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How to Build a Flat Top Grill

If you have been in a grill restaurant, you have probably noticed that most of the grills have flat tops as opposed to grates. If you grill at home, maybe you should consider investing in a flat top grill. The best thing about flat-top grills is that you can convert a grates grills into a flat top grill. A cast iron flat top is an important component of any grill restaurant. Chefs from all over the world love their flat tops because of the cooking versatility they offer. It makes it possible for you to manage several servings simultaneously. You can have your burgers in one heat zone and eggs in another, all on the same flat plate. Flat tops for grills offer perfect temperature control.

With all the benefits of using a flat top grill, this is the perfect investment if you want to enhance your pizza-making experience. You can either invest in a new flat-top grill or invest in a flat top that can be used with your current grill.

Modern-day flat top grills

Today, you can get flat top grills that are as small as 17’’, ideal for single burner grills. These are made from uncoated steel, making them rust-free. When using it, the oils get into the microscopic pores and bond with the metal to form the non-stick surface. This is the process used to make non-stick grates and pans. You can buy a seasoned flat top grill or do it for yourself at home.

The benefits of flat top grills 

Flat tops grills have several benefits over grate grills. First, there are no gaps in between, which ensures your food cannot fall through like it is sometimes the case with grates. This gives you the liberty to grills small foods like asparagus and bay scallops.

With a well-seasoned surface, you will not have issues with food sticking on the flat top. Also, a solid flat surface works faster to brown your food than metal grates. This gives your food more flavor. The other advantage of using flat top grills is that they come with grease trap gutters. This makes it easy for you to corral fats and leftover food particles for easier cleaning.

Griddle/flat top plates       

If you do not wish to invest in a new flat-top grill, you can get a flat top for your existing home grill. Numerous materials can give you the perfect flat top for your grill. Cast aluminum, cast iron, and alloy griddle plates are some of the options. You can also grill on salt blocks and soft stones. Most charcoal and gas grills can heat up flat plates to the required temperatures. Flat tops perform best when used on medium heat. Most restaurants maintain a 350°F temperature for their flat top grill plates.

Using a flat top plate on your grills is a perfect chance of using direct cooking on your grates grill and also use the flat top at the same time. You can grill your sausages on the grates grill for the smoking effect as you fry your vegetables on the flat top. For a different taste, you can griddle the sausage on the flat top if you want to give them the perfect brining and crispy edges. You can also get the smoke effect on a flat top by adding firewood to your grill to produce smoke. Griddling is one of the best ways to make food in the outdoors.

The best flat top plates come with a lid to lock in the juices and food while griddling.

How to build a flat top grill

If you are working on a budget, you can make a flat top for your grill at home. You can choose to use steel or aluminum for your griddle plate. It needs to be at last ¼ inch thick for perfect heat retention and to prevent your food from burning. Consider using mild steel for better seasoning. You can cut the steel to suit the top of your current grill. Ensure you soak the grill in vinegar for a while and wash it off to make it rust-free.

Remember to construct a small angle’s steel that will channel grease and oil into a holding container. This will make cleaning the flat plate easier. When seasoning the ¼ inch cooktop, you need to heat it in medium heat and rub canola oil on the surface, not forgetting the sides. Allow the oil to smoke and cook before repeating the process several times. This will create a non-stick surface by polymerizing the oil on the hot metal. The flat top grill is ready to use after the seasoning process. The more you use the grill, the more the non-stick effect is achieved.

Recommendations for the best flat top grills

Weber 49010001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Natural Gas Grill

To use this grill, you must have Natural Gas plumbed out to your patio or deck. It comes with a 10-year, 100 Percent Weber Guarantee, and includes a 10-foot flexible hose. It is made with a Left table down width – 42 inches. It boasts the Gs4 grilling system with improved infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled Flavorizer Bars, and Grease Management system. The Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates space can accommodate a homemade flat top cooking surface to turn this into a flat top grill. Other features include an open cart design with six tool hooks and two large wheels and a built-in lid thermometer.

Char-Broil 463377319 Performance 4-Burner Cart Style Liquid Propane Gas Grill

This is a Propane/ liquid petroleum gas-powered grill. It comes in an exclusive Stainless-Steel finish for increased style and durability for the outdoors. The reliable electric ignition can fire up this grill with ease, including the 10, 000 BTU side burner. For griddling, it has a durable porcelain-coated grilling plate that can be removed for easy cleaning. The stainless-Steel burners emit flame from the top to allow cooking. It also includes porcelain-coated cast-iron grates that are rust-resistant and made to last.

Weber 45010001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill

Boasting the GS4 grilling system with improved infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled Glamorizer Bars, and Grease Management system, this is the perfect grill for anyone who prefers to use grates and flat tops at home. It comes in 529 Square inches of cooking space porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates cooking space that can be converted into a griddling surface with a removable flat top plate over three burners. These burners produce a 30, 000 BTU-per-hour input, and it comes with a fuel gauge.

If you prefer not to invest in a flat top grill for home use, any of the three recommended grills can be converted into a flat top at home. This will give you versatility when making food in your garden.

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