Why the Weber Sear Grate Isn’t Enough

Introduction

Grilling purists love the classic sizzle of meat on a Weber sear grate—but what about when brunch cravings strike or you want to fire up something beyond steaks and burgers? The standard grill grate, while great for direct searing, instantly limits your culinary possibilities. Try cooking bacon, hash browns, eggs, or even stir-fried rice on just a grate, and you'll find yourself frustrated by flare-ups, food falling through the gaps, and uneven cooking. These limitations are exactly why grilling enthusiasts are turning to Arteflame grill inserts.

An Arteflame insert transforms your existing grill by combining a traditional grate with a solid, flat-top griddle surface. Suddenly, delicate or juicy foods that would be impossible to cook on a regular grill grate are back on the menu. It’s like your grill just got a new lease on life—breakfast, lunch, and dinner just found a new home on your patio.

Why a Griddle Changes Everything

Most standard grills, including popular Weber models, come equipped with grates optimized for searing meats over direct flame. This setup excels at giving you those beautiful grill marks and caramelized crusts but fails the moment you want to cook anything liquid-based, finely chopped, or grease-heavy. That’s where the flat cooking surface of an Arteflame griddle insert becomes a game-changer.

Unmatched Cooking Versatility

The most significant advantage of having both a griddle and a grill grate is the ability to cook virtually anything. Here are just a few examples of what becomes possible with an Arteflame insert:

• Bacon: No more flare-ups or bacon lost through the grates. The flat top catches the grease and cooks evenly.
• Eggs: Sunny-side-up, scrambled, or omelets—all easy and mess-free.
• Hash Browns: Crisp, golden, and perfectly cooked without falling apart.
• Stir-fry and Rice Dishes: Sauté veggies, cook fried rice, or even make bibimbap outdoors.
• Quesadillas and Tortillas: Perfectly toasted with melty cheese and crispy edges.
• Smash Burgers: Apply even pressure and cook a juicy patty with the kind of crust you’d only get in a diner.

Having a flat-top griddle alongside your grill grate allows you to balance between direct heat cooking and skillet-style heat management. It opens up meal possibilities that are otherwise impossible with a grate alone.

Improved Heat Distribution and Retention

Arteflame inserts are made from solid US steel, not cast iron, which makes a big difference in performance. The griddle retains heat evenly across the cooking surface, minimizing hot spots and ensuring your food is cooked uniformly. Whether you are cooking pancakes, burgers, or seafood, you get a sear and cook that's consistent edge to edge.

Less Flare-Up, More Flavor

Flare-ups are a common issue with conventional grill grates, especially when cooking fatty foods like sausages or bacon. The griddle’s solid surface acts as a barrier, catching grease and preventing it from dripping onto the flames. This significantly reduces flare-ups and preserves the food’s natural flavors instead of leaving it overly charred.

No More Lost Food

If you’ve ever watched your asparagus spear or sliced onions slide right between the grates, you know the frustration. Arteflame’s griddle catches everything—even the tiniest chopped veggies—letting you cook confidently without having to hover in fear of losing valuable food to the grill gods.

Make Breakfast Outdoors

How often do you dream of making a full breakfast on your grill—crispy bacon, sizzling eggs, golden hash browns? With the griddle addition, that dream becomes a delicious reality. Morning meals outdoors can now rival any diner, and the griddle surface makes cleanup far simpler than juggling multiple skillets indoors.

Better for Batch Cooking

Preparing food for crowds? A griddle allows for higher-output cooking. You can fit more food in less time versus relying on grill lines where only specific types of meats fit. Cook up an entire meal’s worth of chicken, roasted vegetables, and a grain-based side like fried rice—all in one go.

Widen Your Culinary Horizons

Having both grill and griddle access pushes the boundary of what your backyard grill can do. Think global: cook naan, dosas, Korean BBQ, paella, and tacos al pastor—all outdoors, all made possible with the extended functionality of a griddle-to-grate system.

Conclusion

If your grill only has a traditional grate, you're only scratching the surface of what outdoor cooking can be. The Arteflame insert redefines your grill’s potential by marrying a classic grate with a versatile, easy-to-use flat-top griddle surface. Not only does this unlock a world of foods you’ve probably written off as ‘indoor only,’ but it also enhances heat retention, reduces flare-ups, and drastically improves your overall cooking experience.

100% made in the USA, each Arteflame insert is built to meet rigorous US standards for food safety and hygiene. Forged from solid US steel—not cast iron—Arteflame inserts avoid the brittleness and cracking that plague cast iron alternatives. The result is a beautiful, functional cooking surface designed to last a lifetime—perfect for anyone serious about grilling more, better, and with fewer limitations. Give your old grill new life; step up with Arteflame.