In our best cast iron griddles list, we cover a variety of different griddles. There are many different shapes and sizes and we look at many different cast iron griddles to find only the best.
If you take care of your cast iron griddle it will last for a very long time. In fact, many people say that cast iron gets better with age.
There are a few things you should know about cleaning cast iron and we cover this below the list. Simple steps can be taken to avoid rusting and cracking and you’ll learn that cast iron is actually easier to clean than most other cookware.
The cast iron griddle is designed to handle very high temperatures. Personally, I take one with me when I go camping. Cooking food over a campfire on a cast iron griddle has one of the best smells and tastes. If you were to try putting one of the new super expensive nonstick griddles on a campfire it would probably melt… You don’t have to worry about cast iron melting or warping.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through an affiliate link, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can see our full disclaimer here.
#1 Lodge L9OG3 – Round Cast Iron Griddle Pan
No surprise here that the Lodge Cast Iron Griddle should be at the top of the list. We wanted to make sure we didn’t miss any of the smaller brands, but in the end we went with the Lodge round cast iron pan. This is an all-purpose traditional cast iron skillet designed to cook many different foods.
This round cast iron griddle has a seasoned, smooth surface which helps prevent sticking, which is a big problem with many of the ridged cast iron griddles. It weighs 4.5 pounds, measures 15 inches by 10.5 inches and comes with a lifetime warranty.
There is nothing unique about this design and this style of round cast iron griddle has been popular for hundreds of years. It can be placed over or on a fire and can handle temperatures beyond 500 Degrees F. This is my favorite griddle by far of them all and I have been using it for the last decade for much of my cooking.
Features:
- Made in the USA by Lodge who has been making cast iron for over 100 years.
- One of the most inexpensive griddles on the market.
- Comes Pre-seasoned.
- Weighs 4.5 pounds which is average for a griddle this size.
- Very easy to clean and doesn’t rust easily.
- The handle is not too long and not too short.
Negative sides:
After using this round cast iron griddle for over a decade I can’t think of anything that would be considered negative. Many people assume that cast iron is similar to non-stick griddles and get frustrated when they rust. You must clean them a little differently and if you take care of them they will last for hundreds of years.
This griddle heats very evenly and doesn’t take long to get very hot. It can handle very high temperatures and is perfect for making small pizzas in the oven. Always be careful when removing something that is 500 degrees. The only other thing I could possibly complain about is the weight. It’s a bit on the heavy side but so are all cast iron griddles.
#2 Lodge LPGI3 – Cast Iron Griddle for Gas Grill
This Lodge reversible griddle made the top of our list for best stove top griddle.
Designed to be the perfect cast iron griddle for gas grills, as well as a two burner stove.
Perfect for cooking several steaks, eggs, pancakes, bacon, and much more. One of the largest cast iron pans that you can find an affordable price, it has a cooking surface of 19” x 8”.
The reversible feature allows you to use the smooth side for cooking things like pancakes and eggs, or use the ridges side for hamburgers, steaks, sausages and other meats.
This reversible cast iron griddle makes a perfect camping griddle as well and can be placed in the oven to cook foods such as pizzas. It comes with a lifetime warranty, so if it breaks you can return it and get a new one. I have actually done this before by dropping it off the stove top onto a cement floor and it shattered like glass.
Cleaning is very easy and there are no complaints about this griddle rusting. As with all cast iron griddles, they will rust if you don’t take care of them. Simply clean them by using a little salt and water on a paper towel. You can also look into specific scrubbers and oils designed for preserving your cast iron griddle for gas grills.
Features:
- The double sided griddle weighs about 3.5 pounds.
- Comes with built in grease traps on both sides of the griddle.
- It measures approximately 20 inches x 10.5 inches
- One side of the griddle has ridges, perfect for searing meats, fish, and vegetables.
- The other side of the griddle is flat, perfect for cooking eggs, pancakes, burritos, etc.
- Can be placed in the oven to bake your foods or on a grill.
- Foundry seasoned and ready to use out of the box.
Negative sides:
The Lodge LPGI3 is the amazon #1 best selling cast iron griddle for gas grill, so we had to take a closer look at it and see what makes it so special. After reading most of the 2,668 reviews to see what could be bad about it, here’s what we found.
Complaints that we found are mainly regarding the pan heating unevenly. Sections get hot and other sections get very hot. Cleaning may be difficult and more time consuming than other griddles. Foods tend to stick to the ridges side of the griddle. Prone to cracking if you wash it with cold water while it’s hot.
Camp Chef CGG16B – Reversible Cast Iron Griddle
The Camp Chef reversible cast iron griddle is a single-burner griddle for outdoor cookers, and it’s designed to take up less space than the double burner griddle. It heats up fast and weighs in at 14 pounds, making it one of the heaviest and most durable griddles you can find. It features one side that is smooth and the other side with ridges.
