Best Proven Way: How to Get Tar Out of Indoor Grill

By Elena Rodriguez · January 5, 2026

Immediate Action (first 5 minutes)

When you notice that thick, black, sticky residue baking onto your grill plates, panic is a normal reaction. I've been there. You just finished cooking a batch of sugary teriyaki chicken, and now your Cuisinart Griddler looks like a disaster zone. Stop right there. Don't let it cool down completely. Tar and carbonized sugar harden into a cement-like shell once they drop below 100°F, making removal an absolute nightmare if you aren't prepared.

First, unplug the unit immediately. Safety is non-negotiable. You're dealing with hot electrical appliances and boiling liquids later on. Grab a wooden spatula or a high-heat silicone scraper. I prefer the Di Oro Seamless Series silicone spatula because it won't melt or scratch your non-stick coating. Gently scrape the bulk of the loose, gooey tar into the drip tray. Do this within the first 5 minutes while the plates are still around 150°F. If you wait until it's room temperature, you'll be scrubbing for hours. When your landlord inspects next week and you need the kitchen spotless, a crusty grill is a dead giveaway. I've lost count of how many times I've seen tenants lose their cleaning deposit over a neglected George Foreman grill.

What You'll Need (tools/products)

I've tested dozens of cleaners on my own indoor grills over the last decade. Most commercial degreasers just smear the tar around. You need a specific combination of mild abrasives and surfactants to break the carbon bonds without stripping the Teflon. Here is my exact toolkit for this job.

Item	Estimated Cost	Why I Recommend It
Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray	$5.99	Cuts through grease instantly without soaking.
Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser	$4.50	Gentle liquid abrasion that won't scratch non-stick.
Di Oro Silicone Scraper	$12.99	Heat resistant to 600°F and perfectly flexible.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (Original)	$8.49 for 8	Micro-abrasive foam lifts stubborn micro-tar spots.
Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (Pack of 12)	$15.00	High GSM traps dissolved carbon instead of spreading it.

This setup will cost you around $45 total. This isn't the cheapest option, but these supplies will last you through at least 30 deep cleanings and save your expensive grill plates from the trash can.

Step-by-Step Removal

I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. You aren't just wiping away loose crumbs. You are breaking down polymerized oils and burnt sugars. Follow these steps exactly as I've outlined them to save your non-stick surface.

Step 1: The Warm Wipe Down

Once you've scraped the bulk of the mess, take a damp microfiber cloth. Wring it out until it's just barely moist. Wipe the grill plates while they are still warm to the touch, roughly 120°F. This removes the top layer of loose grease. If the cloth turns completely black, swap it for a fresh one. Don't just keep rubbing the same dirty rag over the surface.

Step 2: Apply the Dawn Powerwash

Spray a generous, even layer of Dawn Powerwash directly onto the stubborn tar spots. I use about 10 to 12 sprays for a standard 10x10 inch grill surface. Let it sit for exactly 4 minutes. The alcohol and surfactants in this specific formula need time to penetrate the hardened carbon shell. Don't let it dry out. If it starts looking dry, give it one more quick spritz.

Step 3: The Baking Soda Paste Boost

For tar that has been baked on for multiple cooking sessions, Dawn alone won't cut it. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Stir it until it forms a thick paste, similar in consistency to toothpaste. Smear this paste directly over the worst tar patches. The mild alkalinity of the baking soda helps saponify the burnt fats.

Step 4: The Steam Softening Trick

This is my secret weapon. Boil a cup of water in your kettle. Carefully pour a thin stream of the boiling water directly over the baking soda paste on the warm grill plates. The immediate steam reaction softens the tar incredibly fast. I've tested this on my own oven racks and indoor grills, and the heat shock breaks the bond between the carbon and the metal. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Step 5: Gentle Scrubbing and Wiping

Take your silicone scraper and gently push the softened paste and tar off the plates. It should slide off like wet mud. Wipe the remaining residue with a clean, damp microfiber cloth. If you see tiny black specks left behind, lightly dampen a corner of the Magic Eraser and gently dab them. Don't scrub hard with the Magic Eraser, as it is mildly abrasive and can wear down your non-stick coating over time.

