What Is a Griddle Pan?

According to Merriam-Webster, a griddle is a flat stone or metal surface on which food is baked or fried. In cookware, griddle pans are shallow pans used for baking, searing or frying. For many cooks, whether it's cooking a breakfast of pancakes and bacon or kabobs, a griddle pan is a necessary and versatile piece of cookware.

Styles

Electric griddle

Griddle pans come in round, square, oval or rectangular; some fit over a single stove burner, while other varieties fit over two burners. Some griddles have raised ridges while others have smooth surfaces. Griddle pans are made to be used on top of the stove, such as stainless steel and cast iron, or used on the counter top, such as an electric griddle. Cast iron griddles can also be used on a campfire. Electric griddles have a removable drip pan to catch meat drippings.

Uses

The raised ridged griddles are used to cook food items where grill marks are desirable, such as chicken, hamburgers, steaks, vegetables or fish. These food items can also be cooked on a smooth surface griddle, which can also cook foods like eggs, bacon and pancakes.

Benefits

Using a griddle that fits over two burners--or a jumbo electric griddle--allows cooks to prepare more food at once. A jumbo griddle can hold one pound of bacon or eight medium pancakes. Cooking with a raised surface griddle allows the meat's juices to drip down away from the food.

Considerations

Raised bottom

All types of cast iron griddles work on gas and electric stoves with the coil burners. However, only griddles with smooth bottoms can be used on ceramic cooktops, as the griddles with raised bottoms will cook unevenly. According to What's Cooking America, caution should be used when cooking with cast iron on a ceramic cooktop, because shifting the pan can mar the surface of the cooktop.

Griddle Utensils

Use only wooden or plastic utensils on the griddles with a nonstick surface. Any type of utensil can be used on a cast iron griddle.

Seasoning the Griddle

Seasoning the griddle

New electric and stainless steel griddles do not need any special preparation before using them; however, cast iron cookware needs to be "seasoned." After cleaning and drying the griddle, pour a small amount of vegetable shortening or cooking oil into the griddle and wipe the pan.

Cleaning

Drying the pan

Many electric griddles can be submersed in water for cleaning. Protect the surface of those with nonstick coating by using a nylon scrubber or wash cloth. There is a debate over whether cast iron should be washed in soap and water. Lodge Manufacturing, which has made cast iron cookware since 1896, recommends cleaning with hot water and a stiff nylon brush. However, What's Cooking America recommends using hot soapy water; in reference to the soap-no-soap debate, it commented, "A chef told me that if a health inspector ever found a pan that had not been washed with soap and water in his kitchen, he would be in trouble. Plus the grease that is left behind will eventually become rancid. You do not want rancid oil in your foods and body." Dry cast iron by placing in a warm oven or drying with a paper towel; air drying can cause it to rust.

Resources

• Lodge Manufacturing
• Presto