Don’t you just hate it when a recipe tells you to fry something first and then put it in the oven to roast? Normally you’d have to use at least two different cooking surfaces, which means extra washing up. And washing up is dull as dishwater.
Worse yet, if you use the wrong type of pan for your frying, the food can really stick to the pan, making the transfer to the other pan quite difficult and tricky. It’s never a smooth transition.
The solution, of course, is to get yourself a cast iron griddle. That way you can use just one piece of cookware for both the frying and the roasting. And better yet, provided the griddle is properly seasoned, you don’t have to worry about any food sticking to it when you’re plating up or washing up.
We’ve been checking out some of the best cast iron griddles out on the market at the moment, and we’re going to show you our reviews on them very shortly. (Feel free to scroll ahead if you wish.)
And after that we’ve also got a buying guide for you which outlines some of the key things to think about before you buy.
Then we’re going to top that off with another handy section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado…
OUR TOP PICK
Now, this is a great cast iron griddle!
You can either use it as a griddle, using the flat side for making pancakes or fried bread, or whatever else takes your fancy. Or, you can turn it over and use the other side with its ridges for grilling a few steaks or burgers and the like.
It comes from top best-selling brand Lodge and is made right here in the USA. You can expect top quality design and real durability.
You can use it in all manner of cooking surfaces from ovens and stove tops all the way through to campfires. (It will fit over two burners on the stove.)
We love just how big it is, measuring 20 inches in length and 10.5 inches in width. That means you’ve got a little extra room to fit on a little more food. This can come in super handy if you ever find yourself with an extra dinner guest.
We also love just how easy it is to handle. There are large semi-circle cut-outs on the two shorter ends of the griddle, so you can use your oven mitts to move it in and out of the oven with ease.
It arrives in the box already seasoned, but we recommend that you season it again at least once before using it for your food. That way you can be sure the food won’t stick the first time you use it.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular griddle, simply click on “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now. And while you’re there you can read up on how to look after your cast iron pan.
It comes backed by a lifetime warranty, and you can expect this griddle to last you for generations to come.
Pros:
- Comes from top brand Lodge
- Generous size at 20” x 10.5”
- Has large easy to use handles
- Arrives already pre-seasoned
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Although it comes pre-seasoned, we recommend that you season it again before use
EDITORS CHOICE
Now, this cast iron griddle comes from top brand Lodge. A trusted American brand known for its quality and product longevity.
It’s a circular griddle, especially designed for use on a hot stove. The perfect shape for making large fluffy pancakes!
But just because it’s round for a stove top doesn’t mean you can’t also use it in the oven if you want to roast your meat or veg.
It’s a very nice size at 10.5 inches diameter and 0.5 inches deep, so can easily accommodate room for an entire cooked breakfast for one with bacon, eggs, sausages and even fried bread.
It comes pre-seasoned with 100% vegetable oil, so you can start using it as soon as the box arrives, without having to do countless rounds of seasoning before you get to enjoy it. This also means it’s non-stick and helps your food to taste great.
There are no synthetic coatings or nasty hidden chemicals to worry about.
But what we really love about it is that unlike most other cast iron cookware, this griddle happens to be dishwasher safe, so clean-up afterwards is an absolute breeze.
We love how it comes with its own silicone handle holder - it’s a perfect way to project your hands from the cast iron’s searing heat. So you don’t have to buy a handle holder separately. But you must remember to remove the handle holder if you want to put the griddle in the oven.
It’s a bestseller with the online retailers and more than 80% of customers have rated it a full 5 stars out of 5. Not bad hey?
For those who like to learn about how cast iron cookware is made, you can head over to the product page by clicking on “Check price” and scrolling down to the product description.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular griddle, simply click on “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now.
Pros:
- Comes from brand Lodge
- Perfect for frying on stove
- Accommodating 10.5” size
- Comes pre-seasoned
- Safe to use in dishwasher
Cons:
- Some customers have suggested that you season the griddle again once you have it, just to ensure no food will stick once you start cooking with it
BEST VALUE
Again we have a great griddle from top brand Lodge, who make all their cast iron cookware right here in the good old USA.
This particular griddle has won the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of griddles by Lodge. Such a title is only given to products where the product is both of excellent quality and is also available at a good, fair and reasonable price.
What we love the most about it is that it offers two entirely different functions in just one piece of cookware…
You can use it as a flat griddle, to make items such as fried eggs or French toast. Or you can turn it over to the side with ridges and use it as a grill for burgers and such.
It has a rectangular shape and a generous size, at 16.75 inches by 9.5 inches. And although it’s great for the oven, it’s also great to use on a stove top too, as it can cover two burners at the same time.
We also love how it features cutouts in two diagonally opposite corners which makes the griddle very easy to handle with oven gloves or protected by a tea towel.
When the box arrives, you’ll find that the griddle comes already pre-seasoned for you on both the griddle side and the grill side. This has been done with 100% vegetable oil, with no added synthetic chemicals to worry about. You get a nice easy release of food once it's cooked.
And it’s built to take some really high temperatures, up to a whopping 502 degrees Fahrenheit in fact.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular griddle, simply click on “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now. And while you’re there you can read up on how to look after your cast iron pan.
Pros:
- Comes from Lodge brand
- Amazon’s Choice winner
- Also doubles as a grill pan!
