The Best Outdoor Griddle

You may have spied a commercial griddle in a diner or at a breakfast buffet – a flat cooking surface with a heating element underneath, perfect for cooking several items at once, be it frying eggs side by side, browning hamburger buns, sizzling patties, or cooking up a stack of pancakes all in one go. A stove-top or portable version of a griddle is a great family-size option to bring that same versatility to our backyard or on our camping trips – rather than cooking a serving at a time, the right griddle lets you cook up an entire meal in one go, in much less time than it would take you to poach eggs one by one or cook pancakes. So which griddle is going to cut down your workload while still letting you whip together a full breakfast, or a round of hamburgers for a backyard brunch party? Check out our top picks.

KEN’S PICK
Blackstone Portable 17” Table Top Camp Griddle

Rugged but portable, this 15.25 by 17 inch camping griddle is designed for use outdoors, great for throwing together burgers or breakfast for the family at a pinch. An H style burner evenly distributes heat for a consistent cooking experience, with a temperature control dial and in-built igniter to fire it up. Powered using a 1 lb propane bottle, this versatile cooking surface – which you can also use for more exotic cooking, such as attempting Japanese yakisoba or stir fry – is just the size for carrying with you for camping or road trips, or setting up on a picnic table in your yard or deck. Sturdily built, the cold-rolled steel top, rubberized feet and heavy-duty housing of the unit will survive any bumps and dings, with a drip cup to collect any grease run-off to prevent messes. Rather than ending the day with a pile of pots and pans in need of a washing, all you need to do for this griddle is wipe the surface down after use, and store it away safely until the next time you need it.

KEN’S BUDGET PICK
BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family Sized Electric Griddle

A 20 by 11 inch cooking surface promises to let you cook 8 servings at a go, with this sleek, matte black and modern unit looking right at home both indoors and outdoors. Though slim and compact, don’t be deceived by its looks – the clever design of the griddle, with its cool-touch housing, lets you move it around with ease, whether you’re using it during an outdoors trip, in your backyard or deck, or on your kitchen counter, while still functioning as a heavy-duty unit that lets you cook up an entire meal for the family at a go. Removing the probe lets you wash the griddle down in your sink, with the slide out drip tray for catching excess grease run-off also detachable and dishwasher-friendly.

The non-stick surface and adjustable temperature settings give you much more control over your cooking, so you don’t risk accidentally burning something or ruining your griddle’s surface with sticky batter and charred remnants of meat or eggs. An indicator light lets you know when the griddle has warmed up to the desired temperature, with even heat distribution to give you the right consistency as you make full use of the cooking surface.

RUNNER-UP
Secura GR-1503XL Electric Reversible 2-in-1 Grill Griddle

Sometimes, the words ‘grill’ and ‘griddle’ are used interchangeably, despite their distinct differences – however, for this unit, you’d not be wrong for using either. The compact, dynamic unit can be used as a grill for your steaks and veggies as well as a flat cooking surface for browning tortillas, cooking quesadilla or simply making a full breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns, sausages and pancakes. The reversible cooking plate, measuring 15.5 by 11.5 inches, has raised grill lines on one side, with a flat griddle surface on the other, and all you need to do is flip the plate over to the side you need and lock it into position. The heating element is contained in between the two sides, allowing for even heat distribution and efficient use of both the griddle and the grill. A drip tray situated underneath the cooking plate captures the grease dripping off, accessible once you remove the plate so you can wash it out, while a glass cover reduces chances of splatter and locks the heat in, letting your food cook thoroughly. When in the open position, the glass cover also lifts and moves all the way back, staying well out of your way as you tend to your food, flip your burgers or dish out your servings. Moisture ducts on either side of the unit help keep the food from going soggy, while the cool housing makes it perfectly safe to touch even while you’re using the unit to cook. Combining two great cooking devices in one, this compact, well-built device is easy to store away when not in use, both indoors and out.

A drip tray situated underneath the cooking plate captures the grease dripping off, accessible once you remove the plate so you can wash it out, while a glass cover reduces chances of splatter and locks the heat in, letting your food cook thoroughly. When in the open position, the glass cover also lifts and moves all the way back, staying well out of your way as you tend to your food, flip your burgers or dish out your servings. Moisture ducts on either side of the unit help keep the food from going soggy, while the cool housing makes it perfectly safe to touch even while you’re using the unit to cook. Combining two great cooking devices in one, this compact, well-built device is easy to store away when not in use, both indoors and out.

RUNNER-UP
Blackstone 28 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station

If you’re on the lookout for something less compact or portable, and more heavy-duty in terms of capacity, this 28.5 by 16.5 inch grill-slash-griddle station is a great option designed with the outdoors in mind. Powered by a 20 lb propane tank, the unit is easy to ignite, a battery operated push-button letting you activate it rather than stressing you out over charcoal and matches, with two burners giving you separate, independent heat zones to cook different types of food at the same time. Cooking temperatures can also be moderated using the dials allocated to these zones, with handy shelves to the sides and the bottom of the unit to let you use it as a cooking station where you can keep your ingredients, dishes and utensils. Industrial grade caster wheels make the unit highly portable, so you can wheel it out of your garage or shed when you’re planning to use it for a weekend barbecue in the yard, with foldable legs and a removable griddle top for easy storage and clean-up. The unit is as sturdy as it looks, with powder coated stainless frames, stainless steel burners and a cold-rolled steel griddle top, perfect for using outdoors.

Cooking temperatures can also be moderated using the dials allocated to these zones, with handy shelves to the sides and the bottom of the unit to let you use it as a cooking station where you can keep your ingredients, dishes and utensils. Industrial grade caster wheels make the unit highly portable, so you can wheel it out of your garage or shed when you’re planning to use it for a weekend barbecue in the yard, with foldable legs and a removable griddle top for easy storage and clean-up. The unit is as sturdy as it looks, with powder coated stainless frames, stainless steel burners and a cold-rolled steel griddle top, perfect for using outdoors.

SOURCES

The Spruce

The Spruce

Secura

Black+Decker

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