If you have ever tried making pancakes for a crowd you may have found that a skillet is very limiting since you can only cook one or two pancakes at a time. Then, if you want eggs or bacon you have to manage multiple pans or find a way to keep some things warm while others are cooking.
Using a large stovetop griddle is the perfect solution. You can place it over two burners on the stove and have lots of room to make multiple pancakes at one time or even make pancakes and eggs at the same time.
Of course with a griddle, you can also make burgers, steak, chicken, or use it like a hibachi grill. Adding a stovetop griddle to your kitchenware creates versatility and flexibility in your kitchen.
There are hundreds of griddle options available to suit any budget or need. We’ve narrowed down the search to the top 3 choices by focusing on non-stick surfaces, eco-consciousness, and healthy cooking possibilities while evaluating stovetop griddles.
After thorough research and evaluation, we determined that The Lodge cast iron reversible grill / griddle is the best choice for a stovetop griddle. When cared for properly, a Lodge cast iron pan can last for generations. This pan can be used on any cooktop, in the oven, on a grill, or over a campfire. It will truly make anything except soup! At under $55 this moderate investment is a game-changer for your family’s cooking experiences.
Best Stovetop Griddles
1.The Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Grill / Griddle – Best for Long-Lasting Quality and Cooking Anywhere
The Lodge Company
The Lodge has been making cast iron cookware since 1896. They have 2 foundries in Tennessee where they continue to make heavy-duty heirloom-quality cookware.
The Lodge actively works to reduce their impact on the environment by recycling foundry sand (in making molds for cast iron products), choosing biodegradable packing materials, and using foundry equipment that will have a lower impact on the environment. Furthermore, investing in a pan that will last for many years without needing to be replaced will have a positive impact on the environment.
The Lodge Griddle
One side of this griddle is smooth for cooking food items like pancakes, eggs, or bacon, and the other side has ridges for grilling burgers or chicken. Both sides of the griddle have a channel to catch oil or grease. Rounded handles on each end aid in picking up the griddle and moving it.
This is a cast iron griddle and therefore has all the benefits and drawbacks of cooking on cast iron. It weighs a little over 13 pounds, so its not something you want to be moving all the time. Cast iron cookware requires care. You will need to season it before using it the first time and care for it properly in between uses. Provided that you do, this griddle will last for generations in your family.
What Makes This Griddle so Versatile
You can cook with this griddle just about anywhere you need to cook. The 20-inch surface will cover two burners on a stovetop. You can use it on any stovetop, gas, electric, or glass. Some users report that it works on their induction stovetops while others have less promising results. It seems that the Samsung induction stovetops work well with cast iron, but the Thermidor induction stovetops do not.
Furthermore, this griddle is oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use it on your outdoor grill or even in a campfire. It truly is a flexible and versatile product.
How to Care for Cast Iron
Cooks who use cast iron swear by its even heating, non-stick surface, and durability. However, if you are new to cast iron cooking, you should know that cast iron requires some care, and it may take time and use to become non-stick. If you use it to make pancakes straight out of the box, they may stick. To prevent the sticking, you first have to season the griddle.
When you open the box you should wash the pan with warm soapy water. Next, season the griddle on both sides by rubbing it with vegetable oil or a light layer of shortening. Place the griddle in your oven at 375 degrees for one hour. Line a lower rack with foil to catch any oil that drips. Let it cool down in the oven, then wipe it down with a tea towel or paper towel before storing it. With a brand new pan, you may want to repeat the oiling and baking process 3-4 times before using it the first time just to build up the seasoning on the pan. You don’t need to wash it in between.
After you cook with cast iron, the best way to wash it is to scrub it with hot water while it is still hot. You don’t need to use dish soap as that will break down the seasoning you have done already. You can scrub it with a sponge, a dish brush, or even a chain-link brush if it is particularly dirty. If you do use dish soap on it, repeat the seasoning process.
You will find that the longer and more often you use your cast iron, the more non-stick it will become and the more ways you will find to use it.
