Welcome to my Lodge 8-inch Round Cast Iron Flat Press Review.
Are you looking for a way to cook your food faster or melt the cheese more thoroughly on a grilled sandwich?
Or, maybe you want flat, more evenly cooked bacon.
Whatever your reason for reading this, I hope to answer many of your questions. And to help you make an informed decision about why a flat press may help with your cooking.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Lodge 8-Inch Round Cast Iron Flat Press Review
Affiliate Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using the affiliate links below, I receive a small commission.
Product: Round flat press
Brand: Lodge
Price: See Amazon
Size: 8-inch diameter x 1.94-inch height
Weight: 3.5 lbs.
Material: Cast iron
Made in: USA
Lodge Warranty: Limited lifetime
Amazon Return Policy: Return in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt
Great for: Pressing meat and grilled sandwiches, keeping bacon from curling
Cleaning: Handwash, dry, and apply a thin layer of fat or oil
What Is a Flat Press?
A flat press is a weight you can put on top of food and is generally made out of cast iron. Many people like using one for various reasons. The first two benefits are it helps food to cook more quickly and evenly. There is also less splatter, which bacon is well-known for having. And your bacon will come out flat and straight. Meats will get a better sear, and cheese will melt more thoroughly in a grilled sandwich.
RELATED > > > > > Why Does Bacon Curl When Frying? – Plus 9 Solutions
A Little About Lodge Manufacturing
Lodge Cast Iron is a family-owned business in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
Joseph Lodge founded this company in 1896 and originally called it Blacklock Foundry.
However, after the building burned down in 1910, Joseph rebuilt and renamed the company Lodge Cast Iron.
Over the years, Lodge survived several economic downturns and even thrived when other foundries were closing down.
And as business continued to grow, they built another foundry. The new foundry enabled Lodge to increase its manufacturing production by seventy-five percent.
Lodge makes cast iron and carbon steel cookware, though cast iron remains their primary production.
They offer a large variety of cast iron, including classic, enamel, chef, and Blacklock.
Additionally, Lodge carries bakeware, and several series, all of which are cast iron.
They also have many accessories.
Lodge continues to be a leading manufacturer worldwide and makes close to 2 million cast iron pans every month.
Answering Your Questions
Is the bottom smooth?
Yes, it’s flat and smooth
Why is round better than square or rectangle?
A round press isn’t better, but it does fit nicely inside a round skillet. Presses come in not only different shapes but also different sizes and weights. Some will be better for pressing sandwiches while others cover a larger area. It all depends on how you plan to use your press. Each press will have multiple uses, and some of them will overlap.
Will the flat press fit in an 8-inch skillet?
No, because the sides of an 8-inch slope inward and the cooking surface is less than six inches. The 8-inch press is ideal for the 10.25-inch skillet or larger.
Does it reduce the cooking time on a grill?
Yes, because it holds in the heat and constantly causes the food to contact the surface. In other words, the food cooks more quickly and evenly. Keep in mind that preheating the press will give you the best results.
How do you preheat the press for faster cooking?
Cast iron works best when you preheat it. The quickest way to preheat the press is to let it heat up with the oven, grill, or skillet. Place it in the skillet or on another burner when cooking on the stovetop.
Does the handle get hot?
Yes, it does. You will need a towel or oven mitt when picking it up.
Does it work well for bacon?
Yes, it does. However, it may not entirely cover the bacon even after it shrinks, so you will want to move it around. Otherwise, the covered part will cook much faster and likely leave the uncovered part undercooked. Moving it around also helps ensure there is no curling.
Is the press oven-safe?
Yes, it’s cast iron so you can use it in the oven. In fact, you may occasionally want to season your press in the oven.
Does it cut down on splattering?
Yes, you will have significantly less splatter.
Can I Use Soap to Clean It?
