Fish can be prepared in numerous ways. You can steam it, fry it, or put it in soup. But, if one thing’s for sure, grilled fish takes the price.
Unfortunately, not many of us have the pleasure of owning a backyard space, and the weather is not always conducive for a good old barbecue session. Luckily, human ingenuity knows no bounds. It’s no wonder we found a way to grill fish indoors.
The best grill pan for fish can provide you with all the benefits of a regular grill. So you don’t have to miss out on your favorite healthy dish.
There are numerous grilling pans for fish out there. And having all those choices to pick from, you’re sure to get overwhelmed with the choices. So, we thought, why not make your next shopping spree a little easier for you?
8 Grill pans for fish: Comparison
We reviewed eight of the leading grill pans for fish out there. If this is the first time you are shopping for a grill pan, no need to worry, we’ve also thrown in a few things you need to know about grill pans.
| SL | Product Name | Weight | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Penobon Fish Grilling Basket | 1.28 pounds | Check price |
| #2 | AIZOAM Grilling Basket for Fish | 14.1 ounces | Check price |
| #3 | Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware Grilling Pan | 2.4 pounds | Check price |
| #4 | Weber Professional-Grade Grill Pan | 2.2 pounds | Check price |
| #5 | Cuisinart Non-Stick Grill Wok | 2 pounds | Check price |
| #6 | Grillaholics Heavy Duty Grill Basket | 2 pounds | Check price |
| #7 | Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan | 6.5 pounds | Check price |
| #8 | Outset Grill Skillet with Removable Handle | 1.54 pounds | Check price |
1. Penobon Fish Grilling Basket
Nothing hurts like cooking a newly caught fish, only for them to turn out badly. Well, with the Penobon Fish Grilling Basket, you don’t have to worry about that. This grill pan is specially designed to retain your fish’s flavor and leave you with a wondrous meal.
The grill is specially designed to promote even cooking through uniform heat distribution throughout the generous grid. The grid is also specially designed with small spaces between bars to prevent small food particles from falling through.
Its premium construction of stainless steel makes it very sturdy and durable. It also is equipped with a removable handle making it pretty easy to store and use. That, coupled with the fact that it also comes having a free basting brush and storage bag, makes it appropriate for use in a wide variety of environments, not just your kitchen or backyard; also going camping with it.
Pros
- Large cooking surface
- Made of high-quality materials
- Excellent heat distribution
- It comes with a free basting brush and storage bag.
Cons
- Fish skin tends to stick on the grills when cooking.
2. AIZOAM Grilling Basket for Fish
The only thing better than a one-sided cooking system is a two-sided cooking system. This grill pan has a two-sided cooking surface that makes turning your fish a breeze.
The stainless 430-grade steel construction ensures optimum durability and stability when cooking. The material also makes this grill pan somewhat easy to clean.
With a 12.6 x 8.6inch cooking surface, you’re guaranteed enough cooking surface to grill a meal for up to three people. Moreover, the grilling surface has a lockable feature that enables you to flip your food seamlessly.
If you plan on taking it with you on your next camping trip, you’ll appreciate the fact that the pan comes in a reasonably compact size, not to mention it’s lightweight. It also comes loaded with a few extras, including a sauce brush and 50 bamboo skewers.
Pros
- Large grilling surface
- Easy to clean
- Portable
- 4. Lightweight construction
Cons
- Quite pricey
3. Wilton Armetale Gourmet Grillware Grilling Pan
If you are a sucker for unique products, then you’ll definitely like this one. Nothing says fish grill pan than a pan that is actually designed in the shape of a fish. And that’s not all; after grilling your meal, you can also present it on the pan!
This grill pan is made of armetale metal that is not only durable and recyclable but also food-safe and resistant to cracking, rusting, and chipping.
In terms of convenience, you’ll enjoy the fact that the closed nature of the pan grill makes it appropriate for small foods like peppers and onions, which have a tendency of sliding through the grills. Its smooth surface also makes it very easy to clean.
At 18.5 inches long and 8.75-inches wide, you’ll get ample cooking surface for grilling a meal of two.
This grill pan also has excellent heat distribution qualities that enable it to cook evenly for a perfect meal. And when you’re not cooking with the pan, you can also use it as a decorative piece.
Pros
- Multiuse
- Durable
- Made of 100% recyclable materials
Cons
- It’s pretty expensive.
