There is nothing quite like a delicious, pancake breakfast. If you have a large family, however, it can get tricky to keep the pancakes coming fast enough with just a single pan or small stovetop griddle. Thankfully, if you get the best electric griddle possible, you can cook more and faster. You can also save yourself tons of time on the cleanup since these devices require little to no cooking oil to operate correctly.
As you can imagine, there are plenty of different factors that you need to take into consideration when you are looking for the best rated electric griddle. The first thing we considered for our listing was the cooking area of each griddle since this will determine how much food can be cooked at one time. Next, we looked at the overall dimensions of each griddle, since this will determine where it can be used and stored. Finally, we looked at the temperature range, as it influences both how long food will need to cook and the types of foods the griddle can be used for.
To put together our comprehensive list, we have spent tens of hours reading through hundreds of user reviews. This research also allowed us to complete in-depth reviews of some of the best electric griddles on the market. We have also completed a detailed buying guide, which will give you all the information you need to find the perfect griddle for your needs.
More features: non-stick surface; removable handles
When it comes to finding the best electric griddle, there are lots of things that you need to consider. If you are thinking of using your griddle to cook for many people, then you are going to want to get one with a large surface area, that heats up quickly, and is easy to clean. In that case, this model is going to be your best bet, probably. This griddle has a very large cooking area. Its large cooking area is ideal for cooking up lots of tasty food all at once, which makes it that much easier to keep a large group of folks fed quickly.
This griddle also has a high maximum cooking temperature. This high cooking temperature will allow you to make pretty much anything from pancakes and French toast to steak sandwiches and quesadillas. This griddle also heats up quite quickly, meaning you can cook your food in a shorter amount of time.
The only real issue with this model is that the drip tray is not all that sturdy. While this is certainly not the biggest issue, you will need to make sure that you are very careful with it when you remove, clean, and put it back into place. Otherwise, it is likely that it will break, which is, obviously, not something that you want to have happened. Something else that makes this model stand out is its lightweight body and easy to clean design. Even though this griddle has one of the largest cooking surfaces on the market, it is nice and light. The entire griddle, including the cord, only weighs a little over six pounds. This lightweight makes it easy to transport and store. When you are done cooking, this griddle is also very simple to clean. Since the handles can be removed and washed in the dishwasher and the surface is covered in a durable non-stick material, you won’t need to spend tons of time cleaning this griddle before you put it away.
More features: grill, griddle , grill and griddle combo, double-sided, dishwasher safe, removable plates, grease channel and tray, dual adjustable heat
The Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill and Griddle is the next on our list, well-known for its versatility and easy use. The double cooking zones are designed to be independent with a center grease channel and a drip tray under. It is easy to adjust the heat and clean the unit after use, either with hand or by dishwasher for the parts. With the Hamilton Beach unit, you can cook up to eight servings at once or simply cook for yourself.
Those who are looking for a grill and griddle will be impressed with this three-in-one unit. The Hamilton Beach device is a full griddle and half grill/half griddle. The parts are reversible and you can use it to cook any meal of the day, whether it’s pancakes and bacon or steaks, pizza, and vegetables.
More features: 2-in-1 design; glass lid
Even though griddles are wonderful devices, there is always room for improvement. One of the biggest issues that go along with using a griddle, especially if you are trying to cook more substantial meals than breakfast foods, is that a lot of heat escapes from the top. The reason is due to the fact that a lot of griddles don’t have any cover. This model, on the other hand, comes with a glass cover that swivels on an axis, so that it is always attached to the frame of the griddle.
This cover acts as a heat shield. It captures all of the heat that would otherwise float away, sealing it in to cook food that much faster. Since it holds in the heat so much better than other models, this griddle also has a higher maximum temperature. You just need to be careful that you don’t open the lid too wide. Condensation will form on the lid and run down it when opened, which will leave a wet spot on your counter if you aren’t careful.
This higher temperature will allow you to cook all types of food.
