Keeping your Traeger Flat Top Grill clean is crucial to continual grilling success. Here we'll outline a recommended cleaning schedule, walk through how to clean your griddle properly, and give tips for storing your griddle when not in use.
Cleaning Schedule
To maintain a working flat top grill, clean the following grill parts as recommended.
| Cooktop |
You should clean your flat top grill's cooktop after each cook. To clean your flat top grill's cooktop, the cooktop will need to be hot, so cleaning after a cook instead of before the next one is easier and more convenient. |
| Burners |
While you shouldn't need to clean your burners often, we suggest you clean them when you notice a low flame or after a prolonged period without using the grill. |
| Grease Chute |
Replace the grease keg liner regularly. Never remove the grease keg until the Flat Top Grill has completely cooled |
| Grease Keg Liner |
The grill's grease chute will build up grease along its walls over time. Keep an eye on the state of the chute and remove and clean when needed. Pro Tip: The grease chute is dishwasher safe! |
How to Clean Your Flat Top Grill
TOOLS NEEDED
- A clean cloth or paper towels
- Traeger All Natural Cleaner or another all-natural, non-chemical cleaner
- Water
- A Traeger® Flatrock Flat Top Grill Scraper or another scraping tool
- Traeger® Flat Top Grill Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner or canola oil.
Cleaning & Re-Seasoning Your Flat Top Grill's Cooktop
Pro Tip: Your Flat Top Grill needs to be cleaned and re-seasoned after each cook to maintain its non-stick properties and to prevent rust. Save time by doing both steps at the same time!
- If the grill is not already hot, heat up the cooking surface on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Using a scraper, scrape the entire cooking surface clean, directing any bits of food, grease, and water into the grease chute. Repeat as needed until all debris has been removed.
You can also add water to help loosen hardened or stuck debris. - With the griddle still hot, apply a thin layer (about 2-3 Tbsp) of Traeger® Flat Top Grill Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner or a high-smoke-point oil like canola, grapeseed or flax oil.
Do NOT use Traeger All-Natural Cleaner on the cooktop. - Use tongs clasping a clean towel or paper towel to distribute the conditioner or oil evenly across the entire cooktop, including the walls and edges.
- Heat until the smoking ends, indicating the conditioner or oil has burned off.
- Turn all knobs to the OFF (o) position and turn the propane tank valve closed. Closing the propane tank valve after every cook is best practice for safe storage.
Once the cooktop cools, close the lid. - To clean the body of the Flat Top Grill, allow the grill to cool and then use a cloth or paper towel and Traeger® All Natural Cleaner to wipe any messy areas on the Flat Top Grill body.
DO NOT use Traeger® All Natural Cleaner on the cook surface. - If needed, empty the EZ-Clean™ Grease Keg and throw away the keg liner, replacing it with a new one. Pro Tip: Ensure the contents of the Keg are cool before discarding.
- Once the Flat Top Grill is completely cool, cover it with a Traeger® Flat Top Grill Cover.
Cleaning Rust from Your Cooktop
A good initial seasoning and post-cook seasonings are crucial for preventing rust; however, if your flat top grill's cooktop develops rust, follow these steps:
- Use a nonabrasive scouring pad and water to remove rust.
If rust cannot be removed with the nonabrasive scouring pad, you can use 220 grit sandpaper to remove rust from affected areas. - Using water and a cloth, wipe off all of the rust residue.
The cooktop should be free of any loose debris created in Step 1.
Wipe up all water from this process with a clean, dry towel or cloth.
Before performing Step 3, make sure no water is present on the cook surface.
Do not attempt to evaporate the excess water by heating the grill. -
Re-season the cooktop.
Cleaning Your Flat Top Grill's Burners
Sometimes grime and/or insect debris such as spider webs accumulate in the burner tube or portholes, especially after periods of non-use or storage. A clogged tube can lead to a fire beneath the appliance or poor performance.
- Remove burners from the Flat Top Grill by unscrewing the two fasteners on the burner brackets.
- With burner removed, insert a pen/ pencil into the clogged burner inlet hole to clear out any debris that may have accumulated.
Storing a Flat Top Grill
Your Flat Top Grill can be stored in two orientations:
| SHELVES DOWN | SHELVES UP |
|
|
|
Store Your U-Burners Properly
If storing your Flat Top Grill for an extended period of time, clean your burners and wrap them in aluminum foil.
Use a Cover
Use the Traeger® Flatrock Flat Top Grill Cover for protection when storing. When using the Traeger Flatrock® Flat Top Grill Cover, the shelves must be folded down.
Storing in Cold Weather
If living in a region with temperatures that go below -20°F/-29°C, store the Flat Top Grill in a warmer area like your garage during those colder times of year.
Side Effects of Not Cleaning Your Flat Top Grill
Improper maintenance and cleaning of your Flatrock can affect almost every aspect of the grill's performance. The list below covers a few of the major issues that can be caused by an incorrectly maintained flat top grill. Keep in mind this list is not comprehensive and proper troubleshooting will need to be done for each specific issue.