Cleaning & seasoning your CADAC grill: tips for spotless grill plates

If you've been following us for a while, you know we're big fans of the super-modular grills from CADAC | Dometic. The first thing that joined our camper setup almost 15 years ago, right at the start of our camper life, was the little Safari Chef. Several other models followed as part of a partnership with the manufacturer, most recently the brand-new Van Cook and the 1 Cook. We received them for test reviews and recipe videos.

But in the camping community, you often hear or read that cleaning the grill plates is a bit of a hassle. So today we want to share our personal tips, hacks, and experience to make cleaning up easier for you.

Right off the bat: with the ceramic-coated non-stick grill plates (available since 2018), cleaning has gotten a lot easier. Still, the grill grate in particular tends to hold onto burnt food residue, especially from meat and fat. That needs a bit more attention when you're washing up.

Burnt-on bits of meat or sausages are often hard to get off the grill grate.

Cleaning starts before you even grill

Seasoning and oiling the plates

You should season new grill plates and grates with CADAC | Dometic's CeramiCoat ceramic coating, known for its durability, once before using them properly for the first time. According to the manufacturer, the coating is made without intentionally added PFAS.

Matthias from CADAC | Dometic gave us this seasoning tip in our podcast episode about grilling while camping. We've done it with every new plate ever since. Only after seasoning does the coating actually work the way it's supposed to. If you skip this step, you'll often wonder later why everything sticks.

After every cleaning, a super-thin film of oil on the plates helps, similar to seasoning a cast-iron pan. A few drops of sunflower oil, spread with a paper towel, protect against moisture and surface rust. That matters especially if the grill sits in storage for a while. Wipe off any excess oil, otherwise it'll drip.

Two more things: don't season or oil the grease tray. And be careful with high heat, since the lightweight cast-aluminum plates can warp. Never seasoned your grill before? No problem, you can do it anytime, even after a few seasons of use.

Use a few small helpers

The easiest cleaning job is the one you skip entirely. A few simple steps before you start grilling mean barely anything sticks, so there's hardly anything left to clean afterward.

Grill mat (ø 52 cm): Food sticks less, and less of it falls into the grill.
Non-stick liner (Non-Stick Skottel Liner): It protects the Skottel, the large grill pan. Afterward, there's almost nothing to clean.
Fill the grease tray with a bit of sand: The fat binds to it, and you simply scoop it out later. This tip comes straight from CADAC | Dometic, and hardly anyone knows it.
Oil it lightly before grilling: Using sunflower oil or the Non-Stick Cooking Spray means less sticks from the very start. Never leave the cooking surface on the grill without oil.
Bring food to room temperature: Let meat or fish come to room temperature before cooking. That way, less sticks to the plate.

The basic cleaning kit

You can handle surface dirt and residue that isn't too stubborn with everyday dish-washing tools. All you need:

a sponge or a soft dish brush,
dish soap,
and hot water.

What you should definitely avoid, though, are hard brushes, steel wool, or metal-coated sponges, the kind used for cast-iron or stainless steel grates. They'd scratch the CeramiCoat non-stick coating and ruin it for good.

Clean the grill with simple tools: dish brush, sponge, and washing-up liquid

Our household tips

You don't need to buy expensive cleaners to loosen stubborn residue. You've probably got everything you need at home already.

Baking soda: Loosens burnt-on grime and neutralizes odors.
Vinegar: Combined with baking soda, it creates foam that lifts the residue.
Citric acid: Great against grease and limescale.
A halved lemon: For rubbing off light stains, and it leaves a fresh smell too.

The classic trick: sprinkle baking soda on the plate, pour vinegar over it, and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Even the most stubborn grill residue comes off pretty easily this way. I'll walk you through exactly how below. By the way, you can use the same tricks to clean your camper's gas stove.

Household tips for cleaning the grill: baking soda, citric acid, vinegar, and hot water against grease and burnt-on residue

Cleaning accessories from CADAC | Dometic

For tougher residue, you'll find the right accessories at the CADAC | Dometic online shop or at camping retailers. They're also gentle enough for more sensitive cooking surfaces:

Soft Soak (soak trays 2 Cook, 30, 40, 50): Form-fitting trays for soaking the plate, depending on your grill model.
Soft Soak Brush: Soft brush with a storage case, suitable for all CeramiCoat ceramic surfaces.
GreenGrill brush: Hand brush made specifically for CeramiCoat cooking surfaces.
Cleaning spray: For chrome, enamel, and coated parts when water alone isn't enough.
Cleaning set 40: A ready-made package, handy if you're just getting started.

Please don't use abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the surfaces too.

CADAC grill cleaner and tools for cleaning the non-stick surfaces

Cleaning depends on the surface

Not every CADAC grate is the same. Your approach depends on the surface type.

Ceramic / CeramiCoat: Warm soapy water and a soft brush or sponge. No abrasives, no steel wool.
Enameled: Soapy water, no metal tools — otherwise the enamel will chip off.
Chrome-plated: Can handle more. A scouring sponge is fine here if needed, but be gentle.

