Introduction to The Modern Griddles
In the modern world the griddle is a kitchen appliance that is intended for cooking pancakes, grilled cheese, eggs, different kinds of breads and more. Whether the unit is a griddle pan that is put on top of the stove or the electric unit, the cooking surface is often a flat metal (usually stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum) that comes with a variety of different shapes, including a square, round or a rectangular surface.
Most electric griddles usually have a cooking surface that is made of aluminum and can be put on the kitchen’s countertop (the unit is not supposed to be used on top of the stove, just a level and stable surface). Griddle pans on the other hand are supposed to be placed on the stove, and are usually made of cast iron or stainless steel. It’s also not rare for these units to have a nonstick surface that prevents from the food from sticking to the surface of the appliance.
Since there are a lot of griddles today that have a nonstick coating, it’s important to be careful when cleaning the unit. A nonstick surface can easily be scratched or damaged, and once it happens, the griddle just won’t be of much use (it really isn’t recommended to cook on a damaged nonstick surface, from obvious health risks).
Metal spatulas and utensils can seriously damage the nonstick surface, and if you are not careful it’s quite easy to scratch the surface with various other tools. Silicone utensils usually work the best in such cases, and would greatly prolong the life of the nonstick surface.
Cast Iron Griddle
Contrary to what some may think cast iron griddles can be as nonstick as the average electric griddle when they are seasoned properly. Similar to any nonstick surface, you have to treat the cast iron surface with caution or you’ll risk damaging the cooking surface (for example it’s recommended to let the unit cool before washing or cleaning it).
Most cast iron griddles conduct the heat pretty well, especially when compared to the electrical unit or the average griddle pan. However, a clear downside of the cast iron unit is that it’s usually too heavy for you have to take it out of the cabinet and place it on the stove each time you want to cook on it.
One of the most popular cast iron griddles is probably the Lodge Logic pro cast iron grill/griddle. The Lodge griddle is very heavy, as with any other cast iron unit, and also has a large cooking surface and a grease gutter that would help you drain the extra grease.
The appliance comes pre-seasoned and unlike many other electric griddles, the Lodge Logic pro is not dishwasher safe. Therefore, washing the unit by hand can be a bit hard, especially when considering the heavy weight of the Lodge griddle.