cleaning the blackened bits in the ridges of a griddle pan

[LTEC]

How?? how??? without scratching the surface how can I best do it?? it's brand new, I've only used it once!! Two turkey breasts later and .. charcoal city, baby. Help!

Depending on what it's made from (because this can ruin some pans), you could put some water in and a dishwasher tab, bring it to the boil and simmer it all for a while- make sure you open a window!- that usually does the trick for things burnt onto pans. It's probably highly dangerous with lots of toxic fumes though

it's cast iron, weighs a bloody ton - you think it's worth a go?

Not sure, I've only ever tried it with stainless steel pans. I'm guessing it was expensive if it's cast iron so you might not want to risk it.

Try Eaurouges suggestion with washing powder instead of dishwasher tab, if you don't feel happy about using dishwasher tablet. I've done that before, but admittedly not on a cast iron pan

I use washing powder all the time for pans and have used on le creuset cast iron pans with no ill effect. Washing powder is brilliant also for cleaning over shelves etc. Leave them soaking for a while (quite a while if really bad ) then rinse, wipe off. Its brilliant.

Would Oven Pride work?