New RT product - FLAT TOP GRIDDLE

[dsandersus]

Okay, but we'll need video of you flipping eggs or shrimp or whatever up into you hat, tossing other stuff over your shoulder, and, of course, the obligatory chopping to excess with the spatulas...….…………..

Thank you kind sir for the "spit my coffee out" laugh this morning, I surely needed that one.

I'll entertain this video after a 1/2 dozen or so cooks on the griddle so I can perfect my routine... I'm sure our furry family member, Max, will surely enjoy me tossing food around and cleaning up anything that lands in his domain.. Hah!

 

[dsandersus]

So.. cooking "teppanyakki" style on the griddle is about as simple / easy as pushing a tank up hill by yourself. The griddle LOVES to warp and bend when you open the lid.

I'm going to continue cooking with it but I’m disappointed with it at the moment. Thinking I see a Blackstone in my future..

 

[Buckeye smoker]

All these warping issues need to be addressed for customers...

 

[dsandersus]

All these warping issues need to be addressed for customers...

To their defense, I’ve not called yet. That will be tomorrow’s task.

 

[Buckeye smoker]

To their defense, I’ve not called yet. That will be tomorrow’s task.

To their defense, I’ve not called yet. That will be tomorrow’s task.

I just feel for the price, there shouldn't be any warping on any part of these cookers.
Heat shield/flat-top..anything.

 

[dsandersus]

I just feel for the price, there shouldn't be any warping on any part of these cookers.
Heat shield/flat-top..anything.

I couldn't agree more.
I've been told the warping is because it's not seasoned enough or properly... I followed the written instructions on the box and videos. 200° for 2 hours, thin cost of grape seed oil, crank up to 400° for 30 minutes, repeat at minimum of 6 to 8 coats. That sucker was black and not tactilely to the touch.. thought I did it correctly. Even applied a couple more coats the next day. Worked well my first couple of cooks but those were also done at 350°. Tonight was 400°, and warped like the Starship Enterprise...

 

[Buckeye smoker]

I feel thickness might be a issue, or if nothing else some bracing as far as the heat shields... I have the option of a new one, but if that does the same thing it's not really benefiting anyone.

 

[cookingjnj]

Once again, I am not an engineer by any stretch, but don't think seasoning would have anything to do with warping.

 

[Greg Jones]

I agree with cookingjn, seasoning has nothing to do with warping. It’s a challenge with cold rolled steel that is heated to high temps. Even the griddle tops like the Blackstone that have reinforcing ribs welded underneath to help with warping sometimes do anyway.

 

[Mike]

So.. cooking "teppanyakki" style on the griddle is about as simple / easy as pushing a tank up hill by yourself. The griddle LOVES to warp and bend when you open the lid.

View attachment 1040View attachment 1041

I'm going to continue cooking with it but I’m disappointed with it at the moment. Thinking I see a Blackstone in my future..

That stinks to high heaven.

I was just about to place an order for one this weekend too.

 

[Uncle Bob]

By all means contact RT about it as you said (I don't understand why we have folks come on here and complain about a problem that RT should and will solve...…………..people is people, EOR)

The guys above are correct that seasoning is completely meaningless to warping. Greg is correct, it's what metal will do. Now, just guessing here since not seeing in person, but I suspect that opening the door let in a "rush" of comparatively cooler air to that front portion of the griddle which rapidly changed the temp in that part of the grille causing the molecules to contract causing the twist. When you did your first cook with it, in addition to the somewhat lower temp, you had taken out the grates which allowed the griddle to sit slightly lower in the housing which may have allowed it to maintain a closer to uniform temp delta across the span. When allowed to gradually cool to a uniform temp for the entire surface a metal plate will often return to it's original shape...………..metal memory. I also agree with the thickness commentary. The thinner the metal the faster it will exchange heat and the more prone to warping it will be.

How the griddle is pre-heated can have an affect on this as well. There's probably additional interest here in griddles so I'll attach a good source link here without getting into a full on discussion. I'll just add that you might remember the steel round I mentioned recently that I'm playing with for a pizza "stone". I've had that up to over 750 and no warpage. Now, it's 3/8" thick and I brought the temp up slowly, so it's not apples to yours but makes a point, or two.

