If you’re looking to upgrade from a mere hobbyist to a real grill master, you must possess the right grilling tools, such as a grill mat. While it usually doesn’t seem like it, grill masters often go through a lot of stress trying to prevent food from sticking to the grates. With the best grill mat though, everything becomes a lot easier.
That said, we must note that choosing the best grill mat is actually not a walk in the park. Thanks to the rise of different companies manufacturing grilling equipment nowadays, finding the right grill mat is like looking for a needle in the haystack. There’s no cause for alarm though as after considering over 20 models, we’ve helped you gather the best ones. Out of all our picks, the GrillTex Under Grill Protective Mat takes the crown, thanks to the high-quality materials it’s made of and its extraordinary heat resistance.
For our selection, we considered a few important factors, which include the type, the material, and the dimensions. While the type and dimensions determine the mat’s compatibility with your grill, the material determines its quality. To make the guide easy to navigate for our readers, we’ve also opted for our usual structure, which comprises of a comparison table, a review section, and a buying guide. We’ve also included a FAQ section to get you ready for any surprises.
More features: heat resistance up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
After scouring the market for various under-the-grill mats, we’ve come to the conclusion that the GrillTex Under Grill Protective Mat is the best grill mat on the market, owing to its high effectiveness, ease of use, and generally great performance, while costing a fraction of the price of some expensive mats. First of all, the fact that it’s produced from 100 percent recycled rubber is good news, as the synthetic rubber gives the mat a superb heat resistance of about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. With this incredible protective barrier, your splatters and spills will be safely collected without you needing to go through any stress.
Furthermore, the mat is very easy to clean as you can return it to its sparkling state after use by your spraying it off with a garden hose, or you could simply use soap and water. In terms of size, these mats usually come in different sizes, with each size being of fairly low cost. Therefore, it’s remarkable that at such a low price, the mat is also backed by a one-year warranty, protecting you against any defect or disappointment. To make sure that the mat is sufficiently large for your needs, you need to measure the unit and add extra two to three inches on each side.
While this will allow for sufficient “spill zone”, you can choose a larger size. When it comes to compatibility, no mat can better this one, as it’s an excellent fit for almost every deck or grill. However, thickness is the only thing some people may have a problem with. While the mat looks durable on the eye, we think it should have been made to be thicker.
More features: weather resistant; non-slip
The best grill mats are usually the ones that combine a high degree of heat resistance and ease of cleaning, and the Cuisinart CGMT-300 Grill mat is all that and even more. Made from 100 percent non-slip PVC material, this incredible mat is guaranteed to serve you for many uses, all things considered. It’s also a nice thing that the grill mat is weather-resistant, so you can be certain that it will withstand unfavorable weather elements while it’s outdoors. Generally, this mat has a sturdy construction, and that’s half the things you need when looking for a high-quality grill mat for any grill or any deck.
Of course, grills and patios are usually good-looking, but that’s until gravy is spilled all over them. Since clean-ups are usually tedious and can remove the fun from using the grill and the space, you need to protect yours with this capable Cuisinart mat. Lest we forget, apart from being non-slip and weather-resistant, this mat is also waterproof, so you can rest easy knowing no element can damage your mat. It’s also important to add that apart from protecting your grill and surfaces from getting dirty, this mat itself is incredibly easy to clean – all you need to clean it is garden hose to eliminate any stuck dirt.
In terms of size, this mat has an extra-large size, so it easily provides superior protection. In terms of price, this one isn’t likely to cause a gapping hole in your pocket as it’s reasonably priced enough. In fact, it delivers a lot value, even more than what you pay for. In the end, it’s almost impossible to fault this mat. The only thing users constantly mention is the super-huge Cuisinart logo, which looks a bit awkward, especially if you don’t own a Cuisinart grill.
