The quality and taste of barbecued food will depend on how good your grill pan is. A good outdoor grill pan will ensure that the heat from burning coals is distributed evenly. It allows the food to retain its natural flavors while producing the delicious smokiness that characterizes grilled food.
Now, if you go to buy a grill pan, you have a variety of choices. But not all of them are built alike.
The best grill pans for the outdoor grill are:
- Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle,
- Sensarte Nonstick Griddle Grill Pan,
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Giant Reversible Grill/Griddle,
- Staub Pure Grill,
- Outset Stainless Steel Grill Topper Grid,
- All Clad Outdoor Grill Grid,
- FINEX Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan,
- Weber Style 6435 Professional-Grade Grill Pan,
- Cuisinel Cast Iron Grill Pan, and
- ProSource Professional Heavy Duty Reversible Cast Iron Grill Griddle.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these grill pans so that you can make an informed choice.
- 10 Best Grill Pans For Outdoor Grill
- 2. Sensarte Nonstick Griddle Grill Pan
- 3. Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Giant Reversible Grill/Griddle
- 4. Staub Pure Grill
- 5. Outset Stainless Steel Grill Topper Grid
- 6. All Clad Outdoor Grill Grid
- 7. FINEX Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan
- 8. Weber Style 6435 Professional-Grade Grill Pan
- 9. Cuisinel Cast Iron Grill Pan
- 10. ProSource Professional Heavy Duty Reversible Cast Iron Grill Griddle
- Factors To Consider When Choosing An Outdoor Grill Pan
- 1. Material.
- 2. Ease of handling.
- 3. Air distribution.
- 4. Ease of cleaning and storage.
- 5. Design aspects.
- To Wrap It Up…
- References
10 Best Grill Pans For Outdoor Grill
A good grill pan will not just create beautiful grate marks on your food.
By cooking the ingredients in their juices, it will also keep the food moist and delicious.
Additionally, a good grill pan will help you minimize oil and still achieve good results.
Given below are the ten best grill pans for an outdoor grill that you can get in the market today.
1. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle
This grill pan is a versatile solution for all your cooking, searing, and grilling needs.
It has two usable sides — one plain and the other side with ridges.
You can use the plain side for cooking pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and heating ingredients.
The ridged side is perfect for burgers, stakes, and other barbecue items.
It’s constructed with high-quality cast iron for even heat distribution.
Since it is pre-seasoned, you can use it right away. The non-stick properties improve with use.
One of the best things about this grill pan is that you can remove one of your grill plates and place this Lodge pan in its space.
It will fit perfectly.
Its shape makes it easy to use and store. The only downside to this product is that it doesn’t have loop handles.
Click here to view the Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron reversible grill pan on Amazon.
2. Sensarte Nonstick Griddle Grill Pan
The Sensarte non-stick griddle grill pan has various desirable features, including a sturdy build and excellent non-stick coating.
The non-stick coating allows food to glide off seamlessly. It’s durable, strong, and cooks evenly.
It has the ideal depth to grill meat and vegetables and produces attractive grill marks.
It’s also large enough to hold an extensive spread of food.
Another benefit is that this grill pan is reversible. So, you can use it for pancakes, burgers, steaks, and veggies.
You can use it for outdoor grills as well as stovetop cooking.
Click here to check out the Sensarte non-stick grill pan on Amazon.
3. Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Giant Reversible Grill/Griddle
Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron grill is a classic piece that is both functional and elegant.
It’s a versatile piece that you can use on indoor stovetops, ovens, and outdoor grills.
Le Creuset grill pans are beautifully crafted and very convenient to use.
Small details like looped short handles on either side, sloped ridges, and adequate sizing makes it very useful for any task.
It’s also easy to clean and looks stylish.
However, these grills are expensive and heavier than other brands.
Nonetheless, the excellent design quality, strong build, and beautiful colors justify the price and make it a good buy.
Click here to view the Le Creuset grill pan on Amazon.
