Calphalon Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle Review

This plate is aimed at cooks who already like cast iron and want one piece that covers breakfast and dinner. It is the Pre-Seasoned model, not the Select line, and that distinction matters later. Our full recommendation is in the final verdict, and the trade-offs are listed in the pros and cons below. Browse our wider cookware coverage if you are still deciding on material.

We rate a pan on browning, food release, cleanup, weight and fit on a regular home range, because that is where most readers will use this one. Our assessment draws on Calphalon's care guidance and our knowledge of cast iron, with any unconfirmed details clearly identified.

We also keep the Calphalon names straight. The Pre-Seasoned model 1873980 differs from the Select by Calphalon cast iron grill and griddle, so findings about the Select do not apply here.

Both faces are cast iron, so the same principle applies to each: preheat patiently, add oil, and let food release on its own before you flip. Rushing is how cast iron sticks.

The smooth side for breakfast and full-contact browning

The flat side is the one for pancakes, eggs, hash browns and sandwiches, since the whole food surface touches metal and browns evenly. It is also the better side for bacon. The pre-seasoning gives you a head start, but it does not guarantee easy release, so oil the surface and keep your heat moderate until the crust forms.

The ridged side for grill marks and grease management

The ridged side gives sausages, vegetables and chicken proper grill marks, and the ridges lift food slightly off the pooling fat. The catch is that sugary marinades bake into the valleys between ridges, where a sponge, water and coarse salt will not shift them. Because the plate is open, grease also travels past the edges, so keep a cloth handy for the burners afterward.

Beyond how it cooks, it helps to know exactly which plate you are buying. This review covers model 1873980, a standalone cast iron plate with side handles. It is not an accessory bundle, not an electric grill and not nonstick cookware. Calphalon also sells a Select by Calphalon version with a 10-year warranty, while the Pre-Seasoned family carries a lifetime warranty subject to applicable terms.

We left out the dimensions on purpose. Published figures conflict, with one source listing 18 x 10 x 0.75 inches and others describing a 12 x 18-inch cooking surface. Measure the plate you buy before you plan storage around it. We also could not confirm a maximum oven temperature for this model, so check Calphalon's guidance rather than borrowing a number from nonstick cookware.

Detailed, current evidence on model 1873980 is limited. We have not run controlled side-by-side cooking trials on it, so we state only the findings we can stand behind: the heft, the sticking risk, the ridge residue and the spatter. Cleanup can be simple on a well-seasoned surface and miserable once sugary or marinated residue bakes on.

Be careful with Select findings. Praise for the Select version's strong sear and clean release belongs to that product, not to model 1873980. We do not transfer it.

Next, a word on cost. We could not establish a current price tier for this plate, so we will not rank it on price. New stock can be hard to find, and sellers vary, so confirm that the plate is new and truly model 1873980 before you buy.

If you want a similar reversible cast iron plate, compare it with the Cuisinart cast iron reversible grill/griddle review and the Bayou Classic cast iron reversible griddle review. For a wider view, see our best cast iron griddles.

Burner spacing, preheating and cooktop compatibility

Calphalon's Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron family supports gas, electric, glass and induction cooktops, and this model is identified as induction compatible. A general compatibility claim does not tell you how the plate sits over your burners, though. We could not verify burner spacing or contact geometry, so check how a long rectangular plate lines up with your own cooktop. Preheat slowly, and expect the plate to get very hot.

Handling and storage

The side handles help, but use oven mitts every time. Store the plate in a dry, easy-to-reach place so lifting it does not discourage you from using it.

What pre-seasoned means for food release

Pre-seasoned means the plate arrives with an initial seasoned surface. It does not mean nonstick. Calphalon still calls for oil when you cook and a wash, dry and oil routine afterward. Build the seasoning with regular use, and food will release better over time.

Cleaning both sides and keeping the surface dry

Let the plate cool before washing. Use hot water and a stiff brush, and work the brush into the ridges. Do not soak it, and do not put it in the dishwasher. Dry it promptly, wipe on a thin layer of oil, remove the excess, and store it dry. Wash soon after cooking, because cooked-on residue makes the job much harder.

Buy it if you cook on cast iron already, you can handle the weight, and you will keep up with the wash, dry and oil routine. It rewards that effort with solid browning on two surfaces from a single plate. Skip it if you want easy release without upkeep, or if lifting heavy cookware is a struggle. Confirm the exact model and that the stock is new, since availability changes.