Just realized I was overcleaning my flat top every night

A guy from a diner in Cleveland stopped by last week and told me I was scrubbing off the seasoning layer. I was spending 20 minutes with grill brick and vinegar when all I needed was a quick scrape and oil wipe.

3 comments

3 Comments

kais671mo agoMost Upvoted

How long were you hitting it with vinegar for? That acid will strip everything down to bare metal if you let it sit. The Cleveland diner guy was right, a quick scrape while its hot and a wipe down with oil is all you need for daily stuff. I save the brick for once a month maybe, just to knock down any burned on spots that built up. The key is to never let it get cold before you scrape, that's when the gunk hardens and you end up fighting it. Water trick works good too but go easy on it or you'll crack the plate. Seasoning is your friend, treat it like a cast iron pan.

hugo_jones1mo ago

That grill brick is way too rough for daily use honestly. My first flat top went silver after a week of that nonsense. Just hit it with a scraper while its hot, hit it with some water to steam off the gunk, then a thin coat of oil. Takes like 5 minutes tops and the seasoning stays put.

jamienguyen1mo ago

Used to think you needed a brick to really get it clean but you might have just converted me. I've been way too aggressive with my flat top and it shows. Gonna try your method next cook.