
Wood-Fired Grills: Buyer’s Guide, Woods, Tips & FAQs
Learn the best wood-fired grill types, woods, techniques, and safety temps—plus how to get a steakhouse sear at home with multi-zone live fire.
Grilling with a traditional grill grate can be a frustrating experience when it limits the variety of foods you can cook. Sure, you can handle steaks and burgers, but try cooking bacon, hash browns, eggs, rice, or even pancakes—you'll quickly realize how insufficient conventional grates really are. Small and delicate foods fall through the grates, and oily or sticky items become a mess to clean. It's a missed opportunity for anyone who loves outdoor cooking.
This is where the Arteflame insert changes the game. By combining a traditional grill grate with a solid, flat-top griddle, the Arteflame turns any standard grill into a true cooking powerhouse. Suddenly, those 'grill-only' limitations disappear, and your backyard BBQ becomes capable of handling breakfast, lunch, and dinner—flawlessly. It brings entirely new life to your existing grill, unlocking versatility you won’t believe you ever lived without.
Combining a grill grate with a griddle creates a dynamic cooking platform that maximizes the potential of outdoor cooking. With a BBQ grill and griddle combo, you're no longer stuck to traditional BBQ items—you can cook virtually anything. Here’s a breakdown of the core advantages:
The Arteflame insert gives you the ability to expand your BBQ repertoire dramatically. From stir-fries to seared ahi tuna to Sunday brunch outdoors, you're cooking without limits.
Unlike conventional grates that concentrate heat through metal bars, a griddle surface distributes heat more evenly across its surface. No more hotspots or undercooked zones—the Arteflame insert ensures consistent cook results from edge to edge. This is incredibly valuable when dealing with foods that require uniform cooking such as pancakes or vegetable medleys.
Using a griddle surface doesn't mean sacrificing flavor. In fact, the griddle's ability to sear with even contact can actually improve caramelization and texture. Think crispy hash browns, beautifully browned scallops, or perfectly seared steak edges that crust just right thanks to uniform surface contact.
The slight incline of the Arteflame flat cooking surface allows grease and excess oils to naturally drain away. This means you get a healthier finished plate without sacrificing flavor. Plus, no flare-ups or burnt meat from dripping fat hitting open flames.
The flat surface contains messes better than traditional grill grates. Juices, marinades, cheese drippings, and more stay on the griddle rather than falling into the fire and creating smoky messes. Cleanup is as simple as scrubbing down a flat plate with a scraper and wiping it down with a towel. No more scraping greasy grates or dealing with charred food remains buried in hard-to-reach bars.
Because the Arteflame insert provides a contained cooking surface, there's less risk of flare-ups and fewer exposed flames. It also prevents smaller foods from falling through, reducing the chance of accidents like food catching fire or splattering. It's an important safety upgrade, particularly for cooks with kids nearby or in shared spaces.
Purchasing an Arteflame insert means you’re upgrading—not replacing—your existing grill. Rather than buy a new unit for greater cooking capabilities, you're enhancing the performance of what you already own. It adds years of usable life to your setup, making your BBQ investment go further while dramatically improving your cooking options.
A BBQ grill and griddle combo from Arteflame doesn’t just perform—it looks incredible doing it. Engineered with aesthetic in mind, the solid steel surface develops a natural non-stick seasoning over time, gives off that iconic restaurant-style sear, and turns your grill into an eye-catching centerpiece during gatherings.
Upgrading your grill with an Arteflame insert transforms it from a one-dimensional cooking tool into a versatile outdoor kitchen. The seamless integration of a grill grate and flat-top griddle opens up a world of culinary possibilities—from breakfasts and stir-fries to delicate seafood and grilled fruits. It truly lets you grill anything, anytime.
Arteflame inserts are proudly 100% made in the USA, crafted under strict American food safety standards. Unlike cast iron, which is brittle and prone to cracking under extreme temperatures, Arteflame inserts are made from solid US steel. This high-quality construction resists chipping and breakage, delivering a lifetime of performance with minimal maintenance. When you choose Arteflame, you’re investing in durability, function, and elevated outdoor cooking—without compromise.
Bring steakhouse sear and flat-top versatility to the grill you already love. Arteflame’s engineered airflow fires the center grate past 1,000°F for a perfect Maillard crust, while the solid steel flat top handles everything your grates can’t—bacon, eggs, fried rice, veggies, and more—without flare-ups or extra pans. 100% made in the USA from US steel, it’s the one upgrade that turns every cookout into a “cook anything” experience.
Arteflame XXL 40" Flat Top Grill - High Euro Base
Arteflame ONE30 — 30″ One Series Flat-Top Charcoal Grill & Fire Bowl (Single-Piece CORTEN Steel)