Are silicone mats necessary?

[individualrelief1963]

Hey griddle folks

Do you think silicone mats for your griddle are actually necessary?
Have you ever used one?
Would you ever consider it?

I’ve been using a silicone griddle mat myself and it has been working great so far.

If you're curious, this is the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDQLM2W1?maas=maas_adg_680A6F11B2ED81470AF313FD6CD786F0_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&th=1

 

[jcam222]

100% not necessary in my opinion. Mine lives in the garage. I clean and apply a light coating of oil after every use and it has never had even a speck of rust.

 

[uncle eddie]

Mine is on my covered deck on lakefront property and I have the same experience as jcam222

Lightly oil when done, not a spec of rust, even with all the morning fog

 

[sandyut]

I don’t have a griddle but, seems like it would defeat the purpose of cooking on a griddle to cook on silicone.

 

[Smokin Okie]

I've got my griddle on a covered patio. Its a Blackstone with the removable hard cover, not hinged.

My patio has a southern exposure and we get a lot of south winds. I have a large schoolyard behind me that kicks up a lot of dust. And wind driven dust can find its way in anywhere.

So yes, I have a cover and glad I have it.

We had an actual dust storm a couple weeks ago that coated my patio and everything on it. I'd just cleaned two days before. Was glad I had the silicone cover.

 

[individualrelief1963]

I don’t have a griddle but, seems like it would defeat the purpose of cooking on a griddle to cook on silicone.

It’s actually not made for cooking on, I thought so as well. It’s just a protective cover you put on after cooking to keep your griddle clean and rust free.

 

[jcam222]

I don’t have a griddle but, seems like it would defeat the purpose of cooking on a griddle to cook on silicone.

It's just to cover the cooking surface and is removed for cooking

 

[sandyut]

It's just to cover the cooking surface and is removed for cooking

Ok that makes sense…musta been seeing that all wrong.

I cover both my grill and smoker. Big believer in keeping them out of the elements

 

[Timber II]

I just got the same cover - and built a wood cover for that one. My Blackstone lives in the fish shak where sideways rain and tree pollen and leaves and birds are also present.

I think it depends if ya keep it outside or not. If I kept it in the shop I wouldent need all that.

 

[ARsmoke]

I'd say no, water will still end up getting underneath if its in an uncovered spot.

Mine is left uncovered 24/7 here in Northwest Arkansas, aside from the time I had it covered with a silicone matt and the top is still very black. I've had it for 6 years and rust hasn't been an issue for the last 4. I bought the Blackstone seasoning in '21 from WM and used the whole tub and a tank of gas to build up the layers of oil. Been great ever since.

 

[Ishi]

I've got my griddle on a covered patio. Its a Blackstone with the removable hard cover, not hinged.

My patio has a southern exposure and we get a lot of south winds. I have a large schoolyard behind me that kicks up a lot of dust. And wind driven dust can find its way in anywhere.

So yes, I have a cover and glad I have it.

We had an actual dust storm a couple weeks ago that coated my patio and everything on it. I'd just cleaned two days before. Was glad I had the silicone cover.

View attachment 715953


View attachment 715954

Your dust made it to Iowa that day also. After the rain the windows had a red dusty layer all over them.
I started spring cleaning early and now they are shining

 

[chopsaw]

Your dust made it to Iowa

Some of it's in Missouri too . Been raining mud for a few weeks now .

 

[Smokin Okie]

Your dust made it to Iowa that day also. After the rain the windows had a red dusty layer all over them.
I started spring cleaning early and now they are shining

That was a huge low pressure system. We got wind gusts to 54 mph, measured by my backyard weather station. At that time, the low was centered in the Texas panhandle. I'm still doing fence repair.

As to the silicone cover, I got mine on sale at Tractor Supply for $20. It may not be necessary, but small price to pay.