More features: lifetime replacement guarantee
If a mat that is compatible with every grilling surface is what you are looking for, then the Grillaholics Grill Mat boasts the kind of design that gives you versatility. Therefore, the type of grill you have doesn’t matter: be it propane, electric, gas, or charbroil powered. The liner forms an impeccable cover for your grill, and we assure you that it’s adequate since each set of the mat measures 13 inches in width and 15.75 inches in length. While it’s neither excessively thin or excessively thick, it leaves noticeable traces of the grill on your food.
Moving on, we must commend the super construction of this mat as it’s made with sturdy and heat-resistant PTFE fiberglass material, which makes it resistant to high temperatures. Meanwhile, it has a peak temperature rating of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows it to handle any kind of cooking safely. The grill liners are also very thick and flexible, which allows them to deliver superior performance when compared to baskets or grill pans. Normally, some food remains often stick on the grill grates while some even fall between the grill sometimes, and that could make cleaning a daunting task.
With these mats from Grillaholics though, there are no such worries. Despite being made of PTFE fiberglass, the sheets have no traces of any harmful chemicals like PFOA silicon. Therefore, it can be used to prepare food with your mind being at peace. It’s also a nice thing that these mats are reusable, so you don’t need to be spending on new mats each time you want to grill. However, cleaning the mats is a little difficult and requires a lot of patience.
More features: 0.34mm thick; 7-year guarantee
If you are familiar with grills and grill mats at all, then it’s needless to tell you that a high-density is a common property of the best grill mats, and it’s completely understandable. While there are many reasons why the Kona Best BBQ Grill Mat made our list, the primary reason for its inclusion is its high density, which allows it to withstand whatever is thrown at it. For instance, it is capable of withstanding heat up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, which is at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit more than the heat resistance level of any grill mat on this list. With this level of heat resistance, you can easily use this mat for searing steaks.
Additionally, the mat measures 0.39 millimeter when it comes to thickness, which makes it rather durable. And despite being that durable, the mat is also flexible, being rated for 1,000 uses for each side. To be honest, this blows most of the competition out of the water. Basically, this means you need to only purchase this mat once. It might even end up outlasting your grill. Whether you are an amateur grill master or a professional chef, this mat will be suitable for you as it’s even easy to use and clean after usage.
In terms of cleaning, however, we have to admit that it may be a little difficult. In fact, cleaning it is harder than most other models on this list that only require a garden or water hose. It’s worth mentioning that it’s backed by a whooping seven-year warranty though, which is a lot more than what most rivals offer. However, keep in mind that you must mail back the damaged mat before a warranty can be claimed.
More features: made in the USA; 50% recycled material
If you own a round grill, then the Resilia Round Under Grill Mat should be at the top of your consideration as it sports a round design that makes it comfortably fit under your BBQ. Moving on, the Resilia Round Under Grill Mat is produced using eco-friendly material, which makes it superior to many mats in its category. Apart from being eco-friendly, the recycled PVC vinyl material is also of high-quality and emits no harmful chemicals, so you can expect no bad surprises from this mat. In terms of price, it’s not likely to set you back excessively, which means it’s reasonably priced.
Furthermore, this mat is also fire-retardant, which allows you to rest easy knowing it can withstand almost anything. It’s also noteworthy that this mat will fit perfectly under most kettle-type grills and ceramic clad smokers. While the rug looks perfect under grills, we are proud to inform you that it’s versatile enough to work for other purposes apart from this. If you want to squeeze more out of your rug, you can also put it under platers to protect your deck from overwatering, leaves, fertilizer, flower stains, and potting soil.
When it comes to cleaning, taking care of this rug is as simple as ABC. You only need to get some warm water with soap and wash the mat down. And if you are not feeling like using your hands for the washing, you could use the garden or water hose. In terms of shortcomings, however, this rug comes with a few. The first one is that it may be too small for some grills, so you’ve got to make sure it fits your grill before buying. In addition, it’s not as heat resistant as our best models, so you need to be very careful with it.
