Excellent Press
"I picked this cast iron chef’s press about a month ago and it has exceeded my expectations! It conducts heat well to use for cooking steaks while on the grill and also works great for cooking hamburgers!"
Connect with a Specialist
Price:
| Product Weight | 2.65 lb |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Cast Iron |
| Product Depth | 8.27 in. |
| Product Height | 2.91 in. |
| Product Width | 4.29 in. |
| Shape | Rectangle |
Overall rating: 4.769231 / 5 from 13 reviews.
The Napoleon Cast Iron Chef's Press is a premium kitchen tool praised for its heavy-duty stainless steel construction, comfortable handle, and ability to evenly press burgers and sandwiches. Customers appreciate its quality, weight, and design, which contribute to its effectiveness in achieving crispy skins and juicy burgers.
Review topics: ["weight","quality","design","handle","results","surface","feels","press","burgers","cheese","sear","cleaning","difference","chef","grill"].
"I picked this cast iron chef’s press about a month ago and it has exceeded my expectations! It conducts heat well to use for cooking steaks while on the grill and also works great for cooking hamburgers!"
"I have used this press almost everytime I BBQ. I use it on my grill when making sandwiches and just from the weight of it makes them turn out better than my sandwich press. The game changer for us was making smash burgers no more pushing down on the flipper. We heat it up first then press the burgers makes them nice and crispy. I have done the same to a couple steaks and with the weight of the press it also made them crispy. Really the press has added a final touch to both the bbq and our grill."
"I was in the market for a cast iron press to make smashburgers, and I’m glad I stuck with Napoleon. It’s got real heft to it, and you can feel the quality right away. It’s slightly larger than most presses, but that’s the beauty of it. Unlike the typical round presses on the market, this press is rectangular, offering a larger surface area that gives you full edge coverage and is also perfect for keeping burgers or sandwiches evenly pressed and flat. Cleaning was simple enough, though the surface is designed similarly to the Napoleon wave cooking pattern. Personally, I’d prefer a flat surface for easier cleaning and wipe off, but that’s a minor trade-off for an otherwise solid piece to your BBQ accessories."
"Disclosure: I received this product free from Napoleon for testing purposes. I haven’t used a ton of burger presses before, I've just started messing around with them recently, but my results were always just. . . okay. This one changed that right away. First thing I noticed was the weight. It’s heavy, solid, and doesn’t have any of the loose, cheap feel my old press had. The weight makes a big difference. It gives you a clean and even press. I started getting way better sears and juicier burgers almost instantly. I’ve also been using it to press grilled cheese on the grill too. Thick sourdough, aged cheddar, a little jam. . . came out perfect. This thing’s earned a permanent spot in my setup. Feels natural in your hand, easy to use, and the results speak for themselves."
"The Chef's Press has a easy grip wooden handle, while the heavy duty cast iron base offers raised wave grates that allows for a even sear on meat. Not only do we use it on smash burgers, but it is great for crisping bacon and providing a great sear on fish and chicken. Since owing my Chef's Press it has become a staple in my everyday grilling. The quality and weight are perfect size for all my needs. Using the Chef's Press with Cast Iron Griddle from Napoleon, my family loves the crisp it provides on smash burgers and will not eat regular burgers anymore."
"I received the Napoleon Cast Iron Chef’s Press free as a tester. I owned another brand, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to compare. The Napoleon product has a larger diameter wooden handle. Very easy to hold and manipulate. The handle is far enough away from the press so it stays cool. The face of the press has the cool Napoleon wavy surface. Nice design, but I’m not sure of the advantage. The cast iron press is heavy, but not so large that it is difficult to maneuver. Overall I prefer the Napoleon press over my other brand based on the above items."
"I got this a few weeks ago and I’m very pleased. It has good weight and a comfortable handle. I was able to get good grill marks on my burgers!"
"As part of the Napoleon Tester Community, I was given the Cast Iron Press to try out, and it’s quickly become one of my go-to tools on the grill. Right away, I liked the design — it has a good weight to it, feels solid and well-built, and just looks great alongside my Napoleon BBQ. I’ve used it a few times now, mainly for chicken breasts and grilled cheese sandwiches. In both cases, it really helped with even cooking and gave me nice, consistent grill marks. The press holds heat well and definitely helps with browning — especially on thicker cuts like chicken. It's made of cast iron with a wooden handle, which is a nice touch, though I’d recommend using BBQ gloves when handling it hot (especially if you preheat it before use like I do). All in all, it’s a simple tool that makes a noticeable difference. I didn’t think I’d use it as much as I do, but it’s earned its spot on my grill table."
"This product was provided free by Napoleon for testing purposes. Used this cast iron press last night to make some smash burgers and they came out perfectly. It has great weight and a comfortable handle. I was able to smash the burgers thinner than my previous press and that's exactly what you want with a press like this. Clean up was quick and easy. I totally recommend this one!"
"I received the Napoleon Chefs Press free from Napoleon about a month ago for testing purposes. I’ve had the chance to put it through its paces in a variety of cooking situations. Since it’s made of cast iron, I seasoned it before its first use to prevent rust and sticking—always a good step for cast iron longevity, even with its ribbed surface. 🐟 Test #1: Grilled Salmon on the Napoleon P500 Salmon is a weekly go-to in our home, so this felt like a natural first test. I oiled the fillet and set it skin-side down on the grill with the press on top. The press didn’t cover the full length of the fish, so I shifted it around as it cooked. After flipping, I reapplied the press for the remainder. What I noticed: • Solid construction, hefty feel, and a handle that feels good in the hand (just be sure to wear a heat-resistant glove!). • The salmon cooked noticeably faster and more evenly. • The skin came out perfectly crisp without burning. • That said, the top side of the fish didn’t sear as deeply since it never made contact with the heat source—I suspect this press shines brighter on flat cooking surfaces. 🥪 Test #2: Grilled Ham & Cheese on Cast Iron To test that theory, I grilled a ham and cheese sandwich on homemade sourdough using a flat cast iron pan indoors. The result: • A perfect fit with even pressure throughout. • Golden, crispy exterior, gooey melted cheese, and warm ham from edge to edge. • My wife and I both gave it two thumbs up—it was a knockout. 🍔 Test #3: Griddle vs. Grill Burgers For this round, I did a side-by-side comparison—grilling burgers indirectly on the grates versus searing them on a small cast iron griddle using the Chef’s Press. Goals: Faster cooking, reduced shrinkage, and more consistent browning. What happened: • With the press and griddle combo, burgers cooked faster and held their shape better than my usual reverse-sear method. • Shrinkage was noticeably reduced. • Browning was excellent, rivaling that of direct heat searing, but without the risk of flare-ups. Final Thoughts 💭 The Napoleon Chef’s Press really impressed me—especially on flat surfaces like cast iron griddles or skillets. On open-wire grates, results were mixed and required extra effort, such as adding a griddle for optimal results. ✅ Best Use Cases: • Sandwiches and paninis • Burgers or proteins on a griddle • Speeding up cook time without sacrificing quality If I had a dedicated griddle, this press would see action constantly. As it stands, it's a solid, well-crafted tool that elevates indoor and griddle-based cooking."