There are several reasons to buy a grill pan whether you live in an apartment or if the outside grilling season is coming to an end. Grill pans may be used on the cooktop to get those beautiful sear marks without the need for an electrical outlet. Even while a regular skillet may give you a nice sear without the marks, a grill pan’s grooves raise your food above the liquids and fats, resulting in an even superior sear and less oily outcome.
We put the finest grill pans on the market to the test for us. She thought about the materials used, the way they would hold heat, how they would operate, how they would be cleaned, and how they would be stored.
Find out which grill pans are the finest by reading on.
1. Scanpan(R) Professional Grill Pan
Because it’s long-lasting and effective, this Scanpan(R) choice is one of our favorites. A nonstick surface devoid of PFOA/PFOS protects the cast aluminum pan, which weighs around 4 pounds. When cooking with the brand’s nonstick coating, metal utensils are safe. In comparison to other pans, the square pan features grill ridges that are closer together, allowing more of the surface of the food to be seared and caramelized, resulting in more grill marks and a richer taste.
There are no hot or cold spots on the pan’s surface and the handle remains cool and nice to hold. Induction cooktops cannot be used with this pan, but it is oven-safe up to 500 degrees F, allowing it to be used in the oven to finish cooking bigger portions of meat like ribs or chuck roasts. For four or five hamburgers or a few steaks, the pan is exactly the appropriate size: 10.5″ Although cleaning in between the grill ridges might be a challenge, the pan can be washed in the dishwasher.
2. Anolon Advanced Deep Square Grill Pan
The Anolon Advanced 11-inch Square Grill Pan from the Anolon line of nonstick grill pans is a great choice if you’re looking for those desired seared stripes on your food photos for Instagram. There are no hot areas or cold patches in this pan because of its rounded ridges, which are a bit higher than some of the other pans we tried and sear perfectly straight lines into the eggplant and zucchini.
Grilling fatty items like steaks or hamburgers in this pan may result in less splattering since it is deeper — about two inches deep — than other grill pans. Both of the sides have pour spouts. With a silicone insert, the handle is easy to hold and keeps the wearer cool to the touch. Durable, chip- and scratch-resistant nonstick coating protects aluminum alloy in this pan. We had no problems with the food coming out of the pan, and cleaning it was a breeze, which is a plus since it isn’t dishwasher safe. For four to five hamburgers or a small chicken breast, the grill pan is ideal; the ridges reach nearly to the pan’s edge, making the whole cooking surface accessible. Use on gas, electric, and glass or ceramic cooktops are all safe with this pan.
3. All-Clad HA1 Nonstick Double Burner Grill
Despite its large size, the All-Clad HA1 Nonstick Double Burner Grill fits snugly over two standard-sized cooktops. Even in the space between the burners, it maintains a consistent temperature and warms up rapidly. This kind of grill pan produces uniformly browned lines and cooks food more rapidly than a grill pan with higher ridges because the food is closer to the cooking surface than on a grill pan with lower ridges. Pouring fat or drippings is a breeze thanks to the two pour spouts on each side of the pan.
Hard anodized aluminum is used to make All-HA1 Clad’s range, which is one of the company’s entry-level lines. Cleaning is a breeze because to the coating’s smooth ridges, which allow a sponge to glide over them effortlessly and prevent food from hiding in crevices. (It’s also dishwasher safe, but smaller dishwashers may have trouble fitting).
A benefit is that the entire thing can be put in the oven (up to 500 degrees F) to finish cooking bigger items like steaks and chops. Even though loop handles with flat grips are simple to carry, oven mits are required because of the handles’ tendency to grow hot while in use. It’s a little difficult to store this pan, which measures 13 by 20 inches, since the handles extend a full two inches over the pan’s surface. This pan, on the other hand, has enough capacity to cook eight or more burgers at a time.
4. BergHOFF GEM Non-Stick Grill Pan
Awards have been bestowed on the BergHOFF Gem Nonstick Grill Pan because of its innovative design. Pushing a button separates the pan’s molded plastic handle from the pan itself. This is not only convenient for storing the pan, but it also makes it oven-safe. Because of this, you can effortlessly pull your food out of a hot oven without risking burns by accidently picking up a handle that has just been removed (no more burned hands from accidentally picking up an oven-hot pan’s handle!).
The pan has a nonstick interior with speckles and low, rounded ridges that run diagonally across the pan’s surface. It is small and portable. It’s safe to use on all types of cooktops, including gas, ceramic, electric, and induction. The pan warms up rapidly and there are no obvious hotspots in it. This pan does not generate the dark, well-defined grill markings that some people like; nonetheless, food cooks evenly and without sticking, and cleaning is a breeze.
5. Calphalon Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick Square Grill Pan
Using a well-known brand’s grill pan, the Calphalon Premier 11-inch Square Grill Pan is a long-lasting cookware option. Hard-anodized aluminum and a stainless steel riveted handle with a split design help keep it cool to the touch as you use it.
Despite the fact that the grill lines aren’t as clear as in some of the other pans, the food sears and caramelizes beautifully since it’s in direct touch with the cooking surface. In addition to making cleaning a pleasure, the nonstick coating is very efficient in keeping anything from adhering to the surface, even with minimum oil. In addition to gas, electric, and glass cooktops, this grill is oven safe up to 450 degrees F and may be used in the microwave.
