Griddle (Flat-Top) Cooking 'Hack?'

[JGo37]

This 'idea?' comes from my Smoke and Mirrors dept. - 'Copper' grill mats. I only came across these inexpensive mats recently, and see this as an easy hack to imitate a flat-top. What advantages of a griddle or flat-top cooking surface am I missing out on?

[Mr. Bones]

I've also only recently came across these, in advertisements, an wondered how they work, an what uses I could put them to...

Alas, I haven't purchased any, so have no answers fer ya, but I'm relatively certain some more experienced folks will chime in, here!

Great Question!

[JGo37]

they are really inexpensive to try - I am planning on getting 3-paks of two sizes: ~ $ 30 total.

[Mr. Bones]

Cool beans, lookin forward to yer cooks, reviews, etc.
I have seen these multiple places, recently, mind if I ask where ya sourced yers from?
JGo37

[JGo37]

MISTER bones, sir - just search 'copper grill mats' on Amazon. I'm also thinking veggies and fish, and ditching aluminum wrapping. You may have picked up that I fish (catch, smoke, get the ticks off the dog)

[MBMorgan]

Looks like all you're missing is thermal mass and a groove all around the edges to keep grease and oil from dripping over the sides into the fire:



This one is 25 pounds of 18x14x3/8" steel (but it costs a bit more than those copper mats).

[fzxdoc]

MBMorgan , thanks for the quick response, Mike. The first photo on that Amazon site that comes up is the underside of the griddle, so it makes it look as though there's no groove. But groove there is. I'm off to order.

Kathryn

[MBMorgan]

fzxdoc - I think you're really going to enjoy the griddle plate. It works great and, as a bonus, you can flip it over to the (confusing photo) flat side for pizza. For griddle tools, I found a decent inexpensive set from Blackstone that seem to work very well:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DYN0474/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mike

[fzxdoc]

Mike, MBMorgan , thanks once again. I'll load that flat top tool kit into my Amazon cart as well. I have the Grill Grate Griddles (2) and like them because they are easy to pull out and clean. But their big drawback is no rim, and sometimes I don't want all the grease/fat dripping down onto my gasser's grates and innards. Thanks for finding a solution for me.

K.

[Spinaker]

As others have said, Heat retention, durability, grease management and the ability to not have your food fall into the grill. Those copper mats are nothing close to a real cast iron to stainless steel griddle. They can claim that are all they want, but the only thing these have in common with a real griddle is the square shape. They claim you still get grill marks, that is because the mats are so thin that they don't spread the heat and the grates send heat through the mat exactly where the mat hits the grates. I would rather have a griddle surface that has plenty of heat across the surface, for a all over sear on the food, rather than thin grill marks. For griddles, except no substitute.

[JGo37]

Thanks above, here and below for the comments. I've noticed they're thin enough to roll up, and some in fact come in rolls like foil. I'll try them with crappie & asparagus on the upper tray in my square cooker and post a thread on how they do.

[Catmandu]

Keep in mind these mats should not be used over direct heat. I use them all the time. Work great for fish, burgers, and veggies.

[kamadoRob]

I have these and don't really care for them. I tried them as a way to cook loose veggies and small bits. The 2 things I don't like about them; they have no thermal mass and block airflow so the food doesn't seem to cook as well and it messes up the convection process for the rest of the grill. Also, they really aren't all that easy to manage and clean. They blow away if it's windy and a little hard to handle in the sink when washing.

[JGo37]

Thanks. I'm going to try the small ones on the warming rack of a larger square grill.

[kamadoRob]

That may work better for air flow. I used mine about 3 times and tossed them in the garage mainly due to the airflow issue.

[jgreen]

Also not as easy to do a smash burger on.

[JGo37]

One thing I do know is correct answer when told - I'm going with Lodge to add some iron to my grills. This will be the first time I've done griddle cooking on my grills. Still, the copper mat is a gadget, so I have to have a couple.

[Spinaker]

Also, good on you for buying American made products, like Lodge. 🇺🇸 👊🏻 (Instead of Chinese iron from Camp Chef)

[JGo37]

If Lodge doesn't make it, I'll watch Craig's List for years for a Griswold before buying offshore cast iron. Gives me the willies thinking about it... No offense to any of our AP chefs.

[EdF]

I have a round Lodge for the 18" egg and an oblong one for the small TEC. Both work great!