If you have the best grill pan, you can still enjoy your favorite grilled meats and vegetables even if your backyard is too small or the weather isn’t great for an outside barbeque.
Although a grill pan won’t precisely give you the smokey, flame-broiled quality of an outside grill, it will nonetheless give your food beautiful sear marks and drain any extra oil, leaving your well-marbled steaks and sliders tasty but not swimming in grease.
A grill pan is a great tool for roasting summer vegetables, toasting bread, and cooking meat and animal alternatives made from plants.
When looking for the perfect pan, there are several types, sizes, and materials to consider, but we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
Continue reading for our list of the top grill pans that will make cooking inside more enjoyable.
Grill Pans You Should Buy
Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick Square Griddle Pan/Grill
The high sides of this grill pan prevent splattering whether you use it on the stovetop or in an oven heated to 400 degrees. Most grill pans have low sides. The pan’s high edges make it excellent for sauces after grilling and make roasting succulent poultry or roasts easier.
The handle is made to be comfortable and has a tight rubberized grip that keeps cool throughout cooking. It also includes two rivets for security. The nonstick surface is safe for metal utensils, has exceptional food release, and is easy to clean.
The pan’s outside borders include a groove that gathers and stores liquids, and the pour spouts on either side make it simple to drain any extra fats or fluids.
To find the “sweet spot” of heat while using this pan, our reviewer discovered that it took some trial and error. Once you’ve mastered it, it produces stunning char marks on everything you’re cooking, including steaks and French toast.
Pros
- High sides to minimize splashing and roomy
- Simple to clean
- A safe oven
Cons
- limited to 400 degrees in the oven
- It takes some getting accustomed to.
Greenpan Paris 11-Inch Hard Anodized Nonstick Square Grill Pan
Choose this ceramic pan from GreenPan, a renowned producer of ceramic cookware, if you want a nonstick pan but also want to be confident that your purchase is environmentally beneficial. This pan won’t emit fumes even when heated to a high temperature since it is produced without PFAS2, PFOA3, lead, and cadmium.
The hard-anodized body of this pan is sturdy, and the diamond-reinforced Thermolon liner from GreenPan’s Paris collection makes it even more scratch-resistant. This grill pan has a riveted stainless steel handle and is suitable for all cooktops—except induction—and ovens up to 600 degrees.
Because the ceramic coating is nonstick, you may use less or no extra oil for easy release.
Grill food with confidence, including chicken, veggies, and more, then tidy up quickly by running the dishwasher or cleaning by hand.
Pros
- A ceramic nonstick coating that resists scratches
- Safe for dishwasher
- Comfortable riveted handle
Cons
- Not conducive to induction
- With time, nonstick qualities will deteriorate.
TeChef Stovetop Korean BBQ Nonstick Grill Pan
This grill pan with Korean influences is made for tabletop cooking with a portable burner (not included). You may use this to prepare any of your favorite Korean barbecue dishes, from thinly sliced beef to substantial pig belly. It is made of heavy-gauge aluminum with a nonstick surface and a distinctive swirling channel pattern.
You must have a tiny cup or bowl handy to catch the drippings since the pan’s dome-shaped bottom draws fats away from the meal and a hole in the pan totally drains the fat. This shouldn’t be used on a typical cooktop due to the hole.
Pros
- Extensive surface area
- Heat transfer from metal is good.
- Disposes of grease
Cons
- Not applicable to all stoves
- Concerned about how long nonstick will last with time
Lodge Pro-Grid Reversible Grill/Griddle
This grill pan replaces two, if not more. A flat griddle is on one side, and a grill pan with ridges is on the other. For steaks, burgers, and any other food that needs grill marks, use the grill side. Pancakes, bacon, grilled cheese sandwiches, heated tortillas, and even a traditional British cheese toastie all be prepared on the griddle side. Put it in the oven to use as a mini pizza pan as well.
This huge pan will fit over two burners, giving you plenty of room to cook for a large group or keep food warm by cooking on half of the pan while keeping the other section less hot.
