Last Updated: 2nd February 2023
There is nothing tastier than pan fried foods, but let’s be honest; pan frying isn’t exactly the healthiest way to cook. If you are looking for a healthier cooking option that will still provide you with great tasting food, and will also cut down on your cooking time, then you may want to invest in an electric griddle.
Electric griddles are a healthier cooking alternative than pan frying, as they actually remove the fat from the food is being cooked on them. Plus, they head up super fast, making them an excellent alternative to a traditional charcoal or gas grill. Another added benefit: They can be used indoors, which means that you will be able to enjoy great tasting grilled food, no matter the weather.
Another reason why an electric griddle is such a handy appliance to have in the kitchen is because of the versatility that they offer; they can be used to cook various types of food. From burgers to stir fry, and from pancakes to French toast, an electric griddle really is a multipurpose cooking tool.
What You Need to Know About Electric Griddles
If you are looking to buy an electric griddle, you will find that you certainly have a lot of options. With so many choices, it can be hard to determine which electric griddle will best meet your needs. To help you on your quest for finding the best electric griddle, we have put together an in-depth buyer’s guide that is full of valuable information related to this cooking tool. In this guide, you will find out everything you need to know about buying an electric griddle, including:
- What makes a good electric griddle, and what you should steer clear of
- The factors that you should take into consideration when you are shopping for an electric griddle
- The different types of electric griddles
- Features that electric griddles can offer
We have also included our top picks for the best electric griddles that are currently on the market. We have personal tested and reviewed each of the griddles that we recommend, and we have compared them to similar products, determining that they are, indeed, the best.
So, without further ado, here is your buyer’s guide for the best electric griddles.
THE GOOD
There are certain key elements that separate good electric griddle models from the not so good models. By understanding what qualities a good electric griddle offers, you will be better able to find one that will offer you the best cooking experience possible.
Here’s a look at the key qualities that the best electric griddles offer.
Non Stick Cooking Surface
The best electric griddles have a non stick cooking surface. The surface of these griddles is coated with polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE,) a popular brand of which is Teflon. This material ensures that the food you are cooking will not stick to the surface of the griddle. This not only prevents burning and allows for more even cooking, but it improves the taste of the food and makes cleaning a whole lot easier.
Heat Controls
The best electric griddles have heat controls. Instead of just plugging in the griddle and having it heat up to one temperature, with a griddle that has heat controls, you will be able to determine the heat of the surface that you are cooking for. General settings for heat controls include low, medium low, medium, medium high and high. With heat controls, you can make sure that the surface of the griddle will be the ideal temperature, which will allow you to prevent burning and cook the best tasting food possible
Dual Thermostats
Another quality that the best electric griddles offer is a dual thermostat. While this is, by no means, a necessity, it is certainly a nice added feature to have, especially if you plan on cooking two different types of food at one time. With a dual thermostat, you will be able to set the temperature to two different settings on the grill; one side can be one temperature, while the other side can be another. This allows you to divide the griddle in half so you can get more use out of it. Or, if you only plan on cooking a small amount of food, you will have the option to only heat up one side of the griddle.
Drip Trays
As the fats and grease cook off of the food, they will be collected in a drip tray. A drip tray makes cooking with your electric griddle a lot neater. Instead of having that fat and grease roll off of the tray and onto your countertop or floor, it will be neatly stored in the tray, which you can easily remove and clean out when you have finished cooking.
Warming Drawers
Again, this feature is not a necessity, but it is definitely nice to have. A warming drawer is located underneath the surface of the electric griddle and is kept warm by the heating element above it, yet it does not continue to cook the food. This is a great feature to have if you plan on cooking large amounts of food and what to keep items that have already finished cooking warm while you are cooking the remainder of your menu.
THE BAD
Not all electric griddles are created equal, and there are some on the market that really offer more than just a heated surface to cook your food on. If you want to get the best electric griddle possible, avoid purchasing one that fits the following description.
No Non Stick Cooking Surface
As mentioned above, the best electric griddles have a non stick cooking surface. While yes, you can certainly spray the surface of the electric griddle with a non stick spray, this is not always effective. The spray can actually burn, which in turn, can burn your food and ruin the flavor. Additionally, if the spray does burn, it can create a rather smoky situation in your kitchen. Without a non stick cooking surface, your food is far more likely to get stuck to the electric griddle, and the griddle itself will be a lot harder to clean.
Lack of Heat Controls
Stay away from electric griddles that don’t have heat controls. You want to be able to set the cooking surface to the ideal temperature, and you will not be able to do that if the griddle does not offer heat controls. A griddle that simply plugs in and heats the cooking surface to one temperature is more likely to result in undercooked or overcooked food.
Minimal Surface Area
While you may not be planning to cook a lot of food on your electric griddle, you do want to make sure that you have enough cooking space. A griddle that has a small surface area will limit the amount of space that you have to cook on, which will, in turn, limit the amount of food that you can cook.
