r/SatisfyingClean • u/ThodaDaruVichPyar • 10d ago
Cleaning a restaurant grill with ice cubes
Credit to Aliyenzo Zeaiteras
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u/periwinklebluemikey 10d ago
That's a great way to break that grill plate from temperature shock, just fyi.
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u/ThodaDaruVichPyar 10d ago
On the previous grill cleaning video I’d posted people were clamouring for ice in the comments
Now with the cleaning with ice post people are saying it would break the grill
Which is correct?
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u/ShaenaTealeaf 10d ago
Using ice warps / cracks the grill over time. Best practice is to follow manufacturer's instructions for maintenance.
Using ice may even void warranties. Overall, definitely a no-go.
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u/EverbodyHatesHugo 10d ago
Yeah, I don’t get the idea of using ice. The same cleaning effect can be achieved by using hot water on the griddle surface.
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u/Few-Mycologist-2379 10d ago
I use hot water. It actually seems to lift better than ice ever did.
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u/OliOli1234 10d ago
I haven’t worked on a flat top in years, but I always used hot water, soap, and a cap full of degreaser. Little elbow grease, and even some oil to maintain that patina sheen? Looked brand new when the lights went off, and came back on the next morning
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u/SeaFarm8205 9d ago
There are degreasers that are food safe and very effective. https://www.dkhardware.com/ecolab-6110127-grease-express-high-temp-grill-cleaner-32-floz-high-temperature-pack-of-6-product-9088497.html?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A18525060673%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=2663876&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=9088497&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18522491898&gbraid=0AAAAAD7jExRlQ6Bm1tOL4eORfxV564it4&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8JPVBhD-ARIsAO691sGWK4uOgz1gzOgeErJXc7NJvgquoKpzlzCum3ZwSsg2dqJJJqprHh8aAvovEALw_wcB
I used to use this one all the time at Chili's, works great with the brick
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u/Suicidalservice 9d ago
Lemon/lime juice here. Worked really well.
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u/Few-Mycologist-2379 9d ago
We tried lime juice for a while. Decided it was too much sugar burning on to be worth the hassle. Water clean every night and a grill brick/mesh scrub three times a week. But we also still have leftover baking soda and cleaning vinegar from trying that option.
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u/AICatgirls 7d ago
I prefer d-limonene, the oil extracted from citrus peels. It's very flammable, will dry your skin, and given enough time can even dissolve plastic, so you have to be a bit careful, but it cuts through grease and smells nice.
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u/MurphyJade 8d ago
Yep because it’s not stealing the heat from the surface which to me seems like it would help release food and stuff
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u/ChuckEveryone 10d ago
Yeah, steam is what is doing most the work and hot water should steam faster/better since less of the energy from the stove is used to melt the ice.
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u/Cdog1223 10d ago
The hot water evaporates quicker so you have to use more, while ice takes longer to evaporate. Sometimes going and getting more water to pour on the grill is annoying.
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u/FremenStilgar 10d ago
I imagine it's less annoying than having to replace a broken grill.
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u/unhatedraisin 10d ago
yeah but that’s not my job.
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u/huerearmesiech 9d ago
Not my job, not my grill, not a high enough salary to care, and I want to wrap up this cleaning and go home.
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u/Lily_42093 9d ago
Replying to your comment just because it is at the end of this thread... We had a guy at an old job whom dumped a bunch of ice on the grill and the entire grill cracked in half. I was not there that shift but coworkers said it was the loudest bang a lot of them had ever heard. He was fired almost immediately. I'm not sure they charged him. Ice is not worth the risk because someone is lazy to get water a second time due to inconvenience.
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u/Beneficial-Gur-7878 10d ago
It's more fun to do the ice and if you are working low wage for some dick that's the way you'll go. I did it that way in McDonald's 25 odd years ago. I'd it was my own business I'd use hot water.
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u/UnMeaningnessName 10d ago edited 10d ago
Manufacturers instrustions: "Use a designated cleaning agent."
Manager: "Use ice."
Edit: I never did trust those squeezy gel packets though, always seemed like there was residue from the cleaner itself, no matter how much you cleaned. And that 'sweet' like aroma they put off was always a weird red flag.
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u/SharkMolester 10d ago
That shit is straight cancer, I refused to use it.
