Best Cast Iron Griddles for Home-Cooked Meals
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Victoria Rectangular Cast Iron Griddle -
Overmont Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Griddle -
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle -
NutriChef Reversible Cast Iron Griddle -
Legend Cast Iron Griddle -
Buyer's Guide
Grilling is a fun activity to do outdoors, but you can grill food without clashing with the elements in the safety of your own home. This is accomplished by using the best cast iron grills and kitchenware designed to turn a regular stove into a grilling paradise. They’re easy to use, even easier to prepare, and once you get the hang of it, they're easy to cook with. For some recipes, you don’t even need any oil to cook on these bad boys!
With these cast iron griddles, you can guarantee that you’ll have a blast cooking all types of foods, from sandwiches to meats and everything in between. There are a few key differences between products, so we’ve laid them out for you, too. So, without further ado, let’s get into the best cast iron griddles in 2022 you can buy online right now.
Victoria Rectangular Cast Iron Griddle
- Seasoned with flaxseed oil
- Flaxseed oil is Kosher certified and Non-GMO
- Flaxseed oil can be a hassle to remove if you don’t want to use it
Overmont Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Griddle
- Cooks big batches of food
- Easy to hold and clean
- Flat side can be bumpy
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle
- Pre-seasoned with 1% natural vegetable oil
- Diagonal grill
- Grip is too small
NutriChef Reversible Cast Iron Griddle
- Sleek design
- Dishwasher safe
- Difficult handle placement
Legend Cast Iron Griddle
- Easy grip
- Scratch-free finish
- Design may not be for everyone
Comparing the Best Cast Iron Griddles of 2022
Victoria Rectangular Cast Iron Griddle - Best Overall
Have you ever heard of a ready-to-use cast iron grill? That’s right - this cast iron grill can be pulled right out of the box and used immediately, but not in the way that you think. It doesn’t just come ready to use - it’s also seasoned with flaxseed oil! This means that you don’t even need to prepare the grill before using it - simply slap on whatever you want to grill right on top, and you’re ready to go! If you’re curious about the flaxseed oil that they use, here are a couple of details. Firstly, the oil is Kosher certified, a testament to the brand’s eye for quality. Secondly, the oil is non-GMO. If you really want to grill as soon as possible, this seasoned cast iron grill is perfect for you.
- Seasoned with flaxseed oil
- Flaxseed oil is Kosher certified and Non-GMO
- Flaxseed oil can be a hassle to remove if you don’t want to use it
Overmont Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Griddle - Most User-Friendly
If you are short of space for an actual grill, this griddle grill pan from Overmont is a great alternative. It features cast iron construction that is pre-seasoned for developing a caramelized crust. There are vertical ridges on one side while the other is a plain flat griddle. It is suitable for a variety of cooking surfaces including gas stoves, ovens, and induction cooktops. It heats up fast and evenly hence cooks quickly too.
- Cooks big batches of food
- Easy to hold and clean
- Flat side can be bumpy
The griddle is 17 inches long, 9.8 inches wide, and weighs about 8.8 pounds. It has a built-in grease reservoir to prevent grease from ruining your cooktops. Plus, there are two scrappers with straight and curved edges for easy cleaning.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle - Honorable Mention
Grills are interesting in the sense that most of them are lined perpendicular to your stove. This creates vertical lines and, for the most part, is what you’d normally expect when grilling something. However, what if you wanted a grill with diagonal patterns instead? The Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron grill is perfect if you’re looking for something a little spicier than your average cast iron grill. Now, you may be wondering - why would you ever need a diagonal cast iron grill? Well, the answer is simple - you technically don’t. You could always turn your food to an angle to make it have diagonal grill patterns instead. But if you prefer the style of a diagonal grill, at least there’s one out there for you. It also helps that the grill is pre-seasoned with 1% natural vegetable oil, letting you grill right out of the box.
- Pre-seasoned with 1% natural vegetable oil
- Diagonal grill
- Grip is too small
NutriChef Reversible Cast Iron Griddle - Honorable Mention
One major factor that goes into the decision-making of every homeowner is design. This is especially true if you’re one who loves to stick to themes when designing a space such as a kitchen. If you’re one of those homeowners with an eye for modern minimalism and simplicity, then this grill is for you. With sharp corners and straight lines, this grill looks like more of a grid, and is perfect if you want something that looks stylish over your stove. This cast iron grill plate is reversible, meaning that you can use both the flat side and the grilled side for different results while cooking. The grill is also dishwasher safe, so after you’re done using it, you can just place it in the dishwasher to clean it up. The only real downside to this grill is that it can be pretty difficult to hold it up when there’s food on top, especially while it’s hot, but if you can get past that, there’s a lot to love about this grill.
- Sleek design
- Dishwasher safe
- Difficult handle placement
Legend Cast Iron Griddle - Contender
Finally, here’s a griddle that doesn’t have handles on the diagonal edges. With the handles placed at the center of the sides, you’ll find it very easy to hold and carry the grill around. You could even bring the whole griddle to the table (with the right set-up, of course) while the food’s still cooking on it for some really exotic-looking meals. The easy-grip opens up a lot of opportunities for the creative cook. But that’s not all the griddle has to offer. This griddle has a scratch-free finish, making it look good as new for a long time. It also has a seasoning of vegetable oil applied to it, letting you cook immediately after it arrives. If there’s one gripe we have regarding the grill, it’s the design, but even that’s a subjective critique, and you very well could find this style of griddle appealing.
- Easy grip
- Scratch-free finish
- Design may not be for everyone
Buyer's Guide
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.