6. GreenPan Chatham Ceramic Nonstick Round Grill Pan
In terms of convenience, the GreenPan Chatham 11-inch Round Grill Pan is an excellent choice for individuals who are concerned about chemical coatings. A ceramic-based nonstick coating is used by GreenPan, which is completely free of PFAS, PFOAs, lead, and cadmium. Even when using very little oil, food does not adhere to this pan. In comparison to the other pans we tried, it didn’t produce as distinct grill marks and appeared to cook hotter in certain areas than others. With only nine inches of grill ridges, it’s ideal for smaller amounts of food, such as four tiny burgers or two chicken breasts. It’s hard to clean the crevices on each side of the high ridges, even with the pan’s nonstick coating, since the light grey surface displays every bit of debris.
7. Finex Seasoned Cast Iron Double-Handle Grill Pan
There is a Portland-based cookware firm known as Finex, which may be likened to a nicer version of its more renowned sister brand Lodge Cast Iron. With an octagonal form that optimizes cooking area, a strong construction (it weighs 11 pounds!) and gorgeous coiled steel handles that cool rapidly, this pan is a work of art in the kitchen or on the grill. If you’re looking for a more authentic grilling experience, you’ll want to use this pan.
Due to the pan’s size, it takes a long time to heat up, but once the temperature is right, it can maintain the heat evenly for a long period so you can cook your steak perfectly. Food adhered to the ridges even after pre-seasoning and adding a little more oil, but it came off easily enough with a little prodding. With no hot spots, the heat was evenly distributed, and the ridges’ design resulted in beautifully browned grill markings. They become heated but cool down faster than the pan does. This pan’s seasoning, like that of any other cast-iron cookware, will improve with usage and develop a richer patina with time. This pan has the potential to become a family treasure and a terrific alternative to the outside barbecue if cared for correctly.
8. Cuisinel Preseasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan
The Cuisinel 10.5-inch cast iron grill pan is just large enough to cook a pair of chicken breasts or four tiny hamburgers, making it a terrific alternative for smaller families. With high, squared grill ridges that continue nearly to the pan’s edge, as well as pour spouts on both sides, this pan is well-designed and can be used for all of its cooking surface.
In spite of its modest price tag, this pan comes with a few useful extras: To remove burned-on parts, a scraper tool fits precisely between the ridges of the lid, and the pan handle is protected by a silicone cover. The lid helps thicker items cook more evenly. Although it makes the handle more pleasant to grasp, the sleeve has little effect on the temperature; without an oven mitt, the handle is still too hot to manage.
This grill is an excellent size for stoves with tiny burners since it warms up fast and evenly, despite its construction in cast iron. Although pre-seasoned, food will cling to the pan for the first few uses; the business recommends cooking something fatty or using a lot of oil in order to build up a naturally nonstick patina. All cast iron must be hand-washed and dried quickly, then coated with oil to preserve its seasoning.
Considerations to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a Grill Pan
Material
Using a cast-iron grill pan is a no-brainer. As if it were a real outside barbecue, it can achieve and hold very high temperatures. You can even finish heavier portions of steak in the oven after you’ve established a lovely sear on the cooktop since it’s oven-safe as well.. Cast iron, on the other hand, has the obvious drawback of being more difficult to clean and maintain. Frequent usage and regular seasoning with oil are necessary for cast iron to produce a naturally nonstick patina. The only way to properly care for it is to wash it by hand and air dry it as soon as possible.
A more expensive option, enameled cast iron provides the benefits of cast iron without the hassles of cleaning. No seasoning is needed for the enamel finish, which helps keep the metal from adhering and rusting.
Anodized Aluminum: This is a common name for grill pans and other cookware that is hard-anodized. It refers to aluminum that has been oxidized to make it more robust and resistant to corrosion. Nonstick coating makes cleaning a breeze, and the aluminum base ensures optimum heat transfer. Remember to avoid using metal utensils or nonstick cookware at very high temperatures.
Cookware made of cast aluminum is made by pouring molten metal into a mold and hardening it. Known as “casting,” this procedure produces a more robust and hardened result. It’s lighter than cast iron and as good a conductor as any sort of aluminum. Also, like hard-anodized aluminum, it’s commonly coated with a nonstick layer.
A silicone-based nonstick coating is applied to the metal base of ceramic-coated cookware, which is sometimes referred to as an alternative to Teflon-based nonstick coatings. If you’re looking for a very easy-to-clean nonstick surface with excellent heat conduction, this is the best option.
Size and Shape
As a general rule, pans for grilling hamburgers are between 10 and 11 inches in diameter. Only needing to feed one or two people? Consider going smaller. However, if you’re cooking for a large group, you’ll want to invest in a grill pan with two burners. There is a lot more cooking surface space with these two-burner rectangular grill pans, as the name implies.
There is a solid reason why most grill pans on the market are square. Unlike a stir-fry or a sautéed meal, grilling necessitates that your food be cooked in a single layer. More surface area is provided with square grill pans. Round pans, on the other hand, offer a few advantages: They tend to heat more uniformly than square pans, which don’t usually get as hot at the sides and corners, making them ideal for baking and cooking.
The ridged side of certain grill pans may be turned over to use for grilling, while the smooth side can be used for griddling.
Handles
Grill pans may have a single handle or two handles. Cast iron pans, which tend to weigh more and need more effort to carry from the burner to the oven, benefit greatly from dual-sided handles. Cast iron and other metal handles, for example, may become quite hot to the touch. It’s possible to obtain handles made of metal or plastic that remain cold to the touch, although the latter may not be oven-safe.
Spouts and Channels for Pouring
Pour spouts and grease channels are common features on the grill pans we tested for this research. Despite the fact that they aren’t required, they might make it simpler to remove and dispose of grease. A skillet that has collected a lot of fat might make it more difficult to get a nice sear.
Now that you’ve mastered the art of grilling, check out our verdicts on a variety of cookware.
