Ridge Monkey? Which one fits the Cali hob best?

[chockswahay]

I have looked across the forum but not yet found the answer. Can anyone who uses the Connect regular or XL comment on how well the pan and handles fit the hob please? I quite fancy getting one but even the XL (although smallish) does look at if it will be a bit of a squeeze. Do the handles scrape the top of the hob? Does the flame fire out the side too much? Dull questions I know but any advice would be gratefully received.

Also, is the regular size just too small for a toastie? Or to put it another way, is the XL too big for ‘just a toastie’?

Cheers

 

[Sad]

We have the Connect Combi and Steamer Set and have no issues with 1 half on each hob.
Cannot comment on the toastie situation!

 

[Stu@rt]

We have 2 of the XL's, one for each ring. The XL is still not as big as you'd expect. So is just about right for a toastie. Bought one to try and then ordered a 2nd. Great for frying too. Easy to flip and contains the fat splatters and smells.

 

[ArunAlec]

We have the regular and I’d say go for the XL. The problem with the regular is that the handle weight makes it a bit tricky to balance on the Cali burner.

 

[chockswahay]

Thanks team reckon I’ll go for the XL then

 

[Viktorgeorge]

We just ordered the XXL.

 

[ArunAlec]

We just ordered the XXL.

Is the XXL within the "safe size" for the Cali stove top ?

 

[Stu@rt]

Is the XXL within the "safe size" for the Cali stove top ?

Feels too big to be safe for my liking, to be honest.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Feels too big to be safe for my liking, to be honest.

Agree - in theory it’s okay, and if you had only one pan going, then probably it’ll fit. It’s just so close to the fridge glass in the video though. We have an XL and a Combi Steamer. Also got a smaller toastie maker (not RM) which does 2 separate sarnies.

 

[Stu@rt]

Agree - in theory it’s okay, and if you had only one pan going, then probably it’ll fit. It’s just so close to the fridge glass in the video though. We have an XL and a Combi Steamer. Also got a smaller toastie maker (not RM) which does 2 separate sarnies.

I'd be worried what the flames were doing at the back too - where you might not be able to see properly. Too scary for me ! #notbraveenough

 

[BeeBee]

We recently got the XL and so glad we did as it is a perfect fit for one ring. Doesn’t wobble or invade the space of second ring. Great for morning croissants, I usually heat it up on both sides, turn off gas and sit croissants in, turn it over a couple of times and heh presto… don’t leave them in with gas on as they’ll burn … lots to try yet, enjoy

 

[ArunAlec]

Recently started using ours for American style pancakes. Really easy and no flipping!

 

[The Tall Luthier]

The 6” one, almost square is great for 2 egg omelettes, bagels toasties and bread toasties out quickly frying up some onions to go with a barbecue. It has approx the same dimensions as the RM kettle and fits perfectly.

The 8” version is bigger and also fits well but a little bit oversized for the hob. It’s the preferred option when cooking for two, sausages with onions or ratatouille etc as it has nearly twice the cooking area as the 6” version.

 

[chockswahay]

Well then team, the Ridge Monkey arrived today…… so I had to test it out of course!

I dug out some bread from the freezer and thawed it out first. The bread as it happens was a mix of sourdough and some sort of leek enhanced bread from our local market. I filled the sandwiches with cheddar cheese and some ham type anti pasta meat from the fridge. (You probably didn’t need to know any of that, LOL)……

Anyway, as an experiment I buttered the outsides of one sandwich and left the others plain (no butter inside any of them either) then put them in the RM and went out to the van to cook them…….. 30 seconds a side, flip over and repeat, on a medium heat for total time of six minutes. The results were pleasingly tasty and much to our surprise the non buttered versions although a bit less crispy or coloured were actually the ‘purer’ taste.

Verdict? Oh yes! Deffo a useful addition to the Cali Kitchen Quick, easy, delicious and no mess

 

[jonnystrong2000]

Is the XXL within the "safe size" for the Cali stove top ?

Hi, I am not particularly a confident cook. If I bought a regular supermarket ‘stick in the oven at home’ meal, can I cook these in a ridge monkey on low heat, how low, how long?

 

[ArunAlec]

Hi, I am not particularly a confident cook. If I bought a regular supermarket ‘stick in the oven at home’ meal, can I cook these in a ridge monkey on low heat, how low, how long?

Personally I wouldn’t unless you could have the heat very low. The RidgeMonkey is really no different to a frying pan with a lid. I think oven cooking relies on a less direct heat.

 

[chockswahay]

Hi, I am not particularly a confident cook. If I bought a regular supermarket ‘stick in the oven at home’ meal, can I cook these in a ridge monkey on low heat, how low, how long?

Depends on what it is. You don’t want too much liquid or it will leak out when turning over. If you are heating enclosed pies, pasties, fish cakes, filafel or anything a bit more dense then I would say try it. Use the lowest flame and turn the Grill Monkey over every 2 minutes and heat for say 12 mins total. We have been surprised at what can be cooked/heated and have found it to be a really useful Cali cooking aid.

Experiment! What’s the worst that can happen? (apart from burnt food or food poisoning haha)

My missus said try a paella or biryani style ready meal as they would reheat well in a Grill Monkey.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Edit: we set a 2 min timer on the phone, that helps to ensure regular turnovers

 

[Trojax]

Having just started to buy the ridge monkey stuff go no bigger than the XL as they are just right for the cali burners, also don't bother with the kettle as it has a ridge on the bottom and is not safe on the burner....the XXL is just way to big....

 

[Not-tonyadventures]

We have the XXL. Think it is great. Love cooking with it. Not used it on both burners simultaneously though. Tend to use on right side with sink glass up.

Warning about liquid dripping out side when flipping is valid. Certainly experienced that with the XXL. Not sure if size effects this though.

 

[Hawthorn37]

You just need to flip with confidence, and speed!

 

[Hawthorn37]

Ridge Monkey pans are good, especially as you can remove tge handles for storage. We have the XL toastie pan, good for deep filled toasties, and grilling steaks etc., also the deep pan with a lid - and use this every time we camp and cook - literally for everything else. The XXL looks useful but currently we wouldn’t have the storage space.

 

[ThisIsChristoph]

We just went on a ten day trip with our new XXL and it’s great: sits safely, not too close to the fridge glass top (even when there’s a medium pot going on the right hand burner) and suits three hungry people well for a big frittata. Cleans really easily too. The included (foldable) spatula is good for handling larger single items but a bit large for scrambled eggs for my liking. The (also included) cheese grater is so excellent that I now want it in my home kitchen: it grates in BOTH directions. Amazing.