Another thing to keep in mind, though it's less of an issue using the pellet grill, is the evenness of heat application to the griddle. If you use an IR thermometer (I've gotten a newer one recently and will report on it when ready) on any griddle surface you will learn that the temperature across the entire surface is not even...……..there will be, relative, hot spots and cooler spots. That's the nature of the beast as well, and can actually be a useful thing when cooking.

I've got a fairly large stainless steel griddle top, two cast iron griddles and the steel round above so have a fair bit of experience with griddles and have done more than a little research. For a "simple" flat cooking surface a griddle can be a tad more complicated than people realize. If there's ever any larger group interest maybe we can get into more of it at some later time.

 

[dsandersus]

@Uncle Bob "When you did your first cook with it, in addition to the somewhat lower temp, you had taken out the grates which allowed the griddle to sit slightly lower in the housing which may have allowed it to maintain a closer to uniform temp delta across the span "

I hadn't considered this, but it's logical that it might have had a hand in the amount of warping that occurred.

I've reached out to RT Support and will let you all know what transpires.

 

[Waterman]

Thanks for the link, i found it quite informative.

 

[dsandersus]

Follow up:
Put the griddle on this morning (removed grates), fired up the RT to 350 deg. and cooked some breakfast. Lid open, placing food, etc. Zero warping. Going to heat up the fried rice from last night for dinner, will heat to 400 deg. and see what happens.

Maybe it's as simple as leaving the grates out... One can only hope right..

 

[cookingjnj]

Uncle Bob...great detailed info on griddle tops. Thanks for sharing with all of us.

 

[dsandersus]

Update:
Decided to make brats on the griddle smothered with sharp cheddar and monterey jack and to finish it off some balsamic sauteed red onions, inside of grilled bolillo rolls.

removed grill grates, preheated grill to 400 deg., waited approx 10 minutes after it had hit 400 before opening and starting my cooking. Opened the lid, saw some minimal warping, tossed on room temp onions, butter, etc and started to go to town. Not long after, this happened:

closed the lid, let it come back up to temp and each time the warping was present. It wasn't until after I had taken the onions off that the griddle went back to flat and the temp gauge said 440 deg. (over compensation for lid being open while I removed onions). Soon as I dropped the brats, cheese, etc. it began to warp again...

I don't seem to run into issues when the temps are at or below 350, haven't tried 350 - 400. but once I crank to 400, all hell breaks loose...

I have a call into the folks at RT with my issues and I'm just waiting for them to get back to me. On a side note, this thing does great for breakfast.

Oh and the brats were nicely charred with ooey gooey cheese (some burnt which is always good) and the bolillo rolls were nicely toasted. The dinner was successful even with the issues.

 

[dsandersus]

Update: I'm still working with RT to resolve this. I've visited multiple forums and it's looking like the warping is isolated to the larger griddle (Bull / Stampede) as the round and smaller haven't had the same feedback. A replacement has been shipped, but I'm under the impression it will perform in a similar fashion. The sub 350 deg. temps have minimal or no warping but once it's cranked up, all bets are off. At least in my experience.

I'll update again once the replacement arrives and I've completed a couple cooks.

 

[BretM]

Bite the bullet and get a Camp Chef FTG. I have the FTG 475 and I picked it up on DICK's sporting goods website for $175 with free shipping. It's been awesome!!

And it doubles as an outdoor prep table when not in use.

 

[dsandersus]

@BretM This is likely the route I'll end up going.

I found Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 475 LC for $179 on their Website, is this the model you're referring to as the non-LC is $350.

 

[BretM]

@BretM This is likely the route I'll end up going.

I found Camp Chef Flat Top Grill 475 LC for $179 on their Website, is this the model you're referring to as the non-LC is $350.

I have the non-LC (3-burner). It was on sale for $199 in June and the day I bought it, they has an additional 20% off promo code.