Why a BBQ Griddle Top Shines with a Wood Fired Grill

Introduction

Grilling on a gas or electric grill may feel convenient, but it comes with major flavor limitations. Most standard gas grills top out around 450°F, which isn’t nearly hot enough to trigger the Maillard reaction—essential for that deep, crave-worthy sear on steaks and burgers. Meats like ribeyes, tomahawks, or smash burgers simply don’t develop the same rich, charred crust on a traditional burner. Wood-fired grills, by contrast, deliver intense heat—upwards of 1000°F—which unlocks steakhouse-level flavors right in your backyard. An Arteflame grill, paired with a bbq griddle top, enables you to sear at extreme temps then finish meats gently on the plancha. It’s a grillmaster’s dream, and something gas grills can’t replicate.

Benefits of Wood Fired Grilling

Adding a wood fired grill to complement your gas setup fundamentally changes your grilling game. Here’s why every backyard chef should consider making the switch—or at least adding a wood fire option.

1. Superior High Heat Performance

Gas grills are capped at around 450°F, and electric ones even lower. With a wood-fired grill like the Arteflame, you’ll reach scorching highs of 1000°F. This level of heat is perfect for:

• Perfectly seared steaks with a caramelized crust
• Restaurant-style smash burgers with crisp edges
• Juicy, charred sausages, lamb chops, and ribs
• Sizzling fajitas, kebabs, and chorizo

The elevated temperature unlocks the Maillard effect—a complex chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that gives grilled meat its deep flavor and golden-brown exterior. Without hitting those high temps, your food may cook, but it’ll never taste exceptional.

2. Authentic Smoky Flavor

Gas and electric grills can’t impart real wood flavor. With real wood or hardwood lump charcoal, you get natural, smoky complexity that enriches every bite. Whether you’re using hickory, oak, or mesquite, foods absorb aromatic compounds for that unmistakable open-flame taste.

Ideal dishes for wood-fired cooking include:

• Slow-cooked pork shoulder
• Charred eggplant or corn on the cob
• Thick porterhouse steaks
• Smoky chicken quarters or wings

3. True Multi-Zone Cooking

An Arteflame grill features a central fire pit surrounded by a steel cooktop plancha, creating multiple heat zones for versatile cooking. Direct flame in the center is perfect for fast searing, while the outer zone allows for gradual finishes or warming breads, veggies, and softer proteins. This range lets you:

• Start thick steaks over the flame then finish them gently
• Toast buns while burgers cook
• Grill chicken skin-on without burning the outside

4. Searing + Griddling Combined

A bbq griddle top opens up an entirely new style of cooking—flat top grilling. Think diner-style smash burgers, bacon, pancakes, or stir-fry vegetables. The Arteflame’s circular steel plancha surrounds the fire bowl with high-heat, even cooking. Drippings hit the fire below, sending fragrant smoke right back into the meat.

5. Better Control, More Creativity

With a wood fire setup, you gain intuitive control—not just pushing knobs. You can shape the heat intensity with strategic wood placement and airflow. Whether you want to flash-char asparagus or slow-roast a pork belly, your grill responds immediately to your changes. It becomes not just a tool, but an extension of your culinary instincts.

6. The Visual & Social Experience

Few things capture attention like dancing flames and glowing embers. A wood fire isn’t just functional—it’s mesmerizing. Arteflame grills turn your cooking space into a communal event. Friends gather around the heated plancha, sharing tastes, drinks, and stories. It's grilling elevated into an art and social experience.

Plus, the iconic design of the Arteflame draws immediate attention with its fire bowl aesthetic, crafted from American corten steel that develops a rich, weather-resistant patina over time. Stylish and timeless—it's grillware that doubles as outdoor sculpture.

Conclusion

If you already own a gas grill, the leap to wood-fired cooking might just be your ultimate upgrade. The Arteflame built-in plancha and fire bowl combo enables you to reach temperatures gas grills can't touch—unlocking perfectly seared steaks and other meats that boast rich smoky depth. With a bbq griddle top, you expand beyond burgers and brats to a whole universe of flat top delights: crispy hash browns, brussels sprouts, fajitas...even pizza.

100% made in the USA, Arteflame grills are built to last from industrial-grade steel and designed to impress. If you're serious about grilling, why settle for less flavor, less heat, and less flexibility? Add the real fire that your meals—and your guests—deserve.