There are few things better than a charred, smoky, and delicious steak or a modest bunch of grilled vegetables. If you don’t have access to an open-air grill, that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve that classic, burned grind marks on whatever it is you’re cooking.
These Pans, like indoor barbecues, allow you to bring the grilling inside but do not require an electrical outlet and can get hot because you control the heat on your stovetop.
Not only do the edges of these containers cause burn marks, but they also help keep your nourishment elevated over the food’s natural juices and fat, resulting in less oily results when compared to other cooking methods.
In contrast, while a flame broil skillet will not produce the same results as an open-air barbecue (the absence of charcoal or wood chips implies you may miss out on that smoky flavour), they are an excellent option for loft tenants with no open air space or a simple wintertime arrangement for when it’s too cold to turn on the barbecue.
A grill pan allows you to achieve those dazzling burn marks on your stovetop without the use of any electrical outlets.
In a traditional skillet, you will be able to achieve a burn, but without the marks.
We spent hours testing the best barbecue pans on the market, from cast iron to nonstick and beyond, so you’ll know which one to get the next time you burn your steak. These are a few good ones.
1. Professional Grilling Pan by Scanpan
This is our overall best and we wouldn’t change much about this well-made fire pan from Danish manufacturer Scanpan.
It is made of die-cast aluminium and has a PFOA and PFOS-free nonstick coating. Scanpan’s nonstick coating is safe for metal utensils, unlike most nonstick cookware.
This dish has smaller, closer grilling edges than most others we’ve seen, which scorches and caramelizes the surface of the food being cooked.
It has a delicious burnt flavour and forms thick streaks with scorch marks. The container heats up quickly and evenly, with no hot or cold spots, and the stainless steel handle keeps it cool and comfortable to hold.
This dish is suitable for use on most stoves, but it is not ideal.
In terms of application, this dish can be cooked on most stoves, but it is also acceptable and oven safe up to 500 degrees F, so the entire dish can be substituted with a hot pan to cook meat that is thicker.
The pan’s 10.5-inch size makes it ideal for four or five cheeseburgers or a couple of steaks.
2. Cuisinel Preseasoned Cast Iron Grill
The Cuisinel cast iron grill is an excellent choice for small homes; with a 10.5-inch cast iron grill, it can accommodate two chicken breasts or four small burgers.
The tall square grill ribs are designed to reach almost to the edge of the pan, allowing you to use the entire cooking surface and drain grease through pour spouts on both sides.
This pan is inexpensive, but it has some extra features. A cool silicone handle on a glass lid, a scraper that fits perfectly between the grooves to scrape off burnt food, and a silicone sleeve for the pot handle.
The lid is ideal for assisting in the cooking of thicker foods. The sleeve makes the handle easier to grip, but it doesn’t do much to keep you cool. Still, it’s far too to use without oven gloves.
3. Anolon Deep Square Grill Pan
This is the best nonstick pan in this review. Although some non-stick grill pans do not achieve the desired grill marks, the Anolon Advanced 11-inch square grill pan will not disappoint if your goal is to create Instagram-worthy grills.
It warms up quickly and evenly, and the circular ribs, which are somewhat higher than some other pans we’ve tested. It leaves perfect grill lines in eggplant and zucchini cooked uniformly, with no hotspots or chilly areas.
The pan is nearly 2 inches deeper than typical grill pans, reducing splattering when baking fatty meals like steaks and burgers.
On both sides, there are spouts. The silicone-insert grip is comfortable to hold and keeps you cool. This pot is composed of hard-anodized aluminium with a scratch-resistant non-stick coating.
All of the foods we tried came out of the pot without difficulty. Given that it is not dishwasher safe, this is also a bonus. Grill pans can accommodate 4-5 burgers or small chicken breasts.
The groove extends almost to the end of the pot, allowing you to use the full cooking surface. The pot may be used on gas, electric, glass, and porcelain burners and is oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Finex Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan with Two Handles
Finex is a tiny Portland-based cookware firm. With an octagonal form that increases cooking surface area, a strong design (weighs 11 pounds! ), and a nicely wrapped stainless steel handle engineered for speedy cooling, the pot is stunning.
It resembles a real grill because the ridge is broader and deeper than most other grill pans. The pan takes a long time to heat due to its weight, but once heated, it can attain the ideal roasting temperature for baking steaks and keeps the heat uniform for a long time.
The food was a little sticky to the ridge because to the preseasoning and extra oil, but it came off quietly without ripping.
The heat was evenly distributed around the grill, with no hot spots, and the ridge design produced a beautiful brown grill mark.
The handle heats up, but it cools down faster than the pot. This saucepan, like other cast iron cookware, requires regular usage to keep its flavor, which can only be enhanced as the patina develops.
