It doesn’t matter at what season you are in; grilling is always fun and joyous. With the smell of the meat or vegetables that are being grilled, it just makes your mouth salivating. And the best part of grilling is that it can be done anywhere, at any place, and at any time, unless the people around you really don’t like food and dislikes grilling.
For a little bit of history, grilling was for the most part used in campsites and picnic. It was necessary back then because in order to cook anything else, utensils and other things were needed. Hence grilling just fit right in with the situation. But after World War II, backyard grilling started to become a thing and it caught on very fast. It went from nearby parks, house communities, to even a family BBQ gathering.
Grilling has spread so wide that in fact different methods and ways of grilling were also introduced. Back in the day, if you were thinking of grilling, you’d need a grill pit in the backyard. But what if we told you that at this day of age, you can grill on your stove. What if we said that it’s the same old flavor but a lot easier.
Grilling is fun and it’s a great way to gather your friends around and have a party. But depending on your situation or of where you are, how you are going to grill can depend. But we are all assuming and we are sure of it that you all have a kitchen. And sometimes, you might feel like grilling but you just don’t have the grilling machine.
But later you find that you can grill in the kitchen using grill pans. And we are also assuming that this is why you are here. Now this all can be confusing and because of all this, we have searched, found and reviewed some of the best grill pans that are available on the market today. And as we go through, we will talk about these pans and give you people some heads up of what is what, so that you can be aware and understand of what you buy.
Best Pick
Lodge LPGI3 takes our best pick spot because of its usage. You can use this grill pan/ griddle anywhere on any heat source and can grill some prefect meat. The best part about this is that it’s reversible, meaning you can cook almost anything and because of cast iron; the Lodge LPGI3 is hard as stone.
Budget Pick
The budget pick goes to Lodge L8SGP3 which is a squared grill pan. If you are looking for a standard pan that gives the benefits of grilling then the Lodge L8SGP3 has it. Constructed with cast iron and having a space of 10.5 inch, you can grill your hearts out and make yourself proud.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Grill Pans
1. Lodge LPGI3 Cast Iron Reversible Grill
The Lodge LPGI3 is an interesting type of grill because it’s more of a griddle than a grill pan. First thing first, the construction of this griddle is of iron cast. Because of iron cast, it’s highly durable and is recommended for any heavy grilling or any high heat usage.
And since this is made of iron cast, pre-seasoning is an issue but this griddle comes pre-seasoned, hence you don’t have to worry about it after buying it. The dimension of this griddle is 20 x 10.44 inch which gives you a very wide space for you grilling that is perfect if you want to lay out your veggies and meat.
Now when it comes to features, the Lodge LPGI3 has many with the most notable it being a reversible grill. Because of this option of being reversible, you can grill depending on your needs and also increases versatility, so you can cook pancakes, eggs, hotdogs etc. Because of the size and flat design, you can use it on a stove, inside an oven, on a pit or at any place you see fit.
Highlighted Features
2. Lodge L8SGP3 Cast Iron Square Grill Pan
We have another Lodge amongst ourselves but this time it’s a pan instead of a griddle. From the get-go, you can see that this is constructed of cast iron. This hard construction gives the rigidity of harsh use which is what you need for grilling, whether it is inside the house or outside.
The pan comes pre-seasoned since it’s made of cast iron, so you don’t need to worry about seasoning it after buying it and can use it from the start. This is a 10.5 inch pan, which gives you enough space to grill your large piece of chicken or a steak. The grill pan also has a space for hanging your grill pan.
The pan comes with grilled styled surface making it suitable for steak and chicken. Because of the material of the pan, you can use this grill pan on various heat surfaces like the gas stove, campfire, oven etc.
Highlighted Features
3. Cuisinart CI30-23CR Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan
Cuisinart is a well-known company when it comes to company utensils. Cuisinart CI30-23CR is a cast iron grill pan with porcelain enamel. Because of the porcelain enamel exterior, it gives the grill pan a vibrant color and a more premium feeling.
The cast iron surface on the inside is perfect for all your grilling needs. And because of the unique collaboration with porcelain and cast iron, the Cuisinart CI30-23CR really shows its toughness in style.
