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I fell in love with flat-top grills the summer I helped review them during our tests in Birmingham, Alabama. Sure, it was near 90°F and a spirit-dampening level of humid—a true Alabama summer—but the glorious utility of these massive griddles charmed the socks off me. (Okay, it might have also been the heat.) 

A propane-powered griddle is a beautiful thing: It’s spacious, heats up fast, and any smoke or steam is released into the great outdoors rather than inside your kitchen. In our tests, smash burgers seared up lickety-split, and bacon reached a state of crispiness I didn’t know existed. I fell, and I fell hard. 

When I returned home, I tried to get my husband to see that a flat-top grill was not a want but a need—and a perfectly logical addition to our collection of backyard cooking gear (which at this point, consisted of two pizza ovens, a smoker, and a grill). He was skeptical. 

Fast-forward some eight months, and I convinced my wary husband that we could dip our toes into outdoor griddle-dom with the Weber Rust-Resistant Griddle Insert. This turned out to be a glorious gambit: It slots right into my Weber gas grill, transforming it from a lean, mean, grilling machine into a griddle for all of my short order needs. And it’s awesome. 

Why I Love the Weber Griddle Insert 

While we are blessed to have a decent-sized backyard, my husband rightly pointed out that our lawn was slowly turning into an outdoor gear showroom. Adding a flat-top grill to the mix seemed excessive. 

Instead, the Weber griddle insert is a small, albeit heavy, slab of carbon steel that you can tuck away in the garage or basement when you’re not using it. Setting it up is as easy as removing the grates from the grill and popping that puppy in—just make sure the grease vent is aligned with the drip tray, or “brunch” will stand for “burnt lunch.” Fire up the grill, grab some tongs and an offset turner spatula, and get ready to cook. 

I have the Weber Genesis E-325, which has 513 square inches of cooking space, and the griddle insert matches that, so it’s quite roomy. I can easily prepare a full brunch lineup of bacon, sausages, and over-easy eggs, then dial down the heat and toast some bread. I also love using it to make smash burgers, which is a hallelujah-evoking experience—no smoky kitchen! I feel like a short order cook, smashing multiple patties at once and scraping them off the hot griddle, their edges all lacy and browned. The first time I tucked two perfectly crispy burger patties into a soft potato bun and handed the plate to my husband, let’s just say he fell in love with flat-top grills, too. 

FAQs

What grills does the Weber griddle work with? 

Weber sells full-size inserts that are compatible with a variety of the brand’s grills, including the new Spirit series, Searwood pellet series, Genesis line, Summit line, and even charcoal grills. 

How do you clean the Weber griddle insert?

Once the griddle has cooled, scrape off any cooking debris—an offset turner spatula works well for this. Then, use a damp paper towel to wipe down the surface. Give it a rub with food-safe oil and you’re good to go. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats, where she specializes in testing kitchen gear. 

• She worked in restaurants and reviewed equipment for America’s Test Kitchen. 

• She loves her Weber grill—and now loves it even more with the option to turn it into a griddle. 

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