You already have a perfectly good gas grill sitting in your backyard.
And you’ve been eyeing flat top griddle cooking — smash burgers, fried rice, breakfast spreads — but you don’t want to buy yet another bulky appliance, find storage for it, connect another propane tank, and deal with the rust and maintenance.
What if you could turn the grill you already own into a professional flat top griddle?
That’s exactly what the Steelmade griddle promises. And in this honest review — we’ll tell you whether it actually delivers.
Table of Contents
What Is a Steelmade Griddle?
Steelmade is a Kansas-based American company that makes flat top griddle inserts designed to sit directly on top of your existing grill grates or kitchen stove burners — instantly transforming your grill or range into a flat top cooking surface.
Steelmade USA offers both standalone outdoor griddles and an extensive line of flat-top attachments. Their attachments can convert gas grills, charcoal grills, Big Green Eggs, and even stovetops into premium griddle surfaces. Griddle King
Unlike a full standalone Blackstone griddle — you don’t need extra patio space, an extra propane tank, or a whole new appliance. You simply place the Steelmade flat top on your existing grill, fire up the burners, and start cooking.
They offer three main product lines:
Outdoor Flat Top for Grills — Sits on top of your outdoor grill grates. Available in standard and PRO Series versions.
Indoor Flat Top for Kitchen Stoves — Sits over your kitchen burners to turn your range into an indoor flat top griddle.
Outdoor Cooking Base (Standalone) — A complete standalone outdoor griddle with its own burner system.
What Makes Steelmade Griddle Different?
1. Made in the USA — 100%
This is one of Steelmade’s biggest selling points — and it genuinely matters for quality.
Unlike many griddles, Steelmade’s are 100% made in the USA with American materials. For those who value supporting local businesses, this is a huge win, especially when reliability matters more than ever. Griddle King
Steelmade USA lives up to its name — all products are manufactured in the United States using American steel. Blackstone griddles are manufactured in China, which allows them to offer competitive pricing. Griddle King
2. Massively Thick Steel — No Other Griddle Comes Close
This is where Steelmade truly separates itself from the competition.
The Steelmade Flat Top provides extremely even temperatures across the entire cooking surface by utilizing 3/16″ steel that is 50% thicker than competing products from Blackstone or Camp Chef. Amazon
And the PRO Series goes even further. The PRO Series uses 3/8″ thick American steel — the thickest griddle on the market — and holds heat even on windy days for perfect smash burgers and stir-fry. Steelmade
To put that in perspective — most outdoor griddles use 1/8″ steel. Steelmade’s standard model is 3/16″ (50% thicker), and the PRO Series is 3/8″ — nearly 3 times thicker than the competition.
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3. Lifetime Warranty
Steelmade USA offers an industry-leading lifetime warranty on their flat-top surfaces. This represents exceptional value and demonstrates the company’s confidence in product durability — contrasting sharply with Blackstone’s 1-year limited warranty. Griddle King
4. Seasons Like Cast Iron
The Steelmade griddle combines the best characteristics of cast iron and stainless steel. It has cast iron’s heat retention and non-stick properties and stainless steel’s heat control and cooking speed. It seasons just like cast iron into a beautiful dark black finish that is easy to maintain. Amazon
No chemical coatings. No Teflon. Just natural seasoned steel that gets better and more non-stick with every cook.
5. Space and Money Saving
Standalone flat top grills take up patio space, rust easily, and require their own propane tank. With Steelmade, you get better performance on the grill you already love. Save Space: Store it in your grill or garage when not in use. Save Money: Skip the $300-$600 cost of a separate appliance. Steelmade
Steelmade Griddle — Real User Experiences
What do actual owners say about the Steelmade griddle?
One owner who uses the Steelmade griddle on a Summit 6 burner gas grill said: “I absolutely love it. It satisfies my flat top needs without having to add a freestanding flat top and it works very well. I really like the way that with the high back and sides of the gasser, the popping grease stays pretty much contained. Plus it cooks evenly. It’s a sweet piece of equipment.” AmazingRibs
Another long-term user who has owned their Steelmade since 2022 reported: “The thick steel eliminates hot spots, a pain point with thinner griddles. I’ve cooked everything from pancakes to smash burgers without uneven spots. The griddle plate is noticeably thicker than other brands, looking and feeling twice as robust as the competition. I use it constantly — breakfast spreads, burgers, fajitas, you name it — and it’s never let me down.” Griddle King
Real cooking results mentioned by owners include cheesesteaks, smash burgers, bacon, eggs, pancakes, street corn salad, pork carnitas, tacos al pastor, steaks, and fried rice. The verdict from real users is consistently positive — especially regarding heat retention and even cooking performance.