One of my favorite thing about reversible griddles is that they are perfect for cooking over a campfire, the oven, or on the stovetop.
The handles are built into the sides of the reversible cast iron griddle allowing you to conserve heat and cook your food faster. The size is 14″ x 16″ – and it can easily cook four eggs at a time.
Since it’s smaller than the double burner griddles it heats up faster and the center of the pan doesn’t get cold like the double burner griddles.
Features:
- The double-sided, one-burner griddle weighs 13.15 pounds.
- Fits Camp Chef and other cookers for outdoor cooking.
- It measures approximately 14 inches x 16 inches
- One side of the griddle has ridges, perfect for searing meats, fish, and vegetables.
- The other side of the griddle is flat, perfect for cooking eggs, pancakes, burritos,
- Pre-seasoned with Camp Chef’s “True Seasoned Finish”
- Handles are molded into the griddle for easy gripping and moving.
- Better heat distribution than the two burner griddles.
Negative sides:
Oddly enough there are random complaints of the reversible cast iron griddle cracking while in use. I have never experienced this in all my years of cooking and find it very strange. Perhaps while shipping the griddle may get damaged and receive a hairline fracture and when heated will cause it to break. The good news is that Camp Chef has a warranty that may replace your griddle if it cracks.
No complaints of heating unevenly which is great. The other biggest complaint is the weight. At a whopping 13 pounds this is a heavy one. If you are uncomfortable with such a heavy design then there are others that are much lighter. Just remember, when it comes to cast iron, the heavier the better.
Victoria – Cast Iron Round Griddle
If you love pizza as much as me, then a good cast iron round griddle is necessary for making the perfect pizza. After looking at about 10 different pizza griddles we decided on the Victoria round griddle.
It has a large surface area of about 12.5 inch diameter, perfect for medium-sized pizzas. Overall, with the removable wire handles, it’s nearly 18″ wide. The handles say ‘cool touch’ but I would still use hot pads.
The flat side of the cast iron griddle plate is great for crispy thin pizzas, jumbo pancakes, crepes and more. The ridged side is ideal for cooking steaks, seafood, vegetables and more. It also features a built-in drip tray for catching fat and oil.
Unlike its two-burner counterpart, the cast iron griddle plate is designed to cook more evenly. The griddle heats up more slowly than many of the other griddles due to its larger size. It is also a bit thicker than other griddles, so this just means that you will have to be a bit more patient.
Features:
- Heavy-duty cast iron.
- Fits perfectly in ovens and on grill tops for making pizzas and much more.
- Comes Pre-seasoned with vegetable oil.
- The manufacturer has a robust warranty if it cracks or breaks.
- Double-sided griddle perfect for cooking everything.
Negative sides:
Although most people love the size and usefulness of this griddle, there are random complaints of cracking. This is often due to something happening during transportation or improper use. However, the manufacturer does provide a warranty which you should read before purchasing.
The other thing to watch out for, like all cast iron cookware, is cleaning. If you don’t clean it properly it will rust. Cast iron should not go into the dishwasher. Nor should it be stored in damp locations. And it must be kept seasoned.
Properly Cleaning your Cast Iron Griddle
Cast Iron griddles, like a good wine, get better with age. This is true unless you decide to wash them with soap. After over 10 years of using cast iron griddles I have never had one rust and here I’ll show you my secret.
After you’re done cooking there’s not much cleaning that need to be done. If you are using a ridged griddle you may need to scrape off anything that gets get in the ridges. However, if you’re using a flat griddle I find that I hardly ever have to deep clean them and this is why I like them so much.
The first step is run the pan under very hot water. This is important because if your pan is hot and you run it under cold water in some rare cases it can cause the cast iron to crack.
The steam that’s produced from the water along with a good pan scraper or a griddle cleaning pad should remove about 99% of anything that’s on your griddle. Never use steel wool pads to clean your cast iron griddle.
Scrubbing with a little table salt is usually all you need for removing stubborn food, but a quick wash with soap is acceptable when absolutely necessary. Just don’t make a habit of it.
Using a Stainless Steel Chainmail Scrubber
The Chainmail Scrubber is made from stainless steel and acts much differently than a steel wool pad. After cooking you simply rinse your cast iron griddle with hot water and use the Chainmail Scrubber the same way you would use any other scrubber. You will find that anything stuck to your pan will be removed in seconds.
If you have problems with food sticking to your cast iron griddle after cooking then there are a few things you need to try. The first thing you should always do is wait until the cast iron is VERY hot before adding your food. However, if your food still sticks to the griddle you can use another type of oil.