How to Take Care of an Electric Griddle
The way we cook has come a long way in the modern era. Technology is making the chore easier, safer, and faster with the various features that electric griddles don and boast about.
But these innovations also require some tender loving care, or even a working knowledge of how to best maximize their capabilities and extend their lifespan. With that, let’s talk about the best way to clean an electric griddle.
Most electric griddles nowadays come with a non-stick feature. This enables food to easily slide on and off the surface. Non-stick pans were created to eliminate the need for oil and grease unless it’s part of the recipe and you use it in relation to the flavor and not to cook food with.
The non-stick coating is enough to cook your food with ease and without the worry of your dishes sticking to the cooking plate.
Here are a few tips to maximize your use of a nonstick electric griddle:
- In order to preserve the non-stick surface, you have to refrain from using oil and other greasy ingredients that leave a residue that’s particularly hard to remove. If you should use oil or butter, make sure to spread it evenly on the surface while it’s still cold. It’s important to do this before the griddle gets hot in order to bolster the non-stick surface.
- Use only plastic and wooden utensils that won’t scratch the coating of the surface. If taken cared of properly, this appliance can last you for years. This is possibly the best advice there is because lots of people are tempted to take out their metal utensils and just scrape away should there be some stubborn food left over on the pan.
- Also, avoid strong cleaners and metal scrubbers that are harsh on your griddle. Non-stick surfaces should be handled with care, and that includes the cleaning materials you use on them. Even strong soaps can affect the pan and diminish the durability of the features.
- If you can’t wash the pan right away, and there is residue or food particles left over, fill the pan with water until you’re ready to clean it. That way, the oils won’t harden and you won’t have a tough time removing whatever’s stuck on the surface.
Now, let’s talk about the process of how to remove residue from your non-stick cookware. First, you need to prepare the following materials: water, baking soda, dish soap, soft nylon scrubber. Follow these instructions and you won’t go wrong:
- Mix water and baking soda until you make a paste
- Spread the paste over the areas that have residue
- Use the nylon scrubber to facilitate the removal of the residue that’s been exposed to the baking soda paste. Repeat this on the other pan if necessary
- Once you’re certain that every bit of residue has been removed, wash the pan with soap and water to remove any and all traces of the paste
- With a soft cloth, rinse the plate completely before drying it
So, there you have it. It’s quite an easy process that you can accomplish with common household cleaning items.
Now, if you’re thinking about getting a new pan to replace your old one or if you’re finally convinced that you want to try an electric griddle, here are the most popular brands out on the market right now.
If you’re looking at purchasing something on the inexpensive side, try the Presto 22” 07061 Electric Griddle. Here are some of its features:
- Dimensions: 26.25” x 11.5” x 2.5”
- Weight: 6.5 lbs.
- Material: aluminum
- Large 22” cooking surface
- Removable handles
- Master heat control
- Premium nonstick surface
- Fully immersible
- Removable cord
- Comes with 1-year warranty
This great product has been rated with 4.6 out of 5 stars. It has been reviewed by more than 1,300 satisfied customers, 76% of whom gave it an excellent rating. It currently sits in 2nd place of the Electric Griddles category on Amazon. Talk about a steal with hundreds of positive reviews that guarantee just that.
If you’re looking for something a little more expensive and with so much more to offer, you can check out the Secura GR-1503XL 1700W Electric Reversible 2 in 1 Grill Griddle. Here are some of its specifications.
- Dimensions: 22.5” x 15.5” x 5.2”
- Plate size: 15.5” x 11.5”
- Weight: 13.6 lbs.
- Voltage: 120V, 60Hz
- With 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty
- Removable adjustable thermostat control
- Removable glass lid
- Heating indicator light
- Removable drip tray
- Comes with a scraper
Secura may not have more than a thousand reviews, but it’s gotten all positive feedback with 86% of its buyers giving it a 5-star rating. It also belongs among the best in the Contact Grills category in 26th place. This appliance is not inexpensive, but it has recently gone on sale, so you can watch for further sales as they occur if you don’t want to pay full price for this griddle grill.