4. Staub Pure Grill
The Staub enameled cast iron grill pan is sleek, stylish, and sturdy. It comes in three attractive colors.
This grill pan is made of high-quality cast iron. It evenly distributes heat and ensures thorough cooking.
The deep ridges produce visible grill marks on meat, vegetables, and sandwiches.
Since the Staub grill pan is pre-seasoned, you can use it right away.
The seasoning improves with use, making it the perfect choice if you regularly grill your food.
It also has plenty of room to hold a large number of ingredients. The matte finish makes it a beautiful piece.
However, it doesn’t have a pour spout to remove residual liquids, and the handles can get very hot.
Click here to see the Staub grill pan on Amazon.
5. Outset Stainless Steel Grill Topper Grid
Cooking delicate and small ingredients on grills is a big challenge since these ingredients can slide through the grates into the fire.
The Outset stainless steel grill pan overcomes this problem as it has small perforations to hold the food in.
These perforations ensure good airflow above and below the food. They cook the ingredients evenly and thoroughly.
This pan is also easy to clean. The sides are high enough to catch drips and prevent splattering.
Moreover, it has side handles for easy lifting and handling. The stainless steel used for construction is of high quality.
It is not prone to warping and cools faster than cast iron grill pans after use.
Click here to check out the Outset stainless steel grill pan on Amazon.
6. All Clad Outdoor Grill Grid
Grilling and roasting are easy and convenient with All Clad outdoor grill pans. They are light and easy to clean.
The pan is made of heavy gauge stainless steel. It has a PFOA non-stick surface that ensures food doesn’t stick to the pan.
The stainless steel handles make it easy to carry.
However, they can become hot during use, and you should handle them carefully.
This grill pan is the perfect depth for roasting vegetables and meat.
It produces a beautifully caramelized crust on the ingredients.
The perforated base creates a delicious smoky flavor when you use it to grill vegetables, meats, and kebabs.
Click here to see the All Clad grill pan on Amazon.
7. FINEX Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan
The FINEX cast iron grill pan has a unique and very stylish octagonal shape.
The hand-polished coiled stainless-steel handle also enhances its appeal.
This grill pan uses high-quality cast iron, which needs more time than non-stick and aluminum pans to heat up.
However, it grills with perfection when it is thoroughly heated.
It produces beautiful deep sear marks and a rich, smoky flavor for your food.
This pan is an excellent investment since it will last forever.
Since it is pre-seasoned, you don’t need to season it with oil before use.
But once you start using it, the seasoning will continuously improve with use.
Click here to check out the FINEX cast iron grill pan on Amazon.
8. Weber Style 6435 Professional-Grade Grill Pan
The Weber Style 6435 professional-grade grill pan is the perfect choice for grilling delicate foods.
It is sturdy, made with high-quality materials, and boasts of design elegance.
This grill pan is made of stainless steel, which releases the food easily. Related Reading: Where Are Weber Grills Made?
It is long-lasting, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean.
You can use the Weber grill pan on all types of grills — gas, wood, and charcoal.
It is wide enough to hold a large spread while being easy to handle and store.
The slits in the base allow the juices from the food to flow out. The wide handles make it easy to handle.
Click here to view the Weber Style 6435 grill pan on Amazon.
9. Cuisinel Cast Iron Grill Pan
The Cuisinel cast Iron grill pan is a multipurpose pan that is very useful for your grilling and cooking experiments.
It is made of premium, sturdy cast iron and has a rustic, traditional charm.
The thick base ensures uniform distribution of heat.
The deep ridges on the super-seasoned base produce attractive sear marks.
The food almost glides off the surface with minimum use of oil.
Although the pan is factory seasoned, the company advises you to season it again before using it.
It comes with a glass lid that is useful to prevent splatters. It also has an extra silicone handle and food scraper.
Although cast iron calls for special care, the long life of the product and the flavors it brings to your food make it a good choice.
Click here to visit the Cuisinel cast iron grill pan on Amazon.
10. ProSource Professional Heavy Duty Reversible Cast Iron Grill Griddle
The ProSource professional heavy duty grill pan is made of solid cast iron.
