INSTRUCTIONS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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This page contains cooking and cleaning instructions and Frequently Asked Questions for Little Griddle Products.

OUR MOST IMPORTANT TIP: Don't preheat to "high!" Most cooking takes place at a griddle surface temperature of around 350°-400° Fahrenheit, but outdoor grills and most stoves are easily capable of heating cookware beyond 450°F. Preheat on "medium-low" to ""medium" for best results. Pre-heating on high can burn cooking oil to the surface of your griddle, which is difficult to remove. Little Griddle does not recommend “unrefined” cooking oils with our product due to the low smoke points. Smoke points can change wildly depending on variables in oil production, but here are some typical cooking oil smoke points:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 325°F / 165°C
Butter: 350°F / 175°C
Sesame Oil: 350-410°F / 175-210°C
Canola Oil: 400°F / 205°C
Vegetable Oil: 400-450°F / 205-230°C
Sunflower Seed Oil: 440°F / 227°C
Refined Peanut Oil: 450°F / 232°C
Refined Avocado Oil: 520°F / 271°C

Based on years of testing with our products, we recommend using higher smoke-point oils (440°F and above) for high-heat cooking on both our stainless steel and our ceramic ANYWARE™ skillets and griddles. Excellent results can be obtained with lower smoke-point oils provided that proper care is used not to heat the cookware beyond the capability of the oil. Our cookware is capable of being heated to a much higher temperature than most cooking oils.

STAINLESS STEEL GRIDDLE INSTRUCTIONS AND FAQ

Does my Stainless Steel Griddle from Little Griddle require "seasoning?"

No seasoning is required for our stainless griddles, and so we do not have a recommended seasoning process. We do recommend a wash with soapy water and a thorough drying before use, because the griddle may be dusty from storage and transportation. The stainless steel construction is very rust-resistant, and corrosion is generally not a concern unless our cookware is treated to extreme storage conditions. To prevent corrosion, our stainless griddles just need to be dried after use or any washing, and they should be stored in a dry location.

If you do decide to season your griddle for non-stick purposes, there are a number of good guides available online to assist with this process. There are also a number of good videos on the topic. We recommend conducting a Google or YouTube search for “seasoning stainless steel.”

Often just cooking on our griddles with an appropriate high-temperature oil will create a “seasoned” effect over time. One important note: if you do decide to season your griddle, only season the cooking surface – do not attempt to season the bottom. The direct heat from the grill will just burn the oil.

How do I cook on my Stainless Steel Griddle from Little Griddle?

Clean your griddle with warm soapy water prior to first use and wipe dry.
Ensure that your grill grates are clean to prevent flare-ups from hot spots.
Light your grill and place griddle on cool grill after lighting. Start your grill BEFORE placing griddle on grill. Gas ignition could cause injury if gas buildup occurs before grill is started.
Pre-heat your griddle to desired cooking temperature. As each grill model is different, start with lower settings, gradually increasing heat as you grow comfortable with the capabilities of your griddle.
Pre-heating times vary by grill, but your griddle will typically be ready for cooking after 4 to 8 minutes of pre-heating. Outdoor temperatures impact pre-heating, and you will need to experiment with your griddle to determine the right grill temperature for a given outdoor temperature.
Spray or pour cooking oil on griddle surface. Little Griddle recommends using oils suitable for high-heat sautéing applications. Peanut oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and grapeseed oil are all terrific. Olive oil and butter are very good for medium-heat cooking.
Place your food on cooking surface and enjoy cooking on your Little Griddle cookware! If you have any questions about how to use this product, call or email Little Griddle with the information on the reverse side.

How do I clean my stainless steel griddle from Little Griddle?

CAUTION - To avoid injury, use alternate method (below) if grease such as bacon drippings or excess cooking oil is present in the trough.

After cooking is complete, turn off grill. While griddle is warm, scrape food residue from cooking surface to grease trough with a stainless steel scraper.

Sprinkle cooking oil or pour approximately 1/4 cup of water on the cooking surface to loosen any residue. Use a high-temperature grill scrubber to clean the surface and to push cooking debris to the grease trough. If using water, be certain that the griddle has cooled enough that you will not be harmed by hot steam or grease spray generated by water contacting the hot surface.

When griddle has fully cooled, wipe grease trough with paper towels. Store griddle inside grill cabinet or in another dry location.

