Most of the outdoor griddles I’ve encountered, both in this review and elsewhere, have been made of cast iron or carbon steel, so the Solo Steel Fire’s stainless steel construction is intriguing. Add the fact that you can basically pluck it out of the box, wash off the dust, and fire it up, and it’s a slacker’s dream. But it performs well enough to compete with brands with longer track records.
What we love: It comes in two sizes (22 and 30 inches). The smaller Solo uses a camping-size propane tank, which can easily sit on a tabletop. The smaller Solo is a great choice for smaller spaces. The larger size could technically go on a tabletop or a heat-safe surface if you want to maximize your outdoor cooking space. It uses a standard-size propane tank, though, so you’ll need to find somewhere to put it. Solo sells a stand for the griddle, though it’s expensive at $300.
The Solo shone in the pancake test. My flat top experience has primarily been with carbon steel or cast iron, so I was worried about a lot of sticking on a stainless-steel cooking surface. However, when I went to flip the pancakes, they were so slippery that they practically skated across the cooktop. It may have been the most nonstick of all the surfaces. Even more astounding, it required no seasoning. This alone makes it the best outdoor griddle for people who don’t want to season anything. Who wants extra homework? It’s also notable that this is a good choice for cooks in more humid climates, where carbon steel can rust.
Clean-up was also the easiest with this brand among others. You really just need to wipe up the crusty bits and shine it with a paper towel. If you’re a little more detail-oriented, one of the best features is that the cooktop comes out of the unit so that you can wash it in the sink. That’s especially useful for households with food allergies that need deeper cleaning to avoid cross-contamination.
Finally, you can’t mention Solo products without discussing their design appeal. This was one of the sleekest-looking griddles in the test, and it definitely matters if your setup is a point of pride that is visible year-round.
What we’d leave: The Solo is one of the priciest models in our test, and that’s before you add the cart, which is an extra charge. The cart can feel a little flimsy compared to one-piece griddles, but it doesn’t bother us much. Some users may find the rounded corners of the grill strange at first if they are used to rectangular-shaped grills. But I didn’t have any problem during cooking or cleaning.
