Made In Carbon Steel for the Grill: Which Piece First?

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Outdoor cooks evaluating the Made In grill lineup face a choice between a standalone live-fire cooking appliance, modular heavy-gauge flat-top griddles, targeted searing presses, and perforated carbon steel cookware engineered for flame exposure. Carbon steel has gained significant traction around patio kitchens and campsites because it delivers the deep heat retention of traditional cast iron at roughly half the weight, while offering the rapid temperature responsiveness associated with stainless steel. Choosing the right piece comes down to whether your current outdoor cooking routine lacks a primary heat source, requires flat-surface versatility for foods that fall through open grates, or demands perforated pans that maximize wood and charcoal smoke without losing chopped ingredients into the coals.

The brand organizes its grilling catalog into three distinct production lines based on engineering and manufacturing origin. At the center of the hardware range is an American-crafted portable charcoal cooker built from welded carbon steel and stainless steel components. Flanking this unit are modular rectangular griddles and a standalone press produced in Sweden, capable of handling heat up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit on grills, open campfires, or indoor induction ranges. Finally, the collection features Swedish-crafted round cookware featuring laser-cut perforations, offered either in a long-handled frying pan profile or a compact dual-handled basket profile, both pre-seasoned with plant oils for direct out-of-the-box searing. Understanding how these pieces integrate helps you decide which made in grill cookware to buy for your personal patio workflow.

Made In Grill Cookware Lineup at a Glance

The Models in Detail

01 Made In Cookware Portable Outdoor Grill 5” | Total Height (with handle)

Check price on Amazon Our score: 8.0/10

Best for: Grilling chopped vegetables under closed grill hoods

Pros

• Fifty-three flame perforations
• Pre-seasoned naturally non-stick finish
• Compact 17-inch length

Cons

• Hand wash only care required
• Not suited for liquid batters

Best for: Open campfire searing with extended reach

Pros

• Pre-seasoned with shea and coconut oil
• Perforated base for smoky char
• Extended 21.5-inch handle

Cons

• Long handle limits grill clearance
• Hand wash only maintenance

Best for: Cooks who already own flat cooking surfaces

Pros

• Durable stainless steel construction
• Raised handle with leather cover
• Dishwasher safe non-reactive metal

Cons

• Cooking surface sold separately

Best for: Outdoor cooks needing cheese melting and steaming

Pros

• Includes griddle press and lid
• Withstands 1200F temperatures
• Dual-zone cooking capability

Cons

• Heaviest set at over fifteen pounds
• Requires manual initial seasoning

Best for: High-heat smashburger searing indoors and outdoors

Pros

• Handles heat up to 1200F
• Induction and open fire compatible
• Includes matching grill press

Cons

• Requires manual surface seasoning
• Weighs nearly ten pounds

Best for: Tailgaters wanting live fire heat control

Pros

• Two-height adjustable firebed
• Sliding grate fits brand griddle
• Hand-welded in USA

Cons

• Charcoal fuel sold separately
• Griddle plate not included

The flagship standalone cooker in the catalog is the Made In Cookware portable outdoor grill, an all-metal cooking unit welded by hand in Nebraska. Built from a combination of carbon steel for the main body and stainless steel for the grate and removable ash tray, this unit measures 11 inches deep, 20 inches wide, and 12 inches high, providing a primary cooking surface of 19.6 inches by 10.5 inches. It is specifically built to run on solid fuels including charcoal, hardwood chunks, and dense binchotan coals. A defining engineering feature is its two-height adjustable firebed, which lets you raise or lower the coal platform to swap quickly between intense direct flame searing and gentler indirect heat roasting.

The unit features a patent-pending convertible stainless steel grill grate designed to slide backward and out of the way, creating an exact-fit opening to drop in the brand’s rectangular carbon steel griddle. This converts half or all of your firebox from open-grate grilling to flat-top griddling for delicate seafood, eggs, or diced vegetables. Hollow stainless steel side handles wrapped in Stay Cool silicone ensure safe repositioning around patios, tailgates, or campsites. An included stainless steel grate removal key facilitates fire adjustments mid-cook without risking burns, while the removable sliding ash tray speeds up cleanup after the embers burn down.