4. Weber Professional-Grade Grill Pan
If you are searching for a versatile pan that will cater to both your indoor and outdoor fish grilling needs, then this may just be the product for you. Unlike most grill pans, the Weber Style 6435 grill pan is designed for both indoor and outdoor uses.
With high-quality construction stainless steel, this outdoor grill pan for fish is guaranteed to give you optimum resilience and performance in terms of heat retention and distribution. Its smooth surface also makes it pretty easy to clean.
Although its slits are not as big as most grill pans out there, they still do their job right. So, you don’t have to worry about juices sticking to your food when cooking. This small slits also make it perfect for grilling smaller foods. And the favorite part about it is it doesn’t cost that much.
Pros
- Affordable
- Light
- Resilient
- Great for grilling smaller foods
Cons
- The cross-chapped slits at the back are very sharp, making it quite challenging to clean.
5. Cuisinart Non-Stick Grill Wok
With an outstanding 13.5 x 2.5 x 11.5 inches’ worth of cooking space, the grill wok will provide you with plenty of space to grill your fish and other foods. The small holes on the perforated cooking surface are also quite small, making it appropriate for grilling small foods.
One leading feature of this pan grill wok is its nonstick cooking surface. With this frill, you no longer have to worry about spending eternity cleaning it after every cook. But, on the downside, the nonstick coating tends to peel off when the grill gets hotter than 400 Degrees Celsius, so you might want to keep your cooking conditions a bit low.
On the upside, this grill wok is super resilient. It is also quite favorable to use since it comes equipped with two handles that come in handy when lifting it off the grill. It is also fairly affordable.
Pros
- Affordable
- Nonstick cooking surface
- Durable
- Generous cooking surface
Cons
- The nonstick coating peels off when the wok is exposed to a high temperature exceeding 400 Degrees Celsius.
6. Grillaholics Heavy Duty Grill Basket
This is amongst the most adaptable and resilient grill pans out there. The Grillaholics Heavy Duty Grill Basket comes fitted with tipple reinforced corners for added resilience. Also, unlike most grill pans out there, it is safe for the dishwasher.
One of its most attractive tributes is its size. This grill pan is exceptionally thick. This makes it a perfect choice for grilling thicker cuts of fish, meat, and vegetables.
Its stainless steel assembly makes it not only resilient but also very easy to clean. You can simply clean it in a dishwasher or by hand with some warm, soapy water. The holes on this grill are small enough to prevent food from sliding through and large enough to facilitate easy cleaning.
Pros
- Durable
- Large cooking capacity
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to clean
Cons
- The handles are quite thin. This makes them pretty hard to grasp, especially when hot.
7. Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan
Lodge is known for its high-quality, inexpensive cast iron cookware. This grill pan is made entirely out of cast iron, which makes it pretty heavy, but on the upside, it also makes it one of the most durable grill pans around.
The cast iron construction enables it to handle a tremendous amount of heat. This means that you can use it o cook with anything you want. There’s no limit to what you can do with this grill pan, from grill tops to open fires.
Everybody loves grill marks on their grilled fish. And having this grill pan, you’ll get the finest of them. It features tall ridges that get heated up pretty fast and evenly. The resulting effect on any dish is an even cook and consistent grill marks.
This grill pan also comes pee-seasoned, so you’ll be able to grill food with it straight out of the box.
Pros
- It is already pre-seasoned
- Resilient
- Can handle tremendous heat
- Affordable
Cons
- You will have to maintain it consistently to retain its performance and prevent it from rusting.
8. Outset Grill Skillet with Removable Handle
Cleaning a grill pan can be quite demanding. That’s why we need nonstick grill pans. The Outset 76163 Nonstick grill pan comes equipped with a non-stick overlay on its cooking surface that ensures it very easy to clean. And that’s not all. The nonstick coating is made of a PFOA and PTFE-free material, which makes it completely food safe.
The perforated surface of the grill features tiny holes that actively prevent small foods from slipping through. Hence, it makes it appropriate to grill both meat and salads.
It also comes with a detachable handle that keeps you safe from burns when turning food and taking it off the grill. Its unique construction also makes it appropriate for both indoor use and outdoor use.
