lived in the South you'da been taught this stuff better.

body of the grill to get it looking new. Take a heavy-duty grill scraper, a metal putty knife, or even a grill stone/pumice block and scrape off all the loose flaking rust while it’s dry. If it's really deep, you can put a wire wheel cup or a sanding flap disc on a household power drill to pull it back to bare, shiny silver steel in five minutes. Use soap and water (one of the only times you will ever use dish soap on your Blackstone) and a steel wool pad to scrub away the remaining rust dust. Rinse it thoroughly, then immediately turn the burners to high for 10-15 minutes to evaporate every single drop of moisture hidden in the metal's pores. Once it's bone-dry and blazing hot, apply a paper-thin layer of seasoning blend (like Blackstone's griddle conditioner) or standard vegetable oil/Crisco. Wipe it down so it looks like you accidentally wiped it all off—thin layers are key. Let it smoke completely out until the smoking stops (about 10-15 minutes). Repeat this process 3 to 4 times until the top is a uniform, slick dark brown or black. For the Grill Body & Frame, remove the griddle top and set it aside to prevent paint or chemical dust from getting into your cooking surface. Use a wire brush or a medium-grit sandpaper (around 120-grit) to sand down the rusty areas on the frame. You need to sand slightly past the rust into the surrounding good black paint to ensure the edges are smooth and the rust won't crawl back out. Wipe away all the dust with a damp rag and let it dry completely. Go to the hardware store and grab a can of High-Heat BBQ Grill Spray Paint (brands like Rust-Oleum High Heat or Krylon High Heat work perfectly). They are rated up to 1,200°F (648°C). Apply 2 to 3 light, even coats rather than one heavy, dripping coat. Do not paint any part of the actual inside where the burners sit, and obviously never paint the griddle plate itself. Only paint the exterior frame, legs, shelves, and lid. When you finish this weekend's project, save yourself a future headache with two simple changes to your storage routine: When you take the griddle top off for winter storage, apply a slightly thicker layer of cooking oil than usual to prevent oxygen from touching the metal. Place a plastic bowl, a small bucket, or a block of wood on the griddle surface before you put the cover on. This creates a "tent" peak that allows air to circulate beneath it and forces rainwater to run right off the sides instead of pooling on the fabric. If you like this advice, thank AI and me for shortening its response to your inquiry. :-)

“To clean rust off a Blackstone griddle, heat the surface to loosen debris, scrape off the rust, and dissolve any remaining spots using a 50/50 water and vinegar mixture. Afterward, scrub the metal clean, wipe it dry, and immediately re-season it with oil to prevent the rust from returning. Or 1. Scrape and HeatTurn the griddle to high heat for about 15-20 minutes to loosen baked-on debris and rust.Turn the heat off.While wearing heat-resistant gloves, use a metal spatula or bench scraper to scrape away all the loose rust and gunk, pushing the residue into the grease trap.” I’d recommend a pumice stone. ** Edited by Stork at 6/3/2026, 11:52:50 AM

I was gifted a pretty gnarly looking blackstone this year. Rust top and bottom, although the top wasn't too bad. Vinegar soak and wire brush took care of most of the really bad spots. Got a couple of "toilet stones" from HD, they are nothing but glorified pumice stones. WAY cheaper than the ones branded by blackstone, two cost me $3 vs $10 for the single branded one. Rub the pumice stone over it with some vinegar/water solution and it will take those spots right off. Seasoned with avocado oil from Lidl. Get you a plumbers propane torch for the corners and heat underneath the griddle to season all the way out to the edge. Don't do it on top you will scorch the oil. I did 4 seasonings took me about an hour. Came out looking almost new on top.

** Edited by TomTurkey at 6/3/2026, 11:47:58 AM

the surface. It will take some work, but I think you can salvage it without going scorched earth. Steel wool, bartenders friend, or really just some elbow grease. The frame is a different story, but I wouldn't worry much about it at all. Just scrape the rust off. ***I'm by no means an expert, but it's not -that- bad.

out of it. I sold mine when I moved and plan to just get a griddle I can put over a gas grill in an outdoor kitchen when I buy a house. That way I can just replace the griddle every 2-3 years or whenever it needs it. Blackstones are great though - loved mine but they definitely don't last forever. Thankfully they aren't that expensive when you need to start over.

cover it)? I bought the Blackstone cover hoping it would help, but not sure how much it will

the rust was very minimal so I think the combination helps a bit. My neighbor only had the soft cover and his was VERY rusty.

Ask me how I know... If you just want to go soft cover get a cheap bowl or something to leave on the grill and under the cover that will allow the water to shed off.

whatever material cover that we keep on it (along with the metal one). It stays outside. I was really surprised how little rust it showed after no use for several months.

I was gifted a pretty gnarly looking blackstone this year. Rust top and bottom, although the top wasn't too bad. Vinegar soak and wire brush took care of most of the really bad spots. Got a couple of "toilet stones" from HD, they are nothing but glorified pumice stones. WAY cheaper than the ones branded by blackstone, two cost me $3 vs $10 for the single branded one. Rub the pumice stone over it with some vinegar/water solution and it will take those spots right off. Seasoned with avocado oil from Lidl. Get you a plumbers propane torch for the corners and heat underneath the griddle to season all the way out to the edge. Don't do it on top you will scorch the oil. I did 4 seasonings took me about an hour. Came out looking almost new on top.

There's a ton of videos out there on this that go through the process