The Best Pancake Griddle Options for Your Kitchen

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Pancakes are a weekend staple in many households. While it’s possible to fry up some delicious hotcakes in a standard frying pan, this method has its limitations. For starters, you can only cook so many flapjacks at once. Griddles, on the other hand, distribute heat evenly across a large, flat surface, where it’s easy to serve up griddle cakes in larger batches. Just mix up the batter and spoon it onto the hot cook surface. A flat, open griddle also makes for easier pancake flipping. The best pancake griddles have a wide variety of other uses, good for cooking up eggs, bacon, burgers, sausages, hash browns, French toast, and more.

A number of key considerations should figure into the search for the best pancake griddle. This guide details important features and provides suggestions by category from among the best pancake griddles on the market.

BEST OVERALL: Presto 07073 Electric Tilt-N-fold Griddle
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: BLACK+DECKER Family-Sized Electric Griddle
UPGRADE PICK: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Rectangular Griddle
BEST LARGE: Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle
BEST CAST IRON: Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle
BEST GRIDDLE PAN: OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro 11″ Square Griddle
BEST STOVETOP: Cuisinart Double Burner Griddle
BEST MULTIPURPOSE: Cuisinart Griddler, Elite, GR-300WSP1

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Pancake Griddle

All pancake griddles are not the same. A number of factors affect their function, including type, size, material, heat control, and additional features. Keep reading to learn about the most important features of the best pancake griddles.

Type

Pancake griddles come in electric, stovetop, and gas models. Each brings distinct advantages.

Electric griddles stand alone and require an electrical outlet. A built-in element distributes heat evenly. These appliances leave the stovetop clear for preparing other dishes. They do, however, require extra counter and storage space, and need more careful cleaning due to their electrical components.
Stovetop griddles are a great choice for those with limited counter space. They work on top of a stove burner, just like a frying pan. Dishwasher-safe griddles make cleanup a cinch.
Gas griddles, designed for outdoor use, function like a barbecue but with a flat top rather than a grate.

Material

Pancake griddles generally have a nonstick surface, either in the form of seasoned cast iron or a nonstick coating. These pans and appliances come in a variety of materials, most often one of the following:

Hard-anodized aluminum: scratch-resistant; heats up quickly and evenly
Tri-ply stainless steel: a layer of aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel; heats up well; durable and dishwasher safe
Cast iron: takes longer to heat up but retains heat better; appropriate for any type of cooktop, including grills and campfires; can scratch glass-top ranges if not handled carefully.

Dimensions

Before choosing the best pancake griddle for the kitchen, consider how many people will typically be eating. Many manufacturers specify the total cooking area of their griddles in square inches. Larger families should look for a model with a surface area of at least 200 square inches.

Heat Control

Heat control varies depending on the type of griddle. Stovetop griddles rely on the available heat of your range. Many electric models offer more precise temperature control, with dials to set and lock in a specific heat setting. Some larger griddles have dual thermostats to set different temperatures for each side of the cooking surface.

Look for a griddle with a removable heat-control system. These models can go under the faucet for easy cleaning.

Versatility

Many griddles can do more than just cook pancakes. Reversible grill/griddle combos have a flat griddle side for pancakes and eggs, with a ridged grill surface for steaks and burgers. These stovetop models typically come in cast iron.

Some electric griddles have interchangeable plates and double as panini presses, waffle makers, or closed grills. The sear setting on an electric griddle fixes the appliance at a high temperature for a short time period.

Storage and Portability

Most home chefs don’t use the pancake griddle every day, so storage is an important consideration. Since large griddles may not fit easily in a kitchen cabinet, and cast-iron models are especially heavy, consider where the griddle will be stored before buying one.

Some griddles feature collapsible legs that fold in for more compact storage. Many electric griddles come in lightweight, portable models with removable parts.

Additional Features

Many pancake griddles come with additional convenience features. Here are a few to look for:

Drip trays allow fat and oils to drain from food.
Warming trays provide a warm spot to hold finished pancakes.
Tilt feature allows cooks to tilt the griddle to drain fat and oils safely.
Long power cords give cooks flexibility in where to use the griddle.
Temperature-ready lights indicate when the griddle reaches the desired temperature.

Our Top Picks

The top picks for the best pancake griddle take into account the above features as well as overall quality and value. Read on to discover some of the top options on the market in a variety of categories for creating delicious weekend breakfasts.

