Grill pan...what's best?

Question

I've always done my grilling outdoors on a gas grill, but would now like to buy a grill pan so that I can grill indoors on my gas stove. Most of my cooking is for only two persons, but occasionally I cook for four. Highest priorities are good grill marks on the cooked foods (steak, chicken, veggies, etc.) and easy cleanup. What grill pan do you really like and 
recommend?

Answer

Well, I can tell you what's not the best ..... Nathan's Reversible Grill Griddle. I have one that I got for a good price at Target, but I am far from thrilled by it.
It's basically the same as this:
http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Nonstick-Reversible-Griddle/dp/B00005NCX2

I do use the griddle side for pancakes and tortilla's, but it can't take the heat required for searing/"grill marking" because it's not cast iron.

Answer

Cook's Illustrated review of Grill Pans.
Published January 1, 2006. From Cook's Illustrated. 
 
***** Paraphrased review *****

Cook's Illustrated determined that aluminum grill pans were the pans of choice for indoor grilling because, aluminum grill pans were lighter, more heat conductive and produced
more distinct grill marks than did cast iron grill pans. They also found that stamped, hollow bottomed ridges, produced more distinct grill marks than did solid cast ridges. The reason for this is because the interior of the hollow ridges were directly exposed to the heat source which allowed for better heat transfer.

Graded on grilling performance and cleanup in descending order.
All in the Recommended category scored the same 
for performance and cleanup, except for the All Clad which left uneven
grill marks on zucchini. The Simply Calaphon
ranked at the top due to its large cooking area and best price
in the category.

All of the Recommended with Reservations category had faint or
uneven grill marks. In addition, the Scanpan had tall, tight ridges
that made for more difficult cleaning than the others.

Recommended

Simply Calphalon Nonstick 13-Inch Round Grill Pan, Model Number SH1113P
Pampered Chef Professional Cookware 11-Inch Square Grill Pan, Model Number 2868
Anolon Advanced 12-Inch Covered Deep Round Grill Pan, Model Number 81302
Swiss Diamond 11-Inch Square Grill Pan, Model Number 66281
All-Clad LTD. 11-Inch Square Grille Pan, Model Number 3011

Recommended with Reservations

Berndes 12-Inch Square Grill Pan, Model Number 696167
Look Nonstick Square Grill Pan, 10 1/2 Inches, Model Number C-G27
Scanpan Classic 10 1/2-Inch Nonstick Square Grill Pan, Model Number 27301200

Answer

I have a vintage Belgique, flat, round, cast iron grill pan that I resort to when the weather's too nasty for real grilling, or I want a panini-style sandwich (with a foil-wrapped brick). Enameled on the bottom and uncoated cook surface. $5 garage sale find. Actually works really well, and not too bad to clean.

FYI, Lodge makes a rectangular bare cast-iron grill SHEET (as opposed to a pan) that I like to use both indoors and out for kebabs and vegetables, especially asparagus, eggplant and zucchini. But you have to make sure your hob and surrounding area are drip- and flame-safe!

Answer

I love my heavy Lodge reversible two-burner grill pan/griddle. It has enough mass to take the heat, but also works well at lower temps for panini, etc. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008GKDQ/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000CF66W&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BP4QENTG5QRD3SWMQXQ

Answer

I agree with the cast iron chorus. I have the square single burner Lodge and love it. If you want to go the double burner route they offer two and one is a little larger than the other but the smaller one may fit better on a smaller stove. The dimensions are on their site and to be safe measure your stove. Both of the Lodge double burner models are reversible, one grill, one smooth.

Answer

Whatever you get, make sure your range hood can handle the smoke and airborne grease. If not, your smoke alarm might be going off and, after a while, the rest of your kitchen might have a nice layer of grease on it.

Answer

I was just speaking with a chef who teaches at Williams-Sonoma, and he highly recommended the All-Clad non-stick grill pan which he said he uses both professionally and at home. Any CH's use this grill pan?

Answer

My $.02:

For stovetop grilling, the ideal unit is a square or round grill pan. Lodge makes nice ones, and Calphalon has a cast iron model that they sell at target. There are other brands that will work just fine. The square and round have identical grilling area.

The double-sided units are OK but make a mess (no rim to contain the splatter) and since no rim, no way to fill it with warm water afterwards to soak. The grill pans also have higher ridges, which will allow you to lay down a layer of coarse salt (for clean up -- the food shouldn't touch the salt). Grill pans can be real grief to clean.

Finally, a grill pan is easy to move from stove top to oven -- superior results come by laying down a good sear on the range and finishing in the oven. Need more room? Buy two (or borrow).

A two-sided, double burner grill is still worth getting, but just for the flat griddle.

Answer

i just got tthe calphalon unison grill pan (sear non stick) to use at home. i think it works really well. so far steak, fish and pork loins have been cooked on it and i really like the consistancy of the cooking, the searing (grill marks look great) and non stick. so far meats have been juicy on the inside.
i dont have an area of an outdoor grill so this grill pan is my only source of cookware. 
anyone else try this Calphalon Unison? any thoughts compared to the other recs on this post?

Answer

I don't understand why a grill pan would need to be non-stick. Once whatever you are cooking is cooked enough to give you the grill marks, it should not be sticking at that point anyway.

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Grill pan...what's best?

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