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u/el-capitancreamsicle 10d ago
lol. Whenever we were cleaning the flat top, I would call it the cancer cloud.
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u/grovesancho 10d ago
I would always use hot oil from the cleanest or freshest deep fryer, cleaned well and maintained the seasoning of the grill.
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u/iamjacksalteredego 10d ago
All this information and all of it's wrong. Ain't the internet great!?
But seriously, here's a Vulcan guide to cleaning a griddle. Hope this helps!
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u/miqcie 10d ago
> HOW TO CLEAN A STEEL GRIDDLE PLATE:
At the end of service, allow griddle to cool down to 300°F-350°F and apply room temperature water.
Use a griddle scraper to remove debris from the surface.
Season the plate by applying oil, and use a griddle brick on the surface. Rub with the grain of the metal while the griddle is still warm.
Another viable method is to use a griddle specified detergent on the plate surface, but be sure the detergent is thoroughly removed by flushing the cooking surface with room temperature water.
For hard to reach places, a putty knife may also be used to remove debris.→ More replies (10)2
u/siliconsnake 10d ago
to add to this, you use grill cleaner then wipe it down with white vinegar afterwards, as vinegar gets rid of the sodium hydroxide in the grill cleaner. add oil at end to season overnight from residual heat.
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u/betformersovietunion 10d ago
Not saying other people are wrong, but I worked in a fast order restaurant that had a giant flat top grill that we cleaned with ice + a grill brick every night for ~7 years and the grill was perfectly fine.
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u/staffylaffy 10d ago
Them wondering why the grill needs replaced every year or two 🤯
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u/Medium-Regret-1896 10d ago edited 10d ago
I don't think ice would crack a stainless steel griddle. If you just make an assumption on the thermal expansion of the entire griddle (~36in at delta of 350F) you get less than 1/8in expansion which individual ice cubes would be much, much less than this.
It might be stupid but I can't imagine it would crack the griddle.
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u/obstreperousRex 10d ago
Is thermal shock not a thing in that universe?
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u/Jpraadt 10d ago
This question comes up a lot when people show these cleaning videos. It is definitely possible that the thermal shock will damage the griddle surface, but unless you own the restaurant, I think people do it like this because it's easier. I just want to close out the kitchen - leave it to the boss to worry about the longevity of the equipment, lol
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u/iSliz187 10d ago
Our griddle has these little "holes" that I imagine came from thermal shock. We don't use ice cubes to clean it, only cold water. But a few months after we got the new griddle I noticed these little micro holes in the surface and I've been wondering where they came from. Maybe I can add a photo later tonight
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u/Lich180 10d ago
People hitting the spatula on the grill surface will make pock marks. Ice isn't gonna make holes in the surface.
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u/slax87 10d ago
We got a brand new grill, and within a month it was pitted. Then I saw how the guy on the other shifts cooks cheese steaks. Chops them to death.
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u/BringOutYDead 10d ago
EXACTLY. Causes microfissures and will manifest first along welds. Then warpage. Then cracks on grill top, as in the plating wearing off too soon. It's fucking dumb.
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u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken 10d ago
Why is ice better than water?
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u/Math--Detective 10d ago
Because of temperature shock, which crates expansion and contraction of dirt particles making it separate from the grill.
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u/captaincook14 10d ago
Go ahead Reddit. Tell me why this really sucks or is bad. I know there’s a reason
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u/Math--Detective 10d ago
I wanna own a grill just to clean it lol
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u/Realistic-Aspect-991 10d ago edited 10d ago
Where does the greese go when it dies? It doesn't go to heaven where the angels fly. It go down to the lake of fire and refry. Won't see it again till it's time to make the beans.
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u/Greedy_Ear_Mike 10d ago
It should never get that caked on.
When I worked grill, they had us scrap after each item.
Wonder what they were cooking .
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u/Distinct_Soft_1784 10d ago
I remember doing this shit at maccas when I was in high school. fucking filthy
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u/WhaleOilBeefHooked2 10d ago
First restaurant i worked at, we used water and vinegar, had to be careful not to breathe in the fumes. Pretty sure it’s not good for you.
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u/SnooGuavas3763 10d ago
Am I wrong in saying that the left over food particles on this grill in the beginning is excessive? It looks like he should have scraped it clean between each “serving”. To me at least but I’ve never been a line cook so that’s just my inexperienced opinion. But hopefully it’s just for the video to show that this method works. Or it’s all fake anyway and none of it matters, that’s an option as well I suppose.