Something else that helps to make this such a versatile griddle is the fact that it can also be used as a grill. This grilling feature, when combined with the higher temperatures makes this a great griddle to use when you are cooking any type of meal.
Since you can use this griddle as a grill, it is a good thing that it has a grease catcher as well. This reservoir, which is located underneath the griddle, is large enough to hold a lot of cooking grease. This makes this model a wonderful option if you are cooking anything greasy, like hamburgers or bacon. The reservoir is very easy to empty and is dishwasher safe, which helps it to be extremely simple to clean.
More features: 6 cooking options; removable, reversible and nonstick grill/griddle plates
While this griddle might seem a bit different than some others on the market, don’t let its looks fool you. For starters, this folded design makes this one of the most compact griddles out there. Even though this model is a bit on the heavy side for a griddle, it should easily fit into smaller cabinets or even on countertops that are lacking in space. This makes it a perfect option for anyone that has a smaller home but still wants to make delicious food.
Something else that is a bit appealing about this griddle is the fact that you can use it opened or closed to cook your food. This dual cooking function only adds to the overall versatility of the machine, since it opens up plenty of new cooking opportunities for you and your family. If you choose to cook with it in the closed position, this will also speed up your cooking time, since you will be cooking both the top and bottom of the food at the same time.
Not only that, but the griddle plates can be interchanged. If you want to grill with both sides of the griddle, then you simply put the grilling bars up. If, however, you want to make pancakes, then you have to install the griddle plates and open it up. You can also mix and match so that you can make your food just the way that you want it to be made.
This griddle also offers an extremely high temperature. It can heat up to 500 degrees, which is perfect for searing the exterior of any meat. Of course, this high temperature can’t be reached right away. This griddle actually takes a bit longer than others to reach its highest temperatures. Of course, as long as you build in some time to preheat your griddle, this shouldn’t be too big of an issue.
More features: ceramic nonstick coating; fully immersible with cord removed
If you are in the market for a straightforward, easy-to-clean, and user-friendly griddle, then this just might the right option for you. It has a very large cooking surface that is more than large enough to feed a family or a group of friends. Even though this griddle only can be used as just a griddle, it can still make plenty of delicious food in a timely fashion. It is also one of the lightest models available, which makes it a great option for anyone that needs to store their griddle high up or wants to take it camping or tailgating.
What really sets this model apart from any other griddle is how easy it is to clean. As is the case with all-electric griddles, this model has a nonstick coating. This, of course, makes it much easier to get off any cooked-on grime or grease when you are finished using the griddle. Something that really makes this a simple machine to clean, however, is the fact that it can be fully submerged in water.
Most electric griddles, like all electronics, cannot get wet. If they do, their circuits will short out, and they will stop working. This griddle, however, can be put into a sink full of soapy water, as long as the cord is no longer attached. Since the entire griddle can be placed right in the sink with all of your other dishes, this is a very easy to clean and maintain griddle.
Of course, you do need to be careful when you go to plug the griddle back in. This plug once installed correctly is very secure and works quite well. It is quite difficult to get back into its proper place though. Thankfully, this will get a bit easier with more practice, so it shouldn’t be too big of a problem.
More features: built-in warming tray; removable drip tray
While griddles are usually thought of a kitchen appliance, there is no real reason that you can’t take one with you when you go camping or tailgating. Of course, you certainly don’t want to lug one along with you if it is terribly heavy or overly large. If that is the case for you and your family, then this is a great griddle to try out. It has a large enough cooking area without being overly bulky. It is on the shorter side as well, which makes it easier to stow away in tighter spots.
This griddle is nice and light. It weighs a minuscule amount. In fact, it only tips the scales at five total pounds, making it one of, if not the, lightest griddle you can buy. This light weight, of course, makes it very easy to tote along with you on your travels, which is ideal if you are already packing a lot with you.