- Takes very high temperatures
- Cutouts make for great handles
Cons:
- It would make the griddle easier to handle if the cutouts were a little bigger
RUNNER UP
Now, if it’s a bargain you’re after, this is one of the best buys for the budget conscious amongst you - this is one of the more affordable options in our shortlist.
Again we’ve got another winner of the title Amazon’s Choice, which means that it has been noted to be not only of excellent quality but also available at a very good and reasonable price.
It’s so affordable, in fact, that in addition to buying the griddle alone, Amazon is also selling it as a pack of 2, 3, or 4. And this is a great idea if you like to fry several items at a time on a griddle.
And it has really been flying off the shelves - there has been well over 26,000 individual customer ratings for this pan on Amazon. Better yet, the average customer rating still comes out at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5. Not bad hey?
Again it comes from top brand Lodge, and is made right here in the USA, so you can expect excellent quality and durability.
It’s a relatively large size at 10.5 inches in diameter, so you will be able to cook a number of items at the same time.
It comes already pre-seasoned which means that you should be able to use it as soon as the box arrives at your door. But we recommend that you season it once more before you get frying or roasting.
The only drawback is that it doesn’t come with a cool to the touch silicone handle holder. However, these are very readily available at sites such as Amazon. Or you can just use a tea towel to protect your hands,
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular griddle, simply click on “Check price” to see if there’s a deal on now. And while you’re there you can read up on how to look after your cast iron pan.
Pros:
- Comes from Lodge brand
- Simply flying off the shelves
- Bargain affordable price
- Large 10.5 inch diameter
- It comes pre-seasoned
Cons:
- No handle holder included, they are sold separately
RUNNER UP
Here we have another great, and again it’s from the unbeatable American brand Lodge.
What impressed us with this griddle was just how well it goes down with customers. When this article was written it had scored an average Amazon rating of a full 5 stars out of 5 - and believe me that’s no mean feat!
The good thing about this griddle is its modest size. With a diameter of just 9 inches, it won’t take up too much space on your stove top. And this is great news if you have several other pans on the go on the stove, and you’re just using the griddle to make a nice side for your meal.
It comes pre-seasoned with 100% vegetable oil, so you can start using it as soon as the box arrives, without having to do countless rounds of seasoning before you get to enjoy it. This also means it’s non-stick and helps your food to taste great.
There are no synthetic coatings or nasty hidden chemicals to worry about.
I guess the only real drawback to this griddle is that it doesn’t come with a silicone cool to the touch handle holder. But there’s no need to worry about that, you can get these from online retailers. They are readily available and are of a universal size.
Pros:
- Comes from Lodge brand
- Excellent customer ratings
- Modest 9 inch diameter
- It comes pre-seasoned
Cons:
- No handle holder included, they are sold separately
Best Cast Iron Griddle Buying Guide
And now, here is the buying guide we promised you, laying out all the key things to think about before you buy.
Shape of the Griddle
Cast iron griddles generally tend to be made in two different styles. You can get round ones that are designed for use on a regular stove, and you can get ones that are rectangular that are intended for use in the oven.
However, cast iron griddles are safe to use on both the stove and the oven, and there is no reason why you can’t put a round cast iron griddle in the oven or put a rectangular one on the stove (though you won’t get particularly even heating).
So I guess the question of which shape of griddle to buy comes down to what you mainly want to use it for. Rounds ones for fry ups, and rectangular for roasting. Or you could get one of each (which is what I would recommend).
Handles
Safety first.
If you decide to go for a rectangular griddle, then we would recommend that you get one with cutouts for easy handling. The bigger the cutouts the better, and preferably at least two, so you’ve got one for each hand.
Or if you decide to go for a circular griddle for a stove top, then we would recommend investing in a universal silicone handle holder if there isn’t already one included in the box when it arrives.
Size
Apologies for stating the obvious here, but the larger the griddle you buy, the more room you have for food. This means that if you were to buy a larger griddle, you can either cook for more people or enjoy larger portions.
Pre-Seasoned
Pre-seasoning of your cast iron griddle has two main benefits. One, it will help to make your food taste great, and two, this is what makes cast iron non-stick. The more you use the griddle, the greater this effect becomes.
But if you don’t have a cast iron griddle that’s already been per-seasoned for you, it can take a LOT of uses before you get the results of this effect. So, our advice is to get a griddle that has at least some pre-seasoning.
Brand
The observant amongst you may have noticed that many of the product reviews that we’ve shown you in our shortlist all come from the same brand. Lodge is a top name brand for cast iron for a reason.
Lodge is an American brand that has been around since as far back as 1896! And yet today it’s still the brand dominating the bestseller lists for cast iron cookware, and in particular cast iron griddles.
Lodge cast iron cookware is well known for its excellent quality and long-lasting durability. And it gets far better customer ratings and reviews than any of its competitors.
Value for Money
Cast iron griddles can really vary in price, even within the same brand, so you’d be best advised to check prices as you go along. And try to catch a deal if you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cast iron griddle?
We would argue that the best cast iron griddle on the market at the moment is our number one pick, the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle With Handles. It is of excellent quality, features large handles either side, and also functions as a grill if you use the reverse. Plus it’s seasoned and comes from a great brand.
