How to clean a plancha grill

Plancha grill degreasers 

Unlike barbecues, plancha grills feature a flat cooking surface making them relatively straightforward to clean. Once your plancha has cooled down fully, you can go in with a special plancha cleaner. These products make cleaning really easy. Here are the steps to follow:

• spray on the product around 15 cm from the cooking surface;
• leave the product to work for a few minutes;
• scrub the surface with a sponge (do not use a scouring sponge);
• clean away any residue using a damp cloth.

While highly effective, specialist plancha cleaners can be expensive – especially if you're using your plancha on a regular basis. Luckily there are a few alternatives to choose from!

Special plancha cleaners with degreasing agents are designed to break down oily residue and clean away cooked on grease or fat. These cleaners are suitable for use on cold rolled steel, cast iron and stainless steel. However, make sure to check that your cleaner does not contain caustic soda as this can be slightly too abrasive for these materials.

Eco-friendly plancha cleaners

Eco-friendly cleaners contain active ingredients derived from plants or minerals.

Designed to tackle cooked-on grease, these cleaners are food-safe provided you rinse the plancha with water after application. The bonus of these products is that they don't contain any potentially harmful cleaning agents such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.

It might surprise you to hear that ice cold water or ice cubes can be used instead of cleaning products. Simply pour iced water onto your cooking surface and wait for it to loosen up any food residue before guiding solids or fat into the grease tray.

Want in on a top chef secret? White vinegar is great at cleaning away stuck-on food and grease! Lemon also works well and will leave a nice smell behind to boot.

Top tip: clean quickly after use so you don't have to scrape and risk damgaging the cooking surface

While a basic charcoal barbecue simply needs to be emptied and scraped down, you cannot do the same for a plancha at the risk of damaging its delicate cooking surface.

If you do want to scrape away food residue, you will have to invest in a special plancha scraper designed to loosen any cooked-on food from the cooking surface. These special scrapers are designed to work with the smooth surface of the plancha without scratching it. This will help to ensure that the non-stick coating on your plancha lasts. But be sure to check that the edges of your scraper are not too sharp before you start scraping.

It's always a good idea to have a sponge, cloth and bottle of oil at the ready to prepare your surface for your next grilling session.

The cooking surface of a plancha grill can be made from a number of different materials. Each material comes with its own care requirements and it's important to use the right products. Here's a quick guide on what to use:

• cold rolled steel: be sure to add oil when cooking;
• enamelled steel: use cold water or vinegar to clean;
• stainless steel: a range of products can be used as this material is hard-wearing and rust-resistant.

When it comes to cleaning the grease tray, pop the whole tray in the dishwasher if possible. Be sure to place the tray directly under your water jets; the power of the water should help to loosen any stubborn dirt. White vinegar can be also used quite liberally on this part of the plancha grill.

For effortless cleaning, make sure to keep on top of things and give your plancha a good wipe clean after every use. It's better for the plancha and also better for your health as it'll prevent any toxic fumes from being released! If you're looking for a bit more cleaning power, a natural clay-based cleaner can be a gentle but effective option.

Our advice? Go for a product that promises quick results to avoid having to scrape the cooking surface first – and causing damage in the process!