This grilling pan is very versatile meaning you can use this grill pan in an oven, on an induction cooker, or can even use it for broiling. But one of the unique aspects about this grill pan is that on the left side, you can see that there is a small part that is curved making it more like a tip that can be helpful when cooking something gravy. Also, this pan is dishwasher safe so that is always a good thing because it saves time on your part.
Highlighted Features
4. Weber Style 6435 Professional-Grade Grill Pan
This is an interesting one that really sticks well with our Lodge LPGI3 fella but with more interesting tidbits. Now, Weber 6435 grill pan follows in the accessory departments in the Weber range of products. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use this product on other things.
But unfortunately, the Weber 6435 grill pan cannot be used on a gas stove. It is recommended that you use it on charcoal or gas grills. To be precise, this piece of equipment is usable with Weber Q300/3000 and larger gas grills, 22 inch and larger charcoal grills. Now you can ask me of why is this a grill pan when you need a grill to use this grill pan.
Well, since this falls in the Weber accessory department for their grills, this is more used as an accessory rather than a whole product. But the reason of why we have put this in our review is because this is a grill pan and it is used for grilling but for specific purposes.
Now that all that is out of the way, we can focus on the component itself. The bare construction of this grill pan is of stainless steel. Since you will not be using this grill pan on any direct heat source, aluminum is perfect for this product. Because of its bare minimum construction, the usage gets pretty simple.
This grill is recommended for using when grilling fish or any delicate type of produce that may break or fall while being grilled. The flat surface gives this grill pan ability to secure your fragile food while helping it keep its original purpose. The surface of the grill pan is designed in such a way that the heat can spread evenly and have better air and heat flow.
Highlighted Features
5. Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Grill Pan
The Calphalon grill pan is a simple pan that is packed with ideas and design that makes this grill pan very unique. Right off the bat, we see that this pan is constructed with heavy gauge aluminum. Now, heavy gauge aluminum is good for heat spread but not necessarily a great material for grilling.
But the heavy gauge aluminum has been hard anodized which helps it increase its rigidity. Now, the pan is nonstick and in fact has 3 layers of nonstick coating, which helps in your grilling and because of the high ridges, your produce get grilled perfectly and gives you that authentic texture.
Due to the size and the design of the grill pan, you can use this pan on various heat source starting from the gas stove, induction to even stove. This is an 11 inch grill pan that gives you a good amount of space for your meat or long veggies. This grilling pan is also dishwasher safe; hence you don’t have to worry about spending your time washing it.
Highlighted Features
6. TeChef - Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan
A very unusual designed grill pan from TeChef, but with many unique features. To start off with, the design and the color is very unique and premium looking. You have to understand that this is a Korean BBQ grill pan. Now while they have their own ways of grilling, nevertheless, this is a grill pan and you can also grill your food very easily.
The unique circular shape and the swirl design on the surface actually have a purpose. Because of the different levels of surface, it helps your produce gets grilled just like the standard grills. At the edge of the surface you can see that the swirl shapes have uplifted and that is due to the feature of removing extra fat.
Because of the swirl design, not only it helps you grill your meat but also helps you reduce the fatty oil by draining it through the hole that can be found on the edge of the pan. And that is why, the pan is also a bit dome shaped, so that the excess oil can run down. The grill pan is coated with 5 layers of Dupont Teflon nonstick coating which is PFOA free.
This ensures that the coating won’t harm you and you can grill to your desires without toxins contaminating your food. Also, the printed coating design helps it looks more lavish and is a great addition to your kitchen. One thing to remember though that this grill pan should only be used on gas stove only. Of course you can use it outdoors but it is recommended for gas stove use only.
Highlighted Features
7. Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick grill pan
Rachel Ray is pretty famous in the kitchen utensils department and her products really touch the basics of cooking but also give you just enough to make your experience in cooking into a whole another level.
The grill pan from Rachel Ray is of aluminum that is anodized, which helps greatly in durability and sturdiness. The edges of the pan are pretty high and it can help you in controlling your food as you move them in the pan. Also it can be helpful of oils splattering everywhere as you drop your food into the grill pan.