Pros
- Use this griddle on any cooking surface, stovetop, grill, oven, or campfire
- Quality product will last for generations
- Once it is heated, it retains heat well and evenly
Cons
- This is a heavy pan, about 13 pounds
- You have to take care of cast iron properly
2.Cuisinart Double Burner Anodized Aluminum Non-Stick Griddle Pan – Best for Cooking Full Meals
This option gives you the best of a smooth, non-stick griddle and an extremely large skillet — all in one pan for under $60. This double burner non-stick griddle is perfect for cooking breakfast for dinner and also for making a stir-fry, searing pork chops, or even frying chicken!
The Cuisinart Company
The Cuisinart company has provided quality kitchen gadgets and cookware for home chefs for over 50 years. They are committed to culinary education and creating top-quality products for home cooks.
The Cuisinart Griddle
This griddle pan has a rim that makes cooking smaller foods like chopped vegetables easy — they won’t slip off the edge. The rim is also sloped slightly to make pouring liquids out of the pan easy and safe.
The generous size, 13” by 20” gives you plenty of room to cook a full meal in one pan. The stainless steel handles make moving the pan easy. It is also oven safe up to 500 degrees; however, it should not be placed under the broiler.
Cuisinart’s Non-Stick Surface
The non-stick surface in this griddle is called Quantanium, which is kind of a blend of titanium and Teflon, making it a resilient non-stick surface. However, it does contain PFTEs which are used in the manufacturing of Teflon. If that is a concern, you may want to steer clear of this product.
While it is safe to use metal tools in this Cuisinart non-stick pan, the manufacturer recommends using silicone or wooden utensils. They also indicate that you should not use knives or other sharp tools in the pan to avoid scratching the interior surface. The griddle pan is constructed with thick aluminum to guarantee even heat distribution.
The non-stick surface in this griddle is high-quality and doesn’t need any additional oils or fats to prevent sticking. You can cook healthier dishes without the added oils and not worry about the food sticking in this pan.
Cuisinart recommends that you don’t stack other pans on top of this griddle to avoid scratching the non-stick surface. They also recommend cooking over low, even heat for the best results. Some customers report warping when the pan is used over high heat or when the two stove burners don’t heat equally.
Finally, this pan should be hand washed only is a soft cloth and dish soap. Placing it in the dishwasher may cause warping or may mar the non-stick surface.
Pros
- Large size, rimmed edges, and non-stick make cooking easy
- Light and easy to move around
- Easy to use and the non-stick coating is reliable
- May be used on gas or electric stovetops and in the oven up to 500 degrees
Cons
- May warp if used repeatedly on high temperatures or uneven heating
- Must be hand washed
- Need room to store it since it can’t be stacked
3.Ecolution Non-Stick Square Griddle – Best for Affordability, Small Spaces, and Eco-friendly
In that event, We recommend the Ecolution Non-stick square griddle pan. This is an 11” square pan with a silicone stay-cool handle. The Ecolution griddle pan retails for about $40.
The Ecolution Company
Ecolution is made by Epoca International, a company with a 25-year history of providing quality, affordable cookware with your family in mind. In addition to providing quality products, Epoca is committed to clean manufacturing processes that are beneficial for the environment as well.
This smaller griddle pan has a new water-based non-stick coating that is manufactured without perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), making it safer for you and for the environment. The CDC notes that PFOAs are present in the environment and even in many people’s blood serum; however, they have not yet established the dangers of long-term exposure to humans. If you are concerned about it, this griddle pan doesn’t have these chemicals in it.
The Ecolution Griddle
The Ecolution griddle pan has concentric rings on the bottom designed to evenly distribute heat throughout the pan. You should only use silicone or wooden kitchen tools in this pan as metal tools will damage the non-stick coating.
Unlike our other top picks, this griddle pan is dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. However, some users report that the pan may warp or the non-stick coating may wear down over time, so hand-washing is recommended.
