How To Use A Griddle On A Gas Stove?

Griddles are a great way to grill and cook different items. The best part is that they are easy to use and do not require much investment. This means that a griddle is more affordable than a proper outdoor grill.

Of course, using a griddle for the first time may make you anxious. After all, you may worry about the right way to cook a dish. Luckily, you don’t have to stress about this with our help.

Here is a guide about how to use a griddle on a gas stove. Remember to follow the instructions thoroughly to avoid issues.

How To Use A Griddle On A Gas Stove?

Below are the steps you must follow to use a griddle on a gas stove:

1. Place Your Tool On The Stove

Take your griddle out of its box if you have bought it recently. Place it on one of the stoves in your kitchen properly. You must be careful when placing the item to avoid damaging it.

It is also necessary to avoid dragging the griddle on your stove if you want to adjust the item’s placement. This is because it will damage the bottom of the appliance. The only way to align the griddle is by picking it up from the stove completely and placing it again.

The positioning may take a few minutes because some griddles are large. So you must adjust them to your burners properly. This will allow the tool to receive even heat during cooking.

2. Turn On The Flame

You must turn on the flame using the buttons or dials on the stove. The heat level will primarily depend on your griddle's type. For example, steel griddles must be used for cooking at medium heat. This is because the material can become hot promptly.

Meanwhile, cast-iron griddles require you to keep the stove at low heat initially. This will allow better uniform heat distribution to cook the dishes properly. You must wait a few minutes before starting to cook on your griddle.

Remember you must also know when the griddle will be ready for cooking. The best way to understand this is by performing a small test. Splash three to four drops of water on your griddle. If the liquid is sizzling, it means your tool is very hot.

Meanwhile, if the drop moves around the griddle, it means the cooking surface is at medium heat. Lastly, no sizzling or dancing around of water means that your griddle is at a low temperature.

3. Grease Your Tool

This step is an option for some griddles because they may come with extra coating. For instance, you don’t have to grease non-stick griddles, so you can easily skip to step four. Meanwhile, it is necessary to apply an oil coating to the cooking surface when your griddle does not have a non-stick feature.

Typically, it is necessary to oil stainless steel griddles or cast-iron tools. The primary purpose of greasing the surface is that it will prevent food from sticking to the griddle. This is especially necessary when cooking items such as pancakes or eggs using the tool.

Remember that you can also skip this step if you seasoned your griddle before. Seasoning with heated oil forms a protective layer on the tool, preventing it from rusting and food sticking issues. This is regardless of whether you have a non-stick griddle or not.

Related: Learn How To Dispose Of Grease From Grill With These Top 3 Ways

4. Start Cooking

Once you have performed the water test and greased your tool, your griddle will be ready for cooking. You can follow the recipe of your dish to cook it in the same manner as you do on normal pans. However, remember that you may face some limitations, depending on your griddle's design.

For example, if your tool has edges, you will not be able to make completely circular pancakes on it. Meanwhile, other griddles will offer no issue when trying to get the shape of pancakes right.

Why Should You Use A Griddle For Cooking?

If you want to know why you should invest in a griddle instead of standard pans, here are the top reasons to help you:

1. Offers Better Flavor

The best part about a griddle is that it allows you to char different items and evenly distribute heat across the cooking surface. This means that the risk of burning your dish will be significantly low. Uniform heat also allows you to impart better flavours to the food item.

Of course, you must follow the recipe correctly to ensure better flavours. It is also necessary to clean the griddle after using it every time. This will prevent previous food residues from contaminating your next meal.

2. Has A Large Surface

Another great thing about griddles is that they have a larger surface than standard pans. This means that you can use the tool for making various dishes that require specific pans. You can also cook steaks on your griddle without requiring an advanced grill.

It is no secret that grills are highly expensive and require high maintenance. The best thing about griddles is that they are a cost-effective alternative to a grill. They also don’t require much maintenance.

3. High Flexibility

Griddles also offer high cooking flexibility because of their various types. Some options also come with a double-sided cooking surface. This means that the top surface may be smooth, while the other one may have lines for the grilling pattern.

So you can use the smooth surface for dishes such as French toast and pancakes. Meanwhile, the other patterned surface can be used for grilling steaks, fish, and other items.

Final Thoughts

This is your complete guide to how to use a griddle on a gas stove. The process is relatively easy, so you don’t have to worry much. It is necessary to correctly place the item on your stove for even heat distribution.

You should also allow the griddle to heat up properly before cooking anything. This will help you enjoy better flavours and faster cooking time.