Why a Cooking Grate Alone Isn't Enough

Introduction

Grilling on a standard cooking grate might work fine for burgers or steaks, but when it comes to more delicate or versatile dishes like bacon, hash browns, eggs, or even fried rice, you're bound to hit limitations. The open gaps on traditional grates mean that smaller ingredients often fall through, leaving you frustrated and cleaning up charred bits—or worse, wasting good food.

This is where the Arteflame Insert completely transforms your grilling experience. By combining a traditional grill grate with a solid, flat griddle surface, it opens the door to countless recipes you simply can’t cook on a grate alone. Designed to fit into your existing grill, the Arteflame Insert gives your BBQ a whole new lease on life—one where breakfast, stir-fry, and more are all on the menu.

Why Add a Griddle

Most grillers start out with a traditional cooking grate, which does a good job of searing meat and providing those Instagram-worthy grill marks. But reality quickly sets in when you try expanding your menu. That’s where having a griddle surface on your grill becomes more than just convenient—it becomes essential.

Expanded Cooking Capabilities

With a griddle, you're no longer limited to only foods that can survive direct flame and an open grate. The solid surface of a griddle allows for cooking:

• Breakfast foods: Eggs, pancakes, hash browns, bacon
• Small or chopped vegetables: Peppers, onions, diced mushrooms, and more
• Marinated proteins: Fish fillets, shrimp, and tofu that may fall apart on a grate
• Grains and starches: Fried rice, gnocchi, or couscous that are impossible to grill on open slats
• Melty or loose ingredients: Cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, or even smash burgers with toppings

The beauty of an Arteflame Insert lies in its dual-surface design. You get the traditional grilling surface for steaks, sausages, and corn on the cob right in the middle. Surrounding it is the griddle ring—perfect for the foods that just don’t work on a standard grate. This opens you up to cook full meals side-by-side right on the grill.

Better Heat Distribution

Griddles distribute heat more evenly than grates. On traditional grills, hot and cold spots are a common issue, making temperature management tricky. With a solid steel griddle surface, heat radiates across the cooking area, giving you better control and more consistent results.

Cleaner and Safer Cooking

Griddles also significantly reduce flare-ups. Since the food doesn’t drip directly onto the flames or coals, you get less charring and no dangerous flare-ups that can ruin delicate items. Plus, no more fishing burnt sausage links or shrimps from the bottom of your grill.

Multi-Zone Cooking

An Arteflame Insert allows for true dual-zone cooking. Grill your steak right over the flame and sauté your mushrooms on the griddle side at the same time. Imagine searing a burger while your fried egg waits next to it—all done together, timed to perfection.

Less Accessory Hassle

If you’ve tried cooking eggs or rice on a regular grill, you likely had to use separate pans or accessories. Not only is that a hassle, but it also takes away from the joy of grilling. The Arteflame Insert eliminates the need for extra cookware. Everything happens right on the grill itself.

More Social, More Fun

There’s also something social and inviting about a wide, open griddle surface. It turns your backyard grill into a gathering space, where family and friends can gather around while you cook a variety of foods to please everyone’s taste buds.

Elevate Your Everyday Grill

Instead of spending thousands on a brand-new grill, the Arteflame Insert retrofits into most existing grill setups. It’s an instant upgrade that expands not just your cooking surface, but your entire outdoor cooking potential. From tailgates to weeknight dinners, your grill becomes a flat-top diner with searing capability all in one.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever been frustrated by the limitations of a traditional cooking grate, the Arteflame Insert is your solution. It truly reinvents what’s possible with your existing grill by combining a versatile griddle plate with a standard grate—all in one smart, American-made design.

Crafted with 100% U.S. steel, Arteflame Inserts are built to last a lifetime—unlike cast iron, which can rust, crack, and become brittle over time. Each insert is produced entirely in the USA, meeting the highest food-safety standards and offering unmatched durability and performance that cast iron simply can’t match.

Whether you're cooking breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the Arteflame Insert brings restaurant-level versatility right to your backyard. Discover what your grill has been missing—and reclaim the full power of outdoor cooking.