The Ecolution griddle is durably made with heavy-duty aluminum. It weighs a little under 2 pounds, making it easy to handle on a stovetop, even with grilled cheese sandwiches on board.
Some users report warping with this pan and chipped paint on the outside of the pan with use. Neither of these experiences is surprising with a griddle. To reduce the possibility of warping heat the pan slowly and make sure it is cooled completely before washing it. Sudden temperature changes can cause pans to warp. Reviewers who contacted Ecolution’s customer service with defective pans got replacement pans that were free of defects and had good experiences with customer service.
Pros
- Convenient size for smaller kitchens or stoves
- Eco-friendly
- Dishwasher safe
- Lightweight and reliably non-stick
Cons
- May warp when exposed to high heat or uneven heat
- Cannot use metal tools in the pan
Buyers Guide
We evaluated each stovetop griddle based on 5 criteria to determine which ones would meet the needs and concerns of each cook: versatility, eco-friendliness, ease of use, how well the non-stick surface performed, and how a family could use the griddle for healthy cooking.
Versatility
When we evaluate a new purchase, we want to make sure that what we buy will do everything we need it to do. In the case of stovetop griddles, our first thoughts were of room to make pancakes. But a griddle can do so much more: scrambled or fried eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns for breakfast, toasted sandwiches for lunch, and even a stir fry or burgers for dinner. Obviously, we wanted a griddle that would work on any stovetop: gas, electric, glass, or induction. We also took into consideration griddles that could go in the oven, on a grill, and even in a campfire.
One area of concern with a griddle is where liquid runs off. So we wanted griddles with a good channel around the edge to hold oils or other liquids, or with a rim that would prevent any spills onto the stovetop.
Ease of Use
We know how busy we are and assume everyone else is too. Therefore when it comes to evaluating griddles, we wanted one that was easy to use, care for, and store. No one wants to avoid pancakes because the griddle is a pain to use. So we included griddles that would suit multiple lifestyles in the top choices.
Non-Stick Surface
Scrambled pancakes are not a thing, so we needed a griddle that has a truly non-stick surface. Some manufactures say that their pans are dishwasher safe which is super convenient, but to keep your non-stick surface truly non-stick, we recommend hand-washing. Also, refrain from using metal kitchen tools and knives in your non-stick pans for the best results.
Eco-Friendly
We are Earth-friendly here at SmarterHomemaker, and while a certain amount of manufacturing has to take place, we want to use products from companies that are also concerned about the impact they make on the planet. We favored products that last for many years and do not need to be replaced and companies that use PFOA-free processing for the non-stick surfaces.
Healthy Cooking
Naturally, we also look for the healthiest options. We chose griddles that required the least amount of oil or fats when cooking for lighter-tasting and healthier meals.
Other Good Options for Stovetop Griddles
- LegendReversible Cast Iron Grill / Griddle
- Nordic Ware Cast Aluminum Stovetop Griddle
- Staub Cast Iron Plancha (Griddle pan)
- Calphalon Non-Stick Short Order Griddle
- Farberware Non-stick 11” Square Griddle
- OXO Non-stick 11″ Square Griddle Dishwasher Safe
Swiss Diamond Nonstick Double-Burner Griddle
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skinny Griddle Pan 13 x 8.5
- Stainless Steel Comal Flat Top BBQ Cooking Griddle for Gas Stove or Grill 16″ by 18″
- Pimka Neo Reversible Cast Iron Griddle / Crill Single Burner with Grill Press
Final Considerations
When you start researching your stovetop griddle, you need to consider versatility, ease of use, care, and price. Think about how you want to use the griddle and choose one that will work in all those situations.
If you are not able to lift heavy pans, you should stay away from cast iron due to its weight. You should also consider your kitchen and storage space. If you are low on space, maybe an 11” square griddle is the best choice for you. Finally, with the wide range of stovetop griddles on the market, you are sure to find one that fits into your budget.
Remember the old adage that “you get what you pay for” and if you buy a low-cost griddle, you may be replacing it in a year. A little more investment will pay off in the long run.