Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Griddle Review

I love diner food (and diners in general). There’s something extremely comforting about sliding into a booth and ordering a stack of fluffy pancakes with a side of fried eggs and, if they have them, vegetarian sausage patties. When I got my Lodge reversible griddle years ago, my first thought was, I’m going to have so many great at-home diner breakfasts. That proved to be true, as Pancake Sundays with friends and family have become a time-honored tradition in my household. I can quickly make a big batch of pancakes or fried eggs on the griddle, or flip it to use the reverse side as a grill for vegetarian skewers. It’s lasted me over five years so far and I expect many more to come from it. Right now, it’s on sale for $35, so why not start your own weekly pancake tradition?

The Takeaways

The Lodge Reversible Griddle Heats and Cooks Evenly

If you already have a Lodge frying pan (which happens to be our favorite cast iron skillet), you won’t be surprised to learn that this reversible griddle heats and cooks exceptionally well. (It’s made of the same durable cast iron as the frying pan.) Through all my years of using it, this griddle has smoothly released pancakes and eggs to reveal evenly cooked bottoms. It excels at browning grilled cheeses and paninis, too. I’ve never had trouble with food sticking to it—I just make sure to preheat it adequately before using it.

Its Larger Size Is a Plus

This 9.5- by 16.7-inch griddle covers two burners and is spacious enough to cook multiple foods at once, so you don’t need to pull out multiple pans. Personally, I like to fry eggs on one half and sizzle sausage patties on the other, resulting in enough food to feed six or more people. I’ve easily fit eight English muffins at a time on it and can cook six pancakes at once instead of doing multiple rounds in a round skillet.

It Doubles as a Grill

The Lodge reversible griddle is also a multitasker in the kitchen. When flipped to the other side, it becomes a grill that’s able to leave desirable grill marks on burger patties or vegetable skewers. I’ve had many successful burger nights without having to fire up the gas grill.

It’s Easy to Clean and Store

Whether I’m washing the grill side or the griddle side, it never takes me very long. The nonstick patina that’s built up over the years quickly releases food residue, and any stuck-on bits come off with a bit of elbow grease under warm water.

Do I Recommend It?

Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Griddle

This reversible griddle is arguably my most cherished piece of cookware in my kitchen. Aside from all the fond Sunday breakfast memories, it performs well and has stood the test of time. The spacious surface accommodates larger batches of food to cut down on cooking time and its slim profile barely takes up any space in my cabinets. It’s a multifunctional piece of gear that cooks well, cleans up nicely, and lasts a long time. Now that it’s only $35, I would grab one immediately if I didn’t already have my own.

Why We’re the Experts

• An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
• An has been testing kitchen equipment for Serious Eats for two years.
• She has a growing cast iron cookware collection that will soon require a bigger kitchen.