Best Fajita Platter
Nothing beats that sizzling sound and the heady aroma of a loaded fajita platter as it arrives tableside at your favorite Tex-Mex eatery. And while your at-home presentation may lean a little more toward a mediocre stir-fry than an exciting pan of seared meats and veg, we’re pretty sure that with the right equipment and a little practice, you’ll be warming up those tortillas in no time at all.
Top 6 Fajita Platters
Editor’s Pick: Winware 13.75” x 8.75” Aluminum Fajita Platter with Heat-Resistant Wood Underlay
If you’re looking for a little finesse when serving up a sizzling pan of Fajitas, steak, fish, or grilled veggies, this is the platter for you. Constructed from durable aluminum makes it ideal for high-temperature oven use and delivering an even, consistent heat across the entire cook surface. And with this type of lightweight material, it’s easy to load up and carry all your favorite foods from kitchen to tabletop. Best of all, this versatile platter has a rim, so you never need to worry about spills from juices or oils. A heat-resistant wood underlay not only looks great but is grooved on top to secure the hot platter in place as well as underneath for a safer hold. Both platter and underlay are easy to hand-wash between use.
Who Should Buy This Fajita Platter?
For those looking for a lightweight Fajita platter that looks great on any tabletop setting, this versatile, more streamlined option is a great choice.
Pros:
- Lightweight aluminum construction
- Even heat distribution
- Tapered edge prevents spills
- Grooved tray secures platter
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
Specs:
Pan Dimensions: 12.8-inches x 8.4-inches
Pan Material: Aluminum
Under-liner Material: Wood
Weight: 2 pounds
Runner Up: Jim Beam 16” x 10” Cast Iron Fajita Pan with Ribbed Cook Surface and Wood Underlay
When you need to serve up fajitas for a crowd, this large-sized cast iron pan is just the ticket. And because it’s made from pre-seasoned iron, it’s ready to go the moment it’s unpacked. The larger cook surface is ideal for grilling up volumes of tasty meats and vegetables and the ribbed construction not only produces perfect grill marks but helps drain excess oils away. Use it on your stovetop, grill-top, your oven or even an outdoor campfire, then transfer it to your serving platter and deliver that sizzle. The cast iron keeps everything piping hot, while the solid wood tray with grooved top secures the platter in place and ensures hands are free from heat. With any cast iron pan, hand-washing is required.
Who Should Buy This Fajita Platter?
Busy households will appreciate how this larger surfaced pan goes from oven to table-top for family-style dining that requires just one serving plate.
Pros:
- Cast iron construction
- Generous cook surface
- Pre-seasoned for immediate use
- Suited to oven, stovetop, campfire use
Cons:
- Ridged cook surface can be harder to clean
Specs:
Pan Dimensions: 16-inches x 10-inches
Pan Material: Cast iron
Under-liner Material: Wood
Weight: 8.67 pounds
Best Handle: Old Mountain Fajita Platter with Oven Mitt
For those wanting for a sturdy Fajita platter that’s easy to lift on or off a hot grill or campfire, look no further. This cast iron design features a generous cook surface with a raised lip to ensure seared meats, veggies, oils and juices remain in the pan during the all-important transport process. And because the well-proportioned handle extends out and away from the hot platter surface, it makes it easy to retain control when flipping foods, removing from heat, or transferring the hot cook plate to its wooden serving platter. Best of all, a fitted oven mitt slides right over the handle for a safer, more comfortable grip when transporting the heated pan. The cast iron design requires pre-seasoning and hand-washing between uses.
Who Should Buy This Fajita Platter?
This is a great option for anyone who loves to cook over an open flame and appreciates having a solid, elongated handle they can use to safely lift the pan.
Pros:
- Solid, cast-iron design
- Elongated handle for safer gripping
- Generously-sized cook surface
- Grooved tray secures platter
Cons:
- Not pre-seasoned
Specs:
Pan Dimensions: 14.6-inches round
Pan Material: Cast iron
Under-liner Material: Wood
Weight: 3.25 pounds
Best Easy-To-Use: Napoleon 13” x 8.25” Cast Iron Fajita Platter with Detachable Handle and Wood Underlay
If you love the idea of a Fajita platter that can be safely and easily removed from a hot oven without the need for a bulky oven mitt, then we’ve got the pan for you. The solid cast iron design not only delivers consistent heat across the entire cook surface but keeps cooked foods hotter, longer. And with a unique detachable handle, it’s easy to see what separates this grill pan from the pack. Regardless of how hot the pan, simply click the cast iron handle into place, then lift and transport the entire platter to a hungry table. And with a notched wooden underlay, the pan not only stays in place but protects your tables from damage. Pre-seasoning is required, as is hand-washing after each use.
Who Should Buy This Fajita Platter?
The detachable handle design of this pan makes it perfect for the cook that enjoys being able to quickly lift and move hot pans, without the need for oven mitts or silicone grips.
