How to Use The Enameled Cast Iron Griddle

If you have an enameled cast iron griddle but don't know what to do with it. Let's take the time to learn all the benefits of a cast iron griddle and how to care for it.

The Power of enameled cast iron griddle

An enameled cast iron griddle (usually a matte black enamel color) is a continuous large cooking space above the space for the two burners on the hob. Whether you're cooking for a potluck or just cooking for the family, you can cook a lot of food at once on its surface and cook it all at the same time. Moving on to the cast iron griddle, you'll notice that it has a smooth, open space without the large side walls of a regular pan. You may not realize that the walls of a skillet can hold moisture, which can affect the food you cook. Your food will be nice and crispy without them - and nothing stands in the way of an easy flip! In the end, the power of a skillet is its ability to cook different foods simultaneously on the same surface.

Some Griddle Safety Precautions

Safety is always paramount, and it's no different when it comes to bakeware. As you venture out in the kitchen creating delicious meals with cast iron skillets, use these 2 top tips to keep everyone safe:

Monitoring Grease

Without sidewalls, grease will accumulate and have nowhere to go. If it overflows, it could cause serious problems -- especially if you're using the skillet with a gas stove.

Protect Your Hands With Oven Gloves

The surface of an enameled cast iron skillet can become hot, like touching the burners or grates on a grill. Wear gloves if you need to move the skillet or touch it in any way while cooking.

Tips for Perfect Grilling

The time on the baking sheet varies

Food cooks much faster than cooking in a pan. This is important so you don't walk away and come back with burnt food. The reason for the faster cook time is that the entire skillet is a solid thermal block - the heat cannot be lost.

The surface is not non-stick

Your enameled cast iron griddle is like any cast iron skillet—it needs oil. Be sure to coat the surface with a good quality oil or cooking spray before you start cooking. Not only will this reduce the chance of food sticking to the surface, it will also make cleanup much easier.

Cook a variety of foods in foil.

You don't have to use aluminum foil, but it makes it a lot easier to cook different foods at once. Plus, for thicker foods, the aluminum foil allows them to cook and steam at the same time for faster cooking.

The more you use your grill pan, the better you can get the hang of it—and find what works best for your cooking habits

Clean your griddle

Perhaps one of the best features of cooking on a cast iron skillet is cleanup. When you're done cooking, wear oven mitts to protect your hands and remove excess food from the surface of the skillet. You can do this once it cools, but some foods will harden and stick to the surface, making it harder to remove. Once the surface is clean - and cool - wipe the surface with a damp rag - then keep trying. Do not oil the enameled cast iron bakeware after use, as it has an enamel coating to protect the cast iron surface. But for pre-seasoned cast iron skillets, a coat of oil is required to protect the cast iron surface.

The bakeware should be cleaned after each use. The longer you wait to clean it, the harder it will be to remove stuck-on debris. Follow the steps above every time for a neat, easy way to create clean bakeware. Whether your gas range has a griddle, or you've purchased an enameled cast iron griddle, you'll enjoy its ease of use. Cook big meals faster, clean up easily and save time. Those new to the bakeware will quickly be drawn to its ease of use and multiple benefits.