Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 56
 Perfect griddle for up to two people September 11, 2006
Malisp (Arizona)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I'm a huge fan of cast-iron, so when I was in the market for a griddle I turned to Lodge. This is actually the first new cast-iron pan I've owned (the others I was lucky enough to inherit from my Grandmother), and while I know how to season one properly, it was worth the convenience to buy one preseasoned.
I broke-in the griddle with some pancakes (an Alton Brown recipe) and they turned out amazing, better than any others I've ever had or made. The heat retention of cast-iron really makes a difference, and the low sides of the griddle made flipping the pancakes simple. The size of the griddle was perfect for my range and allowed me to make either 4 small pancakes or 3 medium sized ones at the same time. They browned perfectly and didn't stick at all (per the recipe I buttered the pan and then wiped the excess off between pancakes).
I know cleaning might intimidate those unfamiliar with cast-iron but it couldn't be simpler. If there is no burned food on it, just wipe it down with a cloth (I actually use a wad of paper towels) dampened with warm water right after you're done cooking. While the griddle still is still warm (which will be for quite a while), put a light layer of vegetable oil on the cooking surface and you're done. If there was some burned food on it, just start by scrubing it lightly with a stiff bristle brush and warm water (once again, easier if the griddle is still warm) and then dry off and oil.
Once again, this is a great griddle that makes great food and is simple to take care of. If you've never tried cast-iron before, you'll be amazed how much easier it is to cook on since it has no hot spots (once it's warmed up) and retains heat for a long time. Just be sure to get a good mitt or cover for the handle. Also, if you have a lot of people to cook for, I might suggest getting two of these griddles instead of a large one that spans multiple burners (unless your burners are close together or gas).
 newuser March 1, 2006
Meenakshi
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I really like this griddle. This is the first time I used a Cast Iron griddle and it works like a charm. The heat is distributed very evenly. It is great that now I don't have to worry about the non stick surface and keep buying new griddles everytime the non stick surface gets bad. It works great for pancakes, sandwiches for everything.
Fantastically versitile value January 5, 2007
M. Swaim (NC United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I've been using cast iron cookware for 25 years. Lodge brand has been a favorite for the past 7-8 years because it represents excellent value, is still made right here in America in TN, and because the quality is generally really good.
When I bought this skillet, I already had several cast iron skillets, and frankly was a little hesitant that it offered anything that I didn't already have in the form of higher rimmed skillets. Man, was I wrong. This flat skillet quickly became a favorite. As others have mentioned, getting a spatula under an omlet in this pan is very easy. This pan excels at eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, fajitas, sausage and just generally anything where having a very minor rim is an advantage not a disadvantage.
I really like this skillet and can hardly believe that American made good cast iron cookware is available at this price. This inexpensive pan will easily outlast most of the slick coated aluminum pans that cost more, don't heat as evenly, and don't have the heat retention of cast iron.
Quite versitile June 11, 2006
Gary H. Webster (Atlanta)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Great for frying eggs, but I prefer a pan with higher sides for omlets. Every grilled sandwich I've made on this griddle has come out perfect. My kids use it to make pancakes and they swear by it. I've found that pre-heating the griddle in the oven first helps it heat more evenly and avoid the hot spots that can occur when cooking on a stove top. The pre-seasoning works great.
Really handy multi-use pan March 28, 2008
Nick L (Boston, MA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a pretty darn good pan, it's probably about 3/8" to 1/2" thick, so it is not very heavy but still heats pretty evenly and retains heat really well. The lip is very small, maybe 3/8-1/2" high, making spatula work easy.
The round shape of the pan is not conducive to making pancakes, unless you make large pancakes one at a time. Similarly, burgers, bacon, and other such things will not fit well on any round pan, not just this one. On the other hand, a pan like this is perfect for thin omelettes, crepes, and quesadillas, all things that are difficult on more traditional high-sided cast iron pans.
I'm glad that I bought this pan because the teflon on my previous crepe pan only lasted about two years of minimal use. I hate teflon. This pan is indestructible and the heat retention and low-sloping sides make it ideal for crepes.
The reason I rated this pan at 4 stars instead of five is two-fold: 1. I'm a jerk and I believe that 5 stars should be reserved for products that go above and beyond my expectations, and 2. the build quality of the pan is good, but not the best that I have seen. The pan is flat, very flat, and the shape is really very nice overall. Also, the pan feels very sturdy, moreso than the "chef's choice" stuff you get at target, to the point that I feel that the pan wouldn't even shatter if I dropped it from a second story window, not that I plan to test that. The cooking surface is also smooth, as smooth as any decent cast iron pan. But there is a pit (about the size of a grain of sand) in the cooking surface, and there is a bump (also about the size of a grain of sand) also on the cooking surface. Neither of these has posed a problem in cooking, and I would not have noticed them if I was not absurdly meticulous and anal about my cookware, but I might worry that the bump could catch on a spatula and cut into if if you use a nylon one (I use steel spatulas and it hasn't actually gotten caught on the bump).
Anyways, it's a great pan, and for the $13 I think I spent on it is was definitely money well spent.
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