Pros:
- Durable cast iron construction
- Detachable handle
- Extra deep pan
- Grooved tray secures platter
Cons:
- Not pre-seasoned
Specs:
Pan Dimensions: 13-inches x 8.25-inches
Pan Material: Cast Iron
Under-liner Material: Wood
Weight: 5 pounds
Honorable Mention: FMC 7.5” x 4.75” Cast Iron Fajita Pan with Double Handles and Wooden Underlay
You love the idea of a cast iron Fajita pan, but are thinking twice about having to lift a hot, heavy pan in and out of the oven, right? That’s where this design steps up. At less than 2.5 pounds, this cast iron grill plate features a smooth cook surface sized for single or double portions of savory veggies, meats, or seafood. Tapered handles at each end make it safe and easy to grip with both hands for comfortable lifting, while the grooved wooden underlay ensures the pan always stays in place. And because it’s cast iron, just heat it in the oven, on the stovetop or over a roaring campfire for a quick and easy grill-up wherever you are. Pre-seasoning is required, as is hand-washing after each use.
Who Should Buy This Fajita Platter?
It’s perfectly sized for single or double portions, so for those who want to prep smaller meals without the heavy, cumbersome weight of a full-size Fajita platter, this cast iron sizzle plate is the way to go.
Pros:
- Cast iron construction
- Sized for single or double portions
- Handles at each end
- Grooved underlay for safer transport
Cons:
- Not pre-seasoned
Specs for Comparison:
Pan Dimensions: 7.5-inches x 4.75-inches
Pan Material: Cast iron
Under-liner Material: Wood
Weight: 2.35 pounds
Best Compact: Ebros 10.5” x 7” Cast Iron Fajita Platter with Ridged Cook Service and Detachable Handle
Ready to make your signature dishes sizzle? Then it’s time to check out this oval Fajita platter. Made from pre-seasoned cast iron, this grill plate is perfectly sized for Fajita-ready strips of grilled veggies and meats or perhaps steaks, fish filets, sausages, or hotdogs. In fact, the ribbed surface leaves perfect grill lines across whatever foods you choose to cook. And because the handle detaches, you never need to worry about how to remove this platter from its heat source. Simply snap the handle in place, lift the pan, and place it onto the wooden underlay board. This large board’s wider edges ensure a safe, easy grip, while the deep groove secures the pan for non-slip transport from kitchen to tabletop. Hand-wash after using.
Who Should Buy This Fajita Platter?
This is a great option for the home chef that wants to deliver a professional, sizzling finish to their Fajitas and grilled foods. The separate handle makes removing the heated pan from a stovetop, oven, or open campfire flame, safe and easy.
Pros:
- Cast iron construction
- Ridged cook surface for perfect grill marks
- Detachable handle
- Oval design for longer meat cuts
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
Specs:
Pan Dimensions: 10.5-inches x 7-inches
Pan Material: Cast iron
Under-liner Material: Wood
Weight: 3.75 pounds
What’s the Difference Between Fajitas and Stir-Fries?
Aside from the use of a wok versus a grill pan, it’s all in the presentation. With fajitas, pre-grilled meats and veggies are piled onto a super-heated – typically cast iron – serving platter that causes the juices and oils to kick-in, delivering that all-important sizzle. So, unlike a wok or frypan, the Fajita platter carries the exciting sounds and smells of the cooking process as it arrives at your table. And rather than your meal being plated in the kitchen before service, you get to load up your tortillas, straight from the heated platter for a fun, more interactive meal option.
What to Look for When Buying a Fajita Platter
Construction
Because one of the primary roles of a Fajita platter is to produce that enticing, sizzling sound while keeping foods piping hot, you need to look for a material that not only distributes heat evenly across the entire cook surface but can retain it as well. Cast iron is typical, but aluminum is gaining in popularity due to its lighter weight construction. The upside to cast iron is that it can maintain heat for a greater period, so foods remain warmer longer. And because your Fajita platter will need to sit under an open flame or super-hot oven to achieve the desired temperature before service, it needs to be built for extreme heat.
Maintenance
Whether you choose to cook your Fajitas in a separate pan or on the platter surface, there’s going to be grease and it’s going to need to be cleaned. If your platter is a heat-conducting metal such as aluminum, it will need careful hand-washing – typically with a baking soda/vinegar mix – because dishwasher detergents may permanently damage the pan finish. If cast iron, it needs to be pre-seasoned before use in order to prevent foods from sticking. This can be done by rubbing it down with olive oils, setting it in a warm oven for 30 minutes, then wiping it clean. And when it’s time to get rid of that grease and grime, a gritty paste using coarse, kosher salt and water, then scrubbed with a nylon brush is best. You then must repeat the seasoning process before you use the pan again.
Ease of Use
When intense heat is in play, you need to consider safety as well as comfort when handling. Ensure the options you consider are made from a material that won’t be compromised by heat over time. For the base, choose a solid wood or material that can withstand a hot, heavy platter. And because a Fajita pan’s metal handle will never be heatproof, look for options that include a properly sized oven mitt or substantial handgrips on the underlay to keep fingers away from the heat and splatter. Cast iron pans may or may not be pre-seasoned, so if you want a platter you can put to use right away, you’ll want to check this out.
Bottom Line
A great quality Fajita platter is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to improve your presentation skills while at the same time elevating the quality of your finished meals. These grill platters are designed to deliver the exceptional sizzling sounds and aroma you’ve come to expect from restaurant-quality foods, at a fraction of the price it would take to entertain at your favorite eatery. And because today’s designs are constructed from materials that can withstand high temperatures and retain heat, they keep your foods piping hot from the time it leaves the kitchen to the moment it’s plated tableside. They’re unquestionably a great investment and perfect addition to your cache of entertaining equipment.