A griddle is simply as a piece of flat metal specially made for cooking. The typical image of a griddle is a flat surface that is heated from below. Some of the common foods you can cook on griddles are pancakes, bacon, eggs and French toast among others. At fast food outlets, they are used to make burgers and sandwiches. Our team of experts has reviewed The Top 10 Best Electric Griddles 2024.
In this article, we delve into the details. You need to know what to look out for when buying an electric griddle, the types, and also The Top 10 Best Electric Griddles in 2024.
Best Electric Griddle 2024 – Comparison Table
Before we go into more details, here is a sneak peek into our top 10 electric griddle picks :
| Grill Name | Weight | Cooking surface (inches) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle (Best Seller) | 6.5 lbs | 22 x 11 | |
| 2. BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family Sized Electric Griddle (Best Seller) | 5.2 lbs | 20 x 11 | |
| 3. Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler | 8 lbs | 13.5 x 11.5 | |
| 4. Oster CKSTGRFM18W-ECO DuraCeramic Griddle | 6.7 lbs | 18 x 10 | |
| 5. Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle | 4 lbs | 10.5 x 8.5 | |
| 6. Cuisinart GR-300WS Griddler Elite Grill | 16.84 lbs | 16.2 x 8.1 | |
| 7. Secura GR-1503XL 1700W Electric Reversible 2 in 1 Grill Griddle | 13.6 lbs | 15.5 x 11.5 | |
| 8. BELLA 2-in-1 Reversible Grill Griddle Combo | 10.99 lbs | 15.5 x 11.3 | |
| 9.Hamilton Beach 38546 3-in-1 Grill/Griddle | 8 lbs | 23 x 12.5 | |
| 10. Broil King PCG-10 Professional Portable Nonstick Griddle | 8.2 lbs | 29.5 x 12.5 |
Buying the Best Electric Griddle
Electric griddles are now becoming part of every household kitchen. It is no longer limited to your local burger joint. You should also know that this kitchen arsenal is not a preserve of those who have loads of cash to spare. Electric griddles are quite affordable.
The aim of this review is to get you informed on what to look for before settling on a particular electric griddle. Also, you will get an in-depth review of each of our Top 10 Best Electric Griddles 2024.
If your griddle is costing you more, chances are that it is a gas griddle, most of which are for use in restaurants. Since you are not a food joint, you are better off with the electric one. Conserving energy is great!
What you should look for in the Best Electric Griddle
i. Material
First things first. What is your griddle made of? Griddles are made from three different materials namely ceramic, cast iron or aluminum. If you want something that heats up and cools down faster, then you should opt for aluminum. However, when it comes to durability, be prepared to buy a new griddle after every two years.
Well, unless you want something that lasts more than that, two years of service aren’t that bad. For the best cooking, go for electric griddles made of cast iron. The cooking is slow but fantastic for your steaks and burgers. Ceramic top griddles, on the other hand, are the winners and the best in this category in terms of durability and cooking.
ii. Evenness
A good griddle is one that cooks evenly. Do not dare go for something with hot spots. Also, the cooking surface should heat up at the same rate, and the heat should not be limited to a particular area. To be on the safer side, it is best to conduct a test to ensure that all the four corners cook evenly.
iii. Grease flow and removal
Excess grease can do severe damage to your cooking rituals. This is because its buildup destroys the nonstick coating. Moreover, when it leakage can damage the temperature control panel. This may cause your food to get burnt. Therefore, always ensure that the grease tray is not only large enough but also dishwasher friendly. It should be easy to remove, easy to clean.
iv. Flatness
The grill top of a griddle is supposed to be flat always. However, when dealing with an aluminum model, this might become problematic. Just a slight tilt and you may ruin the griddle. This means that cooking a simple meal like eggs on your griddle will become a nightmare. Some places will be burn while others will be raw and others too greasy.
v. Cleanability
Your electric griddle should be easy to clean so that it can give you longer service. Cleaning is necessary since we have seen that grease buildup is detrimental to the nonstick coating.
vi. Coating
Nonstick coating is a must. If you need to use more than necessary amounts of grease, that griddle is not for you. As for the lifespan of metal griddles, ceramic coating is the best. You should also be wary of chemical coating and ensure that your griddle coating is not done using hazardous chemicals.