The Best Electric Griddles in 2023
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In order to help you find the best electric griddle, we have scoured the Internet and have spent many hours comparing and contrasting the different qualities of various electric griddles. After seeing what different griddles had to offer, we choice a few to test out ourselves.
After our comprehensive analysis, we have narrowed down the field and have selected five recommendations that we feel are the very best electric griddles.
Here are our top picks for the best electric griddles.
Cuisinart GR – 4N 5 in 1 Griddle
This 5 in 1 countertop electric griddle from Cuisinart is a truly versatile cooking appliance. Offering non stick cooking plates that are both removable and reversible, this griddle can be easily used to cook up all of your favorite items, and cook them quickly. Turn the plates so that they slats are facing upward and you will be able to get those perfect sear marks on your burgers and steaks; flip them so that the smooth surface s facing up and you can cook your pancakes and French toast to absolute perfection.
The adjustable temperature controls, complete with indicator lights, let you easily adjust the temperature setting of the cooking surface, and let you know when the surface has reached that temperature. With this feature, you will be able to cook your food on a surface that is the right temperature.
The non stick cooking surface will prevent your food from sticking to this Cuisinart electric griddle so you can avoid overcooking and burning. Plus, the non stick surface makes clean up an absolute breeze! You also won’t have to worry about your countertop becoming a big mess, thanks to the drip tray, which will collect all of the fats, greases and juices that pour out of your food while it is cooking.
The brushed stainless steel housing offers a sleek and modern look that will add a touch of style to your kitchen countertop. The floating cover is easy to adjust to the thickness of the food; and, you can choose to put the cover down to use it as a full contact grill or Panini press, leave it open, or lay it completely flat to create full grill space a larger surface to cook on.
Small enough to keep out on your countertop all the time without taking up tons of space, yet versatile enough to transform into a full sized griddle, you really won’t be disappointed with the Cuisinart GR – 4N 5 in 1 Electric Griddle.
Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle
If you are limited on space and you don’t want an electric griddle that will take up tons of space, yet will still offer you enough room to prepare your favorite foods, the Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle is the ideal choice for you.
This compact griddle has a cooking surface that is 8 ½ by 10 ½ inches in size, which is plenty of room for to cook up some flap jacks, French toast or quesadillas. The surface is also non stick, which means that you won’t have to worry about your food getting stuck on it, or burning. The non stick cooking surface is also a breeze to clean when you are done cooking.
Constructed of cast aluminum that is resistant to warping, this electric countertop griddle will last you a long time. The cast aluminum also evenly distributes the heat, ensuring that your food will be evenly cooked. A dial adjusted temperature control is easy to operate. It can be adjusted to merely warm the surface of the griddle, or crank up the heat to 400 degrees F.
A built in channel catches any grease and fat that drips off your food while you are cooking, keeping your countertop neat and clean. When you are done cooking, simply remove the heat control and you can completely submerse the griddle into sudsy water, make clean up a cinch.
Presto 07061 22 Inch Electric Griddle With Removable Handles
If you are looking for a simple electric griddle, than the Presto 07061 22 Inch Electric Griddle with Removable Handles is a great option for you. Though it may lack some of the bells and whistles that a lot of other electric griddles offer, that, by no means, means that this griddle doesn’t have a lot to offer.
Constructed of durable, high grade metal, this electric griddle with stand up to excessive use and will last you a long time. The non stick cooking surface will prevent your food from sticking to it, which will allow you to get the best tasting food possible, since you won’t have to worry about it sticking onto the surface and possibly burning. The drip tray is located underneath the griddle. The grease and fats will drain through a hole on the griddle and collect right into the drip tray. This will keep your countertop nice and clean. When you’re ready to clean up, simply pull out the drip tray and wash it out, and remove the heat control and the handles and you can fully submerse the griddle into a sink of water.
Speaking of the heat control, it is dial operated, which is really easy to adjust. You can set the temperature to the perfect temperature to cook your favorite meals perfectly.
When the handles are removed, you will be able to store the base of this electric griddle a standard 18 inch cabinet.
Hamilton Beach 25360 Indoor Flavor / Searing Grill
Are you looking for an electric grill that will provide you with the same results as your outdoor grill? If so, then you will find exactly what you are looking for in the Hamilton Beach 25360 Indoor Flavor / Searing Grill.
The non stick cooking grids will create those perfect sear marks in your burgers, chops and steaks. The cooking plates can also be removed, as can the hood and drip tray, which makes clean up a cinch. With an adjustable dial controlled temperature control will allow you to get the perfect cooking temperature for your food. With high searing temperatures, the juices and flavors of your food will be locked in when you cook on the Hamilton Beach Searing Grill. The indicator lights let you know when the selected temperature has been reached, and also lets you know that the device is on.
The stainless steel housing offers a sleek look that you will add a touch of elegance to your kitchen counter top.
Wolfgang Puck Electric Reversible Grill and Griddle
If a lot of cooking space is a primary concern for your electric griddle, then you won’t be disappointed by the Wolfgang Puck Electric Reversible Grill and Griddle. Offering a cooking surface that is 207 square inches in size, you will have plenty of space to cook up meals for large crowds.
