Seasoning a Blackstone griddle is 100% necessary, but it's very easy to complete. You should do this before your first cooking. I'll show you the steps to season your new Blackstone iron from the first coat of oil to the end. There's no need to go through the entire seasoning process every time you cook on your flatbed grill.
Most of the time, it is enough to apply a thin layer of oil to the surface of the iron after cooking and that's it. A new Blackstone griddle needs good seasoning before cooking anything on it. The seasoning creates a non-stick coating on the cooking surface of the griddle. It also protects it from rust, flakes and chips, thus extending its lifespan.
Yes, you can cook in your Blackstone immediately after seasoning it. When you're done cooking, let the iron cool down. Clean it, season it again with a little oil and store it in a cool, dry place. No, it is not recommended as a condiment for Blackstone grills.
Use a high smoke point oil, such as vegetable or flaxseed oil, or a Blackstone oil conditioner to season the iron. For example, you can use Blackstone Griddle seasoning oil for the first and second rounds and top it off with extra virgin olive oil for the third round. Before applying new layers of seasoning, you should make sure that the surface of the grill or flat iron is clean and dry. That's why many griddle users will tell you that the seasoning on your flat surface grill will darken over time as you cook more on it.
This is the most important step in seasoning a flat surface grill, and it's the step most people never take. Some fats are better for polymerization, so it's important to choose the right oil to season your Blackstone griddle or Camp Chef flat grill. If you're going to season a new Blackstone griddle, then you'll want to use the grill brick first, but if not, I'll skip that step entirely. In addition to seasoning oil or vegetable butter, you'll also need a few other items to season your flat griddle or grill.
Seasoning a flat griddle or grill can be one of the most intimidating parts of having this amazing outdoor cooking equipment. If you're an experienced user of the flat surface grill, without any pun intended, then you'll know that the iron can get VERY hot, even at lower temperatures. To season a Blackstone iron, start by cleaning the metal plate or flat surface of the grill with soap and water and a scrub brush. Acidic foods such as marinara sauce, citrus fruits, or birria-type tacos (which are dipped in an enchilada sauce and beef fat) can be very tasty, but they don't go well with flat grill seasoning.
These flat surface grills can get very hot even at a low temperature because they use propane, which is constantly on. You don't need tongs to season a flat grill, but they do help lift your hand off the hot surface of the iron. The same goes for the flat surface of the grill, except that the irregularities on the surface of the iron are microscopic. Blackstone grills are NOT pre-seasoned right out of the box, like Camp Chef flat top grills or other brands of irons.
