I purchased my grill pan when I was still eating meat; after all, it's much easier to throw something on the grill pan (which is cast iron, so that means no washing! big plus) than it is to preheat the oven, dirty up some dishes, blah blah. Now that I'm a vegetarian, you may think that such an item is superfluous, but it isn't--my reversible grill pan/griddle is just as versatile as it was when I was eating meat, and I firmly believe no kitchen should be without one.
What can you do with a grill pan? And what the heck is it, anyway?
If you haven't used cast iron pans before, look for one that's already pre-seasoned. Seasoning is the stuff that makes grill pans naturally nonstick. Target carries a pre-seasoned reversible grill pan/griddle that's about 20 bucks--well worth the price. If you do happen to buy a non-seasoned pan, or you want to know how to take care of a cast-iron piece, this is a great page to look at.
Once you have your grill (and, if necessary, you've seasoned it), the sky is the limit with what you can cook on it. Panini, grilled cheese, grilled vegetables, grilled tofu, bruschetta, quesadillas, flatbread, frozen vegetarian hamburgers, portabello mushroom burgers (these are especially good grilled with some A1 steak sauce brushed on them)--not only is it really convenient, since you can leave your grill pan out on your stove all the time, but it's really, really tasty. I don't clean mine very much unless it gets really filthy, so it's less mess to clean up after dinner, too. I especially like to grill asparagus.
I really don't know how I ever lived without this item. There are plenty more uses, too, I'm sure; stuff I haven't even thought of! The reversible griddle side is great for a quick breakfast, too--pancakes, eggs, and your Morningstar Farms meatless sausage, all cooked on the same surface! So quick and easy to use, this item should be mandatory for all cooks.
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