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This article is all about the great grill pans that are available on the market today. For those people who are looking for a homemade, authentic, grilled burger, please read on to explore the options.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Grill Pan
- OUR TOP PICK: Lodge 10.5 Inch Square Grill Pan
- RUNNER-UP: Weber Style 6435
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Grill Pan
Comparison of the Best Grill Pans
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What is a Grill Pan?
It can loosely be described as a frying pan with ridges in the bottom of the pan for those grilled lines. These grilled lines on a burger or food are a sign of an authentic, grilled look.

Grill Pan (Source)
A grill pan can be used to cook food on a stovetop or even inside an oven if the pan allows it. It can be used to make those tasty grilled marks on the food after it has been heated on the stovetop.
The grill lines make no difference to the flavor but are only there for the looks.
When Would I Use a Grill Pan?
Here are a few uses for a grill pan:
When You Want to Mimic the Grilled Look
Are you grilling indoors and want to make it look like it has been grilled on the outdoor BBQ grill? That is when you need to dust off the grill pan and heat it up for that nice, grilled look. This can be done on the stovetop or in the oven to keep the oil use low.
When Camping
When you are out camping, you can also use the grill pan on the BBQ grill to keep everything in one place. This can easily be used for any type of outdoor and indoor grilling session in the mobile home environment. It is also great for tailgating or when you are out on a family or romantic picnic.
For Protection
It may become necessary to use a grill pan if you are grilling small cuts or small pieces. The grill pan may also help keep your food safe from flaring when the juice falls in the heat while cooking. It will be especially helpful to have a grill pan while you are cooking on a charcoal or gas BBQ.
Why Did These Grill Pans Make Our List?
The grill pans we chose for this review stood out in a few different areas:
Price
This is an important feature when you are looking for a grill pan for indoor and outdoor use. It is very important to take the price into account for those people that are on a tight budget.
Durability
This is very important because you do not want to buy a grill pan that may not withstand a lot of use. It must be ready to be used whenever you need it for grilling your food.
Non-Stick
The cooking surface must have a durable, non-stick surface for an easy cleaning session when you are done cooking. This will also help keep your grill pan in top condition and make maintenance a bit easier for you.
Size
The size of the cooking surface may, in some cases, make a difference when you are cooking the food. With a larger size, a greater variety of food can be prepared in the grill pan at one time.
Parts
First of all, your grill pan must have a handle to carry the pan around and for handling while cooking. If the handle is attached, however, it may break off later.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Grill Pans
Here are the best grill pans:
Review of the Best Grill Pans
In this review, we will take a closer look at some of the best grill pans and their accompanying features.
Best Overall:
Lodge 10.5 Inch Square Grill Pan
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This grill pan is made from good quality materials and will last for a very long time. With this grill pan, you can char the food without burning the surface and the whole pan. This grill pan is great for everyday use of cooking your food.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The low-ridged bottom of the pan helps keep the food simmering in the juices for great flavor. It is made from strong and durable cast iron, which allows for even heating of the food. The cast iron construction will also help retain the heat effectively.
Who Will Use This Most
This is the ideal grill pan for those who are looking for great quality but are on a tight budget. The robust and very durable construction makes it perfect for use in most camping environments. It is also a very valuable addition to many outdoor kitchens.
Bottom Line
At the low price you get this grill pan from Lodge, you get great value and great features included. You get quite a large cooking surface of around 8 inches, which is good for cooking a variety of food. It also comes pre-seasoned to save you the time of seasoning your pan.
Runner-up:
Weber Style Grade Grill Pan
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This grill pan is great, and it is well designed to withstand lots of use on the grill. It is quite easy to use and can be washed in the dishwasher for a quick, easy clean. This pan will make life a bit easier and your cooking better.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This grill pan is dishwasher-friendly, so you can conveniently and easily clean it without lots of effort and sweat. The wide handles will let you carry it around safely when the cooking is done. It is made from high-quality materials, and it is strong and sturdily constructed.
Who Will Use This Most
This grill pan will make the life of any backyard chef much easier. It is very strong and sturdy enough to be used in any professional and non-professional culinary environment. It can also be used by anyone who loves to grill and cook.
Bottom Line
This useful addition to any Weber grill setup comes not just with a great name but also with great functionality. You get great quality and durability with this Weber grill pan. It also comes at a very reasonable price and is affordable for everyone.
Best for the Money:
Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Grill Pan
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The grill pan from Calphalon is made very strong and durable and is very easy to use for grilling. This grill pan is not too heavy and can be easily used on the stovetop and in the oven. It is great for everyday use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This pan has a triple layer of non-stick coating for durability, as well as to give you an easy release layer. You get a lot of space to prepare a full meal at one time with this grill pan. The handle is long and keeps you away from the heat to prevent burns.
