Using a cheap and old grill pan can be hard work. Food can easily stick to the pan and you won’t get the same cooking results. Getting the best grill pan will not only make your life a lot easier but it’ll also give you tastier food.
There are a lot of things to consider, however. With different handles, sizes, shapes, and materials, it can be hard to know which the best grill pan is. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages and it’s important to know that they are.
We aim to make the process a lot easier. We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to. That has involved countless hours and research which has resulted in us finding the 10 best grill pans out there. All that you need to do is read on and pick your favorite.
Table of Contents
Best Grill Pan – Comparison
| Picture | Product Name | Material | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan | Cast Iron | 17.25 x 10.5 x 2.63 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Anolon Advanced 11-Inch Deep | Hard-Anodized Aluminum | 19 x 11 x 4 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Cuisinart 9.25″ Square | Cast Iron | 15.94 x 10.19 x 3.42 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Vremi Pre-Seasoned | Cast Iron | 18 x 12 x 1.97 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Calphalon Nonstick Square | Aluminum | 20 x 11.5 x 1.5 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | All-Clad Nonstick Square | Aluminum | 21 x 11 x 3 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Cooks Standard Hard Anodized | Hard-Anodized Aluminum | 19 x 11 x 1.5 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Victoria Cast Iron Grill Pan | Cast Iron | 18 x 10.75 x 2.75 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | GreenPan Chatham Round | Metal | 19 x 10.1 x 1.9 (in) | Check Latest Price |
 | Rachael Ray Cucina 11-Inch | Hard-Anodized Aluminum | 19 x 10.75 x 3.25 (in) | Check Latest Price |
The 10 Best Grill Pans for Great Cooking
Here are our reviews of the 10 best grill pans that will give you great cooking results and excellent safety while being easy to use.
1. Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan
In terms of flavor, it’s hard to get better than a cast iron grill pan. They tend to give you the ability to cook great food whilst only getting better over time. With this grill, that is helped by the fact it’s pre-seasoned with vegetable oil.
With a 10.5” square shape, it gives you plenty of space for your cooking while not being too large. With it being made from thick cast iron, the grill is quite heavy and you want to make sure you’d be comfortable with carrying it before you buy.
An upside to that thick cast iron is the durability. It should last for a long time with no warping or cracking. The iron is prone to rust, however, and you want to be careful when you’re cleaning it to not scratch off the coating.
There are a few key features that you want with a high-quality grill pan. One of them is heat retention, which generally happens when the pan is made from heavy metal, as this one is. That quality also means it has a high level of heat retention.
The prominent grill ribs are going to help to give it those sear marks and let the fat and grease sink to the bottom of the pan. If you do find the pan a little too heavy, then there is another handle at the head of the pan to allow you to carry it with two hands.
What We Liked:
- 10.5” square
- Pre-seasoned
- Highly durable
- Impressive heat retention
- Even heating
- Versatile design
- Extra handle
- Prominent grill ribs
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can rust
- Quite heavy
2. Anolon Advanced 11-Inch Deep Square Grill Pan
With an 11 inch size, this pan is going to give you a slightly bigger cooking area. If you’re looking for a little more style then this could be the pan for you. Along with the usual grey color, the pan is also available in indigo or bronze.
One feature of this grill pan that some may love is the two large spouts that you find on either side of the pan. It allows you to easily clear out any excess juices and increases the functionality that you can have with the pan.
This pan is made from anodized aluminum which affects it in a few ways. The material is thinner and therefore it is lighter and easier to maneuver around the grill. Despite being thinner, the grill pan still has an impressive level of durability.
The downside is that the pan doesn’t quite have the heat distribution or retention of other pans but will still be able to effectively cook food. That grilling surface, however, is non-stick and you’ll be able to easily move your food around.
There are some other great features here too. The dual riveted handle gives it impressive durability and also the rubberized handle gives you a safe and strong grip. It’s an excellent deep pan and one you’ll happily use time and time again.
What We Liked:
- 3 color options
- Two pour spots
- Impressive durability
- Rubberized grip
- Non-stick surface
- Deep pan
- Fairly light
- Dual riveted handle
What We Didn’t Like:
- Thinner material
- Hard to clean
3. Cuisinart 9.25″ Square Grill Pan
Cuisinart is a company that has long produced excellent cookware and this grill pan is no different. It’s not as large as some other pans in this list but still gives you a decent cooking surface. If you’re looking for something a little bigger, this isn’t for you.
An annoying aspect of this grill pan is that the exterior of the pan doesn’t have the highest levels of durability. The surface can chip and expose the untreated metal of the pan. Also, the bottom can easily get scratched and therefore you need to be careful.
While the grill pan is safe to put in the dishwasher, it’s always going to be the best option to hand wash it to ensure it lasts for as long as possible. Aside from the exterior issues, the pan itself is made from cast iron and won’t break easily.