With careful maintenance, this pot can be passed down as an heirloom and used as an alternative to fuel outdoor grills.
5. Enamel Cast Iron Grill Pan & Press by Staub
A company that makes cast iron cookware in France, Staub, came out on top with a fantastic square grill pan.
Because the bread protrudes outwards, the cooking area is close to 10 inches, while the bread is 12 inches in diameter.
Turning over hamburgers and grilled eggs is simple thanks to the spatula’s shape.
While compared to other cast iron pans, the enamel-coated cast iron cooking surface has a smoother surface, resulting in somewhat improved food release when using the pan for the first time.
It’s a little easier to clean than other cast iron because of the smooth finish. It’s also easy to clean thanks to the enamel finish. (You can use soap and water!)
Despite the fact that the pot is significantly larger than the burner, it heats up swiftly and evenly.
The edges are cool, but not cool enough to cause the food to cook unevenly.
The supplied grill press is made of enamel cast iron and includes a groove, making it ideal for use with this pan.
The press can be used to produce paninis, mash burgers, or cook items on both sides at the same time. This pot’s outside is covered with bright enamel in a variety of bold and dark colors.
6. GreenPan Chatham 11-inch Round Grill Pan
This pan is ideal for those who don’t want to deal with chemical coatings but yet want the convenience of a non-stick surface.
GreenPan employs a non-stick ceramic coating that is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. Even with very little oil, food will not stick in this pot.
It did not, however, create the same noticeable grill marks as some of the other pans we tested, and some portions of the pan looked to be cooked hotter than others.
The grill ribs have a diameter of around 22 cm and are ideal for small portions, with enough room for four tiny burgers or two chicken breasts. Cleaning the pot is difficult despite the nonstick coating.
7. AllClad HA1 dual burner nonstick grill
The AllClad HA1 non-stick dual burner grill is sized to fit safely in two burners, even in a kitchen with an enormous cooktop.
It heats up rapidly and evenly even in-between burners. The crest is not too high and is circular. It’s easier to brown and cook rapidly because it’s closer to the cooking surface than an elevated grill pan.
Excess fat and drips are easily removed thanks to the spouts on the two corners.
It’s composed of PFOA-free PFOA-free hard-anodized aluminium with a non-stick coating. The sponge, in particular, benefits from the coating because it allows you to easily dislodge food.
This pan is the best double burner on this list. Although its size can be awkward to fit in, its large size can accommodate up to eight or more burgers at a time.
8. LodgeChef Collection Reversible Cast Iron Griddle
On this list, this is the best reversible griddle. This convertible grill and griddle are genuinely flagship goods at a reasonable price.
It works on a variety of cooking surfaces, including gas, electric, and induction burners. An outside barbecue is available, as well as a campfire.
Thick square ribs line the edges of the grill, resembling the grate of an outside barbecue, while one-sided channels collect oil and juice.
Although the grill side is smooth, there are oil grooves. Although, made of cast iron; this pan was found to heat up quickly and maintain a consistent temperature. Even with oil on the barbecue, delicate foods like salmon adhered to the ribs.
However, with continued usage, a natural non-stick patina will develop, allowing food to be released more quickly. This grill’s oven-proof feature is a plus, especially for thicker dishes that take a bit more time to cook.
Grilled ribs are difficult to clean, especially if there is food residue on them, and the pan should be dried rapidly and gently coated with oil to preserve its flavor.
9. Cast iron with an enamel finish Narrow grill by Le Creuset
The tiny grill pan from Le Creuset is adorable! The rectangular design gives the impression of a two-burner pan, but it only fits a one-burner or a long medium burner, and the outside and handles are enamel-painted in a variety of brilliant Le Creuset colours.
This enamel-coated cast-iron skillet has a circular ridge located diagonally on the cooking surface that is approximately 11 inches x 7 inches.
It’s the ideal size for a small family, with enough room for a couple of burgers or chicken breasts.
You don’t want to fry delicate items like fish in this pan until the cast iron has accumulated a natural flavour.
This grill pan is hard to clean. But don’t worry, the manufacturer provides a special cleaning brush. Alternatively, you can just clean it using a dishwasher
10. Non-stick grill pan from Skylight
The fascinating feature of this economical tiny grill pan is the inwardly foldable handle, which makes it more compact for storage. (The wooden handle also has a loop if the hanging is preferable.)
It has a cast aluminium body with a spout slot and two side notches for draining grease and drips, as well as tall spherical grill ribs.
Lightweight and spacious enough to bake up to four burgers (5 if smaller) or chicken breasts at once.
The ridges are rounded and high enough to mark the grill, but the heat dispersion isn’t as good as the other grills we tested, and thick meals like chicken burn before they’re cooked. Yes, there is. The non-stick coating, on the other hand, allows you to remove delicate food like salmon and clean it.
