Lush Food & Drink
Buying Guide

Best Cast Iron Grill Presses for Stove and Oven Cooking

Nothing in this pool has a cord, so the deciding specification is which heat sources each maker will stand behind, and only two of these five publish a temperature figure at all.

By the Lush Editorial Team·Researched & Compared

  • Researched & ComparedSpecs pulled from the manufacturer listing
  • Like-for-LikeSame measures across every model
  • No Paid PlacementsNobody pays to appear here

I read every heat source, cooktop, temperature and open flame claim across the sixteen grill press listings in this pool, then separated the presses that bring their own cooking surface from the ones that expect you to own a pan.

Our Shortlist

Same Numbers. A Clearer Choice.
Best for a hob that has to do everything
Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron 11-Inch Grill P...

Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron 11-Inch Grill P...

The only listing in this pool that enumerates hob types. Its versatility bullet says the pan is oven safe up to 450 F, given also as 232 C, and compatible with gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction cooktops, which is the sentence a kitchen with no spare socket actually needs. It arrives as an 11 inch enameled grill pan in HT150 alloy cast iron with a matching cast iron press, so nothing else has to be bought, and integral cast iron handles are stated for a secure grip when cooking and serving. It publishes 9.84 lb and fields of 11.5 by 18.38 by 2.94 in. No washing instruction is published.

  • Grill Pan (11-in)
  • 9.84 lb
Check Price
Best for two burners, a BBQ or a campfire
Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle/Grill + Burger Press + Pa...

Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle/Grill + Burger Press + Pa...

Covers more heat sources than anything else here. Its searing bullet says the reversible cast iron griddler works on any heat source, even an open camping fire, without cool spots, and a second bullet names a kitchen stove, an oven, a BBQ and an inconsistent campfire. The 16.75 by 9.5 in griddle is stated to sit across two stove burners and handle a dozen burgers. The press has a spiral wired handle the listing says keeps hands away from the heat, and two scrapers are included. At 17 lb for the set it is the heaviest thing on this page, and its care routine is a hand wash, a dry on the stove at medium heat and a seasoning with oil.

  • Griddle/Grill + Grill Press - 16" x 9"
  • 17 lb
Check Price
Best for preheating the press itself
Our Place Grill Press

Our Place Grill Press

Publishes 500 F, the higher of the two temperature figures on this page, and suggests something no other listing does: preheat the press on a separate burner to accelerate cooking. On a crowded hob that trades a spare ring for a spare socket, which is exactly the swap this page is about. It publishes 7 inches across, 1.7 inches tall and 2.6 lbs in one bullet, in enameled cast iron with a pill shaped handle. It is also the only listing here honest about that handle: it stays relatively cool but can get hot on a burner, so use oven mitts. Hand wash and dry immediately; a dishwasher is not recommended.

  • 7" x 7" x 1.7"
  • (not listed)
Check Price
Best for cooking with no power at all
3 Packs 8.26 x 4.3 Inch Cast Iron Grill Press Set

3 Packs 8.26 x 4.3 Inch Cast Iron Grill Press Set

The pick that goes furthest from a kitchen. Its durability bullet says the press withstands high temperatures and repeated use and can be used on an open flame or over a campfire for outdoor cooking, and it sends three presses at 8.26 by 4.3 inches each for 6.72 lb, so several things can be held down at once over a fire. Its quality bullet says the wooden handle provides insulation and a comfortable grip, which is the complication: wood over an open flame has a limit and the listing publishes no temperature to bound it. Cleaning is stated as a little soap and water.

  • 8.26 x 4.3 Inch
  • 6.72 lb
Check Price
Best for making the patties as well
Grilliance Smash Burger Press Kit

Grilliance Smash Burger Press Kit

A three in one kit rather than a press alone: a patty maker, a grill press and 100 sheets of patty paper, at 3.53 lb. Its usage bullet places it on grills, griddles and skillets for both outdoor barbecues and indoor cooking, which is a compatibility claim rather than a heat rating, and its handles are stated to be wooden and to stay cool to the touch. What it does not publish is the iron: no pressing face figure, no material, no temperature and no washing instruction, and its size text of 1 by 6.69 in describes one round piece rather than the kit.

