If you want to do any sort of grilling or cooking without going outside, then a cast iron griddle is one of the best ways to go. Learn more about this versatile cooking tool and what you should know when buying one by reading on.
What is a Cast Iron Griddle?
A cast iron griddle is a grill plate made out of cast iron that’s used to grill and cook various meals, either on a flat or grilled surface. Cast iron is a material that’s made out of both carbon and iron and is used in other kitchen appliances as well, such as many pots and pans.
Benefits of Having a Cast Iron Griddle
It makes cooking fun
Cooking can be a fun experience, especially if you’re making a recipe of your own or if you’re trying out something new. Sometimes, however, cooking can feel a little repetitive when you’re making the same old meals every week. A great way to keep things interesting is by using other kitchen appliances to change the way you cook and the food you cook it with. In this case, a cast iron griddle can serve as the perfect source of more interesting meals, as it has two different grilling options for added variety.
You can grill indoors
Grilling has always been seen as an outdoor activity, and for many people, it still is. There’s nothing like hanging in your backyard with some friends while you grill up some food to go with your drinks. But not everybody’s a fan of having to grill outdoors - maybe the weather just isn’t ideal, or you can’t stand the insects and bugs that may fly around outside your house.
With a cast iron grill, you can avoid outdoor grilling entirely. By using the grilled side of the cast iron griddle, you can cook your favorite meats, burgers, sandwiches, and what have you all inside your home. Of course, you’ll still have to know how to grill in the first place, but at least you won’t have to do it with flies buzzing down your neck in the middle of a hot summer day.
Tips for Using a Cast Iron Griddle
Line the cast iron griddle properly
Cast iron griddles are often reversible - this means that you can use either side of the griddle to cook and grill food depending on what side you prefer to use. This can be handy, but it comes at the cost of having no way to secure your griddle on a stove. You’re basically relying on the stove to hold up your griddle, which means that any nudging can easily move the griddle around, and in the worst cases, even tip them over.
To solve this, be sure you’ve placed the griddle in just the right spot before turning on the stove. Try centering the griddle horizontally and vertically so that the griddle is perfectly balanced, minimizing the chances of it tipping over. Additionally, you’ll want to always keep in mind that the griddle can be nudged, and try not to move it around if you can. Of course, the griddle will be extremely hot when cooking, so you’ll be trying to avoid contact anyways, but it’s worth noting regardless.
Clean both sides after using
Since cast iron griddles are reversible, while one side of the griddle is used to cook or grill food, the other side is exposed to the flames of the stove or grill. This can make the bottom part of the griddle fairly dirty, and you’ll want to ensure that you clean not just the top but the bottom half of the griddle as well. Not all cast iron griddles are dishwasher safe, so it’s important to keep this in mind should you have the privilege of cleaning the griddle after use.
Make use of the pre-seasoning
While not all brands do this, many cast iron griddle companies put vegetable oil on top of the cast iron griddle before selling them. This is done so that the buyer can immediately take the griddle out of the box and use it as soon as it arrives. The oil used for this pre-seasoning can vary from brand to brand - some use regular vegetable oil, whereas others use special oils such as 100% Kosher certified flaxseed oil.
So, when you get your cast iron griddle, check to see if the griddle’s been pre-seasoned. If it has, then you don’t need to prepare anything - just place the grill on the stove whenever you feel like cooking. However, if you don’t actually like the choice of oil that they used, or if you don’t want to use oil at all, you can remove the oil with a towel instead. This may take some time, and may also require you to wash the griddle, but if you want to get rid of the oil, you don’t have any other option available.
Cast Iron Griddle Price Range
Cast iron griddles are affordable, but you’d be surprised by how varied the prices can be from brand to brand. Some brands sell their cast iron griddles for less than $30, with many being around $25. Other brands, however, sell their cast iron griddles for up to twice that amount, with a price of around $50 for a griddle of similar size. And seeing as they’re all made of cast iron, this can be quite surprising. Luckily for you, there isn’t that much of a difference between brands no matter the price, so you can always pick whatever fits your budget.
Best Cast Iron Griddle FAQs
Q: What are cast iron griddles used for?
A: Cast iron griddles are used to cook and grill food on a stove. The griddle is heated by the stove’s flames and the cast iron cooks the food above it.
Q: Are cast iron griddles pre-seasoned with oil?
A: While not all brands do this, some offer pre-seasoned cast iron griddles, allowing you to use the griddle as soon as it arrives home.
Q: Is a cast iron griddle worth it?
A: If you like grilling meat or cooking over a flat surface as opposed to a pan or pot, then a griddle can serve as an invaluable addition to your kitchen.