Steelmade Griddle for Indoor Kitchen Stoves
One of Steelmade’s most unique products is their indoor flat top griddle — designed to sit over your kitchen stove burners and transform your range into a flat top cooker.
The Steelmade Flat Top Grill transforms your standard range stove into a versatile flat top griddle. Eliminate the clutter of multiple pans and make amazing food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on one surface that gets better with age. Dedicated outdoor griddles take up patio space, require expensive propane, and leave you cooking in the cold during winter. With Steelmade, you get the same pro-level sear on the stove you already own. Steelmade
Key features of the indoor Steelmade griddle include a 5-degree front lip break that prevents spills while creating critical airflow to keep food from getting soggy — something standard skillets can’t do. It also includes a stainless steel drip tray and steam-clean capability — just pour water on the hot griddle surface and the steam lifts all residue instantly.
One thing to consider with the indoor version — if your stove or cooktop is even slightly out of level front to back, oil and grease could drip off the front edge. Make sure your stove is level before using the indoor Steelmade griddle. AmazingRibs
Steelmade Standard vs PRO Series — Which Should You Choose?
Steelmade offers two outdoor griddle thicknesses — here’s the honest difference:
| Feature | Standard (3/16″) | PRO Series (3/8″) |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Thickness | 3/16″ | 3/8″ |
| Heat Retention | Excellent | Outstanding |
| Wind Resistance | Good | Superior |
| Weight | Heavy | Very Heavy |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Best For | Home backyard use | Serious cooks, windy areas |
One owner said: “I got the regular one, not the heavier pro version, and I’m glad I did. The regular one is heavy enough as it is, and I don’t think in a home application the pro model is necessary.” AmazingRibs
For most home cooks — the standard 3/16″ model is more than sufficient and easier to handle. The PRO Series is for serious outdoor cooks who want maximum heat retention or cook in consistently windy conditions.
Steelmade Griddle vs Blackstone — Which Is Better?
This is the comparison most people want answered directly.
| Feature | Steelmade Griddle | Blackstone Griddle |
|---|---|---|
| Made In | ✅ USA | ❌ China |
| Steel Thickness | ✅ 3/16″–3/8″ | ❌ 1/8″ |
| Heat Retention | ✅ Superior | Good |
| Warranty | ✅ Lifetime | ❌ 1 year |
| Price | ❌ Higher | ✅ More affordable |
| Space Required | ✅ Uses existing grill | ❌ Separate appliance |
| Availability | ❌ Online only | ✅ Widely available |
| Setup | ✅ Drops onto existing grill | Requires dedicated space |
| Best For | Grill owners who want flat top | Dedicated flat top cooking |
This fundamental difference affects everything — from space requirements to cooking versatility and long-term investment value. Blackstone griddles are complete cooking systems that simply connect to propane. Steelmade transforms equipment you already own. Griddle King
Bottom line: If you already have a quality gas grill and want to add flat top cooking without buying another appliance — Steelmade wins. If you want a dedicated standalone flat top griddle experience — Blackstone wins.
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Who Should Buy a Steelmade Griddle?
Perfect for you if:
- You already own a quality gas grill you love
- You want flat top cooking without buying another appliance
- You care about American-made products
- You want the thickest, most heat-retentive griddle surface available
- You have limited patio space
- You want a lifetime warranty on your cooking surface
Consider Blackstone instead if:
- You don’t already own a gas grill
- You want the largest possible flat top cooking area
- Budget is a primary concern
- You want to buy from a local store today
Steelmade Griddle — What Can You Cook on It?
Once your Steelmade griddle is seasoned and sitting on your gas grill — the food options are virtually unlimited:
Breakfast — Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, French toast, breakfast burritos
Lunch — Smash burgers, grilled cheese, quesadillas, Philly cheesesteaks, hot dogs
Dinner — Stir fry, fried rice, hibachi chicken, shrimp, vegetables, tacos al pastor
Searing — Steaks, pork chops, salmon — the thick steel delivers a better sear than most dedicated griddles
The seasoned steel surface gets better and more non-stick with every cook — meaning your 50th cook on a Steelmade will be easier and more enjoyable than your first.
Is a Steelmade Griddle Worth the Price?
Yes — if you already own a gas grill and want the best possible flat top insert available.
The thicker steel, American manufacturing, lifetime warranty, and compatibility with your existing grill make Steelmade genuinely worth the premium over cheaper alternatives.
The raw steel surface seasons like cast iron for a slick non-stick finish, and the thickness keeps heat steady while the seasoned surface just gets better with time. It’s a workhorse you can’t imagine cooking without. Griddle King
It’s not the cheapest option on the market. But it might be the last griddle insert you ever need to buy.
