Looking for the best tool for cooking bacon & eggs on We

Hi all,

I'm hoping some of the barbecue aficionados around here can help me find the Father's Day present I'm looking for.

My dad is a grilling nut (more specifically, he's a Weber nut). He owns a few of their 22" charcoal grills, and he uses at least one on a daily basis. Up until now, though, he's only ever done dinner on the grill. I'd like to get him some sort of tool (cast iron skillet? griddle pan?) that will allow him to do breakfast (and more dinner foods) on the grill. Is there something I should be looking for? The stuff I'm turning up seems more aimed at indoor cooking, and I'm not sure the pans would be safe for the grill (though really, hasn't cast iron been used on campfires for generations?)

I'm looking to spend somewhere under $50, hopefully considerably under that so that I can get him another little thing I saw.

Thanks!

GardenofEatin wrote: Is there something I should be looking for? The stuff I'm turning up seems more aimed at indoor cooking, and I'm not sure the pans would be safe for the grill (though really, hasn't cast iron been used on campfires for generations?)

Yes, I remember Boy Scout campfires where we had cast-iron dutch ovens and pans set right on top of the fire. I'd think an all-cast-iron skillet would work just fine.

David Hammond wrote:

GardenofEatin wrote: Is there something I should be looking for? The stuff I'm turning up seems more aimed at indoor cooking, and I'm not sure the pans would be safe for the grill (though really, hasn't cast iron been used on campfires for generations?)

Yes, I remember Boy Scout campfires where we had cast-iron dutch ovens and pans set right on top of the fire. I'd think an all-cast-iron skillet would work just fine.

A Lodge cast-iron griddle, or very large skillet would work well. They make rectangular griddles that have both flat and ridged "grill" sides, square griddles with a handle, and circular griddles with a handle. All of them are within your price range.

Best,
Michael

Great, thanks! I had seen the Lodge ones and thought they'd be a likely option, but just wanted confirmation from those wiser in the grilling arts.

Find a Bass Pro Shop/Outdoor World, hit the camping/cooking section. Go nuts.

HI,

Recently I saw two Lodge cast iron frying pans for $20 at the Glenview Costco. They also are selling Cedar planks for $10.

Regards,

I saw a "wok" at Crate and Barrel that is meant to sit on top of the grate of the 22.5" Weber Kettle. It cost exactly $50. This would be ideal for doing stir frys (obviously), but would also be a good vessel for cooking up some scrambled eggs (you can cook the bacon right on the grill grates to go along with the eggs).

I saw a "wok" at Crate and Barrel that is meant to sit on top of the grate of the 22.5" Weber Kettle. It cost exactly $50. This would be ideal for doing stir frys (obviously), but would also be a good vessel for cooking up some scrambled eggs (you can cook the bacon right on the grill grates to go along with the eggs).

Actually, that wok is now on sale for 24.95, for those interested. I saw it earlier and considered it, but my dad isn't really the wokkin' type. I think the "foreignness" of it would scare him out of using it, even though it would probably work quite well for his purposes.

Thanks for all the help, you guys are great!

Cathy2 wrote:They also are selling Cedar planks for $10.

Thanks to some construction we are doing at my house, I'm about to have an abundance of cedar planks. The only time I have seen these used was for grilling salmon and frankly, I didn't much care for the taste prefering instead the traditional Pacific Northwest taste of cooking salmon over alderwood chunks. Does anyone have other uses for these scraps of wood?

well, a non-food use might be to use them in your closets or dresser drawers, but you may have already thought of that.

There is nothing better than a cast iron discada for breakfast and all kinds of outdoor cooking.

See this recent discussion.

Bill/SFNM

stevez-
I'm with you on the salmon/alderwood combo. Cedar planks can be used, I believe, for other fish and even steaks. Soak them well first, of course.

MikeLM wrote: Cedar planks can be used, I believe, for other fish and even steaks. Soak them well first, of course.

I always thought of the cedar plank idea as something to use if you have a gas BBQ and can't use wood chunks on the fire. It's ironic that I'm going to have so many planks and I will probably never use them. Maybe I'll give them away as a raffle prize at the LTH picnic or next winter's holiday party.

If your father has never owned cast iron, make sure that whatever you buy comes with some sort of care guide that will explain proper cleaning and seasoning. Properly cared for, good cast iron cookware becomes heirlooms (thanks, again, Mamaw!)