Beyond size, you’ll need to pay attention to the griddle top’s material and how easy (or not) it is to clean. Many of the electric griddles on this list come with a removable drip tray, have dishwasher-safe grill plates, and/or can be fully submerged in water (once the power cord is removed). There are also variable temperature controls that you can dial down after slightly burning the first pancake. With all the right features and a compact design, the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill + Griddle impressed us the most. From multifunctional griddle/grill combinations to a full teppanyaki tabletop option, here are the best electric griddles to have in your kitchen. Dimensions (LxWxH): 16 x 13 x 12 inches | Cooking Area: 200 square inches | Maximum Temperature: 400 degrees | Wattage: 1400 W An electric griddle that combines a practical and compact silhouette with impressive multitasking skills, the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill + Griddle can easily accomplish any classic griddle task. When you open the 14-pound machine, one half serves as a flat top griddle ideal for pancakes, eggs, bacon, and much more. It even has a little kickstand to tilt the griddle at an angle so bacon grease can go right into the dishwasher-safe drip tray. The other side features grill bars and grooves for cooking burgers, veggies, hot dogs, and other dishes that could benefit from that type of cooktop texture. Both sides of the appliance utilize nonstick materials and the cooking plates are safe in the dishwasher, so cleaning won’t prove too time-consuming. Although this appliance folds up nicely into an easy-to-store package, it has the capacity to feed up to 6 people, making it a smart buy for solo dwellers and families alike. Dimensions (LxWxH): 23.6 x 15 x 4 inches | Cooking Area: 237 square inches | Maximum Temperature: 425 degrees | Wattage: 1350 W Zojirushi prides itself on sleek cookware that never compromises on performance standards, and this ceramic electric griddle fits perfectly into that tradition. The 19-inch length of the griddle provides plenty of room to cook for a group, and the ceramic coating enhanced with titanium is, as one might expect from ceramic, very easy to clean and maintain. The ceramic also offers insulation and superior heat conductivity, so you can rest assured that your dishes will cook at an even temperature and in an efficient time frame. The Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle also comes with a griddle lid, which can help to expedite your cooking process by sealing in the heat. When you’re done making French toast or whatever brunch specialty is on the menu, the griddle disassembles for easy cleaning. Dimensions (LxWxH): 23 x 12 x 3.25 inches | Cooking Area: 200 square inches | Wattage: 1450 W The Brentwood Non-Stick Electric Griddle certainly appeals to home cooks looking to stay within a lower budget. However, this griddle’s cooking consistency and its special features give it functionality that far exceeds its cost. The 10 x 20-inch dimensions mean that Brentwood owners won’t have to worry about running out of cooktop space. This griddle also comes with a warming drawer that neatly tucks in below the griddle top, so it’s easy to keep your freshly cooked eats at an ideal temperature while you’re working on the rest of the meal. The handles will stay cool to touch throughout cooking and there’s a drip tray underneath to catch any grease. After breakfast has been served, both the cooking surface and the warming tray detach and can be placed in the dishwasher. Dimensions (LxWxH): 14.75 x 13 x 2.5 inches | Cooking Area: 89 square inches | Maximum Temperature: 400 degrees | Wattage: 1000 W If you live in a space that includes very little in the way of storage, then you may decide that a full-sized griddle isn’t necessary for your purposes. Luckily, spatial constraints don’t mean that you have to totally abandon the idea of griddling in the comfort of your own kitchen. Instead, you can pick up a mini version like the excellent Presto Liddle Griddle. This die-cast aluminum griddle has a 10.5 x 8.5-inch cooking surface and weighs a mere 3 pounds. That said, the Liddle Griddle doesn’t cut corners on necessary griddle elements; it features a drip tray to collect fats and oils from bacon and grilled meat, its top is nonstick and easy to clean, and it comes with heat control knobs to help you perfectly calibrate your appliance. Dimensions (LxWxH): 35 x 9 x 4.4 inches | Cooking Area: 315 square inches | Wattage: 2000 W Standard-sized griddles can cook for the average-sized family with no difficulty, but if you’re whipping up a meal for bigger get-togethers or for an at-home party, then you may benefit from a more spacious model, like the Costzon 35-Inch Electric Teppanyaki Tabletop Griddle. At a substantial 35 x 9 inches, the Costzon Teppanyaki is seemingly designed for entertaining, and the handles on each side (with insulated covers) make it easy to move from area to area as your gathering