Weber Griddle Insert Assessment

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

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

Once I returned dwelling, I attempted to get my husband to see {that a} flat-top grill was not a need however a necessity—and a wonderfully 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 outside griddle-dom with the Weber Rust-Resistant Griddle Insert. This turned out to be a wonderful 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 out of doors gear showroom. Including a flat-top grill to the combo appeared extreme. 

As an alternative, 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 if you’re not utilizing it. Setting it up is as straightforward as eradicating the grates from the grill and popping that pet in—simply ensure that the grease vent is aligned with the drip tray, or “brunch” will stand for “burnt lunch.” Hearth 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 area, 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 without delay and scraping them off the new griddle, their edges all lacy and browned. The primary time I tucked two completely crispy burger patties right into a comfortable 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 are suitable with a wide range 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 humid 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 Severe Eats, the place she makes a speciality of testing kitchen gear. 
• She labored in eating places and reviewed tools 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.