Hi! I’m Philip, and I’ve tested and reviewed grill pans on the following factors: performance, build quality, design, and value for money to determine the best griddle pans on the market, all so you don’t have to.
By Siem
Grill, or griddle, pans are a great addition to your kitchen retinue, and are able to transform your cooking top into a flat griddle for BBQ food, steak, eggs, and pretty much anything else. They come with ridges on the pan or smooth, allowing you to char grill or sear the food in the pan, offering versatility and amazing flavour. Grill pans are incredibly popular in sunny areas for their excellent usefulness outdoors over an outdoor grill grate, and good quality griddle pans are oven safe and incredibly durable, so they can cater to your needs for years to come.
How to choose a the right griddle pan for you:
When buying a new griddle pan, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, your budget is a good starting point. Having a good budget in mind before making your purchase is important for two reasons, the first being because it narrows down your options to a smaller number, and secondly because it stops you from overspending and making a bad purchase. Griddle pans aren’t usually too expensive, but they can range from around £30-£200. Once your budget is identified, you can move onto other details, such as size and features. If you’re still unsure, then don’t worry, as after the following list we’ll be going over a buying guide that will help you find the best grill pan for you in more detail.
The Best Overall Nonstick Grill Pan of 2024
Le Creuset Women’s Signature
This Le Creuset signature square skillet grill pan is an enameled cast iron pan, and it has deep grill marks that makes it one of the best pans we tested for charring chicken breasts, lettuce, and steak. It can be used in the oven, and it enjoys a reasonably sized non-stick surface area, that’s more healthy and can use maximum space on your stovetop. Given its incredible build quality, this pan doesn’t come cheap, effectively pushing into the most expensive strata of the best griddle pans to buy, so consider that before buying, there are less expensive alternatives that are still effective, though probably less durable.
- Excellent build quality
- Deep grill lines
- Nonstick coating
- Oven-proof
- Expensive
- Not the largest surface area
The Best Budget Square Grill Pan
Masterpan Non-stick
This is a great option for those who want a durable, non-stick griddle pan without forking over a lot of money. So, it is our top pick for the best value for money despite its low price. Firstly, the pan comes pre-seasoned and ready to use, and its griddle marks creates grill marks on your food. Also, this is a griddle pan for induction hobs, as it features a compatible magnetic bottom. Finally, the 28cm diameter surface area is large and ideal for larger groups and food portions. This induction grill pan is made with durability and affordability, and was one of the best pans in our test for value for money.
- Induction compatible
- Non-stick griddle surface
- Affordable for any budget
- Durable and reliable
- Requires seasoning eventually
- Aluminium is less durable
The Best Non-Stick Griddle Pan for Induction Hobs
Prestige Thermo Smart Griddle
Another excellent nonstick pan for induction hobs, this pan features two excellent features. Firstly, the pan heats quickly, and using this pan on an induction hob will be effective, and secondly, when the pan is ready to cook with, the handle lights up. A decent size of pan, at 28cm, there are no defined grill marks on its surface for grill marks and char, like with cast iron griddle pans, however, there is still a non-stick surface, making this pan also healthy to cook with.
- Magnetic bottom of the pan
- Indicator light on handle
- Dishwasher-safe
- Non-stick coating
- Very affordable
- No grill marks
- Oven safe only to 180 degrees
The Best Griddle Pan for Gas Hobs
Denby Natural Canvas
Out of all the tested griddle pans, this Denby pan emerged as the best for gas hobs. A lot of griddle pans should heat well over a gas stove, however, this grill pan works better than most, thanks to its cast iron square grill design, which offers lifetime durability. Also, this gas grill pan is oven-safe and dishwasher-safe, which is versatility only offered by cast-iron pans. Seasoning the pan is also relatively simple, however, that is a prerequisite not attributed to aluminium or ceramic materials.
- Oven and dishwasher safe
- Will last a lifetime
- Perfect for gas stoves
- Seasoning required
- Smaller surface area
The Top Pick for BBQs
Merten & Storck Carbon Steel BBQ Perforated
This non-stick frying pan from Merten & Storck is perfect for outdoor cooking. Its unique design, of a pan covered in holes, has a very specific function. It serves to allow for the drainage of fat, and the smokey flavour of charcoal and hickory is allowed to perforate through the holes, and infuse with the food. Out of all the tested grill pans, this was the most uniquely designed for BBQ cooking, and its lightweight, all-carbon steel material allows you to maneuver the pan easily on, or in, any cooking surface. If you want a pan that makes cooking outside fun and easy, then this is the bookies favourite grill for you.
