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Griddle pans are similar to grill pans, however they are superior. They’re larger and flatter, and they’re just as safe to use as a standard grill pan.

They may be used to make pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausages, as well as quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast.

Let’s look at a step-by-step method to seasoning your griddle pan as well as some advice on selecting the finest griddle pan for your kitchen.

Why Should You Season Your Griddle Pan?

Seasoning is the process of creating a nonstick coating on the surface of your cookware to avoid corrosion and food sticking.

 

Seasoning your new griddle pan is required as part of the burn-in process.

After being created, new pans generally contain residual mineral oil on the surface, and seasoning helps to remove these oils and prepare the pan for cooking.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Seasoning Your Griddle Pan

Contemporary cast iron pans include a rust-prevention coating.

It resembles a thin coating of candle wax that must be removed with a scourer, ideally a metal one, under hot running water before you can begin the seasoning process.

  1. Once you’ve washed the pan and effectively removed this layer, you need to put your griddle pan on the stove over medium heat so that all the water droplets and moisture can dry out.
  2. When the pan is completely dry, you can choose a vegetable or animal oil of your choice, such as flaxseed oil, olive oil, lard, or other edible oils. Pour the oil all over the surface of the pan until it forms a thin, even layer.
  3. You can use a paper towel to wipe off excess oil to make sure only a fine layer is left on the surface because using too much oil can cause the pan to smoke and trigger the fire alarm.
  4. Place the pan on the stove over high heat for an hour until it reaches around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, you need to turn off the heat and allow the pan to cool down for at least two hours.
  5. You’ll notice that your pan will now have a dark brown or blackened surface instead of grey. You can keep repeating the steps above until the surface of your griddle pan turns a nice black color. With continued use, your pan will also develop a shiny surface.

Remember, you should never put a cast iron griddle plate in the dishwasher.

After each usage, clean it with a little amount of dish soap, a soft scouring pad, and water.

Grill Pan vs. Griddle Pan

The only significant difference between a griddle and a grill pan is the surface. Griddle pans have a flat surface, while grill pans do not.

Each of these pans have their own set of benefits and drawbacks.

If you’re torn between the two and can’t decide which will best fit your requirements, here are some facts about both pans that may help you make the proper decision:

  • Griddle pans are relatively easy to use and take care of because of their flatter surface. If you haven’t mastered the grilling technique, it’s advisable to use a griddle pan as you’ll be able to keep the food intact while you cook it and prevent it from sticking to the pan.
  • What’s great about griddle pans is that they toast the food uniformly. However, using a grill pan will create a more visually pleasing end product because your food will have those grill marks that you love.
  • The surface of the grill pan separates the food from the juices, which helps ensure that the food will be grilled instead of poached or stewed. This also reduces steam, which makes them particularly ideal for smaller kitchens.
  • Remember to keep the space in your kitchen and your style of cooking in mind when you’re choosing these pans. Even though both pans are equally great and can be used in a variety of ways, griddle pans are more versatile because you can use them to cook delicate foods like fish and vegetables.
  • You may also consider investing in a reversible grill/griddle for a more efficient cooking experience because these pans come with a griddle on one side and a grill on the other.

Several Griddle Pans

You should examine the cooking surface as well as the production materials when selecting a griddle pan.

To effectively griddle your meal, you must cook it at very high temperatures. This implies that you must use a pan that can withstand high temperatures during the cooking procedure.

Cast iron and cast aluminum griddle pans are suggested because they are among of the finest pans available, with excellent heat retention and distribution.

Griddle pans made of stainless steel and other materials are ideal for various types of cooking and are not often suggested for grilling and griddling.

Cast aluminum griddle pans are incredible because they are far lighter, simpler to use, and more adaptable than cast iron pans.

Moreover, they have a nonstick surface, which allows you to cook your food with less oil while also preventing it from sticking to the surface.

They are simple to clean, both by hand and in the dishwasher.

It is preferable to get traditional griddle pans over fancy electric griddle pans since they are much better for daily cooking.

Electric griddle pans take up a lot more room and demand a lot more labor, which may deter you from using them as often.

Nevertheless, unlike conventional grill and griddle pans, they can be set up anyplace in the kitchen where there is an electrical outlet and do not need gas or electric stovetop burners.

There are many different varieties of griddle pans available today, each with its own set of characteristics and purposes that make them ideal for various cooking styles.

Electric griddle pans offer a broad, open surface that is great for batch cooking dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, or pancakes.

