I apologize if this has been discussed already -- I couldn't find the topic. IYO (in your opinion), is a dedicated griddle better than having a griddle insert? I'm back 'n forth between purchasing a standalone griddle and purchasing a new gas grill with a griddle insert. Each has its good points/bad points. Does either one have an advantage over the other?
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I think the decision boils down to……How much would you use the gas grill without the griddle insert? If you think you’d use the gas grill fairly often by itself, I’d go that route….and get a full size griddle insert. But, if you would rarely or never use a gas grill, get a standalone griddle. Either way you win, griddles are fun to cook on! You’ll be surprised at how often you’ll start using it. -
I have both.... kind of.
For me, owning a gas grill and acquiring a griddle insert is best because as Panhead John pointed out, I use my gas grill often. Grilling fish, caramelizing chicken, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, etc. When I need to put on like 12 burgers (like this past Sunday - see picture below of my insert on my Genesis), frying up chopped chicken, pork or beef for tacos, quesadillas, etc., I put in the griddle insert and it works great. Space is an issue for me, so I double up on functionality. Buy the rotisserie motor and spindle and now your gasser has three separate functions.
So I do have a portable griddle. A Camp Stove with a full griddle insert. Because it is portable, I can set it up anywhere when we have block parties or over at someone's house, camping, etc. Attached FilesComment
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For me, I decided to just get a NG grill with a rotisserie. I hardly use it, but I did buy a griddle from Made In which I love. It fits nicely in the gasser and on top of my gas stove inside. The beauty of this setup is keeping it clean. I loathed cleaning my dedicated griddle, mainly because I kept it outside and covers only do so much.
Forgot to add, when I was shopping this was high on my list. https://www.grillagrills.com/product...ll-and-griddleComment
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I have both a built in gasser and a stand alone griddle. I use both equally. When I first started looking for a griddle, I was looking for an insert because I didn’t want another cooker on my patio but I couldn’t find a griddle insert that I loved. There were a few out there that were nice, but just nothing that I had to have so I just continued using my Lodge Griddle, which I didn’t use often because it wasn’t deep to handle grease and wasn’t very big. So, I came to the thought that griddle cooking wouldn’t be apart of my repertoire - that is until I found a steal of a deal on a Blackstone 36” cooker for $240 plus some accessories. And since buying it earlier this year, I love cooking on that griddle - and can cook anything on it that I would on my gasser if I needed to or wanted to. Very versatile and fun to cook on!
My dad, he has a nice Weber grill and purchased the Weber Griddle Insert for his specific grill and loves it. He leaves the griddle in more often than not and just cooks that way for pretty much everything, so offers him versatility and flexibility when needed. It’s a really nice setup and would work perfertly!
You can’t go wrong really. But I do think getting a griddle or griddle insert that has enough room to cook your full meal on is probably the top thing to consider, otherwise you may not like griddle cooking or find it as enjoyable as it is.
Either way, enjoy whatever it is you end up buying!Last edited by barelfly; July 30, 2024, 04:53 PM.Comment
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I've got a standalone griddle, and I've used griddle type surfaces (flat of Grillgrates or the Grillgrate griddle plates) on a Weber gas grill. Both can work, but I feel the standalone griddle has some advantages over a surface griddle on top of the grates of a gas grill. The issue is lack of grease management when using a griddle on a regular gas grill. Standalone griddles have no way for grease to make contact with flame. The griddle tops on a regular gas grill can lead to grease fires - something I've experienced personally, if the flame was too high.
If I wanted one appliance to do both types of grilling, I might consider the new Weber gas grills and their full size inserts. Hopefully they've worked it out to where grease drains without hitting the burners. I would still run burners low to medium at the most, as I've experienced personally what happens with a grease fire under a solid grate surface such as grill grates, and the destruction it can cause to your grill.Comment
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I have an insert for my Spirit. The decision was easy for me, room. I can't compare but my experience is positive. Balanced heat and it fun to cook on.Comment
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What does your heart desire? Which will fit your needs?Comment
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I have used both and clean up of griddle after cooking on the gas grill was a chore, I like my PittBoss ceramic coated griddle and the clean up is fast and easy. I have two cast iron griddles that I will not use again.Comment
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My "griddle" is a large oval CI pan that covers a lot of gasser real estate. Cleanup is a breeze since all grease is contained in the pan.Comment
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So, I expressed my opinion that griddle cooking is meh (I was in the minority), so I wouldn't feel the peer pressure to get either. I don't hate griddle cooking, but the truth is that I can fry things on the gas stove cooktop just as easy as I can standing outside. I know others love them so YMMV. Feeling the way I now feel about either is I recognized they a just a large skillet, so the decision to me now would be do I want to lose deck space to a stand alone skillet or lose less deck space to a combo grill with griddle insert.
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The large Steelmade griddle insert that I have for my 6 burner gas grill has an optional tray that can be placed underneath the griddle's front edge to catch the grease. I use the drip tray each time I use the griddle so that the grease never hits the flavorizer bars/burners.
I'm with jfmorris on the fact that not giving the grease a place to go on a griddle insert might lead to an unpleasant, unsafe, and possibly expensive outcome.
I don't use the griddle all that often, mostly for larger stir fry and smashburger cooks, but if I had a family who loved big breakfasts once a week or more or often cooked for, say, 6 or more people, I'd have purchased a large dedicated griddle with a hinged lid instead.
KathrynComment
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I was so tempted to get one when I got my Somerset, Jim. jfmorris .
But I like the 3 sides of the gasser enclosing the griddle and of course the versatility of having a hinged lid. Much less mess from spattering grease.
Each time I use the Somerset, I put up a protector made from a sheet of vinyl from the fabric store to keep the splatter from hitting the house (I use the Somerset on my deck where I have a NG line run to it.)
K.
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Depends what you want and how you want to use it. If you are only interested in the griddle aspect, I would go for a standalone griddle - generally a griddle insert will do an adequate job of replicated a stand along griddle but is not a perfect substitute.
However, if you are in the market for a new gasser and want to use both and don't have the space, I would aim for a gas griddle with an actual insert vs. a griddle plate sitting on top of the existing grates.
I got the Steelmade Griddle insert for my gasser and I gotta say, I don't love it. I don't know if its because its designed to sit on top of the existing grates (vs. the Weber insert which replaces the grates - but I don't have a Weber gasser), but the performance of it is not as great as I expected. It doesn't retain its heat as well as I would expect nor does it recover as quickly as I would expect.
I wish I had a griddle plate that replaced the actual grates on my gasser but my gasser is from Bull Outdoors and the only insert they sell is woefully undersized (and too expensive) that only replaces like a third of the grates, so just not a legitimate option worth pursuing
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I haven't even used my griddle once this season, no.particular reason though. Very cool here in the mornings to make breakfast and just don't want to fire it up and cook two hamburgers then go through the cleaning process. Kids haven't been up all summer, they are too busy with summer hockey camp. It's worth the effort for a cheese steak or fajitas but we haven't gotten around to making them yet. Need to throw a party.Comment
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