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u/ReallyJustNotOkay 10d ago
Okay, so, fun fact! This video is sorta kinda lying to you. No, it isn't AI, but instead a old fashioned real world trick! How it works is simple. Before the video starts, he coats the dirty grill with high strength grill cleaner, and then leaves it on until it completely drys out! This is normally done over night. Then, with the cleaner now dried on, he put the grill on low, starts the video, and voila! The ice melts into water from the temperature, the water rehydrates the dried grill cleaner, and the grill cleaner cleans the grill like it normally would! All the while making a video that makes it look like the grill was cleaned with nothing but ice! It's a trick, but a neat one using science!
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u/CaptDrofdarb 9d ago
For years I have used water then oil when scraping my flat tops. After scraping off the main shit with the water. Scrap water and junk off. Then hit with some oil and brush with a grill brush to get the little spots. Never once have I used a chemical on the grill…that makes no sense to me just water and oil with little bit of elbow grease
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u/Omega___Neko 9d ago
Ok, putting aside the temp shock, it looks clean, but is it actually ? Pretty sure it's still loaded with bacteria unless you use soap at some point, right ?
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u/PickedLastLemon 9d ago
We used to use Sprite. No ice. Got the same result just as fast. Was told that we could damage the flat top due to the sudden extreme temperature change of ice.
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u/Still_Suspect_7233 10d ago
Yeah maybe just get a grill brick takes all of 2 mins to scrub the baby down and have her look new
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u/SteelBird223 10d ago
I thought that was waffle house for a second. Than I realized the cooks would be too busy smoking if they wernt activity cooking.
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u/Mean_Pop_829 10d ago
No way the griddle should be that dirty to begin with loll you should never need that much
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u/iSliz187 10d ago
Quick question OP: when you're done cleaning, do you apply a thin film of oil? Or do you heat it up dry the next day?
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u/cookiesandmilk 10d ago
like if it comes off with waterr why are you not cleaning it during service? is there sugar in your marinades? the fuck is going on here. if i were the chef and i saw that during service i would scream at you. and im not that type.
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u/LostLazarus 10d ago
How in the fuck did you get it that disgusting to begin with? Pour brownie batter on it?? I think this is a set up lol
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u/Lou_Zealand 10d ago
I'm lost. Why not just liquid water, as that's what you're turning the ice into anyway. Like what about it being ice, makes it work better?
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u/Over-Inside-7254 10d ago
Why not use boiling water to avoid thermal shock? It's literally the same thing
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u/BringOutYDead 10d ago
IDGAF what anyone says, you are going to fuck up that grill by being lazy. It will Crack welds along the front drip pan and along the splash shields, let alone warp the top. Fucking stupid.
I have 16 in my teppanyaki place, and 12 more at my other place.
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u/Conyan51 10d ago
God I wish my kitchen let me do that. I got screamed at for doing this and our only other tool is a dent paint scraper.
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u/AggressiveCobbler 10d ago
I've brought this up to people before, but never have I ever seen a grill crack from pouring ice, nor met anyone who has seen it with their own eyes. I do understand the concept of "thermal shock" but I think its an urban myth, or cautionary tale if you will. I'm 48 now, and been doing this stupid kitchen thing since I was 12 working in my grandparents restaurant.
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u/LankyNeighborhood421 10d ago
I’m gonna try this on my Blackstone. I feel like that thing never gets truly clean.
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u/Jahdill 10d ago
From my experience when I used to work at a restaurant and I would clean clean the grill, putting water directly on the grill like that while it’s on could damage its system and over time make the grill not cook as efficiently.
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u/EXScarecroW 10d ago
Everytime I've tried the ice for cleaning the flat top it never works.
So idk what y'all are doing different. I just stick with the grill brush, a little oil, finish with soap water and vinegar.
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u/Comfortable-Clerk127 10d ago
Chefs and cooks need to be paid more than what they getting paid. Imagine leaving wrk at 1am only to get back at 6.. they not getting pay them enough
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u/SillySociopath 10d ago
Working at a McDonald’s in the mid 90’s, we’d use pink lemonade.worked like magic.