Pros
- Appropriate for both indoor use and outdoor use
- Nonstick grilling surface
- Easy to clean
- Non-toxic silicone-based coating
Cons
- The nonstick coating is not very durable.
Factors to Consider as You Buy the Best Grill Pan for Fish
Buying a grill pan for fish goes beyond aesthetics. You have to make sure that it is actually suited for its intended purpose. So, to avert any possible heartache, consider the mentioned things before choosing the right grill pan.
1. Material
When it comes to grill pans, the assembling material affects both its durability and performance. Some of the most popular grill pan construction materials include:
Cast Iron
Cast iron is one of the most common grill pan assembling materials. It can withstand intense temperatures without warping, so this should be your go-to option if you plan on cooking on open fires.
On the downside, cast iron grilling pans are quite strenuous to scrub. They also require constant maintenance and seasoning to maintain their performance and prevent rust.
Hard-Anodized Aluminum
One of the best perks of using anodized aluminum grill pans is their ability to gain heat fast and promote even heat distribution. Grill pans made of anodized aluminum are also quite effortless to clean.
In most cases, grill pans made of anodized aluminum have a nonstick overlay that prevents sticking and makes them even easier to clean. On the downside, the non-stick coating is susceptible to scratching and might peel off when heated to very high temperatures.
Ceramic
Ceramic grill pan is excellent for making different recipe and have nonstick properties, which makes them easy to clean. They also have impressive heat distribution properties. On the downside, they are also prone to overheating when left unattended for a long time.
2. Size
If you want to grill a meal for the whole family at a go, grill pans might not be the best option. With that said, larger grill pans can grill a meal for two to three people.
Another factor to consider is your stove’s size. If you have a small stove, you should go for smaller grill pans to avoid wasting energy.
3. What Do you Intend to Grill?
Grill pans are quite versatile, so they’ll grill almost anything you put on them. But, their perforated holes come in different sizes. So, if you plan on grilling small foods like vegetables, you might want to consider getting a grill pan with smaller holes. But, if you plan on grilling huge chunks of meat, then any pan will do.
4. Handle
Handles affect both the safety and ease of use of a grill pan. Grill pans with tight, sturdy handles are generally easier to use and maneuver.
In terms of handle material, grill pans with handles made of cast iron heat up pretty quickly and can get very hot. This poses a burning hazard, but if you’re careful, then you’re good. Plastic handles stay cool, but on the downside, they are not oven-safe. They also tend to melt when the pan is heated too much.
5. Care Instructions
How convenient is the grill pan? Grill pans that are of dishwasher-safe materials are generally easier to scrub and maintain. However, those made of cast iron require quite a bit of scrubbing and other maintenance. So, if you are looking for a grill pan that will provide you optimum convenience with little to no maintenance, you should avoid cast iron grill pans.
Our Top Pick
As our top pick, we chose to go with the Penobon Fish Grilling Basket. This fish grill is very easy to use, and it grills fish pretty well. It features a large cooking surface, and its premium aluminum construction gives it all round heat distribution qualities and optimum durability. It is also quite affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a grill pan to grill fish?
Yes. Although you might not get the smoky flavor that comes with using a regular grill, grill pans provide all the other benefits. For starters, you’ll get those perfect grill marks, and you’ll also get the chance to use spices since the holes on the perforated grill pan surfaces are small enough to prevent slippage.
How do grill pans work?
Grill pans work like regular pans, the only difference being they separate the food from its juices, thus giving it a grilled flavor while keeping the meal healthy.
How healthy are grill pans?
Grill pans come equipped with tall ridges that will allow the juices in your meat to flow to the bottom. This means that your taste buds get to enjoy the savory taste of grilled meat with fewer fats.
Do grill pans produce the same results as a regular grill?
A grill pan will give you a fat-free grilled meal with grill marks, but the food won’t taste the same as it would when grilled over a regular grill. Unlike grill pans, regular grills give food a smoky flavor.
Conclusion
Grilling over a regular grill is fantastic, but that option is not always convenient. But, with a good grill pan, you can give your cooked fish that savory grilled taste we all enjoy with a grill pan.
In the article, eight of the best grill pan for fish on the market that are sure to give you excellent results with your next catch have been reviewed. We have also given you a few tips on choosing the best one. And if you had any questions, we hope we’ve answered them in the FAQ section. Happy grilling, and good luck shopping!
