How To Clean A Flat-Top Grill Like Jersey's Mike's

Sub sandwiches are perfect for lunch or dinner, especially if you know the ordering hacks that every Jersey Mike's customer should know. While you can get a variety of cold sub sandwiches, the chain is probably best known for its selection of hot cheesesteak items. Whether it's Mike's Famous Philly or the Bacon Ranch Chicken Cheese Steak, that sandwich is going to be made fresh right in front of you on a flat-top grill — the way every hot sub is made. But with so much meat, cheese, and veggies constantly hitting that griddle, you may wonder how Jersey Mike's maintains such fantastically performing flat-tops. Well, one alleged former employee on Reddit had some answers.

According to the Redditor, Jersey Mike's leaves the heat on during the cleaning process, which is good to know up front. "After service, scrape any large burnt spot on the grill," instructs the Redditor. "Next, pour a large amount of water on the surface of the grill and let it sit for a couple of seconds before scraping in the drain." Sounds simple so far. After that, the user notes that a dash of oil is poured on the grill (enough to cover the whole surface area) before grabbing two large scouring pads, stacking them, weighing them down, and then scrubbing hard. "After that, check for mistakes, then scrape it all into the drain," the Redditor explains. "Dry it with a rag, and if you want, you can put on a thin layer of oil."

To some, the knowledge the alleged ex-employee shared may sound like great advice — and for the most part it is. For others, you may recognize this process already. Jersey Mike's didn't reinvent the wheel on flat-top maintenance. What the former employee suggests is actually very in line with how Blackstone advises you to properly clean your griddle after cooking. While some in the Reddit thread warned against the use of water on the flat-top for fear of warps or cracking, it seems it's really about maintaining temperature across the flat-top that matters most.

On the Blackstone Griddle YouTube channel, the company advises turning up the heat before you even start scraping with a spatula. Wait for the little bits to start smoking before trying to slide them off. Once everything you can see is gone, Blackstone advises squirting the griddle with water, most likely warm or room temperature, allowing it to steam up the brown, built-on gunk you may not see. Repeat this step until no brown bubbles appear for you to scrape off. Finish off with a thin layer of whatever oil you have on hand.

The cleaning that comes after cooking on a flat-top grill doesn't have to be a hassle. Whether you choose to scrub during the water stage or after is up to you — try both to see which one you prefer. Either way, you are sure to have a nicely maintained flat-top, so long as you follow these basic tips.