Why Griddle-Grate Combos Beat Standard Grates

Introduction

Grilling on standard grill grates comes with significant limitations. While they’re ideal for steaks or burgers, they fall short when it comes to more delicate or finely textured foods. Ever tried to cook bacon directly on a grill grate? It falls through. How about eggs, hash browns, or even rice? These ingredients are nearly impossible to manage without a flat surface. That’s where traditional grates hit their limit—leaving grilling enthusiasts frustrated and restricted in their cooking options.

Enter the Arteflame insert: a revolutionary upgrade that transforms your standard grill by combining the utility of a flat-top griddle with the charm of a grill grate. Not only does this expand your cooking possibilities dramatically, it breathes new life into your existing grill—making it more versatile, user-friendly, and immensely more fun to use.

Griddle and Grate Advantages

A combined grill and griddle insert like the Arteflame offers several unmatched benefits, both in terms of cooking capability and overall grilling experience. Let’s dive into why this hybrid solution is a game-changer for backyard chefs and BBQ aficionados alike.

1. Expanded Cooking Options

With just grill grates, you're limited to foods that won’t fall through. But with a griddle surface, you're free to cook:

• Bacon, sausage links, and patties
• Hash browns and home fries
• Eggs, omelets, and scrambled eggs
• Sautéed vegetables and stir-fries
• Quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches
• Rice dishes and even pancakes

This makes your grill not just a meat searing station but a full-fledged outdoor kitchen.

2. Better Heat Distribution

Arteflame’s griddle surface is made of solid US steel, which absorbs and distributes heat evenly. Unlike open-flame grill grates that create hotspots and cold zones, the steel griddle ensures even cooking across the entire surface. This helps prevent overcooked edges or underdone centers, especially with foods like eggs or pancakes.

3. Healthier Cooking Options

The flat-top griddle allows for fat and grease to render naturally without excessive flare-ups—keeping dangerous carcinogens at bay. You can easily control where grease goes, especially with accessories like grease collectors or angled surfaces. Less smoke and fewer flare-ups mean healthier results and easier cleanup.

4. Greater Control for Delicate Foods

Some foods simply demand more finesse. Seafood like scallops, shrimp, and flaky fish fall apart on traditional grates. The griddle gives you full control with a smoother cooking surface. If you enjoy cooking with marinades and sauces, the griddle ensures they stay with the food—instead of dripping off into the coals.

5. Simplified Meal Timing

Cooking a full breakfast or dinner becomes wonderfully simple. Eggs on one side, sausages on the other. Shrimp on the griddle while steaks sear over the open grate—everything finishes together. No more juggling kitchen pans or food waiting indoors.

6. More Engaging Grilling Experience

An Arteflame insert makes grilling more social. The circular shape and wide ring of the griddle allow guests to gather around, each person cooking their own creations, teppanyaki-style. It turns a solo backyard task into a shared culinary event.

7. Multi-Season Functionality

Unlike traditional grill grates that rely heavily on intense direct heat (harder to maintain in colder months), the steel griddle holds heat longer and more consistently. This means your grill becomes a year-round tool, perfect for autumn tailgates or chilly winter cookouts.

8. Perfect for Meal Prepping

With a larger cooking surface, you can grill big batches of veggies, meats, or starches all at once. The griddle makes it easier to organize and time meal portions, helping health-conscious grillers and busy families stay on track with their week.

9. No Need to Replace Your Entire Grill

Best of all, the Arteflame insert lets you upgrade the cooking experience without replacing your whole grill. It's sized specifically to drop into existing units, offering a seamless enhancement rather than a full overhaul. The convenience and savings are huge.

Conclusion

Incorporating a griddle into your outdoor grilling setup completely transforms what your grill can do. The Arteflame insert combines the best of both worlds: a high-performance grill grate and a smooth, expansive griddle surface—giving your existing grill a fresh, innovative edge. Suddenly, barbecue isn’t just burgers and ribs—it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between.

Made from 100% US Steel and crafted right here in the USA, Arteflame inserts not only support American craftsmanship—they’re built to last. Unlike brittle cast iron, which is prone to cracking over time, these steel inserts maintain structural integrity through years of intense heat cycles. With top-tier food hygiene standards and durability baked in, Arteflame inserts aren't just an upgrade — they're a long-term investment in quality, creativity, and flavor.