vii. Longevity
The longest a griddle should serve you is two years. Unless you are in the food business, this is the optimum time frame. So, does this mean that you are hopeless when it comes to griddles? No. Before buying, read what other buyers as saying about a particular brand. Any statement of peeling or warping is a notification of the brands you should avoid.
viii. Versatility
This is about your living space or the regulations that you are supposed to observe. There are buildings where gas grills are not allowed. This means that the next best option would be an electric one. An electric griddle will work in these circumstances, but you should ensure that it does not produce a lot of smoke when cooking.
ix. Price
We saved the best for last. There are plenty of affordable griddles but do not just buy any griddle, but something of high quality. This does not mean that you should go on a griddle splurge. Practice due diligence because expensive does not always mean good quality.
So, why should you buy an electric griddle?
- A large cooking surface: There is no need to worry when you have a growing family or when hosting friends. You have enough space to ensure that you feed them all with some yummy food.
- Even cooking: There is equal distribution of heat, hence no half cooking incidents.
- Less fat: By using electric griddles, you will be reducing the amount of fat that you consume. This is because of the nonstick coating and also the fact that griddles come with drip trays or grease wells that act as reservoirs for excess oil.
- You can use the griddle on your stove and best of all you won’t spend a lot of time doing so.
- You can warm up whatever needs some quick heat like muffins or buns.
- Electric griddles are easy to clean.
Types of Electric Griddles
There are two types of electric griddles; the basic electric griddle and the electric griddle/grill combo.
The basic electric griddle is the one with a flat griddle plate. The heat circulates evenly on the cooking surface. There are basic griddles that come with griddle presses while others don’t.
The second type is the electric griddle and electric grill combo. If you love steaks and burgers, then this is the kind of griddle to go for. It mostly comes with plate inserts.
The difference between an electric griddle and an electric skillet
These two kitchen pieces can make your cooking much easier. You avoid the oven and also do not need to use too many utensils. Also, in the process, you avoid making a mess in the whole kitchen. Surprisingly, most people usually confuse the two, but actually, they have some differences.
| Griddle | Skillet |
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|
First and foremost, it is much easier to turn on an electric griddle. The flat surface assures you of even heat distribution once heated with an electric heating element. The skillet has a flat surface too, but the cooking surface has some walls and a cover. The walls are there to contain the food hence allowing you to stir or mix ingredients.
So, what you cannot cook on a griddle will work perfectly fine on a skillet.
Reviews of the Best Electric Griddles 2024
These are the best electric griddles you can buy in 2024:
1. Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle – best electric griddle 2024
It is most suitable for those who have an issue when it comes to space. It does not take up your countertop space, so you have enough room to prepare other ingredients. Since the nonstick coating does not allow oil to stick, cleaning is easy. Also, any other unwanted things will be captured by the drip tray. When you finish cooking, simply take the heat control element, dip it in water and it will be clean.
What about the cooking surface? It is made of cast aluminum but coated with nonstick material. There are tight diamond patterns on it to ensure that food does not stick to the surface while cooking. This, of course, means that some foods will have diamond shapes on them but if you do not love diamonds on your food then avoid this.
The surface is not only good for cooking, but it’s easy to clean as well. There is no food stuck at the bottom, so once the griddle is cool, you can clean it immediately. The drip tray goes to the dishwasher, while a sponge and soap should do for the griddle surface.
Pros
- Cast iron base
- Nonstick coating
- Comes with a drip tray
- Has digital controls
- Can fully be immersed in water with heating control removed
- Has a clock
- Can easily fit in cabinets
- Can be used in limited space
Cons
- Knurled surface that may leave marks on your food
To see its latest price, click here.
2. BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family Sized Electric Griddle
This electric griddle has an aluminum cooking surface that has a nonstick coating. It gets rid of excess grease via a small hole that in its gutter. It has a thermostat probe that is removable. The thermostat works quite well, with the ability to set temperatures ranging from 150˚F to 400˚F. Moreover, you can lower the temperature to can warm your tray.