More features: FDA approved; PFOA free
The best grill mats often come in extra-large sizes, so that’s already a big indication that the AltoFresh Extra Large Copper Grill Mats is a mat that’s worth its weight in gold. Featuring two mats in one package, with each one measuring 17 x 24 inches in size, which guarantees high efficiency. With this, you can be confident that your whole grill can even be covered for more cooking space. Versatile, high-quality, non-stick surface, and reusable, this grill mat from AltoFresh is totally incredible, and the surprising thing is that it’s affordably priced.
As you might have predicted, these mats are also heat-resistant, making them ideal for grilling and cooking without the materials leaking into what you are cooking. The double PTFE Teflon layers they have on the surfaces also make them non-stick, which allows for baking or grilling of a variety of foods without burning them. When it comes to the materials, the mats are made of PTFE material, which is food-safe and doesn’t have any harmful element, thereby protecting your health.
We mentioned something about versatility in the beginning, and here’s the explanation. The mats are designed to be multipurpose, so they can be used to cook eggs, bake, grill, and line the oven. This high versatility makes them convenient to use and really efficient in the kitchen. However, most users have reported that the mats are difficult to clean as you need to soak them overnight before you even start cleaning them at all. Besides, many customers have complained about the customer service of this company, which is said to be terrible.
Grill mats are not something you buy every day, which means you need a lot of knowledge when out shopping for one. To help you on this path, we’ve created this detailed buying guide below.
“Why might I need a grill mat?”, you may be wondering, and it’s normal to ask such a question. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a couple of benefits that are offered by grill mats below:
If you are looking to buy the right grill mat for your grill, there are some factors you may need to work with and keep in mind. With them, you will be able to know which model is suitable for your needs and which one is not.
When you are looking to buy a grill mat, one of the first decisions you need to make is choosing between an inside-of-the-grill model and an under-the-grill model. While the latter is placed inside the grill to protect the BBQ and the grates from grease, the former is placed beneath it to protect your patio or deck. Apparently, both types have their advantages, and it’s better to have both to make the most out of this product.
You also need to consider the material with which your mat is made before buying as these products will be getting exposed to a lot of heat. Thus, it’s important to make sure their material can withstand what they are being exposed to. That said, there are different types of materials for these mats, but the best material is PTFE, which is used to make models like the AltoFresh Extra Large Copper Grill Mats and the Grillaholics Grill Mat.
You also need to consider the number of mats included in the pack as different models come with different numbers of mats. For instance, models like the Kona Best BBQ Grill Mat and the AltoFresh Extra Large Copper Grill Mats come with two mats each, while our editor’s choice includes only one mat.
It’s also important to consider the dimensions when choosing the ideal grill mat for you. An ideal mat in terms of size should provide ample room to grill enough items simultaneously. While it needs to be large, it should also be something you can cut into smaller sizes in case you want to use them in other cooking surfaces like broiler and stovetops.
In the case with under-the-grill models, the dimensions are even more important to consider as it generally determines whether or not the mat will be protecting your deck or patio from the spills and dirt.
Apart from the ones we listed, you may also need to consider some other features like the design, shape, color, and warranty. While most of these “other features” are normally less important ones, the warranty is particularly important. Some of these mats are made with cheap materials that do not last, so it’s essential to make sure that the manufacturer is willing to stand for its product.
Like we have explained in this article, the right grill mat for your grill will depend on many factors. With all things considered, we have chosen the GrillTex Under Grill Protective Mat as our Editor’s Choice, and it totally deserves it. Apart from having a high level of heat resistance, this model has a bit of every other thing, including a versatile design and a good warranty. All in all, it’s the best grill mat on our list, and you can’t argue.
But it’s closely followed by the Cuisinart CGMT-300 Grill Mat, which with its weather-resistant and waterproof nature, is an incredible grill mat that is compatible with almost any grill. The Grillaholics Grill Mat is our third pick, but on a different day, it could have been our second pick. Despite costing an affordable price, this model delivers a lot of value for the money and can be ideal for any grill master.
