Why a Fire Pit Cooking Grate Isn’t Enough Without a Griddle

Introduction

For many outdoor cooking enthusiasts, a fire pit cooking grate feels like freedom—until you're reminded of its limitations. You fire it up for barbecue night, only to realize you can't cook favorites like bacon, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, rice, or flaky fish. Why? Because these delicate items either slip through the gaps or burn unevenly on standard grates.

This is where the Arteflame insert revolutionizes your grilling game. By integrating a solid griddle surface with traditional grill grates, it opens the door to endless culinary possibilities. Suddenly, your grill isn’t just for burgers and steaks; it becomes a full-scale outdoor kitchen, breathing new life into your existing setup.

Griddle + Grate Advantages

Grilling over a fire pit brings a primal joy, but conventional grill grates limit what you can cook. That’s where combining a fire pit cooking grate with a griddle insert, like the Arteflame insert, changes everything. Below are the many advantages of upgrading your grill with a combined cooking surface.

1. Expanded Cooking Versatility

With a griddle surface available, you’re no longer confined to grill-appropriate foods. A standard grate can't handle:

• Small or delicate items like eggs and pancakes
• Loose foods like fried rice or chopped vegetables
• Greasy items like bacon or sausage that drip and flare on open flames

The Arteflame insert handles all of these seamlessly. It transforms your basic grate into an all-meal surface—breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

2. Even Heat Distribution

Cast iron and standard grates heat unevenly, often leading to hotspots that overcook one side while undercooking the other. Arteflame’s solid steel cooking surface distributes heat across the entire surface evenly, offering more control over your cooking.

3. Cleaner, Safer Cooking

With a flat griddle, you avoid flare-ups caused by dripping grease on an open flame. This not only enhances safety but also reduces burnt residue and unexpected charring. It’s a more contained, controlled environment that keeps food looking and tasting better.

4. Built for All-Day Grilling Events

The double surface design of the Arteflame allows for multitasking. Simultaneously grill large meats while sautéing vegetables or preparing sides. This makes it perfect for hosting events, where variety and continuous cooking are essential. No more rushing to keep things warm or juggling multiple tools.

5. Easy to Clean

Flat steel is much easier to clean than traditional grates. Simply scrape off residue with a spatula while the surface is still warm. The durability of the Arteflame insert allows for quick clean-up without damage or wear.

6. Long-Term Cost Efficiency

Using an Arteflame insert means you’re maximizing the investment you’ve already made in your current grill or fire pit. You don’t need to purchase an entire new grill to enjoy premium functionality. With proper care, the insert lasts for decades, effectively upgrading your system at a fraction of the cost.

7. Aesthetic and Functional Design

The Arteflame insert is not only designed for performance, but also for visual appeal. It gives your fire pit or grill a sleek, professional look while improving usability tenfold. The modern, circular design fits seamlessly into almost any setup.

Conclusion

The Arteflame insert proves that you don’t need to overhaul your entire grill setup to dramatically improve it. If you’ve been limited by what you can cook over a standard fire pit grate, it’s time to open up new culinary doors—with a cooking surface that adapts to any ingredient you throw on it. From Sunday breakfast to wood-fired steak dinners, the dual-surface design does it all.

Made entirely in the USA, Arteflame inserts are crafted with food-grade US steel, not cast iron. Why does this matter? Cast iron is notoriously brittle and prone to cracking under thermal stress, whereas industrial-grade steel offers unmatched durability and performance that lasts a lifetime. Upgrade to Arteflame and rediscover your grill’s full potential.