As much as manufacturers say that their griddles heat evenly, most reviews do not echo the same sentiments. This is because griddles are heated via a simple hot coil, and only the surface that is in direct contact with the coil gets sufficient heat. This is the same situation with the BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family Sized Electric Griddle.
To prove the heating argument, simply make use of an infrared thermometer, and you will see for yourself. But surprisingly, this heating issue does not affect your cooking because on testing, pancakes still cooked well and evenly. The griddle heats up quite quickly.
In just three minutes, it will have reached the cooking temperature. According to the manufacturer’s website, this griddle is dishwasher friendly. However, according to the manual, you can hand wash in hot, soapy water. This is because the only part of the griddle that is dishwasher safe is the plastic drip tray.
Also, this griddle comes with a very short cord to ensure that the griddle doesn’t fall off its surface.
Pros
- Nonstick cooking surface
- Drip tray
- 2 year limited warranty
- Temperature control from 150˚F to 400˚F
- Plastic sides for handling
- Nonstick cooking surface
- Easy to clean
- Great for large family size
Cons
- Not entirely dishwasher safe
- Can get quite hot and uneven
Click here to see its latest price.
3. Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
Its modern, sleek look courtesy of its stainless steel housing does justice to its image. Moreover, it comes with a panini styled handle and a hinged cover that can be adjusted according to the thickness of the food.
It’s easy to operate since everything has been made obvious for the user. There are two temperature controls on the base. You will also find a function selector at the same location. When you open the cover, you will see a reversible nonstick grill, griddle plates and of course a drip tray to take care of the excess grease for you.
Ensure that you turn off the selector dial control must before unplugging the power cord from the wall socket. You should then let the griddle cool for thirty minutes before you embark on cleaning it. First of all, scrape off the food particles then you can decide to do a hand wash or simply dip it in the dishwasher. Therefore, you should wash the cooking plates in the dishwasher after ensuring that they have cooled.
What’s more?
The full grill helps cook steak, burgers, fish and even vegetables. You can prepare poultry meat as well, but just ensure that it is not bone-in chicken. The full grill state is achieved when it is used as a full griddle, and the cover is lying flat. This ensures that you have something like a double cooking surface.
In this state, you will make use of the plates. The full griddle is good for pancakes, eggs, and other breakfast meals. All you need to do is open the cover and let it lie flat.
Half grill and half griddle is perfect for potatoes, bacon, steak or eggs. Ensure the unit is flat and insert two plates. One should have the grill side upwards and the other with the griddle side facing up too. On the other hand, go for the contact grill when cooking boneless meat.
This feature allows you to prepare something for a short period. The food should be covered evenly till it cooks as desired. The panini press, therefore, should be your favorite sandwich maker. You simply have to press your sandwich in between two griddle or grill plates and warm it up.
Pros
- Has 5 functions
- Plate release buttons
- Hinge release lever
- Easy to clean
- Drip tray
- Nonstick
- Low power consumption
- Saves space
Cons
- No timer
- Complaints that it does not work as efficiently as advertised by manufacturer
To find out the latest price, click here.
4. Oster CKSTGRFM18W-ECO DuraCeramic Griddle
The Dura Ceramic coating does not only perpetuate durability, but it also enables cooking to be 20% faster so that your meals cook quickly and decently. This means that if you have hungry kids, you can fix them a quick meal in no time. You will be saving both time, energy, and your face!
Pros
- Removable temperature control
- Scratch resistant
- Fast cooking
- Durable
- Comes with warming tray
Cons
- Hard plastic warming drawer
Click here to get the latest pricing information.
5. Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle
When it comes to effective cleaning, you will need to remove the heat control element first before submerging the whole thing in warm, soapy water. This is truly dishwasher friendly behavior. Regarding performance, this little fellow does not heat up quickly. However, when it does, you can be sure that it will maintain the heat for longer periods. The heat is distributed evenly over the cooking surface.
Pros
- Once heated, it maintains temperature and distributes it evenly
- Can be fully submerged in water
- Has built in drip channel
- Easy to store
Cons
- Can get very hot at times
- The drip channel is attached to the griddle
- Only suitable for small food quantities
- Handles get a bit loose after some time
To find out the latest price, click here.