This model is built for cooks who want a dedicated live-fire cooking station rather than an accessory pan for an existing setup. For users transitioning outdoor spaces from an appliance like a gourmia smokeless indoor grill & air fryer to authentic solid-fuel searing, this made in portable grill provides professional thermal mass in a transportable footprint. It yields its place to the brand’s griddles and pans if you already operate a full-sized gas or charcoal grill and only need cookware to set over your existing grates.

02 Made In Cookware Carbon Steel Griddle and Grill Press 19.6"L x 10.5"W Carbon Steel Griddle | 5.5"L x 5"W Grill Press

Check price on Amazon Our score: 8.6/10

For cooks who already have a live firebox or an indoor cooktop, the two-piece griddle bundle from Made In Cookware provides a broad, flat cooking station. Handcrafted by artisans in Sweden, this package pairs a 19.6-inch long by 10.5-inch wide rectangular carbon steel griddle with a 5.5-inch by 5-inch matching grill press. Tipping the scales at 9.9 pounds, the griddle is engineered to withstand extreme temperatures up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit without warping. The carbon steel construction blends the thermal mass and natural non-stick properties of traditional cast iron with the faster heat transmission and thermal recovery of steel clad cookware.

A primary benefit of this rectangular slab is its multi-environment readiness. It spans across two burners on indoor gas, electric, or induction cooktops, and transitions seamlessly onto charcoal grates, gas grill burners, or campfire grates. While a classic lodge cast iron griddle remains a popular heavy-duty option for flat cooking, this carbon steel griddle heats and adjusts to flame changes far more rapidly, giving cooks sharper temperature control. As with all unseasoned carbon steel, this piece arrives in a raw state and requires thorough manual oil seasoning to build its slick, black patina.

This pairing suits backyard cooks who specialize in smashed patties, diner-style breakfasts, and searing delicate fish fillets that would otherwise break apart over open bars. The included 5.5-inch by 5-inch press ensures complete surface contact across steaks, bacon, and pressed sandwiches. Cooks who want an integrated steaming dome should look instead at the half-lid bundle, while those with limited grate real estate might prefer round, handled pans.

03 Made In Cookware Carbon Steel Griddle and Grill Press Set with Half Lid The Ultimate Hybrid – Combining cast iron's heat retention and slick

Check price on Amazon Our score: 9.2/10

The three-piece expanded cooking kit from Made In Cookware builds directly upon the standard Swedish-crafted griddle platform by adding a dedicated 8.63-inch by 8.63-inch square melting lid. The set includes the 19.5-inch by 10.5-inch rectangular carbon steel griddle plate, the 5.5-inch by 5-inch grill press, and the half lid, bringing the combined kit weight to 7.09 kilograms. Like the two-piece version, the heavy plate is rated for extreme cooking temperatures up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and works across induction stoves, standard kitchen ranges, and live outdoor coals.

The addition of the square half lid transforms how the griddle handles moisture-dependent cooking tasks outdoors. Over open flames, ambient heat dissipates quickly, making it difficult to melt cheese over burger patties or gently steam vegetables like broccoli, peppers, or asparagus without burning their undersides. By trapping radiant heat and a splash of water, the half lid creates an isolated convection zone directly on the steel surface. This allows cooks to manage two distinct cooking zones simultaneously: hard searing proteins under the press on one side of the griddle, while gently melting or steaming under the lid on the other.

This configuration is the ideal package for the outdoor cook building an all-in-one smashburger and short-order station on a patio grill. When conducting a made in grill cookware comparison, this three-piece system represents the most self-contained griddle system in the catalog. It gives way to the simpler two-piece griddle set only if you already own dedicated melting domes or strictly cook open-faced proteins and seared steaks that do not require trapped moisture.

04 Made In Cookware Stainless Steel Grill Press 12" | Width: 20" | Depth: 11" | Cooking Surface: 19.6" x 10.5"

Check price on Amazon Our score: 9.8/10

For cooks who already possess adequate flat-top surfaces, Made In Cookware offers its Swedish-crafted stainless steel grill press as an individual purchase. Measuring 5.5 inches in length, 5 inches in width, and standing 3.6 inches high including the handle, this compact tool weighs 816.47 grams (approximately 1.8 pounds). It features a flat square base measuring 0.16 inches in thickness, engineered to endure the direct radiant heat of charcoal fires and heavy cast-iron or carbon steel cooking surfaces without bending or degrading.