  • Pack of 2
  • 3.53 lb
Check Price

Side by Side Comparison

ModelBrandSize (Capacity)WeightBest For
Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron 11-Inch Grill P... Tramontina Grill Pan (11-in) 9.84 lb Best for a hob that has to do everything
Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle/Grill + Burger Press + Pa... Cuisinel Griddle/Grill + Grill Press - 16" x 9" 17 lb Best for two burners, a BBQ or a campfire
Our Place Grill Press Our Place 7" x 7" x 1.7" Not listed Best for preheating the press itself
3 Packs 8.26 x 4.3 Inch Cast Iron Grill Press Set GENHAKON 8.26 x 4.3 Inch 6.72 lb Best for cooking with no power at all
Grilliance Smash Burger Press Kit Grilliance Pack of 2 3.53 lb Best for making the patties as well

Each Pick in Detail

1 Best for a hob that has to do everything
Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron 11-Inch Grill P...

Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron 11-Inch Grill P...

The only listing in this pool that enumerates hob types. Its versatility bullet says the pan is oven safe up to 450 F, given also as 232 C, and compatible with gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction cooktops, which is the sentence a kitchen with no spare socket actually needs. It arrives as an 11 inch enameled grill pan in HT150 alloy cast iron with a matching cast iron press, so nothing else has to be bought, and integral cast iron handles are stated for a secure grip when cooking and serving. It publishes 9.84 lb and fields of 11.5 by 18.38 by 2.94 in. No washing instruction is published.

  • The only listing here that names gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction
  • Publishes a temperature, 450 F given also as 232 C
  • Arrives with an 11 in grill pan, so no other pan is needed
  • Its 450 F figure is attached to the pan, not explicitly to the press
  • Publishes no washing or seasoning instruction
Check Price
2 Best for two burners, a BBQ or a campfire
Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle/Grill + Burger Press + Pa...

Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle/Grill + Burger Press + Pa...

Covers more heat sources than anything else here. Its searing bullet says the reversible cast iron griddler works on any heat source, even an open camping fire, without cool spots, and a second bullet names a kitchen stove, an oven, a BBQ and an inconsistent campfire. The 16.75 by 9.5 in griddle is stated to sit across two stove burners and handle a dozen burgers. The press has a spiral wired handle the listing says keeps hands away from the heat, and two scrapers are included. At 17 lb for the set it is the heaviest thing on this page, and its care routine is a hand wash, a dry on the stove at medium heat and a seasoning with oil.

  • Cleared for any heat source, including an open camping fire
  • A 16.75 by 9.5 in griddle stated to span two stove burners
  • Two scrapers included, and a spiral handle that keeps hands from the heat
  • At 17 lb it is the heaviest thing on this page
  • Publishes no temperature figure at all
Check Price
3 Best for preheating the press itself
Our Place Grill Press

Our Place Grill Press

Publishes 500 F, the higher of the two temperature figures on this page, and suggests something no other listing does: preheat the press on a separate burner to accelerate cooking. On a crowded hob that trades a spare ring for a spare socket, which is exactly the swap this page is about. It publishes 7 inches across, 1.7 inches tall and 2.6 lbs in one bullet, in enameled cast iron with a pill shaped handle. It is also the only listing here honest about that handle: it stays relatively cool but can get hot on a burner, so use oven mitts. Hand wash and dry immediately; a dishwasher is not recommended.

  • Publishes 500 F, the higher temperature figure here
  • Suggests preheating on a separate burner to speed cooking
  • Publishes diameter, height and weight in one sentence
  • Publishes no cooktop compatibility, so induction is unaddressed
  • Says the handle can get hot on a burner and asks for oven mitts
Check Price
4 Best for cooking with no power at all
3 Packs 8.26 x 4.3 Inch Cast Iron Grill Press Set

3 Packs 8.26 x 4.3 Inch Cast Iron Grill Press Set

The pick that goes furthest from a kitchen. Its durability bullet says the press withstands high temperatures and repeated use and can be used on an open flame or over a campfire for outdoor cooking, and it sends three presses at 8.26 by 4.3 inches each for 6.72 lb, so several things can be held down at once over a fire. Its quality bullet says the wooden handle provides insulation and a comfortable grip, which is the complication: wood over an open flame has a limit and the listing publishes no temperature to bound it. Cleaning is stated as a little soap and water.

