This year for Father’s Day, get your dad or granddad something spectacular like a new cooking tool for serving up the best tasting quality meats. A cast iron grill can be the perfect addition to any kitchen or outdoor cooking setup, offering versatility and superior cooking performance.

I’ve blogged before about sous vide cookers and using that low-temperature water bath method of preparing meats. I just love sous vide cooking because it’s so easy and convenient. Just last week for my wife’s Mother’s Day dinner, I sous vide cooked several Wagyu flank steaks. I had them in the 139-degree Fahrenheit bath for 12 hours with just a simple marinade of salt, pepper, lime juice, rice vinegar, and olive oil. I finished them on my pellet smoker at 500 degrees to get maximum umami flavor by putting a great sear on each side.

When I cut the flank steaks at 1/8-inch thick on my cutting board, the beef looked like a mini brisket. It was so tasty that my wife and guests got into a great discussion at the table about whether or not this was the tastiest beef flank steak they’ve ever had!

A newer grilling device that’s become all the rage recently are cast iron flat tops that are fueled by propane. Several of my friends bought them last fall, and I held out to see some reviews and see how many times my friends actually used them.

Well, it turns out that these cast iron flat tops are an excellent way to grill up smash burgers, bacon, veggies, pancakes, steaks, and fajitas. I recently purchased a Blackstone brand cast iron flat top at Costco. I had to follow the directions that came with the grill to break in the cast iron prior to using it to grill up some smash burgers. There are many videos on YouTube on how to do this properly.

Benefits of Using a Cast Iron Grill for Meats

Cast iron is renowned for its ability to retain and evenly distribute heat. This property is particularly beneficial for grilling meats, as it ensures consistent cooking temperatures across the grill surface. Unlike thinner metals that can develop hot spots, cast iron provides a uniform sear, which is crucial for achieving the perfect crust on steaks, burgers, and other cuts of meat.

The ability of cast iron to reach and maintain high temperatures is essential for the Maillard reaction, a chemical process that occurs when meat is browned. This reaction enhances the flavor and aroma of grilled meats, creating a savory, caramelized crust while keeping the interior juicy and tender. Additionally, cast iron grills can help achieve a distinctive smokiness and depth of flavor that other materials may not provide as effectively.

I’ve found no better outdoor grilling device for making awesome tasting, juicy smash burgers. Grilling burgers on pellet smokers is problematic because even when getting the burgers to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the inside of the burgers still looks light pink in color, and this freaks out many concerned about food safety. Grilling burgers on a propane grill can be tricky because for medium or medium-well burgers, they get too dry.

But with my new Blackstone, I can smash the burgers into a thin pancake with a smash tool I purchased on Amazon (get the round parchment papers too), cover them with a metal cover to retain the heat and moisture, and the burgers are juicy even when well done. The versatility of a cast iron grill also means I can use it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, cooking everything from bacon and eggs to stir-fry and fajitas.

This Father’s Day, consider gifting a cast iron grill to your dad or grand-dad, and watch them delight in the joy of cooking the best-tasting quality meats.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas: Elevate Your Dad's Cooking Game with a Cast Iron Grill

Join for free* to continue reading.