While griddles are commonly associated with pancakes and sunny-side-up eggs, they offer incredible versatility as a cooking surface. With a griddle, you can cook hamburgers while toasting their buns, crisp up carnitas while warming tortillas, or even sear a steak without needing an outdoor grill. These spacious cooktops provide ample room for cooking for a large household and can also double as warming trays for buffet-style spreads. Electric griddles are particularly advantageous as they can be used on any tabletop with access to an outlet. They offer consistent heat and are generally easier to clean compared to built-in griddles and griddle pans.
Continue reading to discover Food and Meal‘s top picks for the best electric griddles in 2024 to enhance your kitchen.
What to Look For in an Electric Griddle
Consider the Size | When choosing a griddle, prioritize its size and capacity. A bigger griddle suits larger families and gatherings, while smaller ones are ideal for individuals or couples with limited space. |
Cooking Surface | Its offer different surfaces like nonstick and ceramic coatings. Nonstick is easy to clean but can scratch, so choose based on your cooking style and upkeep preference. |
Drip Tray | If you plan to cook greasy foods like bacon and burgers on your griddle, it’s beneficial to have a model with a generous and easy-to-clean drip tray. Opt for a fully removable, dishwasher-safe drip tray if possible, but any drip tray that can be easily cleaned by hand is also a great option. |
Best electric griddles in 2024
Zojirushi EA-DCC10 Gourmet Sizzler
Heat Range: 176 to 425 degrees
Lid Included: Yes
Dishwasher Safe: No Dimensions: 19 x 12.5-inches
Weight: 12 pounds
Wide variable temperature range
Disassembles for easy cleaning
Bulky to store
If you plan to use a griddle on a daily basis, it may be a smart choice to invest in a high-quality option. The Zojirushi luxury model is an excellent contender, boasting a generous cooking surface measuring 19 x 12.5 inches and a temperature range of 176 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Its nonstick ceramic coating is reinforced with titanium, ensuring durability, easy cleaning, and even browning. The griddle can be conveniently disassembled for thorough cleaning, ensuring that every nook and cranny is spotless.
Our Lab conducted extensive testing on this griddle, and it received outstanding ratings across the board. Our tester was able to effortlessly cook six pancakes at once, and thanks to the griddle’s excellent heat retention, subsequent batches cooked slightly faster. The entire pack of bacon fit perfectly on the griddle and cooked beautifully and uniformly.
To enhance safety during cooking, the cooking plate is housed within a body guard, preventing accidental scalding. Both the guard and cooking plate are fully immersible, allowing for thorough cleaning. However, our tester noted that submerging the griddle would rarely be necessary since the surface cleans off so easily. This griddle also comes with a lid, which accelerates cooking, traps steam, and shields against splattering. Additionally, a stainless steel spatula is included for your convenience.
NutriChef Electric Griddle and Crepe Maker
Heat Range: Variable
Lid Included: No
Dishwasher Safe: No
Dimensions: 12 x 12.9 x 2.4-inches
Weight: 2.4 pounds
Quick temperature adjustments
Multipurpose
Bulky to store
The NutriChef electric crepe maker and griddle offers a convenient and versatile cooking experience. It features an easy-to-adjust temperature dial and a spacious, flat nonstick cooking surface measuring 12 inches in diameter. Our tester was particularly impressed with its even cooking capabilities, stating, “It has an impressively even cooking surface. The crepes cooked evenly from one side to the other.” This makes it an ideal choice for crepe cake enthusiasts. The griddle also incorporates a short lip to prevent batter spillage over the edge.
In addition to its excellent performance, the NutriChef crepe maker comes with a wooden pastry spreader and wooden crepe turner, both equipped with beveled edges. Our tester found these tools extremely helpful for folding the crepes, given their large diameter. Moreover, the appliance serves multiple purposes, allowing our tester to prepare other breakfast favorites like eggs, bacon, and sausage with ease.
BELLA Electric Ceramic Titanium Griddle 10.5' x 20'
Heat Range: Warm to 400 degrees
Lid Included: N/A
Dishwasher Safe: Drip tray only
Dimensions: 10.5 x 20-inches
Weight: 3.88 pounds
Very nonstick surface
Easy to clean
Slight staining may occur
This budget-friendly griddle surpasses expectations with its impressive performance, despite its affordable price point. With a spacious cooking surface measuring 10.5 x 20 inches, it quickly and evenly heats up, thanks to its 1500 watts of power. The temperature dial provides excellent control, allowing you to adjust the surface temperature from “warm” to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for preparing pancakes, bacon, and more at a satisfying pace. The ceramic nonstick surface is reinforced with titanium for enhanced durability, although it’s still recommended to avoid using metal utensils to prolong the griddle’s lifespan.
