Chez Peachy Meets Gotham Gadgets with SPARQ: Sparq Soapstone Griddle Highly Recommended by Whom You Know!
Cooking in our family really means grilling. Does not matter what season it is. So we have quite a few grilling accessories for the big Weber. So when the new griddle arrived both my husband and I were so excited to give it a whirl. Now we had to clearly do some research as we have never used a soapstone griddle before. Sparq manufactures these amazing gridles that are not only better for you in how they cook the food but also how they make the food taste. Now I will say that to get your grill in performance mode, it does take quite a bit of time. However it is totally worth it. So take the time to prep the soapstone so that you can get cooking. Now if you do your research you will find that soapstone to cook on is far safer then cooking on a open fire. So I thought it would be best to try a recipe that they suggest on the website for our first hurray. We tried the crabby patties. We diced..we minced and we indulged. The griddle heated up perfectly and we oiled it to keep everything from sticking and add some flavor. They browned up nicely with a slight crisp on the outside and perfectly moist in the middle. Terrific. I cannot wait to try more. Basically Sparq has taken cooking to a whole new level with their soapstone products. Healthier, tastier and super easy to use.
I love to cook and bake, but I don't have a lot of space in my kitchen for equipment. When I first learned of the Sparq Griddle I didn't quite know what to expect because most griddles are solely used for one purpose. Then I learned that the Sparq Griddle is much different than others out on the market. You can use it to cook or bake just about anything! It is made out of soapstone and has two sides, one flat and one with grooves in order to suit your needs. Since it is made of natural soapstone, it isn't treated with any chemicals which I truly appreciate. The coolest thing about the griddle is that you can put it directly on your cooktop stove indoors! It can cook up to 1200 degrees! The grooved side can be used for grilling anything you would typically make on an outdoor grill. You don't have to wait until summer anymore for BBQ! Flip it over on the flat side and you can make pancakes, scrambled eggs, you name it! You can also bake in the oven with it! Use it for baking cookies or use it as a pizza stone too! It can also be used as a cold plate for sushi or as a cutting board! What other kitchen item can you possibly find this many uses for? Only the Sparq Griddle!
The first thing that struck me about the SPARQ soapstone griddle was just how beautiful this big hunk of rock is! Out of the box, the stone is smooth, weighty and naturally marbled in rich grays and greens. Generously sized at
15" x 11 1/2" x almost 1" thick, the griddle is large enough to accommodate dinner for 6! And with one side
sculpted into a ridged grilling surface, and the other side smooth and flat like a griddle, I knew that I had some
happy culinary adventures ahead of me. It's very easy to follow SPARQ's directions for seasoning the griddle with heat and oil before using it to cook with. Having accomplished that task on a leisurely Saturday, I left the griddle in the oven overnight, and used it the next morning to gently toast some homemade banana bread. Even with the heat turned off, the soapstone kept the bread warm and ready for everyone. As promised, the surface was non-stick and easy to clean! It's been warm in New York, but not quite warm enough to fire up the outdoor grill! After heating the stone in the oven and "grilling" some gorgeous shrimp kebabs on it, however, I feel closer to summer. The grilling surface produced a great sear, and the shrimp were gently and perfectly cooked. So the next day: marinated steak -- in the oven, on the soapstone "grill!" Such a treat, especially in February! The juices collected in the channels on the stone, and there was no mess to speak of, only deliciousness! When not in use the SPARQ griddle lives on my counter, flat side up. I love the smoothness and beauty of the stone, and it serves as a terrific cutting and prep board. Next up: trying it on the stovetop for some pancakes. And once summer comes, I'll be using it outdoors on the grill for even better barbecues....
We love our Sparq soapstone griddle and you will too. If you are into a healthy lifestyle and cooking the right way then you need to get this griddle in your kitchen today. So what is the big deal, you ask. We bet you didn't know that grilling meat directly over an open flame can increase your risk of cancer by 50% to 70%. That is scary, right? That's why a Sparq griddle is the smart way to grill. Unlike many items in your kitchen now, the griddle doesn't contain Teflon or other dangerous chemicals. Instead, it allows you to grill up amazingly tasty food without all the risk of everyday grilling. The Soapstone Griddle’s groove design naturally self-bastes which creates a moist, organic marinade and melts unwanted fat off your grilling item. You can use this on your stove top or place it on your grilling rack right in your grill, and start your grilling party. The griddle heats up well, doesn’t dry out food and doesn't expose your food to direct flames or smoke. The best part is you can use the griddle as a pizza stone or cookie sheet, you can make everything on it from eggs, to pancakes, to steak and veggies and more. And did we mention how easy it is to clean? Simply scrape off excess and use warm water and mild eco soap, and you are all done. The little stone that could, we can't say enough great things about this griddle. The Sparq griddle is our new go to kitchen tool, healthily cooking all our favorite items, shouldn't it be yours too?
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Born out of a soapstone import and fabrication business, SPARQ Home is committed to using recycled material to produce energy efficient, earth friendly, gourmet kitchen products.
The Story
The use of soapstone for its temperature properties is as old as mankind. In fact, it is one of the most effective natural materials this planet produces for conducting and retaining temperature. Why not harness its powers for the greater entertaining good?
Founders Steve Chavez and Justin English became frustrated with the mass of scrap soapstone that was ending up in a landfill after they completed a project. The kitchen countertop industry was producing more scrap than it could handle so they set out to find a creative way to give the old scrap new life.
Determined to create sustainable products from this great natural resource, Chavez and English turned to the stone’s natural properties of maintaining warm and cool temperatures. Unlike granite or marble, soapstone is the ONLY non-porous, odorless, tasteless, and natural food safe stone used in the home. With these characteristics in mind, old sink cut-outs were made into griddles used for cooking. Tile remnants were used to create appealing appetizer trays. Even a one inch piece of scrap could be used as an ice cube! Sparq Home was born.
Made in the USA & Sustainably Focused
SPARQ Home is based in Denver where the majority of our products are made. The remainder of the manufacturing is done in Massachusetts for the purpose of keeping fuel and shipping usage low for customers on the east coast. Through a network of relationships, SPARQ Home re-purposes collected scrap material and transforms it into beautiful, unique, quality kitchen products.