Ergonomics and heat safety dictate the physical layout of this press. The handle is positioned high above the base plate, creating ample clearance that shields knuckles from direct heat radiant wash and splattering grease. The tool includes a removable leather handle cover that slides over the metal loop, insulating the cook’s hand when maneuvering the weight across hot surfaces. Because it is fabricated entirely from food-grade stainless steel rather than reactive iron, it will not rust if exposed to moisture and can be washed with warm water without demanding re-seasoning cycles.

This accessory suits home chefs who already own skillets or planchas and want crispier edges, faster fat rendering on bacon, and uniform crust on smashburgers without purchasing a duplicate griddle. In our broader look at specialized grill hardware, such as the traeger rib rack, single-purpose accessories prove their worth by solving specific structural cooking challenges. This made in grill press gives way to the griddle sets only when you require both the searing plate and the press together.

05 Made In Cookware 12-Inch Seasoned Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan 12.5" | Cooking surface diameter

Check price on Amazon Our score: 9.0/10

Designed for active sautéing and searing over live embers, the 12-inch grill frying pan from Made In Cookware features perforated steel construction. Manufactured in Sweden, this pan boasts a total diameter of 12.5 inches, a cooking surface diameter of 9.25 inches, a sidewall depth of 2.25 inches, and an extended handle bringing its total length to 21.5 inches. The pan arrives pre-seasoned at the factory with a cured mixture of shea nut oil and coconut oil, allowing cooks to unbox the piece and begin cooking over direct flames immediately without completing tedious home seasoning cycles.

The body combines the thermal retention of cast iron with the lighter maneuverability of carbon steel, weighing roughly half as much as equivalent cast-iron skillets. Its base features engineered perforations that expose ingredients directly to upward heat currents and aromatic smoke from wood or charcoal coals, generating authentic flame-kissed charring. Sloping sidewalls make it easy to slide spatulas under cooking items, toss sliced proteins, and direct heat evenly across the 9.25-inch flat floor. The elongated 21.5-inch handle keeps hands well back from the searing column of fire rising from open fire pits and charcoal grates.

This made in grill frying pan is built for grilling chicken cutlets, shrimp skewers, sliced steaks, and hearty vegetables over live outdoor fires. The long handle provides leverage for one-handed tossing over open grates. However, it gives way to the brand’s grill basket when you are preparing smaller, delicate ingredients that might slip down the sloping sides or when working under a closed grill lid that cannot accommodate a 21.5-inch handle.

06 Made In Cookware 12-Inch Seasoned Carbon Steel Grill Basket 12.5" | Cooking Surface Diameter

Check price on Amazon Our score: 8.4/10

The final model in the outdoor lineup is the 12-inch seasoned grill basket from Made In Cookware, engineered specifically for high-heat roasting of loose items. Crafted in Sweden from heat-treated carbon steel, it matches the 12.5-inch top diameter, 9.25-inch cooking surface diameter, and 2.25-inch wall depth of the frying pan profile. However, its overall length measures a compact 17 inches, featuring a shorter handle profile and an overall height of 2.88 inches. Like the frying pan, it arrives pre-seasoned with a naturally non-stick finish, eliminating prep work before the first cookout.

The defining feature of this made in grill basket is its array of 53 dime-sized perforations, each measuring exactly 11 millimeters in diameter. These openings allow grease to drain away and fire to lick directly against foods, infusing smoky flavor while preventing chopped squash, cherry tomatoes, green beans, or loose shellfish from dropping into the firebox. The heat-treated carbon steel build allows users to shift the basket rapidly between intense hot spots directly over charcoal and cooler indirect holding zones across grill grates. Because of its cured seasoning, the listing specifies hand-washing only to protect the non-stick surface.

This piece is the best made in grill cookware selection for cooks who regularly prepare side dishes, stir-fry medleys, and chopped vegetables on the grill alongside their primary proteins. Its shorter 17-inch footprint fits comfortably under closed kettle lids and grill hoods where longer pan handles would block the cover. It yields to the solid-bottom griddles when you cook liquid batters, eggs, or smashburgers that require an uninterrupted cooking surface.