Even though this griddle is on the slimmer side, it still comes fully equipped with an easy-to-use warming tray. Of course, this tray is not all that large, so you could only probably fit a few pancakes in it. This is better than nothing, however, and would be perfect for making sure that any later risers on a camping trip still get a hot meal to start their day.
This griddle has a high maximum temperature. The temperature gauge is not all that easy to read, however. This could lead to you accidentally burning some food until you get the hang of reading the gauge accurately, so be prepared for that if you do decide to go with this model.
More features: comes with a lid and stainless-steel spatula
If you are someone that is looking for a heavy-duty griddle that can stand up to extended periods of use without breaking down, then this might be the right model for your needs. This particular griddle is built out of heavier gauge metals than other models, which makes it extremely durable. Of course, this also makes it much heavier. Thankfully, if you are going to be cooking with it in one location for long periods of time, then its heavier weight shouldn’t be too big of a deal.
This model is also a good value buy as well. If you do decide to purchase this griddle, you will also get a stainless-steel spatula that is perfect for flipping pancakes. More importantly, however, you will also get a heavy gauge lid to go along with the griddle. This lid will help to keep heat in while you are cooking, which, in turn, will make your food cook that much faster. The lid also helps to keep any heat from escaping once you are done cooking, turning the entire griddle into a heating tray.
The actual cooking surface of this griddle is deeply inset. There are two different reasons for this design. The first is so that the lid could fit on securely without falling off of the sides. The second, and more important, reason for this design is to keep messes and food from rolling off the griddle. Since everything you cook will stay right on the cooking surface, you won’t need to worry about any extra messes to clean up when you are finished using the griddle. Since everything stays on the tray, this design also helps to make the griddle quite easy to clean.
More features: grill on one side, griddle on the other
While lots of folks think of a griddle like a pancake maker primarily, they are actually quite versatile. With a standard griddle, you can make tons of foods. Of course, if you get a model like this one, you can make even more types and styles of food than ever before. The reason for this is thanks to the ingenious double-sided design of this model. On one side, it features a standard griddle. This side is best suited for pancakes, French toasts, eggs, and bacon. It can also be used for steak sandwiches or other food you would ordinarily make in a frying pan.
The grill side, however, is a whole different ballgame. With this side, you can make grilled chicken, steak, pork chops, or any other grilled favorites. Not only will this result in delicious food, but the nonstick surface is a whole lot easier to clean than a standard gas grill, which is a big time saver. Plus, since this unit can be used indoors, you can grill all year long, not just in the summertime like you can with a standard gas grill.
This model also has a large enough temperature range to make it ideal for any type of food that you want to cook, as long as it isn’t overly large. The maximum temperature for this griddle/grill will make it nice and easy to cook your food exactly the way you like it.
Even though the grill side of this griddle has ridges, it is still quite easy to clean. All you need to do is wipe it down with a wet cloth or a soapy sponge, and you will be good to go. This surface is so easy to clean that, even if you accidentally overcook something on it, it will come right off without too much scrubbing.
Of course, the downside to this style of design is that this griddle is quite bulky. While it shouldn’t be too big of an issue to fit inside of a larger cabinet, you might need to rearrange your kitchen space to accommodate its thickness.
More features: titanium-infused DuraCeramic nonstick coating; warming tray
Sometimes it can be daunting to find a budget-friendly pick when it comes to buying a new appliance. There are so many options out there that it can be difficult to find one that is both an effective griddle and cheap enough to fit into an already tight budget. If this happens to be your situation, then this is a great option to check out. This griddle is quite budget-friendly, but still effective when it comes to cooking standard griddle fares, such as pancakes, eggs, or bacon.
As you would expect from something in this price range, however, this griddle is a bit on the smaller side when compared to other models. Of course, this isn’t all that big of a deal. It simply means that it might take you a few extra minutes to finish cooking up. The end result, thankfully, will still be the same – a mouthwatering, delicious meal.
This model also comes fully equipped with a warming tray. This tray is one of the bigger ones on the market, which is a nice feature. The tray can be quite difficult to remove and put back into place, however, which might make you a bit less likely to use it. If you do choose to use it, you will just have to the patience necessary to get it in and out of its tray area correctly.
