Griddle pan help!!?

[PullMeInToTheScreen]

I've had this Circulon griddle pan for some years. Cooked honey (and mustard) -coated chicken on it at high heat and it's been a nightmare to clean. So much black flakes.

Husband scrubbed it with one of those heavy duty BBQ scrubbing brushes amongst other things (which was probably not advisable), so has it had it?

I think from googling it was a heavy-gauge, hard anodized aluminium with a non-stick coating, so I'm a bit dubious about using it if the coating is coming off.

I genuinely don't mind getting a new one but which sort - non-stick (this one didn't seem very non-stick tbh) or cast iron?

I'm less bothered about getting it completely clean, my worry is whether it's safe to use, and if not which is a good replacement?

I agree with you and would not use it if the non stick is coming off. If you're not sure whether it's food or non stick I'd put some water and washing up liquid in it and heat it gently. This softens up any food and you can just wipe it out with a sponge.

I've actually done that, it helped! Think I'd need to do it quite a lot more times though as it's a right pain to wipe it off the 'crevices'.

I think it looks like there's still burnt bits on it

I tend to buy a new one every year (same with frying pans) as they get ruined so easily. The joy of cooking in a new one will deffo make you wonder why you waited so long!

There are still burnt bits on it that's why I'm about ready to chuck it and get a new one!

This one has good reviews www.lakeland.co.uk/10753/Valira-Platinum-Induction-28cm-Griddle-Pan

but it's £60 - eek. I don't use it THAT often, but I guess that means it'll last longer....

Cast iron pans aren't non-stick at first, but they do become like a non-stick pan. If you use them frequently, the oil bakes on and you don't need to season, but if you don't use it often, it's recommended that you brush with oil and heat up, so there's a coating to protect against rust. We use ours a lot - it has short cast iron handles so can go in the oven. It's horrendously heavy though.

Thank you, I've never really understood them! The weight does put me off a bit.