How to Use a Griddle on a Grill By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 24, 2025 Cast iron griddles are an easy and affordable way to transform your grill into a flat top. The spacious cooking surface is ideal for smash burgers, hibachi, fajitas, and pancakes—really, any recipe that would otherwise fall through your grill grates. Cast iron provides great heat retention and durability, making it perfect for high-heat cooking on the grill you have at home. Plus, using a griddle on your grill is just as intuitive as using it over a double burner inside. We’ll walk you through how to do it, from preheating to clean-up! E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page Preheat Preheat your grill at a medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes with the lid closed. Then, pop your griddle on the grill and preheat for 7 to 10 minutes. Check to see that your griddle is hot and ready to cook by splashing a little water on the cooking surface. If the water droplets dance around the griddle, it’s go time! Prep Just like when you use your griddle inside, you’ll want to oil the cooking surface. You can do this using Seasoning Spray or by coating a paper towel with your preferred oil and using tongs to spread it over the cooking surface. Be careful not to drop the paper towel into your grill grates—that can cause a flare-up. Cook A cast iron griddle provides great heat retention so you can maximize the maillard reaction when you sear. That reaction adds great flavor to your food, which is why so many people fall in love with cast iron cooking. Sometimes grills can have hot spots, usually toward the back. You can use that to your advantage when you’re searing. However, it’s helpful to be mindful of if you’re cooking more delicate foods that burn more easily, like pancakes or hamburger buns. Preheating your griddle well will help you to achieve a more even heat across your cookware. Clean Enjoy your meal and let the griddle cool down on the grill while you eat. This can take a minute! Always check to make sure it has cooled off completely before you start the cleaning process. If there’s a lot of excess oil on the pan, blot it up with a paper towel. Then clean with a gentle dish soap and warm water. The Everyday Scrub Cloth comes in handy for scrubbing the grease trap and corners. Once clean, dry the griddle completely and rub with a thin layer of oil. Take your griddle outside! Smash Burgers With Garlic Butter Buns Why are they called smash burgers? Because you flatten the meat patty with a hot, cast iron burger press on the grill. Fireside Tomahawk Ribeye Here, we celebrate a massive steak simply: with crusty bread, a slathering of compound butter, and our Fireside Garlic & Herb Sear Blend. Grilled Smashed Potatoes with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette These smashed potatoes are the perfect combination of savory and sweet to add to your grilling menu. Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed! Get $10 off any $50+ order!* While you're shopping, become a Pan Fan today and sign up for our newsletter! *Coupon code will be sent to your email after you sign up for our newsletter! New sign ups only. Sign Up By submitting your information, you are agreeing to Lodge Cast Iron’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Please try again.
How to Use a Griddle on a Grill By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 24, 2025 Cast iron griddles are an easy and affordable way to transform your grill into a flat top. The spacious cooking surface is ideal for smash burgers, hibachi, fajitas, and pancakes—really, any recipe that would otherwise fall through your grill grates. Cast iron provides great heat retention and durability, making it perfect for high-heat cooking on the grill you have at home. Plus, using a griddle on your grill is just as intuitive as using it over a double burner inside. We’ll walk you through how to do it, from preheating to clean-up! E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page Preheat Preheat your grill at a medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes with the lid closed. Then, pop your griddle on the grill and preheat for 7 to 10 minutes. Check to see that your griddle is hot and ready to cook by splashing a little water on the cooking surface. If the water droplets dance around the griddle, it’s go time! Prep Just like when you use your griddle inside, you’ll want to oil the cooking surface. You can do this using Seasoning Spray or by coating a paper towel with your preferred oil and using tongs to spread it over the cooking surface. Be careful not to drop the paper towel into your grill grates—that can cause a flare-up. Cook A cast iron griddle provides great heat retention so you can maximize the maillard reaction when you sear. That reaction adds great flavor to your food, which is why so many people fall in love with cast iron cooking. Sometimes grills can have hot spots, usually toward the back. You can use that to your advantage when you’re searing. However, it’s helpful to be mindful of if you’re cooking more delicate foods that burn more easily, like pancakes or hamburger buns. Preheating your griddle well will help you to achieve a more even heat across your cookware. Clean Enjoy your meal and let the griddle cool down on the grill while you eat. This can take a minute! Always check to make sure it has cooled off completely before you start the cleaning process. If there’s a lot of excess oil on the pan, blot it up with a paper towel. Then clean with a gentle dish soap and warm water. The Everyday Scrub Cloth comes in handy for scrubbing the grease trap and corners. Once clean, dry the griddle completely and rub with a thin layer of oil. Take your griddle outside! Smash Burgers With Garlic Butter Buns Why are they called smash burgers? Because you flatten the meat patty with a hot, cast iron burger press on the grill. Fireside Tomahawk Ribeye Here, we celebrate a massive steak simply: with crusty bread, a slathering of compound butter, and our Fireside Garlic & Herb Sear Blend. Grilled Smashed Potatoes with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette These smashed potatoes are the perfect combination of savory and sweet to add to your grilling menu. Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed!
