The Best Griddle for Pancakes: Electric and Non-Electric Griddles
⌚Aug 13, 2021
Finding the perfect griddle can be a balance between "how many pancakes can I fit on this" and "where is the fat from these burgers going to go". Sometimes just having a flat surface is enough. Let's take a look at both electric and non-electric griddles.
Best Electric Griddles
Budget Pick: Presto 22-inch w/removable handles |
Stylish and Modern: DASH Everyday Non-Stick |
Submersible Surface: BELLA Ceramic Titanium Griddle |
Best Non-Electric Griddles
Cast-iron: Legend Cast Iron Griddle |
Eco-friendly: GreenPan Lima Healthy Ceramic Nonstick |
Double Burner: Ecolution Specialty Griddle |
Induction-Safe GreenPan Valencia Pro Anodized |
Everyone who has the ability to cook or spend time in the kitchen knows how important the griddle is! Every kitchen owner must have this in their kitchen; it is essential equipment with many purposes.
Best Electric Pancake Griddles
You might have a hard time choosing between griddle features like a non-stick surface, cast-iron, or stainless steel handles. I think it's safe to say that one of the biggest issues I've faced with any griddle is the problem of sticking. If that problem gets solved, I'm buying that one!
Let’s jump into some of the best pancake griddles on the market.
1. Presto 22-inch Electric Griddle With Removable Handles, Black
This electric griddle is great as a budget pick with removable handles for storage. If the goal is nothing fancy, here's the minimal flat surface to make pancakes on.
The Presto has a non-stick coating that provides stick-free cooking and easy cleaning. As an added bonus, a slide-out drip tray removes and cleans easily.
The hot plate of this maintains temperature automatically with a “Control Master” heating element. This is an automatic heat controlling system to give you full control for better cooking.
What we like (pros)
premium nonstick coating makes your cooking enjoyable
slide-out drip tray for easy cleaning
automatic heat control for even temperature
griddle is fully immersible with the heat control removed.
What could be better (cons)
Possible warping if not maintained properly
2. DASH Everyday Non-Stick Griddle
It's nice to see a griddle on the market that is not just a standard black. The Dash Everyday Non-Stick Griddle shows off its design with a full, bright color frame that sits on the counter.
Cook up to 8 pancakes at a time (4-in) on this large cooking surface - designed for families in mind. This griddle can be used to make quesadillas, burgers, grilled cheese and tons of other foods. Since it's a big cooking area, foods are easy to flip.
What we like (pros)
drip tray
included recipe book
non-stick surface
modern and sleek, stylish design
anti-slip feet
What could be better (cons)
gap between griddle and edge can cause difficult cleaning
some complaints about uneven heating
3. BELLA Ceramic Titanium Griddle
The BELLA ceramic griddle is made with a titanium coating allowing for a nonstick surface and easy to clean. It can cook 30% faster than standard nonstick coatings. The power cord pushes 1500-watts of power to the heating element. This allows for a quick warm-up and precise temperature control.
It also contains cool touch handles so that while cooking, there a stay cool spot to grab with your hands. The surface area is a 10.5 in. x 20 inch griddle. You'll have no problem when you flip pancakes or eggs.
What we like (pros)
copper titanium ceramic coating
dishwasher-safe drip tray for excess grease
large surface to make 10 eggs at once
submersible cooking surface
What could be better (cons)
drip tray is small, one lb. of bacon fills it
Best Pancake Griddle (Non-electric)
There is no doubt electric griddles are more versatile and multi-purpose, and of course, it easily operates, but sometimes we need something traditional.
A non-electric griddle means traditional cookware which has been using since earlier for making griddle recipes. These types of griddles are affordable, hygienic, and suitable to be used on any type of stovetop.
Therefore, nonelectric griddles are easy to use, clean, and store also. It could be used as multipurpose cookware without any wastage of energy.
