For many people grilling is more than just cooking lots of meat; it is also a way to relax and unwind, and for many, it is also a way to socialize. And your grilling experience will depend on a couple of things, but mainly the meat you’re grilling and the tools and equipment you use.
The best grill mat can prevent and contain messes, which makes the grilling process smoother. And while it isn’t necessary when searing steaks for grilling ribs, it can come in handy when you are grilling smaller things like burger patties, prawns, and vegetables.
Also, they keep your food warm until you are ready to plate and serve.
Grill mats will make any grill much easier to use. In this article, we will look at different sorts of mats and rank grill mats reviews to see how they all hold up.
If you want to learn more about them and how they work, keep reading!
Why You Might Need a Grill Mat
A good grill mat will make your life much easier because of all the things they can do; both for your grill and the food you’re making. These are just a few things they do while grilling:
Even Heating:
Some grills have issues because they heat up unevenly. This in turn can cook your meat unevenly, resulting in some parts being cooked too quickly while others are still raw. When meat is grilled like this, the outside ends up burnt while the internal flesh is undercooked.
However, grill mats conduct heat and provide an even surface so they heat up quickly and retain the heat. This means when you place the meat or vegetables on them, they distribute heat to them evenly.
The result? Evenly cooked, flavorful meat with lots of browning and moisture.
Less Oil:
Most of the mats available have a non-stick surface. This means the food won’t stick to them, and you won’t need so much oil when cooking. This is healthier in the long run and is also great because your meal will feel less heavy.
Easy Cooking:
Some sliced vegetables are difficult to grill as they are harder to flip. Similarly, seafood like shrimp and flaky salmon are delicate and can burn easily or fall apart when flipping or transferring onto a plate. A silicone grill mat makes these things much easier to handle.
Quick Cleaning:
Hate scrubbing your grill after a cookout, trying to get burnt and charred bits of food off? Grill mats make cleaning afterward quick and easy. The matt protects the cooking grates from oil, grime, and food.
As a result, your grill will need minimal cleaning. Furthermore, the mats need a little cleaning. You just need to wipe them down with dish detergent and water. Some of them are even dishwasher safe.
Best Grill Mats: My Favorites
In a rush and don’t have time to make it through this list? I’ve compiled the top grill mats that caught my eyes right here!
- Editor’s Choice: Cuisinart CGMT-300
- Best Value Mat: GrillTex 9M-110-39C-6
- Most Durable: Kona ExtraTough BBQ Mat
Summary of the Top Three:
Durable, huge, and easy, this grill mat from Cuisinart is everything you need for your next BBQ party! The 65” x 35” surface is made out of weather-resistant PVC material with a year-long warranty! You can use it with your smokers, gas grills and griddles. The best thing is, your patio and deck will be spill-free and pristine!
Grilltex under the grill mat comes in 39” x 72”, which is the largest size I have on this list. You can place it under your grill and all the grease, dirt, splatters will collect on this thing. As it is 100% recyclable rubber, it won’t move around and will provide a protective barrier.
If you think rubber can not handle the heat, wait to be surprised. It can withstand up to 500°F! And to clean, simply use soap and water. It’s effortless!
Kona BBQ mat is far superior to other mats on the market. It is the thickest mat you can find. Kona is the thickest at 0.39 mm which is 4x teacher than other mats. That’s the reason why it can withstand up to 600°F temperature.
This mat is ideal for your Weber, Traeger, Char Broil, Kamado, and other popular grills. Every single batch of this BBQ mat is third-party tested by thermal analysis and real-world stress testing. So it has the assurance of high performance!