Who Will Use This Most
This item is great for people who are on a low-fat diet, as this pan helps by cooking with less fat. It is also great for all types of home cooking experiments and other cooking applications. Overall, this grill pan is ideal for everyday home cooking and for professionals.
Bottom Line
This pan offers great value for your money. Even if the price is a bit steep, the value makes up for it. It is also quite functional and versatile for cooking many different types of food in one session. When used at the recommended temperatures, it will last for quite a long time.
Best Cast Iron Grill Pan:
Lodge LPGI3 Pro-Grid Reversible Grill Pan
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This is a strong grill pan that will help get your food cooked without making a mess all over the place. The griddle takes seasoning well and is designed to last a long time. This cast iron griddle and grill pan is great and fits on most grills.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This grill pan can easily be used in the oven and on top of the BBQ grill and the gas burner. The dual-purpose of the grill pan makes it quite versatile. Plus, it has a large cooking surface for preparing your food.
Who Will Use This Most
This is perfect for every home cook to prepare a great meal for many people at a time. Because of the fast cooking time and the easy and quick cleaning, it can be used by very busy people, as well. It is a great overall home and professional grill pan.
Bottom Line
You get a very strong and well-constructed grill pan that will give you a lifetime of quality service. This is a great and valuable addition to your cooking arsenal. It comes with great features and high-quality value, as well as durability, at a reasonable price point.
Best Korean Grill Pan:
TeChef Stovetop Korean Grill Pan
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This grill pan is perfect for use on the gas stovetop to make a perfect Korean BBQ in no time. With this grill pan, you can make food that tastes better than what gets made in the restaurant. This grill pan is great for everyday use for cooking and grilling at home.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The swirl pattern draining channels help for the slow draining of the juices to provide better flavoring while cooking the food. All the channels are connected to a groove that leads to a draining hole for easy cleaning. You also have a Teflon non-stick surface to assist with speedy cleaning.
Who Will Use This Most
This is for the home cook that is looking for that authentic Korean style of grilled food. It is also perfect for a small to medium household to make a quick meal on the go. It is also great for the amateur chef who wants to make professional grilled dishes at home.
Bottom Line
By using this grill pan for making a delicious home grilled meal, you are going to save money. This will keep you away from the restaurant and keep you home to make the food yourself. This is the ideal grill pan for spoiling loved ones and friends with a great meal.
Best Indoor Grill Pan:
Cuisinart CI30-23CR Chef's Classic
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This is the ideal grill pan for a quick meal if you are always on the go. Cuisinart cookware is always of great quality, well designed, and very easy to use. This pan offers great value for your money and is perfect for one person or a small family.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Available in a variety of colors, this grill pan from Cuisinart will easily fit into many different kitchen color schemes. It is dishwasher safe to help with easy and fast cleaning and cookware maintenance. The cast iron handle is strong and will last as long as the grill pan.
Who Will Use This Most
This is the perfect addition for every household that needs a versatile grill pan for cooking. This is also great for campers who want that grilled effect on their hamburgers. It is also a valuable addition to the mobile home user for a quick meal.
Bottom Line
You get a very strong, durable, and good-looking grill pan for your kitchen. This is the ideal grill pan for the single camper to cook everything at one time. If you are looking for a grill pan that will fit into your decor, this is it.
Best Copper Grill Pan:
Cooksmark Copper Nonstick Grill Pan
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The ceramic-infused copper allows for this grill pan to be very easily cleaned after cooking your food. This is the perfect grill pan to use on round stovetops and BBQ grills for fast cooking of your food. This pan is easy to use and fits on the stovetop.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The large cooking surface of this grill pan allows for a lot of food, as well as variety to be cooked. You get even heating of the grill pan with the anodized aluminum construction it is made of. The nice, deep ridges give you the grill lines on your food.
Who Will Use This Most
This grill pan can be used by anyone that has a stovetop or BBQ grill surface to cook the food on. It is also very suitable to be used on the gas top burner for a quick and easy grilled meal. This pan is ideal for the camper and RV user.
Bottom Line
Even though the price is a bit high for this easy-to-use grill pan, it is still worth the money. It also does not come with a warranty, but it is still a great grill pan for the home user. Overall, it is a great kitchen tool.
How to Use a Grill Pan
If you are a newbie to grilling, take a look at how to use a grill pan below:
- First, you should preheat the grill pan over medium-high heat for up to five minutes to equally heat the whole surface.
- After the pan has enough time to heat up, you can gently add the food in the pan. You need to lay the food over the ridges so you can get the grill marks.
- Cover the pan with the lid provided or any other lid that will keep the heat inside for faster cooking time.
- You should let the food lay in the pan for about one minute without moving it to get the grill marks on the food.
- After one or two minutes, you can turn the food if it needs turning. After that, it will all depend on the type of food and the heat as well as the size of the pan.
- You should keep the food in the same position when turning it to have straight grill lines on the food.
