Best uses for a "Charcoal Companion" cast iron press

RRP

Santa brought me a cast iron press that weighs about 3 pounds and it is 3.5" x 8.5". The bottom has diagonal raised ribs. I assume it is a sandwich press or even a bacon press or hamburger press but I guess my real question is why? What is the advantage of using one? TIA

evie1370

Typically these are used for sandwiches...like paninis, also for bacon to keep the strips flat and not curl. Some people use them on burgers and chicken etc to speed up the cook time but I do not use them for that.

fishlessman

i just use two skillets one on top of the other, but paninis might work with yours and you get the lines

Eggaroo

I have this one:
https://www.lodgemfg.com/specialty/rectangular-cast-iron-grill-press-6-75-by-4-5.asp
Is what you have similar? I think if you heat it up with your pan or griddle, it would not only keep your bacon flat, it would also cook it on both sides at once.

PS: I didn't pay anything near the price that Lodge is asking!

fishlessman

just googled it, looks like its used to squeeze the juice out of burgers if you were to heat it up searing hot on one grill you could crisp the skin on chicken breasts like they do with bricks

Photo Egg

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I bought a few round and square ones a few years ago. Ground off the handles. Gave me a little griddle on one side and raised griddle on the other side.
Gave me a little 

RRP

Eggaroo said:

I have this one:
https://www.lodgemfg.com/specialty/rectangular-cast-iron-grill-press-6-75-by-4-5.asp
Is what you have similar? I think if you heat it up with your pan or griddle, it would not only keep your bacon flat, it would also cook it on both sides at once.

PS: I didn't pay anything near the price that Lodge is asking!

Mine is slightly different but I'm sure they do the same thing.

blasting

Hi Ron.  Sounds like you have half a panini press.

I have a square reversible piece that is flat on one side and ridges on the other.  Paired with the ribbed top plate it is a pretty good sandwich maker.  The ribs are a little bit of a pain to clean if you do anything messy with it.

I don't think it is a bacon press, which is pictured in the bottom picture.

fishlessman

their web site actually says its to squeeze out the fat in burgers (juices) 

blasting

fishlessman said:

their web site actually says its to squeeze out the fat in burgers (juices) 

Anybody who squeezes the juices out of meat should have to cook everything in a microwave as punishment.

fishlessman

blasting said:

fishlessman said:

their web site actually says its to squeeze out the fat in burgers (juices) 

Anybody who squeezes the juices out of meat should have to cook everything in a microwave as punishment.

the site even says to squeeze the fat out of steak

HeavyG

Alton Brown used to suggest just wrapping a common brick in aluminium foil whenever you needed to help something flatten rather than buying one of those cast iron "plates".

Angela

I use mine for Panini, I preheat it and basically cook from both sides at once. 

blasting

HeavyG said:

Alton Brown used to suggest just wrapping a common brick in aluminium foil whenever you needed to help something flatten rather than buying one of those cast iron "plates".

I'd concur, I do a lot of griddle work, and I can't remember the last time I used my bacon press.  A few seconds pushing down with a big turner does the job and saves one item of cleaning.

The idea that they market Ron's press as a way to squeeze juice out of steaks should be embarrassing to them.  I'd consider it to be a sandwich press - btw Ron, one of my favorite sandwiches to make with that is a Cuban - delish.

Carolina Q

fishlessman said:

their web site actually says its to squeeze out the fat in burgers (juices) 

Umm, that's not entirely accurate. It says it's to squeeze out the UNWANTED fat.  

It surprises me that it's Lodge saying that. Another reason to stick with Griswold/Wagner.

RRP

blasting said:

- btw Ron, one of my favorite sandwiches to make with that is a Cuban - delish.

Mind sharing your Cuban recipe? A high flying restaurant here used to make the greatest Cubans but it went out of business before I figured out how to de-engineer what made theirs so good.

blasting

Sure.  Basic ingredients are pork roast, ham, pickles, cheese, mustard, cuban bread or hoagie roll.  Most recipes are pretty much the same - one posted below.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-cuban-sandwich-em-sandwich-cubano-em-364812



EDIT - this is not my sandwich, it is off the header of the recipe - don't want to take credit.

fishlessman

RRP said:

blasting said:

- btw Ron, one of my favorite sandwiches to make with that is a Cuban - delish.

Mind sharing your Cuban recipe? A high flying restaurant here used to make the greatest Cubans but it went out of business before I figured out how to de-engineer what made theirs so good.

some places are subbing out plain pork roast for porcheta, really picks up the flavor, had one a few weeks back, now need to learn how to make that

northGAcock

RRP said:

Eggaroo said:

I have this one:
https://www.lodgemfg.com/specialty/rectangular-cast-iron-grill-press-6-75-by-4-5.asp
Is what you have similar? I think if you heat it up with your pan or griddle, it would not only keep your bacon flat, it would also cook it on both sides at once.

PS: I didn't pay anything near the price that Lodge is asking!

Mine is slightly different but I'm sure they do the same thing.

RRP, that looks like a tool I use when laying tile.

badinfluence

I use them on the food truck as a bacon press only to make sure they stay flat and don't curl up. If we are slow I use the spatula to make sure they stay flat but if I am doing a bunch of stuff at once then I use them.

slovelad

They are awesome if you have a BLackatone or griddle attachment. Great for making really greasy breakfast foods like bacon or patty sausage

WeberWho

Brinkmann press for $2 at Home Depot a few days ago

slovelad

@WeberWho why so many tongs lol

WeberWho

slovelad said:

@WeberWho why so many tongs lol

@slovelad They always go missing. They're on clearance right now for $1.33 at Home Depot since Brinkmann is going Bankrupt. I should be set for a short while.

RRP

WeberWho said:

slovelad said:

@WeberWho why so many tongs lol

@slovelad They always go missing. They're on clearance right now for $1.33 at Home Depot since Brinkmann is going Bankrupt. I should be set for a short while.

Brinkman is going Chapter 11 route meaning they feel they can work it out and be around. Just the same I'm surprised that HD discounted their merchandise so drastically. I wonder what other Brinkman product can be bought for a song!