Griddle pans, on the other hand, are much more versatile, since they can be used for both grilling and griddling. Grill is reversible.

A griddle pan, also known as a panini press, has a bottom and top grill that may be used to cook food on both sides at the same time. A grille for direct interaction

Griddle pans are usually made to prepare one or two sandwiches or other press-style dishes. Contact grille is smaller.

Bigger pans, on the other hand, may be folded flat to provide two cooking surfaces. They also include reversible plates and may include waffle plates.

When purchasing a griddle pan, you should do research on the kind of handles that will work best for your cooking style.

Longer-handled griddles typically have a square cooking area, while griddle pans with side handles offer a more stretched cooking surface.

Using a Griddle Pan to Cook

The cooking procedure is approximately the same whether you use a cast iron griddle pan or a nonstick pan.

While griddle pans may be used to prepare a range of dishes, they are particularly good for vegetables and steak since these items respond surprisingly well to high-temperature flash-frying.

Frying is a surprisingly simple process. All you have to do is cut your veggies into thin slices or your steak into the necessary thickness and coat them with a high smoking point oil.

The beauty of griddle pans is that you don’t have to coat the whole pan with oil. If you like a less oily end result, just oil the meal.

Nevertheless, before you begin cooking, you must first warm your griddle pan. If you’re using a cast iron pan, this should only take around five minutes, and even less if you’re using a nonstick pan.

When preheating, maintain the pan over medium-high heat.

It’s also vital to remember not to move the meal too much and to only turn the components halfway through cooking.

If you want a flawlessly cooked final result that is full of taste, you must trust both the process and yourself.

If you’re short on time, cover your griddle pan with a lid to expedite the cooking process. This will also provide a great, smokey taste to the meal.

Last Words

All griddle pans have shallow edges and a big, flat cooking surface. They are often constructed of cast iron and must be seasoned before use.

As previously said, griddle pans are far more adaptable than grill pans and may be used to create a range of dishes such as French toast, pancakes, and hash browns.

Remember to clean and season your grill and griddle pans on a regular basis to prevent food from clinging to them and to increase their longevity.

You may also be interested in:

  • Best Substitutes for a Grill Pan (that are just as good)
  • Is It Better To Grill Or Pan Fry Steak?

FAQs

Do you need to season a griddle pan?

Several types of cookware, from frying pans and woks to skillets and grill pans, must be seasoned (also known as “curing”) before use to prevent rust and provide a nonstick coating.

What is the best thing to season a griddle with?

Grapeseed Oil – We love to season cast iron and griddles with this oil. It produces a long-lasting finish that is resistant to chipping and flaking. Its high smoke point makes it perfect for metal curing.

How do you prepare a new griddle pan?

Seasoning a Fresh Cast Iron Pan
Step 1: Clean and dry your pan.
Step 2: Apply oil all over and buff well.
Step 3: Preheat it in the oven.
Step 4: Repeat 3–4 times more.

Do you have to season a griddle before first use?

Season the griddle before first usage and after complete Griddle Cleaning to prevent food from sticking. This is also known as the burn-in process. Excessive oil usage might produce sticking and gummy problems. Wolf suggests seasoning with vegetable or peanut oil due of their high smoke points.

How do you season a griddle pan for the first time?

Seasoning a Griddle
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choose an oil….
Clean the griddle.
Apply a thin coating of oil on the griddle surface.
Preheat the griddle.
Repeat the oiling and cooking steps.
Re-season as needed.
Dec 20, 2021

What happens if you don’t season a griddle?

Answer: Failing to season a griddle may cause food to adhere to it, and if the griddle was not cleaned before usage, the meal may taste terrible. If the griddle was used before seasoning, thoroughly clean it.

Should I use butter or oil on a griddle?

Oil is necessary for griddle cooking, so coat your pan well with it before you begin cooking. As the oil warms up, it prevents your food from adhering to the griddle, making cooking simpler and the completed product taste better.

What is the best oil for seasoning a flat top griddle?

Vegetable oil isn’t the healthiest cooking oil, but for seasoning the griddle? Not only is it more cost effective than flax oil, considering the large price differential, but it also produces the same results (a slick, black, non-stick surface for your griddle).

Why does everything stick to my griddle pan?

The Reason:

Food may sometimes cling to your cast iron pan. This may happen for a number of reasons, including not using enough fat or oil while cooking, using unseasoned cookware, or breaking in new equipment that hasn’t built up further layers of seasoning.