How to Clean a Cleveland Tilt Skillet
A tilt skillet is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment in a commercial kitchen. Cleveland makes some of the best in business, allowing chefs to easily braise meat or whip up brown and fluffy hotcakes. Like any commercial equipment, routine cleaning is essential to ensuring peak performance. Below are easy instructions for how to clean a Cleveland tilt skillet and braising pan properly.
What You'll Need:
- Warm water
- Mild detergent
- Bucket
- Nylon brush
- Sponge
- Towels
Cleveland SGL & SEL Tilt Skillet Cleaning Instructions
Follow these steps to clean a Cleveland SGL and SEL tilt skillet:
Step 1. Prepare the Unit
Start by switching off the tilt skillet and unplugging it from the wall outlet. Make sure the unit is cool to the touch.
Step 2. Remove the Drain Screen (If Applicable)
Select tilt skillets have a drain screen. Remove it from the unit, and wash it thoroughly in a sink or dishwasher. If you choose to clean it by hand in a sink, use mild detergent and scrub with a brush or sponge.
Step 3. Combine Water & Detergent
Combine warm water and mild detergent into a bucket. This will be used for scrubbing down the machine.
Step 4. Remove Food Particles from the Interior
With your nylon brush, remove any stuck-on food from the interior of the cooking pan. If anything is stuck after scrubbing, pour some water and detergent in the interior and let it soak. In lieu of detergent, Cleveland recommends using baking soda, vinegar, ammonia or alcohol-based substitutes for difficult applications. After soaking, scrub again with the nylon brush.
Step 5. Drain & Rinse
Once the food particles are loosened and removed from the interior surface, drain the unit. Then, add more water and rinse thoroughly.
Step 6. Clean the Tangent Draw-Off Valve (If Applicable)
Cleveland units are equipped with a tangent draw-off valve. Make sure to following the procedure below, if necessary:
- Disassemble the valve – Remove the valve by turning its knob counterclockwise. Then, turn the large hex nut counterclockwise to remove the valve stem free from the valve body.
- Wash the valve – Wash the inside of the valve body in a sink using warm water and detergent. Scrub with the nylon brush.
- Clean the tangent draw-off tube – Use the soapy mix from your bucket and the nylon brush to scrub the tangent draw-off tube. Once the area is clean, rinse with fresh water.
- Reassemble the valve – Reassembly the valve by reversing the disassembly procedure above. Don't over-tighten the hex nut. It only should be hand tight.
Step 7. Clean the Butterfly Valve (If Applicable)
Cleveland units are equipped with a butterfly valve. Make sure to following the procedure below, if necessary:
- Open the valve – Place the butterfly valve in the open position.
- Wash the opened valve – Using the warm water and detergent, wash the area. Remove any food particles with a nylon brush.
- Rinse – Once the area is clean, rinse the opened valve with fresh water.
- Leave the valve open – Leave the valve open when the unit isn't being used.
Step 8. Clean the Exterior
Use the mixture of warm water and mild detergent to wash the exterior of the unit. Scrub using a soft, non-abrasive sponge. Cleveland recommends using baking soda, vinegar, ammonia or alcohol-based substitutes for difficult applications. Once the exterior surface is clean, rinse using fresh water. Then, dry with a towel.
What to Avoid
When cleaning a Cleveland tilt skillet, make sure to avoid the following:
- Do not use chloride-based cleaners – These contain elements that are harmful to stainless steel.
- Do not use a scraper or metal brush – Both a scraper and metal-bristle brush can damage the interior and exterior surfaces of the unit.
- Do not use steel wool – Steel wool and other abrasive scrub pads also can damage the interior and exterior surfaces of the unit.
- Do not use a high-pressure hose – A high-pressure spray hose should not be used when cleaning or rinsing the tilt skillet.
Looking for more cleaning or maintenance tips? Our collection of Cleveland manuals have more information to help you out.