Even if you already have an outdoor grill, you'll probably want to have a grill pan, too. A grill pan allows you to grill indoors, its ridges give food grill-like sear marks and allow excess oil to drain away. Grill pans are popular for cooking steaks and other proteins but are also great for vegetables and grilled sandwiches. They are available at many price points, in different sizes, shapes, and handle configurations and are typically made from nonstick materials or cast iron.

Related: The Best Tools for Maintaining a Cast-Iron Skillet

Food writer Faith Kramer, whose book 52 Shabbats ($29, bookshop.org) includes recipes that use a grill pan, uses both nonstick and cast-iron grill pans and says the most important factor is choosing the right size pan. "The surface shouldn't be too big for your burner but large enough so that you grill, not steam," says Kramer. "Choose a pan with deep enough ridges so that your food will stay on top and any liquid drips down and evaporates." While cast iron can be trickier to clean than nonstick, Kramer prefers it and says she uses a brush "that works well at getting into all the nooks and crannies."

Here we share our picks for the best grill pans in cast iron, nonstick, and stainless steel, in different sizes and shapes, and at different price points. We also explain the pros and cons of each grill pan.

This large scratch-resistant grill pan with two ergonomic handles is a joy to use and feels indestructible. You can use metal utensils with it, and it is dishwasher, induction, oven, and broiler safe up to 600°F. The base with copper-reinforced ferromagnetic particles ensures it will not warp on any cooktop. While it's recommended that you hand wash it, since literally nothing sticks to it, a minimal rinse is really all you need. It does not have spouts and it weighs about 3 1/2 pounds.

What this pan may lack in style it more than makes up for in functionality and is lighter than some of the fancier brands. It's pre-seasoned and ready to go but improves over time with usage. A tab on the opposite side of the handle makes for easy maneuvering. Like all cast iron pans, it shouldn't be allowed to soak and needs to be thoroughly dried after washing by hand.

If you don't want the weight of cast iron but are loathe to purchase nonstick, a stainless-steel pan is a good option. The Tramontina is induction, oven, and dishwasher safe and has a lifetime guarantee. While the handle is large, the total weight is still under three pounds. It has small ridges and you also may have to grease the pan lightly depending upon what you are grilling. It's oven and dishwasher safe, but it may discolor over time.

This skillet weighs a little over three pounds and has slanted sides that make burger flipping easy. Touted to last 16 times longer than traditional non-stick cookware, it is induction, dishwasher, and oven safe up to 500°F. Its anodized interior surface is triple-layer nonstick and it comes with a lifetime warranty. The skillet has particularly small ridges, but two spouts to allow you to drain off any liquid.

An heirloom in the making, this very attractive pan can be engraved for an additional fee. It has a large surface area and the deep smooth ridges are on an angle making for great grill marks, although a true nonstick patina will only come with repeated use. The sides of the pan are slightly slanted and help with getting food in and out with a spatula. The pan has no spouts and it's important to wipe with oil before using and after cleaning.

Clocking in at just over two pounds, this grill pan has angled sides that make it easy to flip burgers. It comes with a lifetime guarantee, is induction and dishwash safe, and is oven safe up to 500°F. It's ideal for grilling sandwiches or vegetables, the ridges are fairly small, but two spouts allow you to drain off any liquid that accumulates during grilling.

A favorite with photo stylists and food bloggers, this gorgeous octagonal pan has a stay cool spring handle and the largest and deepest ridges. While the pan is polished and pre-seasoned, it will only develop a darker more nonstick patina over time after being used four to five times. The surface area is a bit on the small side, the handle is large and the pan is incredibly heavy at over eight pounds.

In addition to being adorable, this mini version of a cast-iron grill pan is perfect for singles or cooking and keeping separate a vegetarian (or non-vegetarian) individual burger on a cooktop on a grill or over a campfire. At just over two pounds it's not terribly heavy and has two spouts to pour off drippings. While perfect for a burger, it may be too small for a grilled cheese sandwich and like all cast iron it must be handwashed and thoroughly dried.

If you prefer a skillet style pan, this one has straight sides, medium ridges, and performs incredibly well. It is about three pounds in weight, dishwasher, oven, and broiler safe up to 600°F. Pat food dry before grilling as the pan lacks spouts and liquids can quickly carbonize. It cannot be used with induction cooktops.