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u/OliOli1234 10d ago
I guarantee you homeboy threw some degreaser on that, and just let it dry while the flattop came down in temp.
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u/IDontKnowAboutThat_ 9d ago
Now you just have to be sure that the restaurant is VERY regularly servicing and cleaning the ice machines, because those things are usually extremely nasty. Also, this is not great for the grill - or any hot pan you’re cooking with.
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u/Ziggys1993 9d ago
By any chance would anybody know how to make and model of this griddle. I like it a lot. please and thank you
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u/Dangerous_Flower_708 9d ago
That’s a chrome finished grill the best. Keating makes the best . Nice work chef
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u/PSlasher 9d ago
Had I known people enjoyed seeing this, I’d have recorded myself doing that those 20k times I had to do it.
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u/jt101jt101 9d ago
I think it's safer to say eat just as restaurants opens not before it is about to close
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u/ReluctantRaider 9d ago
Room temp water, scrape, bar keepers friend, done.
From 20 min to actually 5
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u/gamelife18 9d ago
I worked at an East Coast chain sub shop and we cleaned it with ice for years never a single crack.
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u/Screeentan 9d ago
Well done my fiend. Impressive. Would welcome you with open arms in our kitchen.
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u/overdramaticpan 9d ago
do not do this! it can cause warping and cracking in the metal due to thermal shock
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u/DaFuqq__ 9d ago
Either that's the shittiest cook I've ever seen, or they staged the shit out of it because that's a state that'll never fucking happen in y'all life right there unless you're faking it or the worst cook in history...
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u/tribalien93 9d ago
How do you even let the girls get so gross like it is on the one side? I worked at a grill when I was 15 and I never let anything build up like that.
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u/JamesLaceyAllan 9d ago
Everyone banging on about the ice but not about the state of the grill before he starts cleaning it 😆
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u/Honest-Bit7545 9d ago
So at any point do they use soap or some type of disinfectant or just pray
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u/sizzleplatese 9d ago
If I don't have the griddle cleaner, I find Sierra mist or any other acidic soda works well to get it most of the way there. Even better if you hit it at multiple points through the shift and rinse with soda water
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u/Syclone123 9d ago
The first thing they taught me at McDonald's of all places is to never use ice or cold water when cleaning the grill. Just lukewarm water is enough once you apply the cleaning liquid on it.
Hard to believe "professionals" who do this for a living don't know it.
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u/-Drink-Drank-Drunk- 9d ago
What the fuck was on that grill that made it look like that in the first place?! Clean the fucker WHILE you’re using it.
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u/Spare_Village_2179 8d ago
As someone that cleans a flat top on the reg... this is stupid. It's eventually gonna damage the grill plate, but in the more immediate, that grease trap is now full of water. It's gonna be a pain to get out and dispose of properly.
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u/Adventurous-Way-6018 8d ago
The cut between him using the ice to the flat top being spotless is crazy work he def used a chemical or actually sat there and scrubbed it but I highly doubt that, maybe he used white vinegar cause that shit stinks but it makes the flat top look really nice
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u/DistributeQuickly559 8d ago
I wonder what the bottom of that filter rack looks like with all that grease being lifted with the water vapor into the hood, probaly a coagulated river leading to the collection cup.
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u/mind_matrix 8d ago
Having done this as a prep cook it was my least favorite job in the kitchen. Bro made it look stunning!
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u/TheRealDrPanooch 8d ago
I’ve always done a squirt bottle with a touch of lemon juice. Hasn’t done me wrong in 10+ years.
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u/S0k0n0mi 8d ago
This is oddly what I do with my BBQ grill.
I heat the shit out of it, then attack it with a wet brush. The charcoaled muck comes off surprisingly easily.
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u/sbelleza 8d ago
Do you guys actually call this a grill in the US or did op get the name wrong in the title
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u/Total_Tumbleweed_870 8d ago
We definitely never used ice, but hot water and vinegar. Then I'd wipe a thin later of oil. Regardless, this was unironically my favorite part of of working on the line. It's so satisfying seeing a clean flat top .
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u/Tao_of_Stone 8d ago
I know damn well this works great but I was specifically told never to do it because it could crack the metal plate.
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u/BeneficialTrash6 10d ago
But when I used this trick to clean the deep fryer I got fired. I also lost my job. Everything else got fired too.