metal choice for a homemade flat griddle

RRP

While I have a 3/8" pizza steel it is too thick for just heating up for smash burgers. I want to make my own round griddle by cutting out from a flat sheet. Any experience with which metal would be best - aluminum or stainless steel? I am planning on just 1/8" thick so it would heat fast, but laying flat against a grate it shouldn't distort at 400º. Any recommendations, gang?

I'll probably make 2 - a small and a large.

SGH

RRP said:

 I am planning on just 1/8" thick 

With the above said, SS will be far superior to aluminum. 1/8 thick aluminum will be mighty flimsy and easy to distort and warp. SS wins this one. 

Carolina Q

Don't use aluminum as a cook surface. Why not A36? Cheap and readily available. And it's what all the cool kids use. 1/8" will warp like a K-Mart griddle. I thought you already had an "official" 1/4" Baking Steel. No?

epcotisbest

I got a Lodge platter for just this purpose and it works great. Hard to beat cast  iron and they do have some round stuff that will work. I made blackened steak not long ago on it.

Carolina Q

Ron, what did I say that you disagree about? 

Focker

1/4" A36.

epcotisbest

RRP

Carolina Q said:

Don't use aluminum as a cook surface. Why not A36? Cheap and readily available. And it's what all the cool kids use. 1/8" will warp like a K-Mart griddle. I thought you already had an "official" 1/4" Baking Steel. No?

No 1/4" but a 3/8" A36 which is 14" in diameter. I really want a round griddle for my small and for it to be thin enough to heat fast. That 3/8" steel takes too long just to do a couple quick smashburgers. As for flat steel sheets cheap and readily available not so here! Even with industrial Peoria nearby any scrap is bought up fast by Keystone Steel and Wire one of the countries' largest wire producers which just gobbles up scrap! 

HeavyG

Get a 17" Blackstone Griddle instead.

blasting

Ron, thin stainless will get warpy on you.  If you aren't welding braces to it, I'd go with @Focker recommendation of 1/4" steel.

Just a thought, you might consider one of these - great piece.  Fits your large, and perfect for smashburgers.


https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-P14P3-Seasoned-Baking-Pizza/dp/B0000E2V3X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491160363&sr=8-1&keywords=lodge+pizza

Focker

At a minimum Ron, you could try to hunt down some 2mm grey cold rolled steel.

I would avoid Al and SS altogether.

Black steel would work too, preseasoned, but harder to hunt.

Focker

HeavyG said:

Get a 17" Blackstone Griddle instead.

Yessir.  Having the sides to butt up your spatula comes in handy.  I used it for panchetta, and scrambled eggs today.  Would have been a hot mess on a flat piece.

RRP

Carolina Q said:

Ron, what did I say that you disagree about? 

Accident. Removed.

bgebrent

Focker said:

At a minimum Ron, you could try to hunt down some 2mm grey cold rolled steel.

I would avoid Al and SS altogether.

Black steel would work too, preseasoned, but harder to hunt.

Good advice as is the out of the box Blackstone.

RRP

epcotisbest said:

Thanks but the hypotenuse of 15 X 12 would be 19" which is bigger than my small could handle.

RRP

Thanks everybody for your input. Looks like I'll keep thinking this over. BTW I already have a round cast iron Lodge griddle with the handle cut off, but it's too good to leave outside.

That was why I was thinking aluminum or ss, but I see those metals are not recommended. BTW I resist the Blackstone due to storage issues for me.

HeavyG

I keep a few of my cast iron things in my grills when not in use. As long as they are dry and "greased" rust hasn't been a problem.

Cookinbob

I made my own from a piece of 1/4" cold rolled steel plate, 14 x 16".   I bought  it for $14 from a local metal supplier. It filled the egg surface more than I thought it would, so I rounded two  corners so I could get it closer to the edge.  Note that rounding the corners was  a slow process, done with a sabre saw outfitted with a hacksaw blade.



I seasoned it with canola oil, and have used for burgers, steaks, and more.  It gets a great crust on the meat.   With no edges, it would be no good for eggs, but I have CI skillets for that.    I usually use a couple of bricks to have direct heat under the steel, and the area in front for indirect  (once the meat comes off the steel).  Note, the meat cooks much faster on the steel that it will over direct heat.   It also works great as a pizza stone/steel. 

Cookinbob

By the way, mine is for an XL, so you would need something smaller.  For a small egg , I would but a lodge 10.5" griddle pan (under $15 at Amazon) and cut off the handle.

epcotisbest

RRP said:

epcotisbest said:

Thanks but the hypotenuse of 15 X 12 would be 19" which is bigger than my small could handle.

Sorry, my poor reading comprehension missed the part about wanting one for the small and large. I just passed along what worked for me, which did not help you at all. And I got my Lodge platter to use on the old Weber gasser that has been unused for a long time. Anyway, good luck with whatever you come up with.
  

RedSkip

@epcotisbest. That's a fancy platter, I like.

Focker

FWIW, I've parked my perfectly seasoned 16" Baking Steel in the egg, it rusted completely, and I would not recommend storing A36 in the egg.  Mine takes up residence in the oven, comes out when needed.

Mangrates, Raichlen CI Tuscan grill, are parked in both the egg, and kettle.  The Lodge CS grill pan hangs on a pot rack.
CS, A36, are much more finicky than cast iron.

Aviator

Ron, by the time you engineer a suitable flat plate, add sides to it .......
Just get a 28" Blackstone and find a place to put it. Be done.
All of us have spent way more money on egg accessories than what a BS costs. 
All you have to worry about is whats for dinner.

Photo Egg

The Blackstone table top 17" does not take much storage space and mine came with a travel bag. Way faster than lighting the Egg and heating up the steel.

fishlessman

you can still find the 17 inch blackstone griddle for under 100 bucks with free shipping, then buy the hose at home depot for a bigger propane tank. im eating burgers in a couple minutes fridge to patio table and cooked. and go pick up those pickles at aldis

RRP

Photo Egg said:

The Blackstone table top 17" does not take much storage space and mine came with a travel bag. Way faster than lighting the Egg and heating up the steel.

where? My knees are getting weak! LOL

fishlessman

heres one for 80,  i paid 50 getting an amazon card last year

https://www.wayfair.com/Blackstone-17-Table-Top-Griddle-BSTN1021.html

Legume

#spendronsmoney

fishlessman

Legume said:

#spendronsmoney

i just saved ron 20 dollars on the griddle and 3 dollars on a jar of pickles he is rolling in cash now

RRP

fishlessman said:

heres one for 80,  i paid 50 getting an amazon card last year

https://www.wayfair.com/Blackstone-17-Table-Top-Griddle-BSTN1021.html

Thank you! ye ol' Master Card balance just went up $84.99. Amazon wanted $97.99 plus tax!

Carolina Q

Wow! I bought my 17" at Cabela's for $79 back in December. Just looked and they want $130 now!