- Ideal for BBQs
- Perforated with holes
- Non-stick pan
- Oven safe
- Holes may cause wastage
- Not suitable for liquids
- Not dishwasher-safe
The Best Stainless Steel Grill Pan
Judge Vista J229A
The Judge Vista is our choice for the best nonstick stainless steel pan because it’s a great versatile option, seeing as it can be used in the oven, on the grill, or on a regular or induction stovetop. Despite its small size, this pan is capable of handling more food due to its deeper sides, allowing for greater volume of food being cooked with it. It is also dishwasher-safe, cool to touch even when hot, and has an oven-safe handle, all with a 25 year guarantee! All these features make this a product with incredible value for money.
- Versatile option
- Griddle pan for induction hob
- Oven-proof handle
- Incredible value for money
Best Nonstick Griddle with a Fixed Handle
Tognana Mythos
Pans can’t get better than the Tognana Mythos for a pan that has a non-slip and soft-touch handle. Choosing a griddle with a handle like this allows you to enjoy cooking more safety and comfortably than using a regular frying pan. Also, this pan is compatible with induction hobs, ovens, and gas stoves, and at a great price, this is a pan that could satisfy any user with any budget.
- Fixed handle
- Induction compatible
- Oven safe
- Great value for money
- Less durable than other models
The Best Aluminium Grill Pan
Moss & Stone
Compared to cast irons, aluminium griddle pans cook quickly, but lack the durability to be as long lasting.That said, they are less expensive and are still rather reliable. Our choice for the best aluminium pan is this one from Moss & Stone. The griddle sides have spouts for fat drainage, and the handle is oven-safe. When it comes to grill pans, this is a great option for those who want an aluminium grill pan.
- Lightweight aluminium
- Oven and dishwasher-safe
- Good value for money
- Aluminium is less durable
Our Top 8 Best Tested Griddle Pans, at a Glance:
- The best overall – Le Creuset Women’s Signature
- The best budget – Masterpan Non-stick
- The best for induction hobs – Prestige Thermo Smart Griddle
- The best for gas hobs – Denby Natural Canvas
- The best for BBQs – Merten & Storck Carbon Steel BBQ Perforated
- The best stainless steel pan – Judge Vista J229A
- The best with a fixed handle – Tognana Mythos
- The best aluminium pan – Moss & Stone
Buying Guide: How to choose a griddle pan
So, that was our choice for the best grill pans on the market. If you found something that you liked, then we’re happy to have been of service! But, if not, then don’t worry, as here we’ll go over how to choose the right grill pan for you in more detail:
What is your budget? As you may have seen, grill pans range a lot (between £30-£200) and so having a budget in mind will help you whittle down the options.
What size/material do you need? The right size and material will be determined by how you choose to cook with your pan. An aluminium pan will be better for induction stoves, while a seasoned cast iron grill pan would be better for oven cooking. Knowing what sized pan you want, and what material you want it to be made of will help narrow down the selection process even more.
Any other features? Finally, you can decide what other features you’d like your grill pan to hold, such as a non-slip handle, deep ridges or smooth surface, or side spouts, etc.,
Now that you have answered those questions, you should be armed with the know-how to accurately find and pick out the right grill pan for you. If you’re still unsure, then don’t worry, as we recommend any of the 8 listed above, as they all performed amazingly well in the test.
Conclusion: What’s the best grill pan?
Overall, the best grill pan from our tests was the Le Creuset Women’s Signature for its all round excellence and build quality, and the best budget alternative was the Masterpan Non-stick for its great value for money and durability. Thanks for reading! If you liked this article, then consider visiting kitchenarylab.com for more tests and reviews of amazing kitchen appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
The best griddle pan overall on the market in 2024 is the Le Creuset Women’s Signature.
We think that yes, grill pans have excellent value for money and are incredibly durable and reliable.