My Grill Pan Disappointment: Why I Don't Like It

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around participants sharing their experiences and opinions regarding the Pampered Chef grill pan. Some express disappointment with its performance, while others share positive experiences and specific uses for the pan.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses disappointment with the grill pan, stating that it doesn't grill well and prefers using a cast iron grill pan instead.
  • Another participant mentions that while the grill pan is not perfect, it works well for chicken and pork chops, and they enjoy using it for frying bacon.
  • Several users note that the grill ridges could be higher, which affects the grilling performance, particularly for foods that release fat.
  • One participant shares a positive experience, stating that the grill pan is excellent for grilled cheese and vegetables, and they appreciate its size compared to their cast iron pan.
  • Another participant mentions that they find cooking on a Foreman grill more efficient than using the grill pan.
  • One participant expresses love for the grill press, stating it is a decent substitute for a Foreman grill.
  • Another participant, who has not yet used the grill pan, agrees that the ridges seem too shallow based on their observation at a fellow consultant's house.
  • One participant shares a method for grilling vegetables on the pan, suggesting that brushing oil and using seasonings can enhance the flavor.
  • Another participant mentions the importance of preheating the grill pan for optimal results.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ regarding the effectiveness of the grill pan, with some participants expressing dissatisfaction while others share positive experiences. No clear consensus emerges on its overall performance.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences with the grill pan, discussing its performance with various foods and comparing it to other cooking methods and equipment.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and potential users of the grill pan may find the shared experiences and opinions helpful in understanding its varied performance and uses.

leftymac
leftymac
Messages
1,748
I've had my grill pan for about a year now. It's hard for me to say I don't like something PC, but I really just don't like this pan very much. And no, it's not for the reason most people think -- I have no problems with cleanup with it. I use the Kitchen Brush and it's fine.

I just don't think it grills that great. I think the grill ridges are too round and aren't up high enough. I'd much rather use my cast iron grill pan. :-(
 
That stinks. I have a host who wants to book in August just for that pan. I hope she won't be disappointed.
 
I, too, think the ridges could be higher. I was so excited to grill hamburgers when I first got it but was disappointed that the burgers still seemed to be sitting in the grease; granted not as much as in a regular frying pan, but still in the grease.
I do like it for chicken and pork chops. I also grilled some steaks in it one night and they were really good. I used it the other day to fry bacon; now I must say, I love frying bacon it it. I also grilled hotdogs in it one night - that was good because I hate to fire up a big old grill just to do hotdogs.
 
I love my grill pan but as Kimberly observed, it's good for foods that don't release too much fat. I have grilled chicken, steak, and fish in it, and made panninis with the grill press - all have come out nice and dry with lovely grill marks. Nicole, your host will be pleased too.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #5
susanr613 said:
I love my grill pan but as Kimberly observed, it's good for foods that don't release too much fat. I have grilled chicken, steak, and fish in it, and made panninis with the grill press - all have come out nice and dry with lovely grill marks. Nicole, your host will be pleased too.
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I do like it for chicken and paninis, I'll give you that!
 
Can I just say - KEITH!!!!! We've missed you. Glad to see you hanging around again.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
pampchefsarah said:
Can I just say - KEITH!!!!! We've missed you. Glad to see you hanging around again.
Click to expand...

Awwww thanks! I usually read this every day, but my mood to post goes in and out. I'm inactive now, but doesn't mean I can't still hang around! I may try to go active again at my new school, but we'll see how that goes. Gotta feel out the environment first.
 
Love-My-Grill-Pan. This is something that DH wanted - but I really didn't think we needed. I broke down and got it.

It makes the BEST Grilled Cheese. Very Crisp. (Right there, for me - the pan is worth it.) But I really think I earned it 2 seasons ago or got it 60% off.

I also like it for Grilling veggies (no butter or oil added) if DH doesn't have room on the grill.

I also have been happy with the Chicken on it too.

Now, I don't know how it compares to your cast iron Grill Pan, but this was our first Grill Pan so I don't have any other type to compare it to.
 
