The Perfect Frying Pan for Outdoor Cooking – and Why It Belongs on Your Grill
There are few things we love more in the warm summer months than cooking outdoors – ideally over an open flame. Whether you're in the garden, at the beach or out in the forest, there's something almost magical about the combination of aromatic smoke, fresh air and good food sizzling away.
But great outdoor cooking calls for the right equipment. You'll want a frying pan that can handle high temperatures, offers an even cooking surface, and has a good, solid weight – sturdy enough to deliver beautiful results, yet still easy to carry along wherever the adventure takes you.
A frying pan in carbon steel is a brilliant companion for the grill. You might be thinking: "Why would I put a pan on the grill in the first place?"
The answer lies in one of grilling's biggest challenges – uneven heat. There's a reason people say "know your grill": every grill has its hot spots and cool spots, and dialling in the right temperature can be a real challenge.
When you place a pan on the grill, you instantly get an even cooking surface with consistent heat distribution. All the wonderful juices stay where they belong – in the pan – giving you a perfect sear, even cooking and deep, intense flavour, all paired with the irresistible aromas of fire and smoke.
So which frying pan should you choose? Let's take a closer look.
Iron Pans, Cast Iron Pans or Griddle Plates?
When you're cooking at high temperatures, you've essentially got three options to choose from: a frying pan in raw cast iron, a frying pan in carbon steel, or a griddle plate.
A carbon steel pan is lighter than both a cast iron pan and a griddle plate – which makes it especially well suited to outdoor cooking, where portability really matters.
If you're cooking for a larger group out in nature, a griddle plate is hard to beat. Depending on how many mouths you need to feed, you can choose between a smaller or a larger size.
That's why our recommendation is clear: for outdoor cooking, take either a carbon steel pan or a griddle plate along with you.
The Perfect Frying Pan for the Grill
Carbon steel pans are made for outdoor cooking. They're lighter than cast iron, heat up quickly and offer fantastic heat retention – giving you that beautifully crisp, golden sear every time.
Iron pans can withstand temperatures of up to 650 °C, which makes them ideal for cooking directly over an open flame. Over time, a natural layer of seasoning builds up on the pan, giving it its own built-in non-stick effect. And because carbon steel works on every heat source – from gas grills and charcoal grills to open flames – your pan goes wherever you do.
With a Gastrotools carbon steel frying pan in your kit, you can cook just about anything you fancy on a warm summer's day.
Why You Should Use a Frying Pan on the Grill
A frying pan on the grill solves one of the most common grilling problems: small ingredients slipping through the grate. Think asparagus spears, prawns, radishes, sliced onions or mini peppers – all the bits and pieces that usually fall just out of reach.
By placing the pan directly on the grill, you can do all of your cooking in one place – and you get an extra cooking surface alongside the grate itself. Sear peppers and onions in the pan while sausages or slices of bread crisp up on the grate. Or sizzle scallops in the pan while corn cobs roast over the flames.
The possibilities are endless – and thanks to the pan's handle, moving food on and off the grill becomes wonderfully easy.
Ready for Summer Cooking?
When you head outside to grill or cook over an open flame this summer, make sure you've got a good carbon steel pan with you.
It heats up quickly, adapts effortlessly to higher and lower cooking temperatures, withstands enormous heat and serves as the perfect base for all kinds of outdoor cooking. Whether you're flipping smash burgers, searing the perfect steak or rustling up grilled vegetables – your iron pan has your back.
