You may have just received your new griddle or are thinking of buying one. But how do you get the most out of your griddle, and how should it be maintained?
We’ll tell you in this guide, where we take you through everything from setting up your griddle to what you can cook on it.
What is a griddle?
A griddle is a large plate, typically made of cast iron or carbon steel, which helps to conduct and retain heat. Griddles are popular in both home and professional kitchens due to their versatility and excellent cooking properties. Their spacious surface allows you to cook food for several people at once, making them ideal for cooking for a large family or for a garden party.
How to use your griddle pan
Our carbon steel griddle pan has been pre-seasoned with oil, meaning it is ready for cooking straight away. However, if you want even better non-stick performance from your griddle, you can give it an extra layer of seasoning before use by following this guide.
One important thing to remember is that the more food you cook on your griddle, the better the non-stick effect you’ll achieve. With frequent use of the griddle, a natural non-stick coating builds up, making it easier to cook food without it sticking. So the more you use your griddle for cooking, the more the non-stick effect will improve.
Where can I use the griddle?
Our carbon steel griddle is designed for cooking both indoors and outdoors. Our griddle is compatible with gas, electric or even induction hobs. What’s more, the griddle is also perfect for taking out into the countryside, where you can cook the most delicious food over a campfire.
NB: If you use the griddle on an induction hob, it is important that you heat it up slowly and never use the boost function.
What makes a carbon steel griddle unique?
We chose to make our griddle from carbon steel because of its superior heat retention and heat control. Carbon steel combines the heat retention of cast iron with the temperature control of stainless steel. We manufacture our griddle plates in Sweden, where the griddle plate is seasoned with vegetable oil to achieve a unique natural non-stick finish.
Read more about the design and production of the griddle plate here
The griddle is 1.3 cm high and has a cooking surface measuring just over 50 cm in length. Including the two handles, it measures a total of 62 centimetres. In other words, it fits over two burners on a standard-sized hob. The handles are 3 cm high. It is 4 mm thick and weighs 4.5 kg. Carbon steel cookware is often 2 mm thick, but by increasing the thickness, you achieve a more stable construction that does not warp as easily. If the griddle does warp slightly during cooking at high heat, you will typically find that it flattens out again as it cools.
Our raised handles make this griddle both safer and easier to carry. Thanks to the higher, angled sides, you don’t need to worry about grease spilling onto the hob. In fact, our griddle can hold up to one litre of liquid.
How to care for your Griddle
Maintaining your griddle follows the same procedures as our carbon steel frying pans. You can watch the video for an in-depth guide on how to clean carbon steel, but here are the key things you need to know:
- Never clean with washing-up liquid
- Only use water when absolutely necessary
- Never put your griddle in the dishwasher
- For light soiling: Wipe the surface with a cloth or a piece of kitchen roll and dab away any excess grease
- For slightly more stubborn stains: Gently boil a little water on the griddle and scrape away the food residue with a wooden spatula
- Make sure to dry your griddle either by hand or by placing it on the hob over a low heat before applying a thin layer of protective oil (cooking oil) or care wax and storing it
Does your griddle need a bit of extra protection after a thorough clean or contact with acidic food? Then you can season the griddle with oil and build up a new seasoning.
What should I bear in mind when cooking on my griddle?
Carbon steel is a very durable material, but there are a few things you should bear in mind when cooking with it. Although it has a heat tolerance of up to 450°C, medium heat is usually sufficient to cook food evenly. Avoid using acidic foods, as they can strip away the seasoning you have worked so hard to build up.
Another thing to remember is that your griddle needs to build up its non-stick patina before you use it to cook more delicate foods. Wait until you’ve used your griddle for a while before attempting to cook eggs or fish. And feel free to give it a little extra oil at the start.
Finally, remember that carbon steel doesn’t like moisture. Although you can store your frying pan either indoors or outdoors, make sure it’s protected from moisture.
Ready to cook? We’ve put together 5 of our favourites that we love to cook on the griddle right here.