- After the char lines are burned into the food, you need to regularly flip the food for even cooking until it is done.
- Then, you should turn off the heat a minute or two before you remove the food from the pan.
How to Clean a Grill Pan
Here are the quick and easy steps for cleaning your grill pan:
- Get yourself a hob scraper from the food section at the store.
- Then, you need to get a squirt bottle filled with a cleaner.
- You will also need a bottle of degreaser.
- You can also get a finisher if the pan is not enameled.
- Remove the big bits from the pan.
- Use the scraper and start scraping the grease from the bottom.
- You can spray a little bit of the cleaner evenly over the grease in the pan to soften it.
- Next, spray some of the degreaser and leave it all in the pan for a while.
- Now, you can use the scraper again to remove the grease from the bottom of the pan.
- Sweep all the leftover dirt from the bottom of the pan using a paper towel.
- If there are some spots of grease left, repeat the whole process until all the grease is removed.
- Next, you can put it in a strong hot water and soap mixture and leave it for a while to break down all the fat.
- Lastly, you can use a scourer to clean off the last bit of grease and grime from the pan.
Tips and Tricks For Cleaning Other Grill Pans
Let us take a look at how to clean other types of grill pans and what type of cleaners to use. You will need different types of cleaners to use on the different materials that grill pans are made off. Without further ado, let's start cleaning.
How to Clean a Cast Iron Grill Pan
You can use soap and water to clean this type of grill pan to remove the grease. You should start by putting non-abrasive soap in the pan, together with some hot water. Now, scrub the pan surface using a scrubber or sponge and then rinse the pan with clean hot water.
How to Clean a Nonstick Grill Pan
Pour out the grease and rinse the grill pan with some hot water. Now, you can add some dish-washing soap and hot water in the pan and scrub the pan by using a nylon scrubber. After all the grease has been washed away with the warm soapy water, rinse the pan.

Cast Iron Grill Pan (Source)
How to Clean a Stainless Steel Grill Pan
Soak the pan in warm, soapy water for a while and then use a sponge to scrub off all the grease and dirt. If there are burn marks at the bottom of the pan, use some baking soda and a sponge on the marks. After cleaning, rinse the pan in clean warm water.
How to Clean Rust Off a Cast Iron Grill Pan
You may use some fine steel wool to remove the rust from a cast iron grill pan. You should scour the pan until the raw cast iron comes out and then wash the pan clean with hot soapy water. After that, you can rinse it in clean hot water.
Conclusion
After you have read this review, you should be able to make an informed decision regarding grill pans. It is important to keep in mind that not every grill pan is made equal. Thus, you should be able to use the information to choose the grill pan that suits you.
People Also Ask
Here are a couple of nagging questions that are always on the back of your mind when choosing a grill pan. It is very important to get answers to these questions to put your mind at ease. Let's have a look at the questions and provide the answers to them.
Is a Grill Pan the Same as a Grill?
A grill is a grid that is placed over a gas flame or even an open flame to put the food on. Meanwhile, a grill pan is a pan with a solid bottom that has some ridges in the bottom of the pan. These ridges represent the grid of the grill and mimic that grill mark effect.
Is Pan Grilling Healthy?
If you are using a small amount of oil in a non-stick grill pan, you may have an oil-free grilled meal. The ridges in the bottom of the pan may provide a safe grilling effect where the grease and fat lay in the bottom. The food is then lying on the ridges.
How Do You Season a Grill Pan?
Scrub the bottom of the grill pan with soapy water and then thoroughly rinse and dry it off completely. Spray a small amount of oil or fat over the bottom surface of the pan and place it upside down inside the oven. Bake it for an hour and take it out, leaving some foil in the bottom of the oven.
What is the Difference Between a Grill Pan and a Frying Pan?
A frying pan is a skillet type of pan with a smooth bottom that can be placed on the stovetop to get hot. The grill pan has a ridged bottom and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
How Long Do You Cook Steak on a Grill Pan?
First, you need to heat the grill pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop. When it is heated, put a small amount of oil or fat in the bottom of the pan. You can now put the steak in and leave it for two minutes on one side, then flip it and leave another two minutes.
Are Cast Iron Grill Pans Good?
Cast iron cookware has, in general, a higher level of durability and will cook the food much better than other materials. They can also retain the heat much better and can evenly heat the food. It is especially better to use cast iron than coated materials for cooking.
What is a Grill Pan Used For?
A grill pan is a great option for grilling food quickly and easily when you do not have much time. To get that grill line effect on the food, you have the ridges in the bottom of the grill pan. It is also great for other grilling applications, like a panini press.
Is a Grill Pan Worth it?
A grill pan is basically used for the aesthetic looks of the grilled food. It always looks nice to have those grill lines on the steak or the burger. It is also a bit healthier to use a grill pan than a frying pan to cook your food.