  • Cleared for an open flame or a campfire
  • Three presses in one purchase at 8.26 by 4.3 inches each
  • A wooden handle stated to insulate
  • Publishes no temperature figure to bound the open flame claim
  • A wooden handle over a campfire has an unpublished limit
Check Price
5 Best for making the patties as well
Grilliance Smash Burger Press Kit

Grilliance Smash Burger Press Kit

A three in one kit rather than a press alone: a patty maker, a grill press and 100 sheets of patty paper, at 3.53 lb. Its usage bullet places it on grills, griddles and skillets for both outdoor barbecues and indoor cooking, which is a compatibility claim rather than a heat rating, and its handles are stated to be wooden and to stay cool to the touch. What it does not publish is the iron: no pressing face figure, no material, no temperature and no washing instruction, and its size text of 1 by 6.69 in describes one round piece rather than the kit.

  • A patty maker and 100 patty papers arrive with the press
  • Cleared for grills, griddles and skillets, indoors or out
  • Wooden handles stated to stay cool to the touch
  • Publishes no pressing face figure
  • Publishes no material, no temperature and no washing instruction
Check Price

Our Verdict

Tramontina is the only listing that names gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction, and it publishes 450 F with an 11 in grill pan and a matching press. Cuisinel clears any heat source including an open camping fire on a 16.75 by 9.5 in griddle sized for two burners. Our Place publishes 500 F and suggests preheating on a separate burner. GENHAKON clears an open flame. Grilliance names grills, griddles and skillets.

“A press does an electric grill's job on the hob you already have.”

Lush Food & Drink
Good Food
Brighter Days

What Separates These Five

Two of five publish a temperature Our Place states 500 F and Tramontina 450 F, given also as 232 C. Cuisinel, GENHAKON and Grilliance publish no figure at all.
One listing names induction Tramontina lists gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction cooktops. No other listing in this pool mentions induction anywhere.
Two picks bring their own pan Tramontina includes an 11 in grill pan and Cuisinel a 16.75 by 9.5 in reversible griddle, so neither depends on cookware you already own.
Two picks are cleared for an open fire Cuisinel names an open camping fire and GENHAKON an open flame or campfire. Neither publishes a temperature to go with it.
Nothing in this pool has a cord Across sixteen listings there is no plug, no wattage and no voltage, so every one of them meets the constraint and only the heat sources separate them.

How We Chose

A temperature published
Cooktop types enumerated
An open flame cleared
A cooking surface included
A wooden handle
A washing instruction published

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a grill press need an outlet?+

No, and neither does anything else in this pool. Across sixteen listings there is no cord, no plug, no wattage and no voltage, which is the point of the tool: a press does on your hob what an electric contact grill does on a socket. So the constraint in the question is met by all of them, and what separates them is which heat sources each maker will actually stand behind.

Which of these works on an induction hob?+

Only Tramontina addresses it, and it does so for its pan rather than its press. Its versatility bullet lists gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction cooktops alongside an oven rating of 450 F, given also as 232 C. Since a press sits on food rather than on the hob, induction compatibility matters for the pan underneath, which is exactly why a pan and press together answers the question more completely than a press alone.

Which press gets the hottest?+

Our Place publishes 500 F, the higher of the two figures here, and Tramontina publishes 450 F for its pan. Cuisinel, GENHAKON and Grilliance publish no temperature at all, only claims about where they may be used: any heat source, an open flame or a campfire, and grills, griddles and skillets. Those are compatibility statements rather than ratings, so three of these five cannot be compared on heat.

Can I take one of these to a campfire?+

Two listings say so. Cuisinel states the griddler can be used on any heat source, even an open camping fire, and names an inconsistent campfire specifically. GENHAKON says its press can be used on an open flame or over a campfire for outdoor cooking. Both are worth a caution: GENHAKON also publishes a wooden handle stated to insulate, and no listing in this pool says what temperature a wooden handle tolerates.

Why would I preheat the press?+

Our Place is the only listing here that suggests it. Its versatile cooking bullet says you can use the press as a weight for even cooking or preheat it on a separate burner to accelerate cooking times. A hot press sears the top of the food as well as the bottom, which is how a contact grill works, and doing it on a second ring costs you a burner instead of a socket. It publishes 500 F, so there is a limit to preheat within.