Cleaning (alternate method for high-grease applications). CAUTION - To avoid injury, use this method if grease such as bacon drippings or excess cooking oil is present in the trough.

After cooking is complete, turn off grill. While the griddle is still warm, spray or drizzle cooking oil on the griddle surface.

Use a wide flexible stainless steel scraper to quickly move the loosened residue to the grease trough.

If necessary, spray or drizzle a little more cooking oil on the griddle surface and break remaining residue loose with a griddle scrubber. Once again, use a wide flexible scraper to move all remaining residue to the trough.

Use the scraper with paper towels to carefully clean out the grease trough. IIf there is a large quantity of grease in the trough, allow the griddle to cool down prior to cleaning the grease trough. Then carefully pick up the griddle and dump the grease in a coffee can or other container for proper disposal.

Deep Cleaning: These are suggestions for removing tough stains or burned-on food from your stainless griddle or ANYWARE pan.

Stainless steel soap pads are safe to use and effective on our stainless steel products. We recommend either SOS or Brillo steel wool pads. We do not recommend using "heavy-duty" stainless steel pads, as they are capable of scratching cookware.
We also recommend non-abrasive plastic scrubbers such as Scotch-Brite “non-scratch” pads in combination with a non-abrasive liquid or powdered cleanser such as Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami. The web sites for these cleansers have good instructions for using their products to clean stainless steel.
DO NOT USE abrasive scouring products such as stainless steel or copper heavy-duty scouring pads; heavy-duty plastic pads, or any abrasive cleansers. These can all damage cookware.
Scrubbing our larger griddles will usually need to be done outside with a hose or in a utility sink.
Rinse well after using any of these products before cooking on the griddle.

Can stainless steel griddles be used on a kitchen stove?

Stainless Steel Little Griddle griddles are currently manufactured for use on outdoor gas and charcoal barbecue grills only. Using your griddle indoors is not recommended, as it may result in injury or damage to kitchen equipment. Any damage resulting from indoor usage of our outdoor product lines will void any otherwise applicable warranty coverage. For indoor cooking, try our ANYWARE™ line indoor/outdoor cookware.

Can I use metal utensils on my stainless griddle?

You may use metal utensils on our stainless steel griddles (do not use metal utensils on ANYWARE™ ceramic cookware). You will not hurt stainless griddles with metal cooking utensils. Little Griddle has an extensive selection of cooking and cleaning utensils made specifically for our griddles.

What can I cook with my griddle?

Almost anything! Here is a sampling of some of our favorites:

Breakfast! Bacon, Eggs, Omelets, Pancakes, Sausage, French Toast, and Hash Browns are all fabulous on a griddle. Breakfast tastes better outside!
Stir Fry, Mongolian BBQ, Tepanyaki and Fried Rice are all excellent on a griddle, and are easier to cook on a griddle than on a conventional skillet.
Sandwiches: Grilled cheese, paninis, Reuben Sandwiches, avocado melts, cheese steaks.
Burgers: Sliders are terrific on the griddle, and the entire meal (burger, grilled onion, and bun) can be cooked on the griddle simultaneously.
Seafood: Many flaky fish that are difficult to cook on a grill due to flaking are perfect on a griddle. Small seafood like shrimp or calamari griddle beautifully, and griddles put a perfect sear on rare tuna and scallops.
It almost goes without saying, but Fajitas are unbelievably good griddled on an outdoor grill.

The list goes on and on and on....

What's the difference between your stainless steel product lines?

Professional Series stainless griddles large stainless steel griddles in multiple sizes. They have handles and weigh 10-20 pounds.
Sizzle-Q (our SQ-180) is a lighter, more universal, "one-size-fits-all" stainless steel griddle designed to fit the widest possible range of consumer gas barbecue grills. Sizzle-Q weighs less than ten pounds.
Kettle-Q (our KQ-17R) is our round stainless steel griddle designed for use with round charcoal grills.

All Little Griddle-brand stainless steel griddles are made from 100% 14-Gauge stainless steel, and are backed by our limited lifetime warranty.

Can I use my griddle on a high output camp stove?

With the addition of a heat deflector, there are multiple (current and former) stainless models that can be safely used on a high output camp stove. Those include the following:

GQ-120
GQ-210
GQ-230
GQ-235
GQ-260
PQ-3017

ANYWARE™ ceramic cookware may be used with stoves, camp stoves, grills, ovens and campfires.