1. Legend Cast Iron Griddle
What we like (pros)
lasts for 1,000 years (no really, that's what the claim is)
pre-seasoned cast-iron, ready to go
grease reservoir for runoff
even heat distribution by default
2-in-1: smooth griddle or ridged grill
oven safe
What could be better (cons)
heavy at 10.9 lbs.
difficult to clean if not properly seasoned
may not fit two burners on different stovetops
excess grease needs maintained while cooking
The Legend Cast Iron griddle company says they are "famous for lifelong durability and workhorse versatility". As catchy and sketchy as that sounds, their product holds up to the name. It's no joke that the Legend griddle is one of the top rated, best griddles on the market.
This griddle is definitely high quality. It fits over two burners, is oven safe, and is constructed from heavy cast iron, and premium-grade steel. Since it's cast-iron, you'll get a cooking surface with even heat distribution and not have to worry about cooking on hotspots. You can even put this griddle on live campfire coals!
Be prepared to make pancakes, the best grilled cheese on this large surface grill-griddle. The cooking surface area is 10" by 17" allowing for about 8-4" pancakes or 8 eggs at a time. Despite what others say about cast-iron sticking, if seasoned properly, this can be a good non-stick cooking surface.
2. Ecolution Non-Stick Double Burner Griddle
What we like (pros)
dishwasher-safe
heavy-gauge cast aluminum for heat distribution
silicone handles grip and stay cool while cooking
What could be better (cons)
prone to warping because of thin metal
cooking surface may become uneven on glass stovetop
Ecolution seems to have the mindset of less weight when it comes to a cooking surface. Unlike cast-iron, this cast-aluminum pancake griddle pan is easy to clean and non-stick. You can make anything from pancakes and bacon to steak or chicken and yes, it's dishwasher-safe.
The dimensions are an 18" by 12 inch griddle pan to make 8 eggs or 8-4" pancakes at a time. The non-stick surface will help foods like pancakes easier to flip. It is top rated on Amazon.
Although it is not oven safe, you can use it on electric or gas stoves. The handles are a silicone-wrapped metal for a cool touch while you make breakfast or dinner on the griddle.
GreenPan Valencia Pro: Induction Safe Square Griddle, Hard Anodized
What we like (pros)
infused with diamonds!
hard anodized aluminum is crazy durable / scratch-resistant
oven and broiler safe up to 600 degrees
dishwasher-safe
will never warp, wobble, or scratch long-term
safe for induction stovetops
metal utensil safe
What could be better (cons)
people have reported a hot handle while cooking
maybe offer a rectangular instead of square griddle
GreenPan is the pioneer of healthy ceramic non-stick. They are a Belgian brand of two school friends that discovered traditional non-stick pans release toxins when overheated. Right now, they are in their 5th generation of ceramic non-stick.
GreenPan has two high quality 11" square griddles, the biggest difference being one is safe for an induction cooktop, while the other isn't. They are both made with hard anodized aluminum and have stainless steel handles.
Made from Thermolon Ceramic
The nonstick surface of the GreenPan is made from Thermolon ceramic; a coating manufactured without PFAS, PFOA, lead, or cadmium. It won't peel, blister, or release any toxins/harmful fumes, even when the griddle pan is overheated.
This might be the best griddle for making toast, simply because of the square shape. It's not big like a rectangle model and can be used if you need to cook on a single burner. By the way, if you want to make great toast, do it on the skillet instead of the toaster, you'll get delicious toast every time.
Griddles and More FAQ
Some of the questions people ask before making the big purchase for a pancake griddle.
What exactly is a griddle?
Generally, a griddle is an interesting and fascinating cooking appliance that every individual needs in their kitchen. The griddle is a flat surface for cooking with a heat source under it.
In simple terms, it is a bulky yet flat iron plate that is first of all heated before been used to cook. Electric griddles are plugged into an AC outlet for cooking.
Basically, it is a device used for cooking and consists of a broad surface that can be heated either by electricity, coal, and wood, or even gas.
Do all griddles offer a non-stick surface?
Yes, griddles offer a non-stick surface. This is something you definitely want especially when making pancakes. The only caveat to this is that cast iron griddles require maintenance.
How do I know the difference between a griddle and a grill?