Which of these needs seasoning after every use?+

Cuisinel publishes the strictest routine in this pool: after every use the cast iron should be hand washed, dried thoroughly on the stove at medium heat and seasoned with oil, with no dishwasher and no air drying. Our Place is enameled, so it asks only for a hand wash and immediate drying. GENHAKON says a little soap and water. Tramontina, also enameled, and Grilliance publish no care instruction at all.

Specifications come from the manufacturers' own published listings. Lush Food & Drink may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we research.

How the Five Compare on the Numbers

A grill press is the answer to a kitchen with nowhere to plug anything in. It does what an electric contact grill does, using the stove you already have, and nothing in this pool of sixteen listings has a cord. So the specification that matters is which heat sources each maker will actually stand behind, and only two of these five publish a temperature at all.

Two of the five go further and bring their own cooking surface. Tramontina is a grill pan with a matching press and Cuisinel is a reversible griddle with a press and two scrapers, so neither needs a pan you already own. That is the fullest answer to the constraint, and it costs 9.84 lb and 17 lb respectively.

Tramontina Cuisinel Our Place GENHAKON Grilliance
Heat sources named Gas, electric, ceramic glass, induction, and an oven Any heat source, a kitchen stove, an oven, a BBQ, a campfire A burner, for preheating separately An open flame or a campfire Grills, griddles and skillets, indoors or out
Temperature published 450 F, given also as 232 C not published 500 F not published not published
Induction stated Yes not published not published not published not published
Open fire stated not published Yes, an open camping fire not published Yes, an open flame or campfire not published
A cooking surface included An 11 in grill pan A reversible griddle and grill, 16.75 by 9.5 in not published not published not published
Pieces in the box A pan and a press A griddle, a press and two scrapers One press Three presses A press, a patty maker and 100 patty papers
Published weight 9.84 lb 17 lb 2.6 lb, stated in a bullet 6.72 lb for the three 3.53 lb
Pressing face or pan size 11 in pan 16.75 by 9.5 in griddle 7 in across, 1.7 in tall 8.26 by 4.3 in each not published
Handle Integral cast iron on the pan A spiral wired handle on the press Pill shaped enameled cast iron Wood, stated for insulation Wood, stated to stay cool
Material HT150 alloy cast iron, enameled Cast iron Enameled cast iron Cast iron not published
Washing and seasoning not published Hand wash, dry on the stove at medium heat, season with oil, no dishwasher, no air drying Hand wash and dry immediately, dishwasher not recommended Soap and water not published

The table cannot tell you whether any bare press is safe on an induction hob, because only Tramontina addresses induction and it does so for its pan rather than its press. Nor does any listing say what temperature a wooden handle will tolerate, which is the number that matters most on the three picks that have one.

Bringing Your Own Cooking Surface

A Pan Rated for Every Hob

Tramontina is the only listing in this pool that enumerates hob types. Its versatility bullet says the pan is oven safe up to 450 F, given also as 232 C, and compatible with gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction cooktops, and that integral cast iron handles give a secure grip for cooking and serving. For a kitchen where the hob is the only heat available, that is the sentence worth paying for.

It arrives as an 11 inch enameled grill pan in HT150 alloy cast iron with a matching cast iron press, so nothing else has to be bought or plugged in. It publishes 9.84 lb and fields of 11.5 by 18.38 by 2.94 in, which fit a pan with a handle. It publishes no washing instruction and no separate figure for the press.

A Griddle for Two Burners, or a Fire

Cuisinel goes the other way and covers everything at once. Its searing bullet says the reversible cast iron griddler can be used on any heat source, even an open camping fire, without cool spots, and a second bullet names a kitchen stove, an oven, a BBQ and an inconsistent campfire. Its surface bullet says the 16.75 by 9.5 in griddle sits across two stove burners.

The press that comes with it has a spiral wired handle the listing says keeps hands away from the heat, and two scrapers are included for cleaning. The cost is the mass: 17 lb for the set, which is the highest published weight on this page by a wide margin, and a care routine that is a full ritual rather than a rinse.

