How the Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle and Grill Set Holds Up in a Real Kitchen

Alright, let’s talk turkey—or smashburgers, or whatever you like flopping on a searing hot slab of iron.
If the Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle and Grill Set caught your eye because you want authentic cast iron vibes without buying three different pans, you’re pretty much their target market.
But before you start dreaming about double-burner breakfasts, let’s bust into what you’re actually dealing with: a hulking, robust, multipurpose slab of metal—with some bites taken out of its usefulness.

Build and Design: Looks Like a Tank, But Mind the Layout

First off, the cast iron does exactly what you’d hope: holds heat like a champ, leaves stripes on your steak, and gives you the satisfaction of wielding cookware that could double as home self-defense. Real pre-seasoned cast iron, beefy weight. You want rustic Idaho-cabin durability? You’ll certainly get it.

But the day-to-day functionality, that got some wrenches tossed into the works. The drip channels and thick handles seem clever at a glance (yay for less grease runoff and easy lifting), but they chisel down your active cooking space.
Supposedly you’re getting a 16.75” x 9.5” griddle, but you’ll struggle to use all that real estate for actual food—especially if you want to cook for more than a couple of folks at once. So, don’t imagine doing a pile of pancakes and a mountain of bacon simultaneously unless you’re alright with some things hanging off the edge.

On the Stove: Searing Power—But Not a Kitchen Hero

This set handles heat well—once it finally gets up to temp. It’s thick, it’s slow to preheat, and you’ll need a little patience. Once it’s roaring, though, it delivers that signature cast iron performance: crispy edges, beautiful browning, and a solid grilling surface for anything from steaks to pressed sandwiches. Both the flat and ridged sides pull their weight.

But here’s the snag: if you think you’ll seamlessly juggle multiple breakfast orders at once, reality sets in fast. The working area just doesn’t give much wiggle room. The drip edges, while they do their job, squeeze the actual capacity; don’t plan on effortless multitasking. It’s best used for a focused batch of something—four smashburgers or a round of French toast—rather than trying to run an all-day diner counter out of your galley kitchen.

Clean-Up and Upkeep: Cast Iron Is Never “Set It and Forget It”

Forget about tossing this monster into the dishwasher—this is cast iron, and it comes with those old-school rules. Wash by hand, dry it fast, and slap on a thin coat of oil unless you like rust more than breakfast. In theory, the box includes scrapers and a press. Sometimes those bonus pieces actually arrive, sometimes not. If you expect all the promised accessories (or have strong feelings about incomplete kits), double-check your shipment and be ready to hassle support—or end up trawling for parts separately.

It’s not a nightmare to clean (scraping the bits off is oddly gratifying if you’re into that), but maintaining cast iron is not a passive hobby. Keeping the surface slick is on you, and anyone hoping for “carefree” cookware will get a cold dose of reality here.

Size, Space, and Burner Fit

Do yourself a favor and get out a tape measure. Your cooking zone is only as big as what actually gets hot, and with this griddle, the footprint might look generous on paper but can be awkward in practice. The handles and gutters eat real, useful inches. On two standard burners, you’ll often get uneven heat at the ends—unless you’re on a fancy commercial range or a big outdoor grill.

A note for the fancy induction users: this one is a no-go. So if you’re rocking a glass flat-top, keep scrolling.

Accessory Roulette: Grill Press and Scrapers

When it shows up with all its pieces, the grill press is handy—especially for squishing burgers or making paninis with proper crunch. But missing tools are a common complaint, and there’s nothing worse than needing that scraper after a marathon cook only to realize it stayed behind in the warehouse. If you’re absolutely counting on those, plan for a potential letdown or stock a spare.

The Real Bottom Line

The Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle and Grill Set is a solid workhorse—provided you’re okay with its shortcomings. The actual cooking surface is smaller than the listed specs would have you believe, and if you’re expecting a full bundle of accessories, you might be left disappointed if packaging slips up.

This is not the best choice for folks trying to substitute a restaurant flat-top or feed a crowd in a single go.
It is, however, a pretty rugged addition for anyone loving old-school cast iron flavor and heat retention, especially if you’re working out of a small kitchen or planning to do most of your cooking outside.
Just know that upkeep takes elbow grease, and don’t expect miracles in the multitasking department.

If your priority is big capacity, plug-and-play cleaning, or you’re allergic to missing accessories, keep looking. If you value a heavy, classic slab of iron that can sear like the Dickens—and don’t mind a little extra fuss—then this might just be your new campfire companion.

Is it perfect? Heck, no. But it’s got personality and potential, just with room for improvement.