It’s almost that time of year again—and by that time of year, we mean the few months where we (justifiably) crave nothing but grilled food. From Memorial Day all the way through Labor Day (and beyond), we try to spend as much time eating and cooking outdoors as possible.
Whether we’re using a frying pan, grill pan, griddle, or even griddle system, our hands-down favorite cookware to use outside is carbon steel. Durable but lighter weight than cast iron, our Carbon Steel Cookware is our Platonic ideal for high-heat cooking. Heat-safe up to 1200F, it thrives on the stovetop, in the oven, and especially over an open flame.
Here are some of our favorite pans that help us make the most of all that summer grilling.
For Camping: Carbon Steel Griddle
If your plan is to eat more meals outdoors than in this summer, look no further than the Carbon Steel Griddle. Wide and flat with plenty of surface area, this is the ideal cooking tool for hearty breakfasts, burgers, and more, and can be used on the stove, in the oven, atop the grill, or over an open flame.
Whether you opt for a standard flat top-style version (like our original Award-Winning Griddle) or something with a bit more flare (like Half-Perforated Griddle—our favorite for dual zone cooking), using a griddle will revolutionize how you approach outdoor cooking.
The excellent heat retention of carbon steel also means your griddle can handle a ton of food without losing much heat, while the unparalleled heat response allows you to quickly turn down the heat and not worry about your ingredients burning. Since it becomes naturally non stick with seasoning, you also won’t have to worry as much about scraping off stuck-on residue.
Because it can tolerate such extreme heat, our Griddle can adapt to an outdoor grill, a campfire, or even a beachside fire pit to cook up any number of recipes. Its welded handles offer safe, easy carrying from the kitchen to the campsite or grill, as well as sloping sides to keep moisture and grease from dripping and causing flare-ups.
For Grilling and Charring: Carbon Steel Grill Pan
One of our favorite pieces of cookware for flame-kissed flavor is the Carbon Steel Grill Pan. Shaped like a standard carbon steel frying pan but with a perforated bottom, our Grill Pan is perfect for cooking just about any recipe, but is especially handy for smaller proteins, seafood, and vegetables that would otherwise fall through the grates of your grill. The 62 perforations on the bottom of the pan are optimally sized and spaced so that you get maximal contact between the flame and your food, without losing a single ingredient to grill grates or charcoals.
Like all of our Carbon Steel Cookware, the Grill Pan is heat-safe up to 1200F, so it can be used on both the grill and for open fire cooking. And while we wouldn’t recommend a perforated pan for cooking paella or scrambled eggs, it’s definitely our top pick for perfect wings or smoky grilled zucchini and peppers.
For Searing: Carbon Steel Frying Pan
It's no secret that we love our Carbon Steel Frying Pan for stovetop cooking, but it also shines on the grill. Much like our Grill Frying Pan, our Carbon Steel Frying Pan is lightweight and safe up to 1200F, perfect for use on the stovetop, grill, or over an open flame.
While a solid-bottomed frying pan won’t give you quite the same level of direct, flame-kissed char as the perforated grill pan, the high-heat optimized cooking surface is ideal for unlocking crispy sears on proteins. Plus, the even-heating nature of carbon steel ensures your steak, chop, or veggies are evenly cooked all the way through, without the chance of burnt or undercooked bits.
For All Terrains: Carbon Steel Griddle System
The Award-Winning Carbon Steel Griddle brought the restaurant-style flat top to home kitchens, but the Griddle System—a modular kit that comes with an adjustable and removable Stand, a Lid, and a Grill Press—takes it even further. Designed for indoor-outdoor cooking, this customizable toolset allows you to take the Griddle from back burner to backyard to backwoods.
To set up, the sturdy, rust resistant stand can be pushed into the ground to create a level cooking surface on uneven terrain—as long as you can light a fire or burn down a few coals to a medium-low adjacent heat, you can prepare lavish restaurant-quality meals. To reduce weight, opt for the Half-and-Half Griddle or Grill Griddle, which are varyingly perforated and offer perfectly flame-kissed flavor. Not only does this make them lighter, but it allows you to cook purely with dry heat—meaning you don’t need to pack any oil.
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With stellar heat retention and a sturdy but lightweight build, our Carbon Steel Cookware makes cooking on the grill, on a camp stove, or over an open flame feel no more intimidating than cooking in your kitchen. Now all you have to worry about is what to grill.
