Two-burner grill pans should come standard with homes for larger families. Even families with just two children will find these pans a great aid in getting meals to the table.
While cast-iron versions are prized for various reasons, the cast-aluminum versions don’t require Thor-like muscles to lift; yet, like their heavier cast-iron counterparts, they season nicely with repeated use, and have a lot more real estate than any single nonstick skillet.
Does it work? The one pictured here, placed across two electric stovetop burners, has for years enabled the cooking of six to eight pancakes at a time; the simultaneous cooking of as many as eight grilled-cheese sandwiches depending on bread size; two large quesadillas; or two generously sized okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes).
And those are just some examples of using the flat side.
The reverse side is ribbed and produces grill marks — maybe not as convincingly as the charcoal or gas grill outside, but that’s the thing: This pan can be used inside if you want grill-marked hot dogs to go with the chili in the slow cooker that has been awaiting your return from work, without the fuss of firing up the grill.
I’ve cooked chicken on the ridged side, and seared boneless pork loin chops on the flat side to be finished in the oven, and it worked great. Cautionary note: The grease reservoirs at the corners of the pan might not be deep enough to collect all the drippings from fattier cuts of meat.
Cost: This cast-aluminum treasure was purchased from Hardware Hawaii in Kailua so many years ago that the price is long forgotten. Similar pans are widely available from many manufacturers in cast aluminum or cast iron. Bed Bath & Beyond has a cast-aluminum version for about $30; Target has an aluminum pan for the same price. Brands such as Calphalon and All Clad run much higher.
Worth it? It is one of the most oft-used pieces of cookware in my kitchen, so yes, it is absolutely worth the price. My eldest son, who now lives in town, was so fond of the grill pan, he bought one of his own.
