You may have just received your new griddle or are considering buying one. But how do you get the best out of your griddle, and how should it be maintained?
We will tell you in this guide, where we take you through everything from setting up your griddle to what you can cook with it.
What is a Griddle?
A griddle is a large plate, typically made of cast iron or carbon steel, which helps to conduct and retain heat. Griddles are popular in both home kitchens and professional kitchens due to their versatility and excellent cooking properties. Their spacious surface allows you to cook food for multiple people at once, making them ideal for cooking for a large family or for a garden party.
How to Use Your Griddle
Our carbon steel griddle is pre-treated with oil, which means it is ready for cooking right away. But if you want an even better nonstick on your griddle, you can give it an extra layer of seasoning before use, by following this guide.
An important thing to remember is that the more food you cook on your griddle, the better nonstick effect you will achieve. Frequent use of the griddle builds up a natural nonstick coating, making it easier to cook food without it sticking. So the more you use your griddle for cooking, the more the nonstick effect will improve.
Where Can I Use the Griddle?
Our carbon steel griddle is designed for cooking both indoors and outdoors. Our griddle is compatible with gas, electric, and even induction cooktops. Additionally, the griddle is also perfect to take with you into nature, where you can cook the most delicious food over a campfire.
Note: If you use the griddle on induction, it is important to heat the griddle slowly, and never use the boost function.
What Makes a Carbon Steel Griddle Unique?
We chose to make our griddle out of carbon steel because of its superior heat storage and control. Carbon steel combines the heat retention of cast iron with the temperature control of stainless steel. We manufacture our griddles in Sweden, where the griddle is burnt with vegetable oil to achieve a unique natural nonstick.
The griddle is 1.3 cm high and has a cooking surface that measures just over 50 cm in length. Including the two handles, it measures a total of 62 centimeters. In other words, it fits over two burners on a standard-sized cooktop. The handles have a height of 3 cm. It is 4 mm thick and weighs 4.5 kg. Carbon steel cookware is often 2 mm thick, but by increasing the thickness, you achieve a more stable construction that does not warp as easily. If the plate does warp a little during cooking at high heat, you will typically see that it becomes flat again when cooled.
Our raised handles make this griddle both safer and easier to carry. Due to the higher, angled sides, you don't have to worry about grease spilling onto the stove. In fact, our griddle can hold up to a liter of liquid.
How to Maintain Your Griddle
Maintaining your griddle follows the same procedures as our carbon steel iron pans. These are the main things you need to know:
- Never clean with dish soap
- Only use water when absolutely necessary
- Never put your griddle in the dishwasher
- For light dirt: Wipe the surface with a cloth or a piece of paper towel, and dab off excess fat
- For slightly tougher residues: Gently boil a little water on the griddle and scrape away the food residues with a wooden spatula
- Make sure to dry your griddle either by hand or by placing it on the stove over low heat before giving it a thin layer of protective oil (cooking oil) and storing it
Does your griddle need a little extra protection after a thorough cleaning or contact with acidic food? Then you can burn in the griddle with oil and build up a new seasoning.
What Should I Be Aware of When Cooking on My Griddle?
Carbon steel is a very durable material, but there are a few things you should be aware of when cooking with it. Although it has a heat tolerance of up to 650°C, medium heat is usually sufficient to cook the food evenly. Avoid using acidic foods, as they can remove the seasoning you have worked so hard to build up.
Another thing to remember is that your griddle needs to build up the nonstick patina before you use it to cook more delicate foods. Wait until you have used your griddle for a while before trying to cook eggs or fish. And feel free to give it a little extra fat at the beginning.
Finally, remember that carbon steel does not like moisture. Although you can store your griddle either indoors or outdoors, make sure it is protected from moisture.
Ready to cook? We have gathered 5 of our favorites that we love to cook on the griddle right here.
