Help! My Griddle Warped. What Do I Do?

From our friends at Napoleon!

There’s nothing better than firing up the flat top to smash some burgers, stir-fry veggies, or sear a juicy steak—whether you’re cooking on a Napoleon Griddle Cart or using our sleek Stainless Steel Griddle Insert for your grill. But picture this: you’re mid-cook, everything’s rolling along, and suddenly… your griddle surface isn’t flat anymore. Yep, it’s warped.

Before you panic, take a deep breath. This might look rough, but don’t worry—griddle warping is more common than you’d think, and the good news is, it’s totally fixable. In this article, we’ll break down what’s going on, why it happens, and most importantly, how to get your griddle back in shape. Step one? Don’t sweat it. We’ve got you covered.

Warping vs. Deflection

There are two types of movement that your griddle can experience. Warping and thermal deformation or deflection.

Deflection is minor. You might notice liquids pooling slightly, but the surface remains stable and usable.
Warping, on the other hand, is more obvious. The cooking surface will visibly bend or lift, and your griddle may even rock or feel unstable on the cart. That’s when you know thermal stress has taken hold.

Is a Warped Griddle Normal?

Surprisingly, yes—it’s actually a completely normal occurrence with stainless steel and hot rolled steel griddles, especially during the early days of use. In fact, slight warping can happen up to five times before the material naturally adjusts. This process is called tempering, where the steel gets accustomed to the heat cycles of cooking, becoming more resilient over time.

PRO TIP: Tempering is a heat treatment process used to increase toughness by reducing the hardness of steel or cast iron—making it ideal for cookware like griddles.

Why Did My Griddle Warp?

There are a few different reasons for your stainless steel flat top griddle to have warped, but the main one is due to any extreme temperature fluctuations.

Uneven preheating or uneven temperatures can cause griddle warping especially if some burners are set to high while the others are off.
Extended preheating then placing frozen food onto the griddle – for example frozen burgers – sometimes warping can even happen mid cook.
Using cold water to clean while the griddle is still hot or trying to cool the surface quickly with cold water or ice.
Cleaning the griddle with copious amounts of water instead of small squirts from a squeeze bottle can also shock the surface and cause warping.

The Science Behind Warped Griddles

Most griddles are made from relatively thin sheets of metal. When part of the surface suddenly cools (say, from frozen food or cold water), that section shrinks rapidly while the hotter areas stay expanded. The uneven expansion and contraction cause the griddle to warp. Over time, regular use will help temper the steel so it’s less prone to this happening.

How to Fix a Warped Griddle Surface

There are a few different reasons for your stainless steel flat top griddle to have warped, but the main one is due to any extreme temperature fluctuations.

How to Fix Deflection

Remove the food from the cooktop
Turn the burners on your unit to high for around 20 or 30 minutes allowing the cooktop to heat evenly.
Allow the griddle to come up to the temperature it was heated to before food was added and the surface warped. This should eliminate the thermal stress and bring the cooktop back to flat.

How to Fix Warping

Turn off the heat and let the griddle cool completely.
Place large, heat-safe pots filled with hot water on the warped areas.
Turn the burners back on, heating the griddle to the temperature it was at when the warping occurred.
The weight of the pots combined with the heat should help return the griddle to its original shape.

When to Call Customer Solutions

If you have tried both techniques listed above, and you still haven’t been able to set your griddle to a good, flat surface, it’s time to call our Customer Solutions department. They will be happy to help you with your issues. Before reaching out to our Customer Solutions Team, check out this article with tips and best practices.

How to Prevent Your Griddle From Warping and Other Tips and Tricks for Griddle Maintenance and Performance

Even Preheating: Start all burners on low or medium-low, gradually increasing the heat. Even heat distribution is key.
Regular Use: The more you use your griddle, the better it performs—thanks to the natural tempering process.
Proper Seasoning: Season your griddle with a thin layer of oil after each cleaning. Avoid over-seasoning, which can create thick, uneven layers that affect performance.
Smart Cleaning: After cooking, clean the hot griddle using warm water from a squeeze bottle and a griddle scraper or cleaning stone. Avoid shocking the surface with cold water or ice.

Rogue PRO Phantom Griddle vs. Freestyle Griddle

Napoleon’s cart model Griddles come in both Stainless Steel in the Rogue® PRO Phantom 30-inch Griddle or the Carbon Hot Rolled Steel Freestyle 24-inch griddle. Both provide incredibly searing and awesome griddling prowess, the only question is, what unit will you choose?

Napoleon Griddles

From barbecue breakfast to sizzling stir-fries, these Griddles with consistent edge-to-edge heat bring chef-level control outdoors.

People Also Asked:

Why Did My Stainless Steel Griddle Warp?

Rapid changes in temperature on your stainless steel griddle flat top can cause the metal to warp. This can happen when frozen foods, ice, or cold water are placed onto the very hot surface. This is normal and fixable. Simply returning the cooktop to the high temperature it was at before the shocking change in temperature happened and leaving it there for up to 30 minutes, should correct the issue.

How to Fix a Warped Griddle?

Commonly happening because of rapid temperature changes called thermal shock, a warped griddle is easily fixed by reheating it to the temperature it was at before the warping happened and leaving it at this temperature for around 30 minutes. If the warping is stubborn, large pots filled with hot water placed onto the surface while heating the griddle back up to the temperature when the incident happened should set everything to rights again.

What Does it Mean When a Griddle Warps?

If your griddle has warped, it’s likely due to thermal shock, which happens when the surface experiences sudden, extreme temperature changes. This can occur if you preheat the griddle unevenly or place something much colder—like ice, frozen food, or cold water—onto a hot cooking surface.

How Do I Prevent Warping My Stainless Steel Griddle?

Avoid preheating your stainless steel flat top griddle to high immediately. Instead start at a lower temperature, slowly increasing the temperature over time when preheating. Cold water, frozen food, and ice on a very hot griddle can cause warping as well. Instead, use a squeeze bottle with warm or hot water and cooking foods that have been properly thawed. When cleaning, use a squeeze bottle and less water, opting for a scraper instead when cleaning. These steps will help prevent warping of your stainless steel griddle.

Keep Your Griddle Flat and Your BBQ Game Strong

We get it—seeing your griddle warp can be a bit of a downer. But the good news? It’s usually not permanent, and with the right care, it’s often completely avoidable. Your griddle’s built tough to handle the heat, but showing it a little love while you’re preheating, cooking, and cleaning can help keep that surface flat, steady, and ready for your next backyard cookout. What’s your go-to griddle meal? We’d love to see it! Share your recipes, grilling stories, and tasty photos with us on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtags #NapoleonEats and #NapoleonGrills.

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