Easy clean-up with the Gourmet Griddle from GSI Outdoors

Found on the shelves of almost every outdoor purveyor, GSI Outdoors has a solid foothold from what I’ve seen. Providing everything from simple plastic tableware to slick portable stoves, GSI has everything for your outdoor kitchen. Including the Non-stick Gourmet Griddle.

Once we made the decision to downsize from our full-sized Tundra to an FJ Cruiser, we’ve had to go through our Overland kit and refine our Loadout. Some unnecessary items will be left behind, while others will be downsized. As we patiently await the uber-thin Pinnacle Pro Stove (available sometime this year), we did receive the Gourmet Griddle which pairs perfectly with the upcoming stove. But that doesn’t mean we can’t start using it in the meantime.

Measuring 18.6″ x 10.9″, the Gourmet Griddle provides over 200 square inches of cooking surface. We’ve found over the past few years that a griddle over a two burner stove is by far, the most efficient way to cook 90% of what we eat. Entire meals can be prepared over variable heat settings simultaneously. Making meal prep and timing much simpler than jockeying between multiple frying pans. Simplifying clean-up as well.

Speaking of clean-up, this is where the Gourmet Griddle has a distinct advantage. Manufactured from aluminum core stainless steel, GSI found a way to add a non-stick coating and protect it from metal utensils at the same time. Everyone knows that a metal spatula and a non-stick pan should never be used together. GSI came up with an ingenious way to overcome this by laser etching a design in the cook surface. Allowing the non-stick material to remain recessed slightly below the raised stainless design you see in the feature image. This protects the surface from metal utensils, which I prefer to use over plastic.

GSI Outdoors Gourmet Griddle Features:

• Gourmet, stainless steel exterior surrounds heavy-gauge, clad aluminum core for quick heating combined with the unrivaled durability which only stainless steel can provide.
• Durable, laser-etched nonstick surface offers excellent food release and easy cleanup.
• Convenient handles allow griddle to be hung for cooling or storage.
• Weight (lbs): 2.1400
• Material: Non-Stick Coated, Stainless Steel, Aluminum Core
• Includes: Griddle
• Dimensions: 18.6 in x 10.9 in x 1.9 in
• MSRP: $54.95

Gourmet Griddle Video Review:

Clean-up is much easier with the non-stick surface over the anodized aluminum griddle we’ve been using for years. Requiring less oil and butter for cooking as well. Even when cooking a griddle full of bacon, clean-up is as easy as lifting the griddle by the handles on both ends and pouring the grease into a container via pour-spouts located on two of the corners.

Final Thoughts:

Although the Gourmet Griddle seems to have a lot going for it, I do have a couple complaints. First off, the item is displayed not in a box but loosely. Because of this, the product information is placed on a large sticker placed directly on the cooking surface. And peeling off the decal left a lot of adhesive residue that was pretty difficult to fully remove. Secondly, although the feature list mentions “heavy-gauge” material, I found the griddle to be quite thin and warped shortly after heat was introduced. However, once cooled, the griddle returned to its original form. Not a huge deal but can be somewhat annoying. I really do like the non-stick features but further testing will determine if it makes the final packing list for the FJ.

Past examples of cooking entire meals on a different griddle…