Yes, you can, but it’s not necessary. The most important thing is to dry your skillet completely. Soap doesn’t sanitize, but it does help remove stuck-on food or stubborn grease. Some people will never use soap because they believe it will ruin the seasoning. However, according to Lodge, soap is okay if you want to use it. The most important thing is to dry your skillet completely.
Can the flat press rust?
Yes, cast iron is susceptible to rusting if you leave it wet while exposing it to air. Since it comes preseasoned, it is initially protected and ready to use. And as long as you care for it properly, rust will not be a problem. However, if you get rust, you can easily restore it by removing the rust and seasoning it in the oven. Even without rust, some people oven-season their cast iron for added layers of protection.
How do I season my flat press in the oven?
The Lodge website for the flat press links you to their use and care section, which is for all cast iron. Basically, you apply a thin layer of oil to the entire piece and bake it at 400°F for one hour. And then let it cool in the oven. In other words, you oven-season your flat press the same way you do any cast iron cookware.
RELATED > > > > > Seasoning Your Cast Iron Skillet – New or Old
Lodge: How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
What Others Are Saying
Most people who bought the Lodge flat press really liked it. They said things like:
- It keeps my burger patties from shrinking
- Storing it is easy; I just put it with the rest of my cast iron
- My food cooks faster
- It holds the ingredients inside my sandwich while cooking
- It’s easy to clean
- I like that the handle is cast iron too
- Love it, but make sure you keep a plate nearby to put it on while turning your food
- I used it to hold down a pie crust but at a lower heat and with parchment paper between the crust and the press
- A fantastic product at a great price
- It holds my bacon flat
- I like that it’s preseasoned and is well-made
- The Lodge brand will last forever
- It does a great job of holding down the meat while it’s cooking
- My tortillas cook very quickly now
- It’s the right amount of heavy
- You will like this tool if you cook burgers, chicken, or sandwiches
Only a few were disappointed because they:
- Liked a wooden stay-cool handle better
- Didn’t like that it rusted
- Got boiled meat instead of seared
- Found the coating was peeling off
What Do I Think?
Although I initially didn’t think I wanted one, I have changed my mind.
When I list all its benefits, I believe I would like it.
Two of the things I like most are faster cooking and reducing splatter.
I often make bacon, and it does take a while to cook, and there is lots of splattering.
Additionally, I would use it on the grill or to make grilled cheese in a cast iron pan.
Really, the only thing I don’t like is it’s another item in my kitchen. But if I use it as much as I think I will, that’s a small concern.
I also like Lodge products.
Recently, I wrote a review on a bacon press, similar to the flat press, except it has ridges on the bottom and a stay-cool wooden handle. If either of these things is more appealing, check out my Bellemain Cast Iron Bacon Press Review.
If, however, a flat press sounds more like what you are looking for, I recommend the Lodge 8-inch round cast iron flat press.
Smash Burgers With a Round Cast Iron Flat Press
Pros
- Reputable company
- Great reviews
- Reduces splatter
- Holds in heat
- Cooks your food quicker
- Melts the cheese better
- Easy to clean
- Easy to maintain if you understand cast iron
- Comes preseasoned and ready to use
- Has multiple uses
- Cooks food more evenly
- Keeps bacon from curling
Cons
- Potential to rust
- Handle gets hot
- Often has minor manufacturing defects
- Requires cast iron maintenance knowledge
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading my Lodge 8-inch Round Cast Iron Flat Press Review.
Hopefully, I was able to answer any questions you had and help you decide if it’s something you think you would use.
Whether it’s for making bacon, meats, or sandwiches, the flat press can be valuable.
You will get flat, straight bacon and less splatter while cooking.
Your meat will brown evenly and cook more quickly.
And the cheese in grilled sandwiches will melt faster. It may also help hold in other ingredients on your sandwich that tend to fall out.
Tortillas are another food that will cook more quickly and brown nicely.
As you can see, this flat press has many uses.
And because it’s from Lodge, it will be an excellent product.
Therefore, I highly recommend the Lodge 8-inch round cast iron flat press.