Matching a Model to Your Setup

• Choose the Portable Outdoor Grill if you need a self-contained, dual-height charcoal cooking station for small patios, campsites, or tailgates without carrying a separate firebox.
• Choose the Carbon Steel Griddle + Grill Press if you already own a gas or charcoal grill and want a 19.6-inch dual-burner flat top capable of handling 1200-degree heat for smashburgers and diner breakfasts.
• Choose the Griddle and Grill Press Set with Half Lid if you regularly melt cheese on burgers or steam vegetables over outdoor fires and want an integrated dome without sourcing extra cookware.
• Choose the Stainless Steel Grill Press if you already have seasoned skillets, griddles, or planchas and only need a weighted tool with a heat-safe leather handle to flatten proteins.
• Choose the 12-Inch Seasoned Grill Frying Pan if you cook sliced proteins over open campfires and need an extended 21.5-inch handle for safe, active tossing over high heat.
• Choose the 12-Inch Seasoned Grill Basket if your primary outdoor grilling frustration is chopped vegetables and seafood falling through the grates under a closed grill lid.

Before You Buy

Before purchasing carbon steel grilling gear, cooks must understand the maintenance and seasoning differences between these models. The 12-inch grill frying pan and 12-inch grill basket arrive pre-seasoned with shea nut and coconut oils, meaning they are ready for immediate heat exposure out of the box. In contrast, the rectangular carbon steel griddle sets arrive unseasoned. The listings do not provide factory pre-curing on the griddle plates, meaning you must complete several thin coats of high-smoke-point oil seasoning on your stovetop, in your kitchen oven, or over your grill before cooking delicate, high-protein foods.

Physical clearances and fuel supplies also require planning. The portable grill listing specifies compatibility with charcoal, hardwood, and binchotan, but it does not include starter fuel, fire lighters, or fuel grates beyond the internal firebed. Furthermore, while the portable grill’s hollow handles feature silicone wraps, the solid carbon steel pans and griddles become exceptionally hot across their entire surface when exposed to live embers. Carbon steel items across this catalog require hand-washing with hot water and immediate drying; the listings explicitly omit dishwasher compatibility, as machine cycles strip the protective oil seasoning and promote rapid surface rust.

FAQ

Can the Made In griddles be used on indoor induction cooktops?

Yes. The listings for both the two-piece and three-piece carbon steel griddle sets explicitly confirm induction compatibility. Their flat, magnetic carbon steel bases make complete contact with induction burners, while also remaining fully compatible with open campfires, charcoal grates, and standard gas stovetops.

What is the difference between the grill frying pan and the grill basket?

While both pieces share a 12.5-inch outer diameter, a 9.25-inch cooking floor, and 2.25-inch deep walls, their handles and perforation styles differ. The grill frying pan has an extended 21.5-inch total length with a long handle designed for active tossing over high campfires. The grill basket features a compact 17-inch total length and 53 dime-sized (11 mm) perforations tailored to keep small chopped vegetables secure under closed grill lids.

Are these Made In grill cookware pieces safe for temperatures over 500 degrees?

Yes. The carbon steel griddles are rated to handle temperatures up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, enduring direct exposure to open hardwood, charcoal, and gas flames. Both the portable grill body and the perforated pans are engineered specifically for high-heat open-flame cooking environments that exceed standard indoor kitchen limits.

Does the Made In portable grill come with a griddle included?

No. The portable outdoor grill listing specifies that it includes the portable grill body, the convertible stainless steel grill grate, a stainless steel ash tray, and a grate removal key. While its patent-pending grate slides back specifically to seat the brand’s rectangular carbon steel griddle, the griddle plate itself is sold separately or in its own bundle.

How do you wash Made In seasoned carbon steel grill pans?

The product care instructions specify hand washing only. After cooking, wipe down the pan or basket with warm water and a non-abrasive sponge, avoiding harsh dish detergents or automated dishwashers that strip the protective oil cure. Dry the piece thoroughly over low stove heat immediately after washing, and apply a light coat of oil to prevent oxidation.