Why Nexgrill Replacement Grates Aren’t Enough Without a Griddle

Introduction

When you're grilling on a standard grill grate—like those found on many Nexgrill models—you quickly discover their limitations. While perfect for searing steaks and grilling burgers, traditional grates fall short when it comes to delicate or small foods. Ever tried cooking bacon, eggs, hash browns, or even stir-fried rice on a regular grill grate? You either lose half your breakfast to the flames or make a greasy mess.

This is where the Arteflame insert completely changes the game. Designed to fit into your existing grill, the Arteflame insert combines a traditional grill grate with a solid, circular griddle surface. Suddenly, all those foods you couldn’t grill before—like crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, buttery hash browns, or sizzling fajitas—become part of your BBQ repertoire. It’s like giving your old grill a brand-new soul.

Griddle + Grate = Unlimited Options

Adding a griddle surface to your grill opens up an entirely new universe of cooking possibilities. Unlike traditional grill grates, a griddle surface seals in juices, prevents food loss, and allows for more dynamic cooking techniques like searing, sautéing, and frying—all in open fire, right next to your burgers and steaks.

Advantages of a Combined Grate and Griddle:

• Expanded Menu Variety: A griddle lets you cook foods that would never survive a grill grate—think pancakes, quesadillas, chopped veggies, and stir-fry.
• Better Heat Distribution: Unlike narrow grates, the griddle's solid surface distributes heat evenly, reducing cold spots that can ruin your food.
• Juicy, Flavorful Results: Traditional grates let juices drip away into the coals. A griddle locks in flavor with every sizzle and sear.
• No More Falling Food: Diced onions, shrimp, and sliced mushrooms no longer fall into the flames. Everything stays where it belongs: on your plate.
• Easier Cleanup: A flat cooking surface is easier to scrape down and clean, especially when coated with a bit of oil. No burnt-on grime in hard-to-reach corners.
• One Surface, Endless Meals: One night it’s burgers and onions, the next it’s fajitas, then breakfast for dinner—eggs, sausage, and hash browns all made outdoors.

Another key advantage is control. The hybrid design of the Arteflame insert gives you the ability to prepare multiple types of meals simultaneously. Sear steaks on the grate while sautéing vegetables or cooking pasta sauce on the griddle. It's not an either/or situation—it's all at once, at your pace.

Plus, a griddle offers versatility year-round. Rain, wind, or winter—your griddle handles it all and gives you the same quality cookout feel, no matter the season. And when paired with an open flame, it adds that smoky, fire-kissed flavor you simply can't replicate on a stovetop.

And there’s one more factor: communal cooking. The flat grill surface allows for more interactive, hibachi-style experiences. Whether it’s taco night with friends or morning pancakes with the family, everyone can get in on the action.

Conclusion

If you own a Nexgrill or any traditional grill using basic grates, you’re only experiencing half its potential. Arteflame inserts transform your grill into a dynamic outdoor cooking station that goes way beyond hot dogs and steak. Made in the USA with food-grade US steel—not brittle cast iron—Arteflame inserts are built to last a lifetime, resisting cracks and chipping year after year.

Unlike cast iron, which is susceptible to thermal shock and breakage, our US Steel insert offers unmatched durability and easy maintenance. You're not just buying an accessory; you're investing in a lifelong upgrade to your grilling lifestyle. With the Arteflame insert, your Nexgrill becomes the ultimate open-fire kitchen—ready to cook anything, anytime, beautifully and reliably.