In our Lab tests, this griddle performed exceptionally well. Pancakes and French toast cooked evenly, and the griddle maintained a consistent heat throughout the cooking process. Our tester found it incredibly easy to disassemble and clean, mentioning that although it is dishwasher safe, a simple wipe with a damp paper towel was sufficient. While there was a slight staining after cooking eggs, we have confidence that this durable nonstick surface will continue to function effectively for a considerable amount of time.
The handles of the griddle stay cool, ensuring optimal maneuverability, and the surface features a convenient ledge that prevents hash browns or pancakes from slipping when flipped. Cleaning is a breeze—simply remove the probe, as the surface is fully immersible, and the drip tray can be safely placed in the dishwasher.
Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
Heat Range: 175 to 450 degrees
Lid Included: N/A
Dishwasher Safe: Yes (removable plates)
Dimensions: 11.3 x 14.4 x 16.7-inches Weight: 13 pounds
Wide cooking temperature range
Removable nonstick plates are easy to clean
Bottom plate heats more than top
If versatility is a top priority for you, the Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler is an excellent choice. This model offers interchangeable plates, allowing you to use it as a griddle, grill, or panini press. You can even purchase an additional waffle plate for added variety. By opening the lid fully, you can transform it into a flat top griddle, perfect for cooking pancakes, eggs, and bacon for the whole family. The front selector knobs allow you to adjust the temperature precisely, ranging from 175 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit in griddle mode. In panini/grill mode, you have a variable temperature selection from “low” to “sear,” catering to your specific heating preferences.
Our tester appreciated the ease of use and the ability to set the temperature for consistent heating while cooking. One minor drawback they noted is that the hidden drip tray, although convenient, can be easily overlooked during clean-up. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of cleaning it before storing the grill away.
This user-friendly griddle/grill combo features a sturdy brushed stainless steel exterior that is easy to maintain with a simple wipe-down to remove any debris. Cleaning up is a breeze, as the removable nonstick plates are dishwasher safe, but can also be easily washed by hand.
BELLA XL Electric Ceramic Titanium Griddle 12' x 22'
Heat Range: Warm to 400 degrees
Lid Included: N/A
Dishwasher Safe: Drip tray only
Dimensions: 22 x 12-inches
Weight: 4 pounds
Great quality for the price
A cinch to clean
Cord is a bit awkward
When it comes to providing excellent value, the Bella griddle exceeds expectations, offering an enlarged version of our Best Budget pick. This resilient model boasts a 1500-watt heating system beneath a nonstick surface coated with titanium and ceramic. With its extra-large cooking surface measuring 12 x 22 inches, you can effortlessly prepare meals for a large group, making it highly practical for families or entertaining guests.
In our Lab tests, our tester found the heat retention of this griddle to be outstanding. The second batch of pancakes cooked in half the time it took for the initial batch (which initially required approximately six minutes). Cooking bacon was relatively straightforward, although she did need to reposition some pieces from the edges to the center for better crispiness. We observed that the surface maintained its slickness throughout the cooking process—almost to the point of being too slick, as flipping the pancakes without them slipping required some adjustment.
The griddle features a variable temperature control dial, offering a range from “warm” to 400 degrees. The handles remain cool, allowing for easy movement of the griddle at any time. Additionally, the surface incorporates a built-in ledge with a backstop, providing better control when flipping flapjacks or crispy home fries. Cleaning is a breeze—simply remove the probe, as the surface is fully immersible, and the drip tray can be conveniently placed in the dishwasher.
Broil King PCG-10 Professional Portable Nonstick Griddle
Heat Range: 150 to 425 degrees
Lid Included: No
Dishwasher Safe: Drip tray only
Dimensions: 29 x 12.5 x 5.5-inches
Weight: 8.15 pounds
For a highly versatile addition to your kitchen, look no further than the Broiler King griddle. With its generously sized surface measuring 21 x 12 inches, this portable griddle resembles a restaurant flat-top grill, offering incredible versatility. Its legs allow for a slight tilt, facilitating grease drainage into the drip tray—a handy feature when cooking items like juicy beef burgers or bacon. The removable backsplash helps minimize splattering, making it an excellent choice for use on open tables or kitchen islands.