It retains heat and cooks food thoroughly.
It is perfect for grilling any ingredient, from vegetables to seafood and meats.
The pan’s seasoning improves with use, and the non-stick coating allows food to glide off seamlessly.
Since it is reversible, you can use it for cooking pancakes, sandwiches, grilled meat, veggies, and much more.
The side with ridges produces beautiful sear marks.
You can use this grill pan on campfires or stovetops.
Since it is made of cast iron, you have to store it carefully, away from moisture.
For more details, check out the ProSource grill pan on Amazon.
Factors To Consider When Choosing An Outdoor Grill Pan
Cooking on a grill involves a heat source and a closed space.
So, many of the criteria that you use for choosing ovenware will also apply to your grill pan.
Let’s look at the different aspects that define a good grill pan.
1. Material.
Grilling involves high temperatures and concentrated heat.
Hence, your pan should be made of a solid and sturdy material that doesn’t warp at high heat.
Cast iron, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum are usually suitable.
Apart from choosing sturdy construction material, you should also pay attention to the thickness of the base.
A thick base ensures even heating and prevents the formation of hot spots that burn or char the food.
Even distribution of heat will also allow the food to cook thoroughly and all the way through.
2. Ease of handling.
A heavy pan will usually heat up slowly and deliver consistent heat to the contents of the grill pan.
However, it’s not easy to handle a heavy pan. Hence, pay attention to the ease of handling when choosing a grill pan.
Look for handles that make it easier to move the pan when hot.
Also, ensure that the pan is big enough to hold your ingredients.
Related Further Reading:
- How to Fix Scratched Ceramic Pans?
- Discovering the Uses of a Wok Ring
- Can Grill Pans Go In The Oven? (List Of Oven-Safe Pans)
- How Long Will it Take to Prepare Food with Pans and a Griddle?
3. Air distribution.
Grill pans with small slots allow for air circulation above and below the food.
It is also safe since small slots will allow the food to cook thoroughly without the flame flaring through them.
The ideal grill pan will have small holes or slots that allow just enough fire to create beautiful char marks on the food.
4. Ease of cleaning and storage.
Cast iron grill pans require more care than aluminum and stainless steel.
Iron is prone to rust when exposed to moisture.
Nonetheless, it is a worthwhile investment since it can outlive other types of grill pans.
Once your cast iron pan develops a strong layer of seasoning, it will outperform most stainless steel and aluminum pans.
Cast iron also imparts the best barbecue flavors.
Stainless steel pans and non-stick grill pans are relatively easy to clean because they are lightweight.
5. Design aspects.
The presence of loop handles, reversible grill and plain surfaces, and types of slots can make a significant difference in the results you achieve using a grill pan.
A reversible grill pan offers both a plain side and a ridged surface to prepare different foods.
However, the downside is that you cannot use both sides at once.
Meanwhile, a grill pan with prominent ridges is usually unsuitable for cooking delicate food.
Pay attention to these fine details to choose a grill pan that offers you the features you need to enjoy your grill to the fullest.
Interesting Further Reading:
- Are Any Types of Woks Safe to Use in an Oven?
- What Wok Should You Use with an Electric Stove?
- Identifying Rust-Prone and Rust-Proof Woks
To Wrap It Up…
The ideal grill pan will be convenient to clean, easy to store, and maintain.
It should also be suitable for the type of ingredients you frequently cook on a grill.
The above list of recommended pans covers brands that mix and match all these factors and fit all budgets.
Hopefully, this list has helped you find the perfect grilling pan to make your barbecue sessions more enjoyable.
References
- https://www.cookinglight.com/healthy-living/home/how-to-clean-grill-pan
- https://www.webstaurantstore.com/article/300/clean-cast-iron-grill-pan.html
- https://www.lodgecastiron.com/discover/cleaning-and-care/cast-iron/all-about-seasoning
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2019/06/07/how-to-use-a-grill-pan-inside-or-outdoors/
