot on the quality of the cooktop and the size of the griddle, just as there is a risk that the plate may warp if heated quickly and/or unevenly.
Once the griddle is warmed up slowly on low heat, you can turn up to medium-high heat and let it warm for approximately 5-10 minutes. It may smoke a little, which is the intention, so turn on the extractor hood if you are working indoors.
Step 5: Let the griddle cool down
Once the griddle is seasoned, you can let it cool down slowly on the stove / grill. Wait until it is completely cooled before putting it in place.
Oven Method
Another method you can use to season your griddle is the oven method.
Here you should again use an oil such as grapeseed oil or our seasoning wax. A challenge can be that the griddle is too large for most standard ovens. In that case, use the first method mentioned instead.
Step 1: Heat to medium-high temperature
Your oven should be preheated to the smoke point of the oil you have chosen. Different oils have different smoke points, so it is important that you have set your oven to the correct temperature. If you are using grapeseed oil or our seasoning wax, the oven should be set to approximately 230℃ or slightly higher.
Step 2: Add oil
Put a small amount of oil or wax on the surface of your griddle, and gently rub it out with a piece of kitchen paper or a cloth. Then dry again with a dry piece of kitchen paper, so that only a thin layer of oil remains – even though you cannot see the oil, it is still there.
Step 3: Put the griddle in the oven
Place a baking pan on the bottom rack in the oven to catch any excess oil. Then place your griddle in the oven with the griddle's cooking surface facing down. Let it heat in the oven for approximately one hour.
When an hour has passed, the oven should be turned off. Leave the griddle in the oven while it cools. When the griddle is completely cooled, it is ready to use.
Why does carbon steel need seasoning?
When carbon steel is not protected with a layer of oil, it becomes vulnerable to moisture and rust because of its high iron content. By applying seasoning, a protective layer of oil is created, which seals the surface and fills the "pores" on your griddle. This results in the formation of a patina that gives the surface nonstick properties and prevents rust. It is therefore important to season your griddle if, for example, it has been cleaned with vinegar or a rough sponge / steel wool
Be sure to give the griddle a layer of oil or seasoning wax and new seasoning if it has been used with very acidic ingredients that have removed its seasoning.
