Griddles

[lightning79]

Hello friends,

Has anybody ever used the Coleman (or other brands) of griddle that are to lay across a Coleman stove? Any good? I'd like one for doing pancakes outside, but the Coleman ones are $50 in Canada and the cheap, thin ones are $35. I usually butter the griddle and then pour pancake mix on top.

Thoughts?

Kevin

[TandE]

I use the griddles and they work great.

One problem though. I got all of it from my parents as they got a new grill and they had one griddle and so I purchased another one not realizing that they have two types. A cast iron one and an aluminum one. I already had one aluminum and now have one if each and by far the aluminum one is 10x better.

The iron one worked good the first meal but after that no amount of butter, oil, Pam or whatever could get it to not stick to it. At least my experience with it.

This is for a roadtrip grill and I am using the half plates because we always ended up with needing one griddle and one grill. I know they make a full griddle but do not know if it comes in iron I have only seen aluminum.

[lightning79]

Thanks, TandE.

So it sounds like something I"ll end up getting!

[Javi]

Originally Posted by TandE

I use the griddles and they work great.

One problem though. I got all of it from my parents as they got a new grill and they had one griddle and so I purchased another one not realizing that they have two types. A cast iron one and an aluminum one. I already had one aluminum and now have one if each and by far the aluminum one is 10x better.

The iron one worked good the first meal but after that no amount of butter, oil, Pam or whatever could get it to not stick to it. At least my experience with it.

This is for a roadtrip grill and I am using the half plates because we always ended up with needing one griddle and one grill. I know they make a full griddle but do not know if it comes in iron I have only seen aluminum.

The problem you have with cast iron is indicative of a lack of seasoning.... cast iron cookware MUST be properly seasoned in order to be non-stick... it's easy to do an there are several how to videos and instructions on the web.. once seasoned and with proper care cast iron cookware will last several lifetimes.. I have a large skillet that is over 100 years old (I've used it myself for over 50 years) and I intend to pass it on to my daughter when I go... She already put in dibs

[JRTJH]

What Javi says is so true. Cast iron, when you first buy it is "pre-seasoned" but that only means that it's been washed and some oil "smeared" on it to keep it from rusting. To properly season new cast iron is an easy process, but if you don't take the time to do it, it'll never NEVER cook properly.

Take that cast iron grill, properly season it and I'm betting after using it a few times, you'll throw the aluminum side away and get another cast iron one to replace it

[Badboy]

Cast iron is the only way to cook when you are camping,best way to cook with cast iron is over the open wood fire.

[TandE]

I understand seasoning cast iron and have a couple cast iron pans and my favorite my lodge Dutch oven. I guess I got confused since it has a gloss coating in it that almost looks like powder coat sprayed on it. I just assumed it didn't need to be seasoned cause of that.

[GaryWT]

For a griddle I like cast alum. I find that cast iron griddles once to hot do not cool quick enough also lost a table once be Aussie the cast iron through the heat back down and melted it.

[Festus2]

Some BBQ's come with "porcelain-coated" cast iron cooking grids. I am wondering how the seasoning process that one would normally take with uncoated, cast iron grids work with grids that have a porcelain coat on them?
Would the porcelain coating inhibit or reduce the benefits obtained by seasoning?

[Javi]

Fetus, I've had one of those grills and the porcelain on the grate didn't last long at all. I wouldn't think seasoning would be necessary or effective on them. After mine started flaking I made another from stainless steel which worked better anyway.

[Clanton24v]

I went a little overboard with my griddle choice but I do enjoy get all of breakfast cooked at the same time I went with the blackstone 4 burner griddle from cabelas

[Ron]

I use a heavy camp chef cast iron griddle on my weber barbeque, works great once it gets hot..

[JRTJH]

My DW has a couple of Le Cruset <sp> porcelain coated cast iron dutch ovens that she uses in the house. They are not "stick free" as is the old cast iron one we throw in the campfire and every time she "sticks something" in the house she threatens to go get the "good one" from the camper to replace the expensive one in the house.

So, I'm thinking porcelain coated cast iron is pretty much the same as porcelain coated stamped steel. It's "OK" but "it ain't good cast iron stuff" regardless of how much it costs

[wbatto]

The best way I have found to season cast iron is fry bacon in it the first time. After that wash with dish washing liquid and rinse good. Dry it and recoat with olive oil then reheat until it turns black. What you are doing is making a layer of carbon every time you use it. Over time it will become very smooth and won't stick. The worst thing you can do is let it set with water as this will cause it rust and remove the carbon.

[Andymon]

We have an older Coleman camp stove. It has two burners on one side and the reversible griddle to the left. One side of the griddle is smooth...for pancakes, eggs, etc and the other is ribbed for bacon, steaks, etc. We used it on our sailboat many times and it will certainly go in the TT. Heck, I can smell the bacon cooking right now!!

[mrwizzard]

Cast Iron for me. I have a cast iron griddle we used when I was growing up so I know it's at least 60 yrs old, maybe older. However we have friends who love their aluminum, so whatever works for you. I'm stickin' with the ole cast iron....

[richf28]

I have different size cast iron fry pans in the home kitchen and the camper both. I bought them at flea markets and won't fry anything without one. I do have a cast aluminum Dutch oven though. I've been keeping my eyes out for cast iron griddles next.