Weber Griddle Insert Evaluation

I fell in love with flat-top grills the summer time I helped overview them at our testing lab in Birmingham, Alabama. Positive, it was close to 90°F and a spirit-dampening stage of humid—a real Alabama summer time—however the wonderful utility of those large griddles charmed the socks off me. (Okay, it might need additionally been the warmth.) 

A propane-powered griddle is a ravishing factor: It’s spacious, heats up quick, and any smoke or steam is launched into the nice outdoor fairly than inside your kitchen. In our exams, smash burgers seared up lickety-split, and bacon reached a state of crispiness I didn’t know existed. I fell, and I fell exhausting. 

After I returned house, I attempted to get my husband to see {that a} flat-top grill was not a need however a necessity—and a superbly logical addition to our assortment of yard cooking gear (which at this level, consisted of two pizza ovens, a smoker, and a grill). He was skeptical. 

Quick-forward some eight months, and I satisfied my cautious husband that we may dip our toes into out of doors griddle-dom with the Weber Rust-Resistant Griddle Insert. This turned out to be an excellent gambit: It slots proper into my Weber gasoline grill, remodeling it from a lean, imply, grilling machine right into a griddle for all of my quick order wants. And it’s superior. 

Why I Love the Weber Griddle Insert 

Whereas we’re blessed to have a decent-sized yard, my husband rightly identified that our garden was slowly turning into an outside gear showroom. Including a flat-top grill to the combination appeared extreme. 

As a substitute, the Weber griddle insert is a small, albeit heavy, slab of carbon metal that you would be able to tuck away within the storage or basement once you’re not utilizing it. Setting it up is as simple as eradicating the grates from the grill and popping that pet in—simply make certain the grease vent is aligned with the drip tray, or “brunch” will stand for “burnt lunch.” Fireplace up the grill, seize some tongs and an offset turner spatula, and prepare to cook dinner. 

I’ve the Weber Genesis E-325, which has 513 sq. inches of cooking house, and the griddle insert matches that, so it’s fairly roomy. I can simply put together a full brunch lineup of bacon, sausages, and over-easy eggs, then dial down the warmth and toast some bread. I additionally love utilizing it to make smash burgers, which is a hallelujah-evoking expertise—no smoky kitchen! I really feel like a brief order cook dinner, smashing a number of patties directly and scraping them off the recent griddle, their edges all lacy and browned. The primary time I tucked two completely crispy burger patties right into a gentle potato bun and handed the plate to my husband, let’s simply say he fell in love with flat-top grills, too. 

FAQs

What grills does the Weber griddle work with? 

Weber sells full-size inserts which might be appropriate with quite a lot of the model’s grills, together with the brand new Spirit sequence, Searwood pellet sequence, Genesis line, Summit line, and even charcoal grills. 

How do you clear the Weber griddle insert?

As soon as the griddle has cooled, scrape off any cooking particles—an offset turner spatula works effectively for this. Then, use a moist paper towel to wipe down the floor. Give it a rub with food-safe oil and also you’re good to go. 

Why We’re the Specialists

• Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Critical Eats, the place she makes a speciality of testing kitchen gear. 
• She labored in eating places and reviewed gear for America’s Check Kitchen. 
• She loves her Weber grill—and now loves it much more with the choice to show it right into a griddle.