Here we see another pan that has a good level of style with 3 different color options available that all look great. With blue, red and black available, you are sure to find something that is going to be able to fit in with the rest of your kitchen.
What you do get with this pan is great tasting food. The ridges help to give it that grilled finish while the heat distribution and retention are excellent. As long as you’re careful with that porcelain-enameled finish, you’ll love this pan.
What We Liked:
- Cast iron
- Great heat retention
- Porcelain-enameled
- Wide handle
- Stylish color options
- Even heat distribution
- High build quality
- Dishwasher safe
What We Didn’t Like:
- Chips easily
- The bottom can scratch
4. Vremi Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Square Grill Pan
Here we see another grill pan that has been pre-seasoned. That means that a natural level of flavor is added to the pan to give you all those taste advantages of grilling. That level of taste is also only going to increase over time.
While the handle of this cast iron pan can get quite hot over time, it does come with a silicone handle to prevent that heat from getting through to your hand. As it’s quite heavy, it’s going to be able to give you a secure grip.
The coating of the grill pan isn’t the slickest and there can be times when food will stick to the pan if it’s not well oiled. Also, the pan can rust over time and therefore you should take care when cleaning or drying it.
If this pan is going to be a bit too heavy for you, then there is an extended lip at the top of the pan that will act as a 2nd handle. Another feature of the pan is the two large pour spouts. They increase the functionality and allow you to safety pour away excess juices.
This pan looks great and it will happily take pride of place in your kitchen. It has brilliant versatility as you can cook a wide range of foods in there and also it is safe to go in the oven. It’s a heavy-duty pan that adds great taste.
What We Liked:
- Pre-seasoned
- Silicone handle cover
- Heavy-duty design
- 2nd handle
- Wide spouts
- Can go in the oven
- Versatile grill
- Stylish look
What We Didn’t Like:
- Food can stick
- Rusts easily
5. Calphalon Nonstick Square Grill Pan
Calphalon has been able to make a stylish grill pan that will give you a great level of cooking performance. The non-stick pan works very well for cooking food and it also means that cleaning the grill pan is going to be easy.
If you’re looking for a grill pan that is a bit lighter than other options out there, this would be a great pan for you. The trade-off with that is the heating which can be a little uneven as you get towards the far side of the pan.
The durability that we see here helps to make it great value for money and you’ll be able to enjoy using this pan for years to come. That strength is helped by the double-riveted handle that it features. It also doesn’t chip or wear away easily.
The grill bumps that we see here aren’t as high as we see with other options but that makes it very easy to clean. While hand washing your cookware is always going to be preferable, you can place this grill pan in the dishwasher.
This is a grill pan that’s going to be able to tick all of the boxes and give you a very high level of usability. The handle stays cool and easy to hold and that, combined with the lighter weight, helps to make it a pan with a great level of safety.
What We Liked:
- Large cooking surface
- Double riveted handle
- Durable non-stick coating
- Handle stays cool
- Dishwasher safe
- Quite light
- Excellent value
- Easy to clean
What We Didn’t Like:
- Lower grill bumps
- Slight uneven heating
6. All-Clad Nonstick Square Grill
Whether you hang up your pans or put them away after they’ve been used, everyone wants their things to look good and this is a stylish grill pan that would take pride of place in any kitchen. The squared surface and long stainless steel make it look great.
That squared cooking surface is quite large and therefore you’re going to be able to cook a lot of food on it at any one time. The pan is going to heat up quite quickly as well, therefore, you’re going to be able to start cooking straight away.
While that handle may be quite stylish, it isn’t the most comfortable pan that you’re ever going to hold. That’s an added problem considering that the pan is also quite heavy. For those who don’t quite have the strength, that can be a big problem.
Aside from the weight, this is a very easy grill pan to cook with. The tall rim is going to be able to keep all of the food confined to the pan and the coating will stop any food from sticking to it. That coating is also scratch-resistant to give it great durability.
That durability is added to by the strong steel rivets that connect the handle and the thick metal that will prevent the pan from warping or cracking. That strength is proven by the fact the grill pan is oven safe, which gives it great versatility.
What We Liked:
- Stylish design
- Large cooking surface
- Fast heating
- Even heat distribution
- Scratch-resistant coating
- Strong steel rivets
- Oven safe
- Tall rim
What We Didn’t Like:
- Uncomfortable handle
- Weighs a lot
7. Cooks Standard Hard Anodized Nonstick Square Grill
Cooks Standard has been able to make a grill that combines the advantages of both cast iron and aluminum. This is an anodized aluminum model but has the weight and feel that you’d expect from a cast iron grill.
It has an immense level of durability that will prevent it from cracking or warping in even the highest of heats. Also, with it being an aluminum grill pan, you’re not going to have to worry about it rusting as you go with iron grills.