I've got to say I'm with Keith on this one ... I've tried and tried and tried to love it, but honestly, stuff cooks more quickly and efficiently on my Foreman.I thought the Press would make me love it more, but alas, no.
 
Di_Can_Cook said:
I've got to say I'm with Keith on this one ... I've tried and tried and tried to love it, but honestly, stuff cooks more quickly and efficiently on my Foreman.

I thought the Press would make me love it more, but alas, no.
Click to expand...

Now, you bring up the Press. For us, this was definitely a waste of money. I have used it once and have no desire to use it again. I guess it would be good for panninis, but haven't tried those yet.
 
I love the press! I have used it not only for panninis but also for chicken. it's a decent substitute for a foreman grill.
 
I LOVE my grill pan!!!
 
I do not have the grill pan yet, but saw it at a fellow consultant's house. I agree with the statement that the ridges are not high enough. It is too shallow. It is bigger than my Lodge cast iron grill pan though, which is a plus. The grill press, I have not had an opportunity to use, it is too big for my cast iron pan, and the P&U guide said not to use it on an outdoor grill. That to me is a negative, my hubbie bought it for me during my pre consultant days.
 
kam said:
Love-My-Grill-Pan.

I also like it for Grilling veggies (no butter or oil added) if DH doesn't have room on the grill.
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Do you marinate your veggies first or just throw them in dry? What types of veggies do you do? The norm? Just wondering as I'm trying to force myself to eat more veggies but I don't care for any veggie raw except for a cucumber. I'm like a kid...I need to be tricked into eating them and always look for newer ways. TIA
 
Melissa78 said:
Do you marinate your veggies first or just throw them in dry? What types of veggies do you do? The norm? Just wondering as I'm trying to force myself to eat more veggies but I don't care for any veggie raw except for a cucumber. I'm like a kid...I need to be tricked into eating them and always look for newer ways. TIA
Click to expand...

I just slice zuchinni or summer squash and cook it on the grill pan - dry. I put a little butter, salt & pepper on once it is on my plate.

You could always brush a little oil on the veggies first then sprinkle any of our seasonings on that appeal to you. The new Bread dipping seasonings are really good sprinkled on veggies.

HTH
 
The key to the grill pan is to always preheat over medium high heat for about 5 minutes. I love it and use it at my shows all the time to add grilled chicken to the Collasal Chopped Salad and the Greek Salad and the Jamaican Chicken Salad. Great booking tool for me and once I sell one - it leads to another show and more sales.
 
I was just wondering if the grill pan works well on an electric burner ?
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific issues did you encounter with the Grill Pan?

One of the main issues I faced with the Grill Pan was uneven heating. Certain areas of the pan seemed to get hotter than others, which resulted in food cooking unevenly. Additionally, I found that the non-stick surface did not perform as well as I expected, leading to food sticking despite following the recommended cooking guidelines.

How does the Grill Pan compare to other cooking pans you have used?

Compared to other cooking pans I've used, the Grill Pan did not meet my expectations in terms of durability and performance. While it is marketed as a high-quality product, I found that it scratched easily and did not hold up well over time, especially when using metal utensils.

Did you find the Grill Pan difficult to clean?

Yes, I found the Grill Pan to be more challenging to clean than I anticipated. Despite being labeled as non-stick, food residue often remained stuck to the surface, requiring more scrubbing than I would like. This made the overall cooking experience less enjoyable for me.

Were there any specific cooking methods that the Grill Pan did not perform well with?

I noticed that the Grill Pan struggled with cooking delicate foods, such as fish or eggs. These items tended to stick to the surface, making it difficult to achieve the desired results. I had better success with heartier foods, but overall, it limited my cooking options.

Would you recommend the Grill Pan to others?

Based on my experience, I would hesitate to recommend the Grill Pan to others. While it may work well for some, my personal disappointment with its performance and ease of use leads me to suggest exploring other options that may better meet cooking needs.

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