How do I determine which size to purchase?

First and foremost, you should consider your particular needs. Some Little Griddle stainless models are larger with deep sidewalls, and other are lighter and more portable. Our larger models are very versatile and cook for a crowd, and our smaller models allow you to use your griddle and grill grates at the same time.

When you have determined the type of cooking you plan to do, measure the actual cooking surface of your grill. Once you do this, you can determine which griddle will fit your needs. As a rule of thumb, you should have at least one half inch of air space on two sides of the griddle to maintain good airflow and allow the grill hood to close properly.

Why are there bumps on the surface of my stainless griddle?

When you look at the bumps on the surface, you will see that they form an "X" pattern. Little Griddle griddles are hand-welded, and the bumps result from the welds attaching the cross bracing to the underside of the griddle surface. They are not harmful and we attempt to minimize their appearance, but they do not impact the cooking process at all.

Can stainless griddles be used over charcoal?

All Little Griddle cookware works well over charcoal, and the Kettle-Q in particular was designed to be used with round charcoal kettle grills. To use, preheat your until you have a bed of hot coals, and then place the griddle over the hot charcoal. In minutes, you will be ready to start cooking.

Feel free to send us any additional questions on our Contact Page. We will send you an answer right away, and we might even add your question to the list. Thanks for looking!

ANYWARE™ INSTRUCTIONS AND FAQ

Important: Cast aluminum cookware heats quickly and evenly, and it gets HOT! ALWAYS use potholders or oven mitts to prevent burns when moving this cookware.

HOW TO REMOVE BURNED-ON COOKING OIL FROM CERAMIC SURFACES:

Clean your cookware by applying fresh oil to the surface and then just warming the griddle or skillet to around 250F Fahrenheit (medium low heat). Allow it to stay at that temp for about 30 minutes. STAY CLOSE during this part, since you are heating oil for a long period of time. NEVER leave your cookware unattended while heating.
Allow the cookware to cool and apply liquid detergent to the surface. Swirl this detergent around the oil residue (form a mixture to emulsify it), and then wipe clean with paper towels.
Once clean, reduce the cooking temperatures in the future or use an oil with a higher smoke point.

ANYWARE “Quick Start” Instructions:

Before use, wash ANYWARE™ with warm soapy water, and then “season” it by lightly rubbing cooking oil onto the nonstick surface over medium heat for 2 minutes. After it cools, wash it with mild detergent and warm water and rinse clean. You’re ready to cook!
Do not cook with metal tools (or anything sharp or scratchy) – we really recommend silicone tools!
ANYWARE™ heats quickly! Use the lowest heat setting possible for a given recipe to maintain the nonstick surface in good condition.
Do not overheat ANYWARE™, and make sure that there is oil, water or food in the pan when heating - see below for maximum safe operating temperatures.
Use only non-abrasive cleaners and sponges to clean up, and never use steel wool or abrasive pads. Do not put ANYWARE™ cookware in the dishwasher. Wash by hand with warm soapy water.
When storing ANYWARE™, a clean soft cloth placed on the cooking surface will help to protect the cooking surface.

WHERE CAN I USE ANYWARE™?

ANYWARE™ nonstick ceramic cookware is safe for use on indoor gas and electric cooktops, in ovens, and over outdoor barbecue grills, camp stoves, and campfires! This cookware is not suitable for induction stovetops or for use under broilers. Please use caution in placing and moving ANYWARE™ on glass-top or ceramic electric cooktops in order not to scratch the cooktop surface.

SAFE OPERATING TEMPERATURES

ANYWARE™ is Stovetop, Oven, Grill and Campfire safe to a maximum continuous cooking temperature of 525°F (270°C). Prolonged temperatures above 525°F may reduce the nonstick effectiveness of your cookware, making it more difficult to clean. Start on LOW and work your way up to find the right cooking temperature. Over-heating can damage the ceramic surface and warp your cookware, and is not covered by the ANYWARE™ warranty.

PREPARING TO COOK

To use ANYWARE™, add oil or water to your pan, and before adding food preheat your cookware for about a minute using the heat setting you intend to use when cooking. Do not preheat on high! ANYWARE™ aluminum ceramic cookware heats quickly and evenly – use the lowest possible setting for your intended cooking method.