You can get a large cooking area here and that makes it perfect for creating large family meals. The sides aren’t the highest but they should be able to comfortably contain your food. With it being heavy, it will also have even heat across the pan.
That weight could be seen as a negative and also it isn’t the easiest pan to clean. That’s only in reference to manually cleaning the pan as you can put it confidently in the dishwasher as you don’t have to worry about corrosion.
You’re also not going to have to worry about the coating chipping off either as it’s much more durable than other models we’ve seen. It’s an excellent option for those looking for cast iron performance and flavor without the problems they can come with.
What We Liked:
- Hard anodized surface
- High durability
- Heavy-gauge aluminum
- Even heat distribution
- Versatile design
- Dishwasher safe
- Strong non-stick coating
- Large cooking area
What We Didn’t Like:
- Fairly heavy
- Hard to manually clean
8. Victoria Cast Iron Grill Pan
If you’re worried about the weight of the pan when you’re moving it from one place to the next then having an extra handle can be a brilliant feature. We see that here and it will be able to use your pan with confidence, knowing you’re not going to get burned.
If you need even cooking then this would be a great option for you as it gives you a consistently hot cooking surface. The heat is also going to be retained by the pan to increase its efficiency. That’s the good side of cast iron but there are a few issues.
The pan has been shown to have some cracking issues from time to time and also it can quickly rust if that iron is exposed. That being said, you do get a lifetime warranty so if there are any defects, you’ll be able to get it quickly sorted.
In terms of usability, this grill pan really does stand out from the rest of the competition. There is a large hanging hole to be able to easily hook it up and also the handle has a beautiful curve to it, making it very easy to hold.
The versatile design here makes it great for grilling but it can also be used for campfires and also in the over. The seasoned coating helps to give your meat a wonderful flavor time and time. As long as you look after it, you’ll get excellent performance from this grill pan.
What We Liked:
- Large 2nd handle
- Wide drip spouts
- Great heat retention
- Lifetime warranty
- Seasoned coating
- Has many uses
- Curved handle
- Large hanging hole
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can crack
- Rusting issues
9. GreenPan Chatham Round Grill Pan
Whether you want a squared or round grill pan is going to be a matter of personal preference. If you wanted to have a round pan then this will be a great option. It looks great and can give you great cooking results time and time again.
The problem with this pan is that you have to be very careful with it. The non-stick coating can wear away easily and make it extremely hard to clean. Due to that using metal utensils wouldn’t be advised as it’s simply not durable enough.
The metal used for the pan is of high quality and will be able to cope with the high temperatures that you might throw at it. Due to that, it’s suitable to be placed in the oven as well as being able to cope with other types of cooking.
The affordable price tag that we see here makes it excellent value for money and you should be able to get a lot of use from it. The handle is both durable and comfortable to grip and therefore you’re not going to have any safety issues with it.
The lifetime warranty that you get here is going to be able to protect you from any defects but it won’t cover you from any wear and tear after you have used it. It might not be the most durable pan out there but this is still a good option.
What We Liked:
- Easy to cook with
- Non-stick coating
- Comfortable handle
- Heavy-duty construction
- Double-riveted handles
- Lifetime warranty
- Value for money
- Oven safe
What We Didn’t Like:
- Can’s use metal utensils
- Loses non-stick surface
10. Rachael Ray Cucina 11-Inch Deep Square Grill Pan
Rachael Ray has been able to develop a grill pan that takes on a much different look to many of its rivals. The grill lines are shaped out in 4 separate segments and you’re also going to have the choice of 3 different handle colors.
The end result is a grill pan that looks very stylish and would complement any kitchen. It’s not just looks where this grill pan is able to stand out as it also performs very well. It heats up very quickly to let you get to cooking straight away.
The only part that lets this grill pan down is the handle. While it looks great with the various color options, it is quite thin. This can make the grill pan hard to carry then it’s full of food and that’s something you need to consider.
There is a lifetime warranty offered on this grill and that hints at the level of durability it has. It should be able to stand the test of time with a pan surface that won’t chip or scratch easily. It is a grill pan that was built to last.
The grill pan also has an excellent level of versatility. The durability means that it’s safe to be able to go into the oven and the deep sides make it great for cooking many types of food. This is a grill pan that offers you great value for money.
What We Liked:
- Various handle colors
- Fast heating
- Great heat distribution
- Adds sear marks
- Deep sides
- Covered handle
- Oven safe
- Lifetime warranty
What We Didn’t Like:
- Hard to carry
- Thin handle
Wrap Up
As we have seen here, grill pans can come in many shapes and sizes. They are also generally available in either aluminum or cast iron, depending on your needs. The right one for you will depend on the features that are most important with how you want to cook and the size of your cooking area.
It could be that you want a lightweight pan or one that has deep sides. Once you know what features you’re looking for, it makes the process a lot easier. All that’s left to do is grab the best grill pan and start cooking more delicious meals.