During our Lab tests, this griddle delivered outstanding performance. It produced perfectly golden brown pancakes in under four minutes. Additionally, its large size enables you to cook an entire pack of bacon to crispy perfection in approximately eight minutes, making it ideal for family meals or brunch gatherings. Our tester also praised its easy cleaning process, thanks to the nonstick surface, and its convenient storage due to its thin and lightweight design.
The temperature control of this griddle ranges from 150 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing you to keep pancakes warm or grill delicious smashburgers. Cleaning up is a breeze, as the nonstick surface can be easily wiped down, and the drip tray is dishwasher safe.
Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle
Heat Range: Warm to 400 degrees
Lid Included: No
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Dimensions: 12 x 12.9 x 2.5-inches
Weight: 3.3 pounds
Fully submersible for cleaning
Easy to store
No drip tray included
If you’re cooking for one or two people, this compact griddle offers plenty of space for your needs. With a cooking surface measuring 8.5 x 10.5 inches, it can easily accommodate four fried eggs, a pair of steaks, or a batch of hash browns for breakfast. The nonstick coating on the surface ensures easy cleanup. While the griddle features a built-in channel to catch fat and drippings, it doesn’t come with a drip tray, so you’ll need to pour out the collected liquid after cooking.
In our Lab tests, we found that this griddle cooks pancakes evenly, although it does tend to run on the hot side, requiring close attention to cooking time. Nonetheless, the pancakes turned out well, and we were able to cook six slices of bacon at once, which was perfect for serving two people. The extremely nonstick surface made flipping the pancakes a bit challenging initially, but overall, it delivered a solid performance considering its size.
The griddle can be fully submerged for easy cleaning when the temperature control is removed. The nonstick surface ensures that food slides off effortlessly. With a temperature range from warm to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it can handle most of your cooking needs, whether you’re at home, in a vacation cottage, or in a dorm room. For convenient storage in small spaces, the leg/handle pieces can be detached to make it even more compact.
Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Grill/Griddle
Weight: 9 pounds
Material: Aluminum
Maximum temperature: 425 degrees Fahrenheit
Easy to wash
A djustable temperature controls
The Hamilton Beach electric griddle not only meets but surpasses our basic expectations, thanks to its impressive array of special features, which propelled it to the top of our list.
One standout feature is the inclusion of two reversible nonstick cooking plates (PFOA-free) that easily snap into place. These plates offer flat griddle surfaces on one side and ridged grills on the other, providing versatility for various cooking needs.
Typically, with such reversible plates, there is a tradeoff in surface area, as the connection point between plates can result in reduced cooking space. However, with the Hamilton Beach griddle, this transition is nearly seamless. Its generous 180 square inches of cooking space allowed us to effortlessly cook four large pancakes, three strips of bacon, and two eggs simultaneously.
Cleanup is also a breeze, as the plates can be removed and washed separately without the need to immerse the entire unit in the sink. Furthermore, both the plates and the removable drip tray that comes with the griddle are dishwasher safe, adding to the convenience.
Another clever addition to this griddle is that each side of the unit has its own independent heating control. This feature proves highly useful when cooking a variety of items simultaneously, allowing for precise temperature adjustments for each plate. Unsurprisingly, the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 griddle also earned high ratings for heating consistency in our tests.
In addition to providing uniform griddling for our breakfast items, the Hamilton Beach griddle excelled at making a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. It achieved evenly browned exteriors and fully melted interiors in less time compared to the other models we tested.
Black & Decker Family-Sized Griddle
Weight: 4.96 pounds
Material: Plastic
Maximum temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Click and lock thermostat
Water safe
If you’re seeking a no-frills griddle, the Black & Decker is an excellent choice, scoring top marks for its standard flat top design.
This family-sized griddle focuses on its spacious cooking surface, providing 200 square inches of room for griddling. Temperature adjustment is a breeze with the click and lock thermostat, ensuring precise control. In our tests, all the items we cooked turned out evenly and quickly, with wonderfully crispy bacon and delicious grilled cheese sandwiches.
While you can’t remove and wash the surface separately, the entire unit can be submerged in water for easy cleaning. The griddle’s lightweight and streamlined design also make it a breeze to wash by hand. Additionally, the ultra-slick, nonstick coating requires minimal grease, further simplifying the cleaning process. The griddle cools down rapidly after unplugging, adding to its convenience.
The only notable drawback of the Black & Decker griddle is its extremely short cord length. This may limit where you can use it in your kitchen unless you opt for an extension cord. However, its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to store when not in use, which is definitely a plus.