Here are our recommended heat settings:

LOW: for warming and simmering foods.
MEDIUM: for cooking foods like eggs, sandwiches, and pancakes and for reducing stocks and gravies.
MEDIUM-HIGH: for frying, sautéing, searing meats and vegetables, and for stir-frying.
HIGH: For boiling liquids only. Do not heat empty cookware on high!

READY TO COOK? LET’S GO!

If a small amount of cooking oil (or butter! Mmm, butter) bubbles when placed on the cookware surface, your cookware is ready to use! ANYWARE™ ceramic cast aluminum cookware has a non-stick surface, and we recommend using a small amount of butter or cooking oil every time you cook for great cooking results. Allow oil or butter to heat for a minute before adding ingredients.

We do not recommend using aerosol sprays with ANYWARE™ - aerosol sprays build up on all cookware and become difficult to remove, and they reduce the nonstick coating’s ability to release food. We recommend that you use a small amount of cooking oil or butter instead. Using a silicone spatula or paper towel to carefully wipe cooking oil or butter around the surface of the cookware is a good way to use the smallest amount of fat possible.

WHAT CAN I STIR WITH (SAFE UTENSILS)?

Use silicone, wooden or heat-rated plastic utensils with ANYWARE™ to protect the pan’s nonstick finish. Do not use metal utensils, sharp instruments or appliances with ANYWARE™. Such use will damage the finish and will void your Warranty.

ARE YOUR INGREDIENTS COLD?

We recommend taking cold ingredients out of the refrigerator a few minutes before you are going to cook them. Cold foods + Hot cookware = Sticking.

DINNER IS DONE – NOW LET’S CLEAN UP!

Allow your ANYWARE™ cookware to cool, and then wash it with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge. Never place hot cookware in cold liquid as this may cause warping, which voids your warranty.

TO CLEAN: Cleaning ANYWARE™ is fun and easy (seriously)! In fact, it is so easy that we request that you hand-wash only please. Do not place ANYWARE™ cookware in an automatic dishwasher or use abrasive cleaning pads or cleansers – this could damage the surface and will void the warranty. The interior ceramic nonstick surface of the pan should be cleaned with a mild, good quality liquid dishwashing detergent and a non-abrasive sponge. To clean a really tough cooking mess, soak your ANYWARE™ cookware in warm water with mild detergent until food debris is loosened, and then gently scrub with mild dishwashing detergent and a non-abrasive sponge.

DO NOT USE abrasive cleaners or pads, oven cleaners or any caustic materials on this product. Do not use bleach or liquid household cleaners. These harsh cleansers may damage the surface and void your warranty.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use Little Griddle cast aluminum cookware under a broiler?

ANYWARE™ cookware is oven-safe to 525°F (270°C), but it is not intended for broiler use. Broiler heat directly on the cooking surface can easily exceed the maximum allowable cooking temperature and reduce or eliminate ANYWARE™ nonstick effectiveness. Use of ANYWARE™ with a broiler will void the Warranty.

Is my Little Griddle ceramic nonstick cookware induction-cooktop capable?

At this time Little Griddle ceramic nonstick is not induction-cooktop capable.

Is my Little Griddle cast aluminum cookware dishwasher-safe?

Do not place Little Griddle cast aluminum cookware in the dishwasher. It will make the nonstick coating less effective and will void the warranty.

May I use aerosol cooking sprays for low-fat cooking on my Little Griddle cookware?

Aerosol cooking sprays are not recommended for use on Little Griddle cookware. They contain chemical propellants that build up and are difficult to remove from cookware. If you do not wish to use a large amount of oil or butter when cooking, we recommend placing a bit of oil or butter on a paper towel and then carefully wiping the interior of the pan.

Does your cookware contain PTFE ?

PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, is a type of nonstick finish. Little Griddle does not use PTFE in our products.

Does your cookware contain PFOA?

PFOA is an acronym for perfluorooctanoic acid, a chemical that is used in making some types of non-stick cookware. Little Griddle does not use PFOA in our products.

Why does Little Griddle recommend cooking on the lowest heat setting possible?

ANYWARE™ heats very quickly, and very evenly! Cookware may warp due to heating it too quickly, and high temperatures can burn the outside of food before the inside is cooked. Allowing the cookware to heat gradually and bringing the cookware up to a medium to medium-high temperature allows the pan to heat evenly throughout and helps prevent warping and burning. Once a pan is warped due to over-heating, it is not repairable and the Warranty will be voided.