This griddle is quite durable and very easy to clean. This is due to its titanium infused coating. Since the coating is infused with titanium, it is extremely durable, and should hold up well to lots of use. This is also a very lightweight griddle, which makes it a good choice for anyone that wants to store it up high or use it for activities where portability is key.
In this section, we will go through everything that you need to know to find the best electric griddle for your needs. We have also taken the time to answer several frequently asked questions, so be sure to read through those as well if you are still unclear on any key details.
While electric griddles are usually thought of as primarily a breakfast-making appliance, that is not all that they can be used for. An electric griddle is a key piece of cookware to own, for several different reasons.
As you can imagine, there are plenty of different factors that you need to consider when it comes to finding a new griddle. In this section, we will go through all of these areas of concern in detail so that you can make an informed decision.
The first thing that you will want to take into consideration when looking for the best electric griddle is the amount of cooking area that you need. This will, of course, depend on how many people you need to cook for. If you have a smaller family, then you can get by with a griddle that has a smaller cooking area, like the Oster CKSTGRFM18W-TECO. This will also help to save you a bit of money in the purchase price as well.
Of course, if you have a large family or plan to use your griddle for tailgating or camping with a larger sized crew, then you will want to get a larger model, like the Zojirushi EA-DCC10. By getting a griddle with a larger cooking area, you will be better able to feed larger groups very quickly.
The next thing that you will want to take into careful consideration is the maximum temperature that your new griddle can reach. This temperature will determine two different things. The first thing is what types of foods you can cook with it. If you want to cook something other than pancakes, then you are going to need higher temperatures, especially if you want to sear meats.
The second factor that the maximum temperature of your new griddle will affect is how quickly it heats up. While you are only supposed to set your griddle to your desired temperature when you are cooking, a higher maximum temperature will mean that the griddle gets to the proper heating level much faster than a model with a lower maximum temperature. This quicker heat time will, in turn, help to make your cooking time that much shorter. The Cuisinart GR-150 is an excellent example of a much faster cooking griddle with a higher than average maximum temperature.
If you plan on using your new griddle anywhere else aside from your home, then you need to carefully consider the wattage that it uses. The wattage is the amount of electricity your new appliance needs to operate both safely and efficiently. If you are thinking of taking your griddle on the road in your RV, to a tailgating party, or camping, then you will want to carefully consider how much energy you need to keep it running.
The reason that this is something that you need to consider is that in all of the above situations, you won’t have the same amount of power at your disposal as you do at home. If you are tailgating, camping, or RVing, then you are going to be on a limited supply of power from a generator or electrical plug. The last thing you want to do is overload the power source. Not only is this bad for your equipment, but it will also result in you not being able to cook the meal that you planned.
If you are only going to be using your griddle at home, the wattage shouldn’t play too big of a part in your decision. Unless, that is, you have a much older home with older wiring. In that case, you might want to look for a model with lower wattage to avoid tripping any breakers. If you have up to date electrical components in your home, however, this shouldn’t be too big of an issue.
While a warming tray is certainly not an essential feature to look for when it comes to finding a good electric griddle, it sure is a plus. A warming tray is, basically, exactly what it sounds like. It is additional space below the griddle that will allow you to keep the first food that you cooked hot and ready to serve while you are still cooking the rest of the meal. That way, no one has to deal with food that has gone cold because you have been cooking for a long time.
A warming tray, like the one on the BLACK+DECKER GD2051B, is a great idea if you are going to be using your griddle for cooking for your family or for a large gathering. Since everyone will probably filter into the kitchen at different times, it makes sense to keep the first pancakes or quesadillas warm until someone can eat them. On the other hand, if you are only cooking for one or two people, you probably don’t need to look for a model with a warming tray.
