The John Wright 16-inch Griddle 74-001 (which is approximately 16 inches in width) is made from durable cast iron that delivers a steady, uniform heat across its entire surface. This double-sided griddle is flat on one side and ridged on the other so whether you are preparing pancakes or burgers, you are well equipped for perfect stovetop grilling.

The 16-inch griddle is the ideal size to set directly on a stovetop. It fits over one side of the stove and covers two burners. We tested the unit with electric coil-type burners and achieved excellent results. The griddle is also suitable for gas range-tops and can be used with flat ceramic stovetops, so long as you are careful not to move the pan once it is set in place. (Moving cast iron on a ceramic top will result in scratches.) The cast iron is so rugged, in fact, you can safely use the griddle on an outdoor gas grill -- to cook vegetables or home fried potatoes for instance.

We loved the versatility of the griddle. Its flat side is ideal for cooking pancakes, frying eggs or making toasted sandwiches. The ridged grill side is great for cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and more. The grease drains away from the food but stays contained within the pan's full-perimeter grease channel. The griddle also has a handy lip all around the cooking surface, which makes flopping much easier since you can push the spatula against the lip to turn. You can even use the griddle in your oven -- to make garlic bread or brioche.

The griddle takes a good 5-10 minutes to heat up but, once heated, retains its temperature throughout cooking and even for a short while afterward. You should allow the pan to cool before attempting to lift or transfer to the sink for cleaning.

The griddle also has a wide handle edge on either side to facilitate lifting. The handle, like the rest of the pan, gets quite hot during use so oven mitts are a must when handling.

As with all traditional cast-iron pieces, proper seasoning will help protect the surface and actually enhance its nonstick cooking properties.

As you'd expect from cast iron, this griddle is quite heavy, weighing in at a little more than 11 pounds. You can store it in your oven when not in use or simply leave it on the stovetop as a burner cover.


Pros: Converts from griddle to grill, full-perimeter grease channel, large cooking surface
Cons: Cast iron needs periodic care and seasoning