Grill / Flat Top Cleaning SOP
Daily grill and flat top cleaning SOP: cool-down, carbon scraping, degreasing, sanitizing, and seasoning.
- Estimated time
- 20 min
- Frequency
- daily
- Business type
- restaurant
- Category
- cleaning
- Role
- line cook
- Role
- kitchen manager
Purpose
Remove carbon buildup and grease safely so the cooking surface is ready for the next service.
Run this grill cleaning SOP after the last ticket or during a scheduled break-down. Never scrape a hot surface: confirm cool-down before starting.
Cool-Down
Confirm the surface is safe to clean.
-
Surface cooled to safe touch temperature
Pass / Fail
-
Required PPE worn (gloves, eye protection)
Scraping & Wash
Remove carbon and grease buildup.
-
Carbon buildup scraped from surface
-
Surface washed with approved degreaser
-
Grease trough emptied and wiped
Finish
Sanitize and prepare for next service.
-
Surface sanitized and passes inspection
Pass / Fail
-
Re-seasoned per equipment manual (if needed) (optional)
-
Grill maintenance notes or repair requests (optional)
Note
Frequently asked questions
How often should a flat top grill be deep cleaned?
Scrape and wipe down after every service period. Full carbon removal and sanitizing happens at close per this daily SOP.
When is it safe to clean a flat top grill?
Wait until the surface is cool enough to touch with a gloved hand: typically 30–45 minutes after shutdown. Use the cool-down pass-fail check before scraping.
Should I re-season the flat top after cleaning?
Re-season if you stripped the cooking surface or used aggressive chemicals. Light daily cleaning usually only needs a thin oil wipe: check your equipment manual.
What PPE is required for grill cleaning?
Heat-resistant gloves, eye protection when using degreaser, and non-slip shoes. Confirm PPE on the checklist before scraping.
How long does flat top cleaning take?
Plan about 20 minutes including cool-down wait time. Split scraping and sanitizing between two cooks to finish faster.
Want this checklist in an app your team can run daily?
SOP Chef templates fix the blank page. The app will track temps, completion, and inspector-ready logs. Join the waitlist for one email when it ships.