One of the only issues that you are going to encounter when you are looking for the best pancake griddle or any other type of griddle is that they are somewhat large. This larger than the average body can make storing an electric griddle a big challenge, especially if you have a smaller kitchen or camper. In this case, it might make sense to look for a model that is on the smaller side so that you can store it more easily. Of course, this also means that you will cut down on the size of the cooking area, as well, so you need to take that into consideration as too.
If you have a large kitchen with tons of space, then you could probably get any griddle that you desire. If you want the largest model you can get, then the Presto 07061 is going to be your best bet. However, if you are not so fortunate and are looking for a smaller model to fit into your smaller kitchen, then the Cuisinart GR-150 will probably work a bit better.
To go along with the overall dimensions for your new griddle, you will also want to make sure that you carefully consider the overall weight of your new griddle. This is especially true if you are going to be storing it in a higher space in your kitchen, or you intend to take it with you camping or tailgating. The last thing that you want to do is to get a griddle that is too heavy for you to transport safely since this will greatly limit how much you can use it.
Thankfully, most electric griddles are not nearly as heavy as their stovetop counterparts. Even so, if you are worried about finding a griddle that you can easily manage to move, then you should definitely go with a smaller model, like the BLACK+DECKER GD2051B. It weighs a minuscule five pounds, making it quite portable and easy to store.
As is the case with any new appliance, it is always best to protect yourself from having to spend any extra money by looking for a good warranty. That way, if something happens to your griddle through normal use, you will be able to get it replaced without having to pay for the expense yourself.
Of course, you need to be sure to read through any and all paperwork very carefully when it comes to warranties. Lots of companies will claim that they offer an extended warranty, but don’t actually cover all of the different components of the appliance. The last that you want to have happened is to think that you are covered, have your new griddle break, and then have to pay for the repair yourself. When it comes to warranties, always be sure to read through the fine print.
Griddles are relatively straightforward appliances. There are, however, still several different features to keep in mind when you are shopping for a new one. As we mentioned before, when of the biggest benefits of owning an electric griddle is that they are extremely easy to clean. The Oster CKSTGRFM18W-TECO takes this easy cleaning design to a new level, however. It has a non-stick, titanium infused coating that makes it not only extremely easy to clean but also extraordinarily durable.
Another thing that can help to make cleanup even easier is if you can wash your griddle in your sink. Obviously, this cannot be done with every model, but the Hamilton Beach 38518R is a great example of this. As long as you have the cord removed, you are able to fully submerge this griddle, which makes it that much easier to keep clean.
Something else that you might want to look for when it comes to a griddle is one that has different cooking surfaces that you can use to make different foods. For instance, the Wolfgang Puck Electric Reversible Grill and Griddle has both a griddle and grilling surface, which makes it a two-for-one appliance that can be used to make food for breakfast lunch and dinner.
An electric griddle is a perfect tool for making pancakes. The non-stick, easy to clean, and evenly to heat surface is the perfect recipe for delicious pancakes. To make pancakes on your griddle, simply follow these steps:
Maintaining an electric griddle isn’t all that hard to do. It does, however, need to be done to keep your griddle running as effectively as possible. As such, be sure to follow this cleaning routine to keep it working just as if it just came out of the box. You need to be sure not to use anything too abrasive, such as steel wool, to clean your griddle, since this will scratch off the non-stick coating.
Of all the different electric griddles available today, the Presto 07061 is the best overall. This griddle is easy to clean, can reach a high maximum temperature, and has plenty of surfaces to offer. The handles also come off and can be washed in the dishwasher, making this a tough griddle to beat and the one we highly recommend you check out!
The Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill and Griddle is the ideal choice for those who want a versatile unit. It can be used as a griddle for breakfast or a grill for dinner and is great for cooking up to eight servings.
If you are going to be making greasy food, then the best electric griddle for the job has got to be the Secura GR-1503Xl. It has a very large cooking area and an amply sized grease trap. This large trap will help to clean up after you cook sausage, eggs, bacon, or any other greasy food that you might want to cook.
