How Do I Choose the Best Grilling Skillet?

A grilling skillet may be used on different sized grills, so it is important to make sure the one you choose fits the shape of your stove or its burners. It can be a good idea to find one that catches the drippings if you are planning to cook meat. This may not be needed if you are cooking other foods, so a flat-bottomed skillet might be best in this instance. There are many different materials available, and the right one can depend on your budget and how often you plan to use your grilling skillet.

These skillets may be square, rectangular, or round. A round grilling skillet could be a good choice for a gas grill because it may fit over top of the burners nicely. Round skillets have an added advantage in that they also fit traditional stove burners well. If you are cooking on a charcoal grill, a square or rectangular one could be used, as there are generally no burners to place the skillet on. All shapes are available in varying sizes, and the right one can depend on the size of your grill and how many guests you plan to cook for.

Some grill pans have a grate on the bottom with a small reservoir underneath this. This type of grilling skillet can help catch drippings from meat, as allowing them to drop into the flame below could be hazardous. While this could be useful for cooking meat, certain foods such as eggs or steamed vegetables may slip through the grates while cooking. If you are preparing these types of foods, you may want a skillet with a flat bottom instead. Another option might be to buy a skillet with a removable grate so it can be used for cooking nearly any type of food.

Cast iron can be a nice choice for a grilling skillet because this material is normally very sturdy. It is not likely to crack when exposed to very hot or cold temperatures. An aluminum pan is usually rustproof, but may warp when placed on a very hot grill. Stainless steel can be easy to clean yet somewhat less durable than iron. Iron skillets are normally more expensive than aluminum or stainless steel ones are, so you should consider your budget and how often you plan to use this pan before making a purchase.