The Best Griddles

Time to cook up some pancakes, or maybe eggs and french toast or a breakfast quesadilla? So, let’s see, should we fire up that cast iron skillet you used to make fried fish sticks for the kids last night or does that sound like a really gross idea? When it comes to preparing light, low-oil meals that require an even cooking temperature, nothing beats a stovetop griddle. Combining all the benefits of skillet cooking with the convenience of easy cleaning, a griddle helps you prepare everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to crepes. With that in mind, we cooked (and ate) just about everything from the fridge to help you find the best griddles around.

Legend Cast Iron 2-In-1 Stovetop Griddle2

A Legend In Our Time

Cast from pure, premium-grade iron and steel and combining both an iron griddle and grill surface, Legend gets our highest award.

Best Overall

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The Legend is a two-sided combination griddle and grill that fits right on top of two burners on your stove. The griddle side has a smooth, 20-inch long cooking surface, surrounded by a grease reservoir, making it perfect for eggs, pancakes or any food requiring an even cooking surface. The grill side has raised ridge lines to create perfect sear marks while allowing fat and oil to run off. Because of its high-quality iron and steel construction, the griddle both retains and disburses heat evenly, and is so strong it works on campfires as well. It’s also perfect as a warming tray, and with its built-in handles, it’s easy to carry using both hands.

Pros:

Easy to season
Flat, rectangular design makes storage simple
Comes with branded grill-scraper

Cons:

Not compatible with induction stovetops
Difficult to use on 5-burner stovetops

Chef’s Design Ultimate Griddle

The Ultimate In Non-Stick

Designed to maintain its non-stick coating 100 times longer than other pans, Chef’s Design may be the last griddle you buy.

Best Non-Stick Griddle

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First and foremost, this griddle is built tough from the ground-up. With a heavy, cast-aluminum base reinforced with stainless steel, this 20-inch, dual burner-covering griddle is sure to last a lifetime. Better still, it’s this durability that assures a lifetime of non-stick use, as the stainless steel base provides the base for the coating. Cast aluminum also conducts heat more efficiently than other metals, so you can be sure the corners of the griddle will be the same temperature as the middle. Another great feature? Aluminum is a superconductive material, so you can use your griddle to thaw frozen steaks in 40 minutes.

Pros:

Made in the USA
Perfect for smooth, glass cooktops
Grease moat keeps fat from food

Cons:

Hand-wash only
Use only wooden, silicone and non-metal utensils

Iwatani BBQ Plate

Korean BBQ Without The Tip

Iwatani has modeled their griddle after the popular Korean BBQ grill top, turning your home into a restaurant.

Best Korean BBQ Griddle

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One of the most novel and entertaining ways of eating is Koren BBQ, where thin slices of different marinated meats are cooked directly on the tabletop. Iwatani brings this unique experience home with their BBQ Plate: a two-piece set that’s exactly like the model used in restaurants. The set includes both the 12-inch, rounded cooking surface and the convenient bottom-tray that collects grease. Simply place the unit on top of a portable, one-top cooking surface (gas or electric) and you’re on your way. This one also comes with a convenient, detachable handle for easy pick-up and cleaning.

Pros:

Fluorine non-stick surface
Sturdy, die-cast aluminum griddle
Available in single-piece design

Cons:

Flare-ups are common
Requires portable stovetop

Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle

It’s The Cowboy Way

Griddle-cooking doesn’t get easier or more simple than with the Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle, making it perfect for indoors and campouts.

Best Traditional Griddle

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If you’re looking for a griddle whose design and function has withstood the test of time, the Cuisinel Cast Iron Griddle is it. It’s a 10-inch pan, forged from quality cast-iron, designed with a handle and a slight lip around the edge. And that’s it. The only 21st century concessions are a non-stick surface and a silicone guard you can place around the handle to keep from burning yourself. Otherwise, you’re pretty much cooking the way Buffalo Bill did. It’s the perfect griddle for cooking outdoors or just for throwin’ some flapjacks on in the morning.

Pros:

1-year money-back guarantee
Convenient handle-hoop for easy storage
Works great on induction cooktops

Cons:

Low handle design is close to stovetop
Finish can be rough

Frequently Asked Questions

Shouldn’t a proper griddle have raised ridges down the middle?

People are often confused about this. Griddles are flat, while grills have raised ridges running their length. A griddle is designed to have an even temperature across the entire surface, whereas grills are made to create a sear on your food and draw the fat or oils away. Griddles are also best for cooking with lower temperatures to create consistent browning, like with pancakes. In fact, most griddle manufacturers recommend that you don’t subject your griddle to any heat higher than your stovetop’s Medium setting.

I’ve heard that using cast iron can be harmful to your health. Is that true?

The “risk” that people associate with iron pans is the amount of iron that can be passed into food from their use. People who have conditions where their iron levels are already high may want to avoid iron pans, but that said, the amount of iron typically passed through to food is way under the FDA’s guidelines for recommended daily supplemental iron. For example, a hamburger cooked on an iron skillet contains 2.29mg or iron; the daily recommended dose of iron for an adult male is 8mg. Again, if you already have high amounts of iron in your blood or have a preexisting condition that makes you susceptible to iron toxicity, you may want to avoid cooking with cast iron. Please consult your doctor.

What about Teflon or other non-stick coatings on griddles? Are they safe?

Yes. Teflon, a non-stick coating made from Polytetrafluoroethylene, has been free of the chemical PFOA for years. This has rendered Teflon, as well as generic non-stick coatings using PTFE, as harmless. Even small flakes of coating that may be scraped off during cooking that wind up in food should be harmless and pass through the system. However, it is recommended that Teflon should not be subjected to temperatures 570F or higher, otherwise the compound can melt into your food.