requires. Four nonslip feet will prevent the griddle from slipping off the counter or dining room side table. The Costzon Teppanyaki also comes with handy accessories like egg rings and wooden spatulas, which emphasize its value as both a cooking appliance and as a serving station. Dimensions (LxWxH): 13.5 x 11.5 x 7.1 inches | Cooking Area: 200 square inches | Maximum Temperature: 425 degrees | Wattage: 1500 W Many electric griddles also provide their owners with grilling functionality, expanding their usefulness and their appeal on the appliance market. The lightweight (only 8 pounds), foldable, compact Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler represents the best of this category for a wide variety of reasons. First of all, this tool can serve as a griddle, a contact grill, a full grill, a panini press, and a grill-griddle combo (performing both functions simultaneously). Also, this griddle and grill feature temperature controls specific to each cooking task, so a user can easily customize the cooktop to suit their needs. Plus, this machine includes nonstick plates for grilling and griddling that can be safely cleaned in the dishwasher. All of these characteristics combine to make a griddle/grill combination that’s uniquely user-friendly and flexible, and the many benefits of the 5-in-1 Griddler can be purchased for a very reasonable price. Dimensions (LxWxH): 23.7 x 13 x 3.3 inches | Cooking Area: 210 square inches | Wattage: 1500 W Ceramic cookware receives regular accolades for its nonstick nature—which also translates to easy cleaning—its powerful heat conductivity and insulation, and its durability. These useful benefits apply to ceramic pots and pans, but they’re also relevant when discussing electric appliances like griddles. The Presto Cool Touch Electric Ceramic Griddle features a smooth ceramic cooktop that heats quickly and consistently, but the griddle’s sides and base are made with specially designed “Cool Touch” materials, which prevent the cooktop’s heat from singeing your fingers while you work. A built-in backstop will come in handy when it’s time to flip. For cleanup, the 5-pound griddle is fully immersible, once the heating control/power cord is removed.
What to Look for in an Electric Griddle
Capacity
A “standard-sized” electric griddle—the size that you’ll most commonly see in stores—will include 200-250 square inches of cooking space. However, if you prefer a more compact model for easier storage (or if you’re usually cooking for one or two people), “mini” electric griddles typically offer 75-100 square inches of cook space. On the other end of the spectrum, large griddles (like teppanyaki griddles) designed for group cooking provide cooking spaces with areas of 300 square inches or more.
Features
“The number one thing that shoppers should consider is whether to select a griddle that comes with or without a lid,” says kitchen product expert Dennis Capone of My Kitchen Toolkit. Capone views a lid as a key feature of a high-quality electric griddle. “When we’re talking about indoor electric grills and griddles, the air around the cooking surface never really gets as hot as the air around a traditional grill,” he says. “That’s why some extra cooking power from up top (the lid) is incredibly helpful in searing meats evenly.” Other valuable electric griddle features include a ceramic coating (which helps with heat conductivity), a drip pan (to catch wayward bits of grease and oil), and removable nonstick plates that can go in the dishwasher.
What’s the difference between an electric griddle and an electric skillet?
An electric skillet is shaped much like a conventional stovetop skillet, which means that it has sloped sides that provide a barrier that’s useful when cooking sauces or anything involving liquid. Also, electric skillets come with lids as a default, whereas many electric griddles on the market are lid-free. Another substantial difference between these two tools involves their size. Electric griddles have far more surface area for cooking, which makes them ideal for prepping pancakes, fajitas, and other larger-batch dishes. Electric skillets tend to be similarly sized to traditional skillets, so they lack the breadth for high-volume cooking.
Do you need to season an electric griddle?
Seasoning your griddle will prevent your food from sticking, so it’s a helpful step to take. To season the griddle, gently rub the cooking surface with a light layer of oil (either vegetable or canola) prior to turning on the power source.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
This article was written by Taylor Tobin, a freelance journalist who specializes in recipe testing and deep dives into popular dishes and ingredients. She regularly uses a wide range of cookware to try out new recipes and to execute old favorites, and because she’s lived in many apartments with tiny stovetops (or no stovetop at all!), she’s keenly aware of the value of a powerful and easy-to-clean electric skillet. Read Next: The Best Pellet Smokers
