****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I have some mixed feelings on it but I am trying to figure out if my dislikes are simply due to the way I'm using it, or if they are legitimate issues with the Little Griddle. I am using mine on a Weber Genesis E-330 3-burner gas grill.The Good:It feels sturdy and high-quality.Despite being "Little", the GQ230 is not particularly cramped (the only time I wished I had more space was when we were making a large batch of fried rice on it).The surface is great to cook on. It does not need to be seasoned like cast-iron or like the cold-rolled steel tops found on other griddles you might be looking at.The Bad:A little bad: the size. I say that because it is not big enough to adequately have 2 zones (like a hot and warm zone). Even if you apply the heat to one side, it will not take long before the temp "evens out" across. If the material were thicker or if the unit were larger, then I believe this would be less of an issue (though both would make it less portable and too big to use in the majority of grills & cook tops.Also a little bad: It loses heat fairly quickly. I find that my Little Griddle cools off fairly quickly. This may be more the fault of my gas grill (which this type of grill (or most any) are designed to work particularly well with the lid open all the time).The biggest bad: the grease trough. Because the grease trough is attached, it is over the heat (in my instance. This may not be an issue if positioned just right over a gas cook top). While I understand why the grease area is attached, it means 2 issues. First, when you go to scrape anything into the trough, it starts popping (the grease is hitting a hotter part of the steel that hasn't been cooled by the food). If you are cooking something with a lot of grease (like a bunch of sausage or bacon), then you will have to reach over a mote of popping grease to manage your food. Second, because the trough is attached, it makes cleaning harder. The cooking surface is best cleaned right after the cook while everything is still hot. Some water and a Scotch-Brite pad will take care of everything (I use my scraper to work the Scotch-Brite pad around), but the only way to get the grease (and now, dirty hot water, too) is using wads of paper towels and tongs. The grease/water will be hot AF, so be careful.A dedicated gas griddle (like one from Blackstone, Camp Chef, Razor or Pit Boss, not to mention higher-end units from EVO or Le Griddle) get hot easily, retain even temps, have better temp control for zones, and have a removable grease tray that is not heated with the top. But, they are also ANOTHER appliance that you have to use outside. So, if you're thinking this is going to turn your gas grill into a true flat-top, think again. You will still be able to use this to make some FANTASTIC food, but there will be annoyances. I have not tried using the GQ230 on a gas cook top (my indoor cook top is induction and there is not enough surface area / contact on the bottom of this to use it via induction).Overall, I like the Little Griddle and I enjoy using it. For my setup, I blame the heat issues on my setup and not the Little Griddle. But for the grease management issues, I blame the Little Griddle all the way. With that said, I am not sure how one could make an accessory like this with a removable grease tray. I am going to keep using it (as I can turn out some great food with it), but I am definitely looking forward to upgrading my griddle setup someday.EDIT 4/2/23 - the cons of the Little Griddle made me not want to cook out as often, so I upgraded to dedicated griddle (a Camp Chef FTG400 specifically) and it has been a dream. Holds heat much better, easier to clean, and just overall a much more enjoyable experience. The Little Griddle is a good product but the whole idea of it is flawed. If you think you want a flat top grill, just get one. This will most likely frustrate you.