Best Overall

Presto 07073 Electric Tilt-N-fold Griddle

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Presto’s electric Tilt-N-fold Griddle has a 254-square-inch cast-aluminum cooking surface with nonstick coating. The pancake griddle sits flat for frying up flapjacks and tilts to drain fat into the drip tray when cooking meats.

A completely removable heat-control dial comes out for easy cleanup. The legs fold and lock for compact storage. Presto’s griddle measures 15.18 inches by 19 inches by 1.87 inches and stores vertically in most standard 18-inch kitchen cabinets.

Best Bang For The Buck

BLACK+DECKER Family-Sized Electric Griddle

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BLACK & DECKER’s family-size electric griddle, with its 10-inch by 20-inch nonstick cooking surface, can feed a crowd with its affordable price point. The adjustable heat control clicks and locks into place at the desired temperature. An indicator light shows cooks when the griddle is ready.

The removable drip and warming trays make cleanup easy. This appliance measures 13 inches by 22 inches by 3 inches.

Upgrade Pick

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Rectangular Griddle

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Le Creuset’s stovetop griddle in high-quality cast iron ensures efficient heat retention and distribution. The black enamel requires no seasoning. This griddle fits perfectly over two standard burners on any cooktop, including gas, electric solid plate, radiant ring, ceramic glass, and induction. It goes in the oven, too, whether electric, gas, coal, or wood-fired. Le Creuset’s griddle measures 13 inches by 8.5 inches.

Best Large

Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle

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Presto’s 231-square-inch nonstick cooking surface can hold enough pancakes for the whole family. The heat-control dial includes precise temperature settings, and the heavy cast-aluminum base conducts and distributes heat efficiently.

Removable parts—including a drip tray, heat dial, and handles—make for simple cleanup and storage. Fully assembled, this griddle measures 11.5 inches by 26.25 inches by 2.5 inches. Without the handles, it fits in most standard 18-inch kitchen cabinets.

Best Cast-Iron

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle

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Lodge’s cast-iron reversible grill/griddle fries up flapjacks and sears steaks and other grillable favorites over any cooking surface, including outdoor grills and campfires. A slight tilt in the design drains fat into a grease gutter.

Pre-seasoned with a natural easy-release finish, Lodge’s grill/griddle becomes more nonstick with use. The 163.6-square-inch pan moves seamlessly from stovetop to oven, too.

Best Griddle Pan

OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro 11u0022 Square Griddle

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The OXO 11-inch stovetop griddle’s unique shape capitalizes on every inch of its 121-square-inch cooking surface. The scratch-resistant, hard-anodized aluminum heats up quickly and evenly. A long stainless steel handle, low side walls, and nonstick coating make for easy flapjack flipping.

Oven- and dishwasher-safe, the square pancake griddle combines convenience and versatility. It measures 19.29 inches by 11.33 inches by 3.14 inches.

Best Stovetop

Cuisinart Double Burner Griddle

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Cuisinart’s tri-ply design offers a lighter weight alternative to cast iron. Aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel heats up quickly and evenly on any stove, including induction cooktops, while the heat-resistant riveted stainless steel handles stay cool.

The griddle’s nonstick coating makes for easy flipping and cleanup. The hard-anodized aluminum exterior should stand up to years of use.

Best Multipurpose

Cuisinart Griddler, Elite, GR-300WSP1

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The multifunctional Cuisinart Griddler includes six cooking presets: contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, half-grill/half-griddle, and top melt. Additionally, the sear function operates at 500 degrees for up to 2 minutes at a time. Dual-zone temperature control customizes heat settings on both sides of the cooking surface up to 450 degrees. Extra fats and oils roll off into the integrated drip tray.

The high-shine stainless steel housing adds a modern touch. Removable, dishwasher-safe nonstick grill and griddle plates, plus an included cleaning tool, make cleanup easy. The 100 percent BPA-free appliance measures 14.65 inches by 16.22 inches by 8.11 inches with a 240-square-inch cooking surface.

FAQs About Pancake Griddles

Ready to start flipping? Check out the answers to some common questions about pancake griddles.

Q. How do I clean my pancake griddle?

Cleaning instructions for pancake griddles vary depending on the model. Always allow the griddle to cool completely before cleaning. Don’t submerge electric griddles in water unless all electrical components can be removed completely. If not, clean the appliance carefully with soap and water. Gently clean cast-iron griddles with warm water.

Q. Can I use a griddle on a glass-top stove?

Yes, unless the manufacturer’s specifications say otherwise. When using a cast-iron griddle on a glass-topped stove, lift the pan rather than sliding it whenever moving it to avoid damaging the stovetop.