Due to its cast iron construction, it maintains heat and cooks food consistently. It is pre-seasoned when it is purchased, allowing for immediate use, but further seasoning and use enhance the nonstick qualities. Our reviewer also mentioned how convenient it was to store due to its thin size.
For cooking things like vegetables that could be tiny enough to fall through the grates on your grill, you can also use this flexible pan. However, not all glass-top stoves can use it, so make sure it’s safe by consulting the stove’s instructions.
Pros
- Enormous capacity
- Suitable for use as a griddle or grill
- Immediately usable out of the box
Cons
- Seasoning must be maintained with special care.
- Heavy
Calphalon Signature Hard Anodized Nonstick
The nonstick surface of this Calphalon round pan makes cooking and cleanup much simpler. It fits your burners. This pan is substantially lighter than a comparable cast iron pan since it is made of hard-anodized aluminum, making it simpler to handle. You don’t have to be concerned about using a metal spatula to remove your burger because the nonstick inside is suitable for use with metal utensils. You can finish off steaks in the oven after searing them with this type because it is oven-safe up to 500 degrees.
While cooking on the stovetop, the handle of the pan’s brushed stainless steel is kept cool, and the pan is dishwasher-safe for quick cleanup.
Pros
- More manageable and lighter than cast iron
- Up to 500 degrees in the oven
- Resists being scratched by metal objects
Cons
- More challenging to clean with time
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Square Grill Pan
If the Lodge double-burner grill is a bit too big for your requirements, this 10.5-inch cast iron grill pan, also made by Lodge, will function just as well. This heavy-duty pan is made of a strong steel and carbon alloy that is almost unbreakable and has excellent heat retention. Since you can start your steaks on the stove and finish them in the oven under the broiler, this pan’s sear quality is unequaled, making it the perfect choice for preparing steaks with nearly restaurant-grade quality at home.
These cast iron pans work well on many types of stovetops, including induction and open flames. This pan is pre-seasoned when it is received, making it instantly usable.
Like many cast iron pans, this one needs some upkeep to maintain the seasoning and maintain its nonstick properties, but with proper care, it may last a lifetime.
Pros
- Almost unbreakable
- Maintains heat very well
- Arrives already season
Cons
- As with any cast iron, specific maintenance is necessary
Staub Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan & Press
Although you could easily grill a panini using any grill pan, this heavy-duty 12-inch pan makes it much simpler because it comes with a 10.3-inch press.
But it may be used for more than simply hot sandwiches; the heavyweight press that comes with it is also useful for pressing a spatchcocked chicken to simulate the cooking procedure “under a brick.” Of course, grilling burgers, steaks, and other foods eliminate the necessity for the press.
This nearly indestructible pan is made in France from heavy cast iron and has good heat retention. It has a smooth enameled surface and a browning-promoting matte black inside that is somewhat rough.
You may use the pan to finish your steaks or to cook a small roast because it is oven-safe to 500 degrees. Although the price of this pan is a bit high, it is a piece that is made to last, so you may pass it down to subsequent generations.
Pros
- Rapidly and uniformly heats
- Up to 500 degrees in the oven
- Suitable for all cooktops
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
How to Choose the Right Grill Pan
Cleaning
Grill pans might be a little more difficult to clean than flat pans because of the ridges and grooves. Nonstick pans are simpler to clean, but they may not hold up to vigorous cleaning or the use of metal utensils. Although food may stick more frequently with uncoated pans, it can tolerate more vigorous cleaning. Cleaning is made simpler by the fact that some pans may go in the dishwasher.
Material
Different grill pan materials have advantages and disadvantages, much like other cooking utensils. Cast iron may be used on induction cooktops and heats evenly and maintains heat effectively, but it can be hefty. All-aluminum pans cannot be used on an induction cooktop, despite the fact that they heat up rapidly, are lower in weight, and are responsive to temperature fluctuations.
Size
Grill pans come in a variety of sizes and forms, so it’s crucial to take your demands into account. Larger pans may look better when you’re feeding guests, but they also require more storage space.
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