The non stick cooking plates are reversible; one side offers a slatted surface that you can use for grilling, and the other side is a flat surface that you can use as a griddle. And, because both sides of the cooking surface are non stick, you will have no trouble getting your food off of this grill and griddle combination.
The built in grease channels collect the fat and grease that comes off of your food while it is cooking, so you don’t have to worry about having a big mess to clean up when you are done cooking. The fat and grease that rolls down the grease channels pour right into a removable drip tray, which can easily be removed for a quick and easy clean up.
A safety interlock system keeps the cooking plates in place so you don’t have to worry about them coming loose. The handles are heat resistant, which prevents you from burning your hands and allows for safe transport
An easy to adjust temperature control will allow you to get this grill and griddle combination to the ideal cooking temperature so you can cook your food to absolute perfection.
Our Consumer Guide to Electric Griddle
While we have shared our favorite picks for electric griddles, we understand that you may be thinking about buying another griddle. If that is the case, we want to make sure that you have all of the information that you need so that you can make the most informed decision and find the best electric griddle for your specific needs. For that reason, we have also added a consumer guide to this buyer’s guide.
In this portion of our buyer’s guide, you will learn some very valuable information pertaining to electric griddles.
Types of Electric Griddles
There are two main types of electric griddles:
- The single surface electric griddle
- The combination electric griddle and grill
To find out which type of electric griddle will best suit your needs, it is important to understand the difference between these two types of griddles
The Single Surface Electric Griddle
A single surface electric griddle has a flat cooking surface. The surface is heated by an electrical heating element, which provides a constant supply of heat. The heat is even distributed throughout the cooking surface so that you will have an evenly heated surface to cook on.
Single surface electric griddles are usually constructed of stainless steel and / or aluminum. They come in a wide range of sizes and they can offer a variety of features to enhance your cooking experience.
The Combination Electric Griddle and Grill
This type of electric griddle also has a flat cooking surface; however, it also has a slatted surface that can be used for grilling. This surface can either be attached via a completely different plate, or the single surface plate may have a slatted surface on the other side, in which case, the plate simply needs to be turned over to turn the griddle into a grill.
Like single surface electric griddles, combination grills and griddles can also boast an array of features that will improve your cooking experience, and they too, come in a variety of sizes
Things to Consider When Purchasing an Electric Griddle
There are a number of factors that you are going to want to take into consideration when you are shopping for an electric griddle. By taking these factors into consideration, you will be able to choose the best griddle for your specific needs .
Here is a look at some of the factors that we think are the most important to keep in mind when you are shopping.
The Size of the Griddle
You are definitely going to want to pay attention to the size of the electric griddle. You want to make sure that you have enough space on the surface to cook the amount of food that you intended on cooking, and you also want to make sure that the appliance will be able to fit on your countertop.
The Maintenance
Another important factor to consider is the maintenance that is involved with the electric griddle. The best electric griddles are easy to clean. Not only do they have a non stick cooking surface, but they can also be submersed in water. For even more convenience, you can look for a griddle that is dishwasher safe so you won’t have to worry about cleaning it by hand
The Length of the Cord
An electric griddle needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet in order to be powered and heated. You want to make sure that the cord is long enough to reach the outlet that you plan on using. If it’s too short, you will be limited by where you can use it.
The Cost of the Electric Griddle
Another very important factor to consider when you are shopping for an electric griddle is the cost. These cooking appliances can vary widely in price, so you want to make sure that you choose one that will fit in your budget. Generally speaking, the larger the griddle is, the more expensive it will be. Additionally, the more features that the griddle offers, the more expensive it will likely be.
Features Electric Griddle Features Can Offer
There are several features that an electric griddle can offer. These features are intended to make the griddle easier to use, and more efficient. As mentioned above, the more features that a griddle has, the more expensive it is going to be. For that reason, it is important to understand what the available features are so that you can determine whether you want or need them, and if the added cost is worth the investment.
Here are some of the top features that an electric griddle will offer
A Warming Drawer
With this feature, you will be able to keep the foods that have finished cooking warm while you are still cooking the rest of your food. The drawer is located underneath the griddle and is kept warm by the heating element above, though it does not continue to cook the food.
Drip Trays
Drip trays make using your electric griddle a cleaner experience. The grease and fat that comes off of the food is collected in the drip tray, which can be removed for cleaning. With this feature, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up a messy countertop.
Dishwasher Safe
If you really want to make sure that clean up is as easy as possible, look for an electric griddle that can be watched in a dishwasher. When it’s time for cleaning up, place the griddle in the dishwasher, and that’s it!
Indicator Lights
With indicator lights, you will know when the cooking surface has reached the proper temperature. This will allow you to avoid undercooking your food, and even undercooking it.
Heat Controls
With heat controls, you will be able to modify the temperature of the cooking surface. This means that you will be able to get the ideal temperature for your griddle so you can cook your food to absolute perfection.