6. Cuisinart GR-300WS Griddler Elite Grill
At 16.2 x 8.1, the cooking space is large enough. Your cooking can now be a customized affair thanks to its various features. How is the power? Well, this is an 1800 Watt grill, and the heating element is within the plates. This, therefore, means that you should be careful when cleaning.
Pros
- 240 square inches of cooking space
- Reversible plates
- Six presets
- Easy to clean
- Temperature control
- Searing temperatures
Cons
- Does not come with waffle plates
Click here to find out the latest price.
7. Secura GR-1503XL 1700W Electric Reversible 2 in 1 Grill Griddle
While cooking, you are guaranteed that you will not make much of a mess and that you get protection from splatters of hot oil. This is made possible with the splatter protection and the heat retention that takes place while cooking is underway. Use of the removable glass lid further ensures splatter protection. Therefore, you need to always ensure that you use it to cover your food.
Pros
- Grease channels to drain excess oil
- Reversible plates
- Cool touch handles and housing
- Removable glass lid that also acts as splatter protection
Cons
- You may get burnt if you don’t remove covers very carefully
Click here to find out the latest price.
8. BELLA 2-in-1 Reversible Grill Griddle Combo
Warming up is not an issue since it is done by just turning the knob. No need to worry about the heat getting out of control since the unit has a thermal protection unit. Also, when it comes to cleaning, things are easy, just dip the cooking plate into warm soapy water.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Heats up quickly
- Nonstick coating
- Removable heat probe
Cons
- Some complaints that it does not heat evenly
Want to find out the latest price? Click here.
9. Hamilton Beach 38546 3-in-1 Grill/Griddle
The cooking surfaces work independently. Therefore, they have their distinct temperatures. However, a little bit of heat from one surface can transfer to the other. At the center, there is a grease trap. This is actually a great position for capturing the excessive fat in your food. The grease tray is easy to clean thanks to the fact that it is dishwasher safe. The features therein only make your cooking versatile.
Pros
- 3-in-1 functionality
- Dishwasher safe
- Nonstick covering
- Removable and reversible
- Temperature controls
Cons
- The indicator lights can be confusing
- The reversible plates are not nonstick
- Grease does not seem to flow to the center but instead goes to the back
Click here for the latest price details.
10. Broil King PCG-10 Professional Portable Nonstick Griddle
With its big size, food splattering is almost a certainty. However, this should not worry you. The unit comes with a splatter guard to protect you while you cook and also to ensure that you do not make a mess of your countertop. Everything about the Broil King PCG-10 unit is amazing. This includes the grease tray that allows you to drain the excess grease, hence reducing the amount consumed.
The rear legs are not just there to offer support and stability, but they help in tilting the cooking surface. Tilting helps to drain the grease even more. If you intend to use this in your diner or restaurant, you can be sure that your customers will be eating healthy meals.
Tilting also lessens your cleaning efforts. As for heat distribution, the build of the unit’s body is in such a way that it occurs evenly and there are no fluctuations. However, note that because of its thickness, the unit takes long to heat up.
Pros
- Nonstick coating
- Comes with removable grease tray
- Stainless steel backsplash
Cons
- Requires a large space
- Takes a bit longer to heat up
For more information on its price, click here.
Conclusion
If you are trying to shift from gas grills, electric griddles should be your go-to gadgets. They not only ensure environmental protection, but are quite easy to manage. Most fit in the smallest of spaces and are quite easy to maintain and clean.
There are a lot of electric griddles in the market in terms of price, size, and functionality. Choose what meets your needs and let it be something that is durable. Consider the features and see what matches your cooking style or what compliments your cooking process. Your taste buds and stomach will thank you later.
Here is a summary of the Top 10 Electric Griddles 2024:
- Presto 07061
- BLACK+DECKER GD2011B
- Cuisinart GR-4N
- Oster CKSTGRFM18W-ECO
- Presto 07211
- Cuisinart GR-300WS
- Secura GR-1503XL
- BELLA 2-in-1
- Hamilton Beach 38546
- Broil King PCG-10
You can watch this Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N 5-in-1 Demo Video by Cuisinart: