Want to know how to use a grill brick on a griddle or flat top grill? Learn everything you need to know about a griddle cleaning brick in this guide and get your Blackstone in tip-top shape!
We get a TON of comments and questions every single day on our flat top grilling YouTube channel, and lately it seems like everyone wants to know about using a grill brick on the griddle. So I decided to do a deep dive into if you should use a grill brick, when to use a grill brick, and how to use a grill brick… Basically everything you ever wanted to know about using this little piece of equipment.
Let me start off by saying that I have a ton of experience using grill bricks on a griddle. As a cook in the US Navy, I pretty much used a griddle brick every single day on our large stainless steel commercial grade griddle. But let me make an important distinction…
A commercial griddle is very different than a residential griddle, mostly because of the griddle seasoning. I’ll talk more about that in a minute.
So the question of “Can I use a grill brick on a Blackstone griddle or other flat top grill?” is really a matter of what type of griddle you have and what the griddle seasoning looks like.
Here’s everything you need to know about using a grill brick on a griddle (or not):
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The grill brick – it’s that grubby looking tan block that lives near your grill or griddle, quietly doing its job each time you cook up a storm.
This unassuming kitchen workhorse may not seem exciting, but its composition and cleaning capabilities are quite fascinating when you take a closer look.
So what exactly are grill bricks made of and what makes them such a potent ally for keeping grills spotless? Let’s explore the science, creation process, and advantages of this BBQ essential.
A Closer Look at Grill Brick Composition
Grill bricks go by many names – grill stone, griddle brick, broiler brick But they all refer to the same handy grease-busting block
These bricks typically measure around 3.5 x 4 x 8 inches and resemble weathered construction bricks. But they are specially engineered for high heat cleaning, not building.
The primary material comprising a grill brick is pumice. This lightweight volcanic rock forms when hot lava rapidly cools, trapping gas bubbles inside. It leaves an extremely porous, abrasive stone perfect for cleaning applications.
However, the pumice in grill bricks is compressed, eliminating the pores and making it dense and non-absorbent. This enhances its cleaning power and durability.
The main properties of grill brick pumice include:
- Abrasive texture to scour away grime
- Non-porous to resist grease absorption
- Heat resistance up to 1200°F
- Chemically inert for safe cleaning
- Durable for long term use
Pumice provides the ideal balance – just abrasive enough to clean without scratching grilling surfaces.
How Grill Bricks Effortlessly Obliterate Grime
When lava cools rapidly into pumice, it forms a lightweight, highly porous stone filled with holes and gaps. To create industrial-grade grill bricks, the pumice is ground into a powder.
The pumice particles are mixed with a binder and compressed under intense pressure – over 15 tons per square inch!
This crucial step eliminates all pores, making the pumice completely non-absorbent. It also makes it incredibly dense and hard.
But even in this compressed form, pumice retains a bit of abrasiveness. This allows grill bricks to gently scrub away layers of charred food and burnt-on grease without damaging the underlying metal.
When you scrub a grill brick over dirty grates, its rough texture provides just enough friction to literally sand off the grimy residue. No other cleaning tool works as quickly or effectively!
The natural durability of pumice enables each brick to withstand dozens of grilling sessions before needing replacement. It slowly wears away with use, creating finer abrasive particles that further enhance cleaning.
The Many Benefits of Choosing Grill Bricks
Restaurant grills take a major beating every day from grease, charring, and encrusted food debris. Failure to remove these residues can create unpleasant flavors and odors.
Grill bricks provide commercial and residential BBQ aficionados the following cleaning advantages:
- Powerful, scrubbing abrasion – Safely removes the toughest burnt-on messes better than any other tool.
- Withstands extreme heat – Can be used on hot grates up to 1200°F without cracking or crumbling.
- Food safe – Contains no chemicals or toxins that can leach into food. Non-porous pumice won’t absorb or transfer bacteria.
- Fast and convenient – Just add water and scrub; no other cleaners or accessories needed!
- Reusable for months – Each brick lasts through dozens of deep cleaning sessions before requiring replacement.
- Environmentally friendly – Made from natural volcanic rock. Fully worn out bricks are safe to discard.
From backyard grilling to commercial broilers, the humble grill brick keeps cooking surfaces spotless and flavorful. Its abrasive yet gentle scrubbing power makes quick work of even the most stubborn messes!
Manufacturing Process: How Grill Bricks Are Made
While grill bricks have a very simple, inorganic appearance, their creation involves some complex processes. Let’s look at how these BBQ heroes come to be:
1. Sourcing the Raw Volcanic Pumice
High quality grill bricks start with premium grade pumice harvested from volcanic regions in Greece, Italy, Turkey, and the Western United States. The porous raw stone is inspected for quality.
2. Crushing and Grinding the Pumice
Next, the raw pumice rocks are fed into powerful crushing machines to break them down into smaller gravel-like pieces. These get further pulverized into a fine powder.
3. Adding Binders and Compressing the Material
The pumice powder is thoroughly mixed with water and binding compounds like magnesium oxide or sodium silicate. This mixture gets tightly packed into molds.
4. Intense Hydraulic Pressing
The most important step involves compressing the molded pumice under forces exceeding 15 tons per square inch. This extreme pressure completely eliminates pores and gives the bricks hardness.
5. Baking and Final Shaping
After pressing, the grill bricks are kiln baked at high temperatures to cure the binding compounds. The bricks are then precisely cut to size and packaged.
The end result is an incredibly durable and versatile cleaning brick with just the right balance of properties to keep grills spotless for months on end!
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Grill Brick
While grill bricks are built to last, with heavy repeated use they will eventually require replacement. Watch for these signs your brick needs to be discarded:
- Missing large chunks of material
- Severe cracks, fissures, holes, or crumbling
- Grease/dirt remains on grill after scrubbing
- Increased grease absorption or odors
- Poor cleaning performance compared to a new brick
- Excess black dust created during cleaning
For commercial use, grill bricks typically need replacement every 2-6 months. Household grill bricks can often last over a year with light use. Keep spare bricks on hand for best results.
Safety Tips for Using Grill Bricks
Grill bricks provide fast, easy grill cleaning, but basic safety measures should be followed:
- Allow grill to fully cool before scrubbing to prevent cracking bricks.
- Dampen brick first to minimize abrasive dust.
- Wear gloves to protect hands from heat and friction.
- Apply moderate pressure; don’t bear down too hard.
- Check condition periodically and replace worn out bricks.
Following these simple practices keeps grill brick cleaning safe and effective.
The Takeaway: Appreciating the Power of Pumice
With advanced engineering and volcanic science, the humble grill brick has become an indispensable cleaning tool. Its unique compressed pumice composition gently removes the most stubborn charring and grease buildup without any damage. Grill bricks are specially designed to withstand blazing grill temperatures day after day. Keep one handy for effortless, high-performance grill cleaning!
Step 4: Clean the griddle with water/steam.
Next, turn the griddle back on to a low heat. Once the griddle is warm, add water to the griddle to clean all of the nooks and crannies and bits of leftover grease. If you want, you can also add soap at this point, but I chose not to because I felt like I was able to remove the residue with only the water and steam cleaning.
The important part is to get the griddle top super clean at this point, because the next step is to re-season the surface, and you don’t want to start building up layers of seasoning on a dirty griddle surface.
Simply add water using your squirt bottle (a must-have griddle accessory!), and then use your bench scraper and a wad of paper towels to clean and dry the water off the surface. You’ll need to repeat this process many times.
When you’re done cleaning the griddle, it will probably look something like this:
And don’t worry about the white spots… That’s where you’ve stripped away the seasoning, which is pretty much the point of using a griddle cleaning brick in the first place. You’ll build the seasoning back up in the next step.
How to Use a Grill Brick to Restore a Flat Top Grill or Griddle
If your Blackstone griddle or flat top grill top is in rough condition with areas that are chipping or severe rough spots, then using a grill brick is a great way to bring it back to life.
Just follow these steps to get your rolled steel griddle top back to tip-top shape and ready to cook on once again:
GRILL BRICK Overview Video
FAQ
What is the grill brick made of?
Description. This grill brick is made of nonporous pumice stone. This item works miraculously to clean griddles and grills while providing optimal results without scratching the surface. The Grill-Brick will disintegrate with use and won’t lift the cure, nor clog with grease.
Are grill bricks safe to use?
With that said, this below linked safety data sheet does mention that grill bricks are known to cause irritation if inhaled or if they come in contact with skin. If I were you, I would, as other commenters have already mentioned, just purchase a cheap breathing mask from a hardware store.
Is a grill brick the same as a pumice stone?
Grill bricks are compressed pumice stone, and their abrasive quality quickly removes built-up carbon and grease from your metal cooking surfaces. Their flat, rectangular shape lends itself to cleaning the right angles of griddles and cleans grill grates without fear of shedding bristles.
Will a grill brick remove rust?
A grill brick acts like a pumice stone for your griddle aiding in sanding down rust spots and restoring the surface to its smoothness. It’s particularly useful for addressing rust buildup issues. You can find an in-depth article on how to use a grill brick on your griddle here.
What are grill bricks made of?
These bricks are made from a special type of pumice stone, which is a volcanic rock that has been heated to extreme temperatures. The heat causes the stone to expand and create millions of tiny pores, giving it its abrasive cleaning properties. When using a grill brick, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind.
What is a grill brick?
via Amazon.com Grill bricks are small blocks, made primarily of pumice stone. They are used to remove grease and carbon buildup from all types of grills and griddles. The mild abrasive property of pumice makes it perfect for cleaning the toughest grime without scratching or removing any non-stick coating.
How do Grill bricks work?
Grill bricks work by using their abrasive surface to remove tough, baked-on grease and grime from grills. The brick is made of a material, such as pumice stone, that can effectively scrub away cooked-on food and residue. Do grill bricks require any additional cleaning agents? No, grill bricks do not require any additional cleaning agents.
Are grill bricks abrasive?
The abrasive properties of the brick are vital in breaking down and removing tough grease and residue from the grill’s surface. One of the most significant benefits of using a grill brick is its ability to remove grease and residue without the need for harsh chemicals.
Why should you use a grill brick?
The rough, porous surface of the grill brick provides multiple benefits. Firstly, the porous nature of pumice stone allows it to absorb and trap grease, oil, and debris, making it easier to clean the grill grates. Secondly, the abrasive texture of the grill brick helps to loosen and remove stuck-on food particles, carbon deposits, and rust.
What happens if you put a brick on a grill?
The abrasive nature of the brick allows it to effectively remove grease and grime from the grill, but it also means that small particles of the brick itself can break off during the cleaning process. These particles, along with the loosened grease and grime, may be left behind on the grill surface.