The Two Presses That Publish a Temperature

Five Hundred Degrees, and a Second Burner

Our Place publishes 500 F, the higher of the two temperature figures here, and does something no other listing does: its versatile cooking bullet suggests preheating the press on a separate burner to accelerate cooking. On a hob with limited space that is a trade worth knowing about, because it uses a second ring rather than a second socket.

It publishes 7 inches across, 1.7 inches tall and 2.6 lbs in a single bullet, all of it enameled cast iron, and it is the one listing on this page honest about the handle: it stays relatively cool but can get hot on a burner, so use oven mitts. It asks for a hand wash with immediate drying and says a dishwasher is not recommended.

Four Hundred and Fifty, For the Pan Not the Press

Tramontina’s 450 F figure is attached to the pan in a bullet about oven safety and cooktop compatibility, not to the press. The press is described only as a heavy duty matching cast iron press for even searing and faster cooking. Since both parts are cast iron, the number is probably fair for both, and the listing does not say so.

That leaves three of the five picks with no temperature at all. GENHAKON says it can withstand high temperatures and be used over an open flame or a campfire. Grilliance says it works on grills, griddles and skillets. Cuisinel says any heat source. All three are claims about where the press goes rather than how hot it may get.

Wooden Handles and Open Flames

Three Presses on an Open Fire

GENHAKON is the pick that most directly answers a kitchen with no power at all. Its durability bullet says the press can withstand high temperatures and repeated use and can be used on an open flame or over a campfire for outdoor cooking, and it sends three of them at 8.26 by 4.3 inches each for 6.72 lb.

The complication is in the same listing: its quality bullet says the wooden handle provides insulation and a comfortable grip. Wood over an open flame is a limit nobody publishes, and GENHAKON publishes no temperature to bound it. Grilliance has the same combination, wooden handles that the listing says stay cool to the touch, on a press it clears for grills, griddles and skillets.

What a Kit Adds and What It Leaves Out

Grilliance is a three in one kit rather than a press alone: a patty maker, a grill press and 100 sheets of patty paper, at 3.53 lb. Its usage bullet places it on grills, griddles and skillets for both outdoor barbecues and indoor cooking, which is a compatibility claim rather than a heat one.

What it does not publish is the press itself. There is no pressing face figure, no material, no temperature and no washing instruction, and its size text reads 1 by 6.69 in, which describes one round piece rather than a kit. Of the five picks here it is the one where the least is known about the iron.

Which One Fits Your Kitchen

The kitchen where the hob is the only heat. Tramontina is the only listing in this pool that names gas, electric, ceramic glass and induction, and it publishes 450 F given also as 232 C. It arrives as an 11 in enameled grill pan with a matching cast iron press, at 9.84 lb.

The kitchen that cooks on two burners or a fire. Cuisinel publishes a 16.75 by 9.5 in reversible griddle sized for two stove burners and cleared for any heat source including an open camping fire, with a press and two scrapers. At 17 lb it is the heaviest thing on this page.

The cook who preheats the press itself. Our Place publishes 500 F, the higher temperature figure here, and suggests preheating on a separate burner to speed up cooking. It states 7 inches across, 1.7 inches tall and 2.6 lbs, and warns the handle can get hot on a burner.

The cook heading outdoors with no power at all. GENHAKON publishes three presses at 8.26 by 4.3 inches each for 6.72 lb, cleared for an open flame or a campfire. Its wooden handles are stated to insulate, and no temperature figure is published to bound that.

The cook who wants the patties made as well. Grilliance is a three in one kit with a patty maker, a press and 100 patty papers at 3.53 lb, cleared for grills, griddles and skillets indoors or out. It publishes no pressing face, no material and no temperature.

What We Could Not Verify

Each of these was asked of the listings and answered by none of them.

  • Whether any bare press here is safe on an induction hob, since only Tramontina addresses induction and does so for its pan.
  • What temperature the wooden handles on GENHAKON and Grilliance will tolerate over an open flame.
  • A temperature figure for Cuisinel, GENHAKON or Grilliance.
  • Whether the Tramontina 450 F rating covers the press as well as the pan.
  • A pressing face size, material or weight breakdown for Grilliance.
  • A washing instruction for Tramontina or Grilliance.