Cleaning your CADAC grill: step by step

This guide assumes you're dealing with heavily burnt-on residue. A bit of oil residue or a piece of eggplant skin comes off quickly without any special steps.

Cleaning the grill: removing burnt-on residue and grease

Step 1: Wipe off excess grease with a paper towel while it's still warm. Grease doesn't belong in the toilet or the sink — throw the paper towel in the regular trash. Then let the cooking surface cool completely before adding water. Extreme temperature changes can warp it.

Cleaning the CADAC grill grease tray: removing excess grease and grill residue with paper towel

Step 2: Soak the grease tray in warm water with a bit of washing-up liquid. You should clean the grease tray after every grilling session. Old grease residue can ignite the next time you fire up the grill. You can read more about what to watch out for when grilling with gas on our site.

Cleaning the CADAC grill grease tray: soaking with hot water and dish soap

Step 3: Place the grill plate in a Soft Soak tray and cover it with hot water, 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and a splash of vinegar if needed. Alternatively, CADAC | Dometic recommends soaking the surface overnight in hot water with a bit of washing-up liquid.

Cleaning a dirty grill grate with baking soda and vinegar.

Tip for paella and chef pans: Pour in a small amount of vinegar and heat it gently. The vinegar doesn't need to boil or evaporate. Then pour it out and clean with soapy water. Fair warning: it can smell pretty unpleasant.

Step 4: After an hour or several hours, check with your finger whether the residue is loosening. If not, just wait until the next day.

After soaking, the grease loosens on the CADAC grill grate

Step 5: Go over it with a soft brush or sponge and rinse everything off.

The CADAC CeramiCoat non-stick coating should only be scrubbed with soft brushes.

Step 6: For particularly stubborn, crusted-on grime, apply CADAC cleaning spray or rub it with a halved lemon. Then soak it again.

Spraying CADAC grill cleaner spray for stubborn stains

Step 7:Finally, rinse with clear water and dry well with a soft cloth. Then spread a few drops of oil over the surface and you're done.

After cleaning, clear water is enough for rinsing

How to keep the coating intact for a long time

The ceramic coating is tough, but there are a few things it doesn't like:

Skip metal tools and scouring pads, as well as harsh or abrasive cleaners. Grill tongs and spatulas made of silicone or wood are ideal.
Don't pour cold water onto the still-hot plate — the temperature shock damages the coating. And don't let the plate run empty at full heat either.
The CeramiCoat material conducts heat better than classic PTFE non-stick coatings. That's why the manufacturer recommends using only about 75 percent of the heat you'd normally use.

If you keep that in mind, the coating will last many years.

Drying and storing

After cleaning, dry everything thoroughly so no surface rust forms during longer breaks between uses. Before storing, apply the thin film of oil mentioned above to the plates.

For transport and storage, it's worth always packing the individual parts carefully in the bags provided. That keeps the packed size compact, everything stays neatly stored, and the components don't get scratched. That way, the grill is ready to go again next season.

Häufige Fragen

Can the CADAC grill plate go in the dishwasher?

According to CADAC | Dometic, most coated cooking surfaces and the grease tray are dishwasher-safe. However, hand washing is explicitly recommended to make the coating last longer. With warm water, dish soap, and a soft brush, it's quick anyway.

What should you do if the coating comes off?

Usually it's not the coating coming off, but a baked-on layer of fat and protein that just looks that way. Typical signs are brown spots where food sticks. Soak the plate in hot water with a bit of baking soda, then go over it with a soft brush.

Metal sponges and steel brushes are off-limits — they really do scratch the ceramic. If actual coating is peeling off, the plate has reached the end of its life. Replacement plates are available individually, so you don't have to buy a whole new grill.

Can a CADAC grill plate be recoated?

Recoating usually isn't worth it. A matching replacement plate costs less than professional recoating and is ready to use right away. When buying, make sure you get the exact model, since plates vary depending on the grill.

Do I need to season the grill plate before first use?

For new plates with a ceramic coating, it's worth it. Apply a thin layer of oil, heat on medium for two to three minutes, let cool, then clean with a bit of dish soap. After that, less food sticks and the plate is easier to clean.

How do I clean stubborn burnt-on residue off the plate?

Don't scrape, soak instead. Pour hot water with baking soda onto the cooled plate, let it sit for one to several hours, then loosen with a soft brush. For really stubborn spots, CADAC cleaning spray or a halved lemon helps.

How do I clean the CADAC pizza stone?

Never clean the stone with water and dish soap, or it will soak it all up. Let leftovers cool, then brush them off dry or scrape them off the surface with a spatula. Burnt-in spots on the stone are normal and don't affect how it works.

PS: We'll show you how to bake pizza on the grill in a separate article :)

Cleaning your CADAC grill: accessories, tips & hacks for spotless grill plates