The Pan is nonstick, which helps you in grilling as your food won’t be stuck to the surface of the pan. The handle bar is rubberized for your convenience but is heat resistant up to 350 degree Fahrenheit. The pan is also dishwasher safe, so you won’t have to worry about spending your time washing it manually.
Highlighted Features
8. Anolon Advanced Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11-Inch Deep Square Grill Pan
This hard anodized aluminum grill pan from Anolon sticks with simplicity and sometimes, simple things can excel at things far better than things that just make you complicated. This is an 11nch grill pan that has increased durability due to the anodized aluminum.
The surface of the grill pan comes with standard grill marks that give you the grilling texture to your food and not to mention that it also helps you in helping your food being cooked properly. On each sides of the pan, there are spouts for pouring excessive oils and liquids that will help your food retain its healthiness.
The Anolon SureGrip handle ensures your safety when cooking plus giving you the space of giving you a stronger grip and is heat resistant up to 400 degree Fahrenheit. The Dupont nonstick coating helps you grill your food better. Because of the nonstick coating, your food won’t be stuck as you grill and it also makes cleaning the grill pan easy.
Highlighted Features
9. Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum pan
If sleek and slim are in your category, then the aluminum anodized pan from Calphalon might be just for you. This pan speaks volume when it comes to design. The luxury look with the brushed aluminum design caught you off guard and puts your thoughts on a positive note.
This pan is an interesting pan and it is because of its specifics. This is a Panini pan and is also a presser. While, the word ‘Panini’ can make you feel like this pan can’t grill, you are wrong because it actually can. And if you can remember correctly, paninis’ are grilled.
This pan being a presser is the most fascinating thing in our opinion because you actually use the lid of the pan to press it. While this pan might look lavish and fragile, it actually can take the heat and be used in a variety of ways. This pan can be used on the stove, inside of an oven etc. The pan has 3 layers of nonstick coating, making it easy for you to cook and clean. Also because of the nonstick coating, the oily fat is easily removable.
Highlighted Features
10. Calphalon 1948254 Signature Hard Anodized Nonstick Grill Pan
The brand can ring a bell in your ears and that is because we have reviewed some of their pans already. The idea that you hear the same name over and over again might mean that it must have something that people like.
This is another aluminum constructed grill pan that is hard anodized to make the pan more durable and increase sturdiness. The pan has a nonstick coated layer that is PFOA free which ensures that your food won’t get contaminated as you grill and can have fun cooking using the nonstick feature.
This pan is of 12 inches sized, making it possible for you to grill meat pieces of meat or vegetables. The handle is of brushed stainless steel and is long which gives you enough space to get a good grip. This grill pan can be used on a gas stove or in an oven. Also the pan is dishwasher safe; hence you can easily clean your pan without any worries taking up your time.
Highlighted Features
Things You Need to Know before Buying The Best Grill Pan
Size
We think that size is one of the most important factors when buying a grill pan. You really don’t want to own a grill pan that is small when you’re grilling for a party. Hence understanding what you need is important when buying.
Construction material
Depending on the material that it has been used for making the grill pan is heavily related to its durability, usage and various features. So understanding the material is important and specially knowing of where you will be grilling. Depending on indoors, outdoors or perhaps both, different materials gives you different output.
Special Features
Sometimes, you might get caught off-guard by seeing some feature that you might probably need but you are not sure. Because you don’t want to have that regret feeling, it’s best to have a clear mind of what you want when buying.
Conclusion
Whether grilling may have been an essential at one point of age, at this time, it’s very crucial that we have some recreational time with ourselves and our close friends and families. And there is nothing better than having a backyard BBQ party or just grilling some sweet potatoes up so that you can have a good time with some great food and friends.
And because of that reason we have searched and picked some of the best grill pans for you so that you can understand your wants but know a bit more than before, so that your grilling can be even more better than before. We hope you have read our article and have helped and will help you in choosing the perfect pan for you situation. We cannot wait to see you start grilling and start connecting with your friends and families like how you grill some soul food.
I think FINEX should be at the top of the list