Lodge LGP3 Rectangular Cast Iron Grill Press, Pre-Seasoned, 6.75-inch x 4.5-inch

I really cannot find any down side to this grill/pan press. It is precisely as advertized, does the job I bought if for, is attractive and the thing will last far, far beyond my lifetime. This is the third press of this sort I own; all by lodge.The grill press being reviewed here is seven inches in diameter. The working side (the bottom) is completely flat as a good grill press should be. This one of course is round and I purchased it to use with two specific pans...both being round. Of course I use this press on our flat square grill also, as well as the gas grill on the porch.Traditionally, I suppose, these are made to make your bacon flat. Curled-bacon is a pain, cooks uneven and well, just looks unsightly...especially if you have an obsessive sort of personality. Be that as it may, this little thing does indeed give me perfectly flat bacon. I also use it on hamburgers, ham steaks, grilled sandwiches and anything else that needs a bit of pressure. When I grill particularly thing cuts of meat (pork in particular) on the grill, I often times find the edges curling. This thing puts a stop to that.This product does require some slight assembly on the buyer's part. We are talking putting two screws, two washers and two hex nuts into place. This is not high tech stuff folks; a small pliers or crescent wrench and a small screwdriver is all you need and the procedure takes about three minutes. I do believe this is the only product I have ever purchased which required "some" self assembly where I did not have parts left over; I mean I am the sort of guy who can purchase an anvil to set on my work stump near the barn and have something left over...it is pathetic.This particular piece is of course cast iron which means that if you take care of it properly they will still be using the thing six generations from now. DO NOT put this into the dishwasher. I use a lot of cast iron cook wear and trust me; keeping it clean and healthy is not a great chore. You simply wash it off with hot water and a non abrasive scrubber (I never use any sort of detergent on mine), let it dry thoroughly and apply a light coat of veggie oil. It does not take much oil and the procedure is quick. As to the complaint that the screws in this device will "collect dirt," I have not found this to be the case at all. It is no more difficult to keep clean than any other piece of cook wear and if you should happen to miss a speck or two of grease, the heat during the next you use it to cook with will pretty well kill any grunky that may be lurking there.The top of this press has been hammered and forged with a nice "hammered" looking finish which makes it look like a good cast iron piece should look after years of use...you get a head start on the process!Now a word about the "Cool Grip" spiral handle: This handle is made of metal. If you were not sleeping through Jr. High science class, you will know that metal conducts heat. Yes, this handle does get hot, especially it you use it on your open gas grill and it is advisable to use some sort of heating pad (I like gloves) when you lift the thing off the pan or grill. The handle will not get as hot as the actual press, but hot it will get!I have no complaints as to this product; only praise. Like another reviewer there though, I do wish that Lodge would make presses to fit all of the different size pans they offer. This would be of great help.Don BlankenshipThe Ozarks

Heavy and well-made and you know it is great because it is made in the USA

This review is for the 7.5” grill press.You need to accept that this is heavier than most other grill presses, even at this size. That weight comes in very handy when you’re trying to sear a steak, or when cooking a large package of bacon. It’s also great when you’re cooking sandwiches or making paninis, because you can easily get 1 - 2 underneath. Mexican food? Yep.For a single burger, it’s a bit overkill, but it definitely does the job well. I wouldn’t 2 at the same time for smashburgers, and you want to space out the patties due to the size of this thing.Now people will ask, “does it stick?”. It can, but that can happen with any press regardless of what it’s made of (don’t believe the marketing hype of some of the other brands). You’ll quickly learn that all you need to do is to put the press on the grill or griddle for about 2 minutes for the surface to heat up a bit and you’re good.“How hard do you need to press?” Not very. That’s the point of why this thing weighs close to 5lbs.Cleaning is a breeze. Sponge and water. One of those chainmail cleaners if things get gnarly.Yes, this is seasoned. And yes, you will see a spot where it looks like it’s worn or maybe even a little reddish. That’s normal and it’s from the manufacturing process. Nothing wrong with the press, and you can clean and season that spot as part of your normal maintenance.When it comes time to season it, wear a pair of disposable gloves (optional) and/or a rag or towel you don’t mind getting covered in oil. Just apply whatever seasoning oil you prefer and coat the thing. Once you’re done place it on a baking pan in the oven and heat at 375 for about an hour. I don’t recommend using paper towels due to them tending to leave remnants while applying oil.Last comment/question I hear a lot of is “does it get too hot to hold?”. It’s metal, so depending on the heat source and how long you leave it in contact, yes the handle can get toasty (welcome to the principle of thermal conductivity). In normal use, you’re not going to have a problem. It’s a LOT of metal to heat up, and those springs on the handle keep you from directly touching the handle. In normal use, it might get a little warm, but you’ll never have an issue.That’s my not-so-short review. Hope it helps! I’ve found this to be a great addition to my kitchen, both indoors and out.One last bit of advice - don’t use this with any kind of non-stick griddle or pan. This thing is cast iron and it will scratch the heck out of the non-stick surface.

This works great for making smash burgers, but I think I would prefer if it were just a flat plate vs having a step.

Too soon to review use. Item just arrived. Looks like I expected. Excellent Lodge quality as always. Am going to use it to make grilled cheese sandwiches & paninis so perfect size.

It was well made and solid, definitely up to lodge standards. I did return it since it was not what I thought it was. It is a burger press to make patties NOT a flat smash burger press. I was refunded before I left the drop off store, hassle free!

Love it and it's heavy as I wanted it to be and works as expected.