Step 6: The Final Rinse and Dry

Wipe the entire grilling surface with a cloth dampened in plain, warm water. You need to remove all soap and baking soda residue. If you leave soap behind, your next batch of chicken will taste like a laundry room. Dry the plates thoroughly with a clean towel before storing the grill away.

Alternative Methods

Sometimes the main method doesn't work, especially if you inherited a grill from a college roommate who never cleaned it. If you're dealing with years of neglect, try these backup options.

The Freezer Method (Removable Plates Only)

If your indoor grill, like the Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe, has removable plates, use the cold shock method. Scrape off the loose debris, then put the plates in a large plastic trash bag. Place them in your freezer for exactly 3 hours. The extreme cold causes the metal and the tar to contract at different rates. When you pull them out, the tar will literally pop off in brittle chunks when you flex the plate slightly. This isn't the fastest option, but it requires zero scrubbing.

The Vinegar Boil (Removable Plates Only)

Fill your kitchen sink with equal parts white vinegar and hot tap water. Submerge the removable grill plates completely. Let them soak for 45 minutes. The acetic acid in the vinegar eats away at the mineral deposits and softens the carbonized sugars. After soaking, use a soft-bristled dish brush to sweep the tar away. I recommend the OXO Good Grips Dish Brush because the bristles are stiff enough to clean but soft enough to protect Teflon.

Commercial Oven Cleaner (Use with Extreme Caution)

I only recommend this if your grill plates are bare cast iron or stainless steel, never non-stick. Spray Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner on the cold plates. Let it sit for 10 minutes in a well-ventilated area. The lye in the cleaner will dissolve the tar instantly. Wash the plates with heavy dish soap three times afterward to ensure no toxic chemicals remain. If you have a non-stick George Foreman grill, skip this method entirely. It will strip the coating right off.

Prevention Tips

Nobody wants to spend their Sunday afternoon scrubbing burnt sugar off a grill. If you have kids who demand chicken nuggets every night, or if you're meal prepping for the week and burning through chicken breasts, prevention is your best friend.

Control Your Heat: Most indoor grills only have one or two heat settings. If you're cooking something with a high sugar marinade, like teriyaki or BBQ sauce, keep the heat on the lowest setting. Sugar burns at 350°F. Keeping the surface below that threshold prevents tar formation.
Pat Meat Dry: Moisture is the enemy of a good sear. When meat is wet, it steams instead of searing, causing proteins to stick and eventually carbonize. Pat your proteins completely dry with a paper towel before they hit the grill.
Use a Grill Mat: For incredibly messy, sticky foods, I lay a piece of parchment paper or a reusable silicone grill mat over the plates. You get the grill marks without the direct contact. It saves you 15 minutes of cleanup every single time.
Wipe Between Batches: If you're cooking multiple batches of food, take 30 seconds to wipe the plates with a damp paper towel between rounds. This stops small food particles from burning into tar during the next batch.
Choose High Smoke Point Oils: Avoid using butter or extra virgin olive oil on high heat. They polymerize rapidly and create a sticky tar base. Use avocado oil or refined canola oil instead.

FAQ

Can I use steel wool on my indoor grill to remove tough tar?

Absolutely not. Steel wool will instantly destroy the non-stick Teflon coating on your indoor grill. Once that coating is scratched, the grill becomes useless and can leach harmful chemicals into your food. Always stick to silicone, wood, or soft microfiber materials when cleaning these appliances.

Why does my indoor grill smoke so much when I cook?

Excessive smoking usually means there is old, carbonized tar and grease trapped in the heating element or on the plates. When the grill heats up, this old residue burns and creates acrid smoke. Giving your grill a thorough deep clean using the Dawn Powerwash method will eliminate 90% of this smoking issue immediately.

Is it safe to use baking soda on non-stick grill plates?

Yes, baking soda is perfectly safe for non-stick surfaces when used correctly. It is a very mild abrasive that ranks low on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning it won't scratch Teflon. Just make sure you dissolve it into a paste with water rather than scrubbing with dry, gritty powder directly on the surface.

How often should I deep clean my indoor grill?

You should do a quick wipe-down after every single use while the plates are still warm. However, a full deep clean using the steam and paste method should be done every 10 to 15 cooking sessions. If you cook highly sugary or fatty foods frequently, bump that deep cleaning schedule up to once a week.