Basically, some people do make use of grills and griddles interchangeably. However, they are two separate cooking surfaces that have been created for diverse styles of cooking.
To know the difference between both, a grill has raised ridges that leave its grill marks on whatever you cook. The ridges aid in keeping the cooked food distinctly separate from its very own grease.
A grill griddle is ideal for foods like steak, hamburgers, sandwiches and diverse types of vegetables. For griddles, they entail a smooth surface that is flat.
A smooth griddle is ideal for making bacon, pancakes, home fries, and even eggs. The simplest technique to use in knowing the difference is that; if you can pour it on a surface and you are able to form round yet flat pancakes, surely it is a griddle.
Nevertheless, if it has bars plus either openings or a metal plate accompanied by raised ridges, then you have got yourself a grill.
What can I cook with an electric griddle?
There is a vast range of foods to prepare while making use of electric griddle. You have foods like:
Burgers
Steaks
Fish
French toast
Pancakes
These are some of the common dishes one can prepare although are more you can do with an electric griddle.
What exactly is the difference between my grill pan and my newly acquired griddle?
The major and only difference between the griddle pan and the grill pan is their surface. For griddle pans, they are much easier to utilize and clean. This is due to their surface been entirely flat.
If the grilling technique is not adequately learned, the flat griddle pan will best aid you in preventing the delicate aspects of the ingredients to either stick or break in the cooking area.
Can I prepare steak on a griddle?
Yes, you can. All you need to do is to heat up the griddle on intensely high heat till you notice it is smoking hot. Brush the steak a little with just a tiny bit of olive oil and proceed to season it with sea salt and your fresh black pepper before cooking it.
However, if two steaks are prepared on the griddle all at once, the temperature will decrease and take longer to cook them.
How can I clean my griddle after using it?
Cleaning your griddle is actually an easy feat. You just need a metal spatula, hot water, scouring pad, cooking oil and of course paper towels. Note that it is when the griddle cools down that you can clean it.
Your hands can get burned if you do not use something to cover them. After that, proceed to scrape the griddle's surface with the metal spatula. Wipe whatever you scrape down using the paper towel or a dishcloth.
Pour water on the griddle but do not use soap yet. Hot water allows the hard residue to peel off. Rub the scouring pad on the surface smoothly yet gently then rinse it off using water alongside the paper towel. Lastly, dry the griddle in order to prevent issues of rust.
Where can I safely store my griddle?
To store your griddle safely, you will need to find a place that is highly appropriate for the equipment to chill after a tedious cookout. The best pan for pancakes needs a suitable space.
However, before purchasing a griddle, you should think about how often you will make use of it. Will you use it for your weekend outdoor cooking? Will you use it only when a big game is being played?
All these matters before buying the best griddle pan in order for you to make up a suitable place for its storage. If you cook once in a while, you can easily place it in a corner that is not readily accessible by anyone.
However, the griddle should always be kept in a cool and dry place. It should be a place that does not get wet in order to prevent rusting.
To Wrap It Up
Individuals who enjoy cooking or love spending time in the kitchen will have an idea of how vital a griddle can be. Kitchen owners should have this small yet need equipment in their kitchen.
This is due to the fact that it is an important appliance for diverse purposes. With the aforementioned frequently asked questions and the answers provided, first-time buyers will surely have an idea of the best electric griddles and non-electric griddles for pancakes for their kitchen.
Also, they will have an idea and of what to expect from cooking with griddles, how to maintain the griddle, and if the electric griddle will be the ideal selection for their food needs.
For pancake lovers out there, think about the delicious breakfast you can prepare with the griddle sitting in your kitchen.
It does not matter if you buy the stovetop model or the electric model, delicious pancakes can be made on different occasions whenever you want to make them.
Going as far as food bars and restaurants, people are going crazy for griddled foods. This is because they have this special taste and delightful yet delicious outlook.
You will have no choice but to fully love them. In our modern time, individuals are becoming foodies than they were before and they do not mind rushing down to a restaurant to enjoy unique dishes.
Griddled foods are on the top of the list and they have become beneficial for the chefs who know their onions.