Flat Top Grills & Griddles

Fuel Types

The most common type of fuel used for griddle cooking is gas - which can be either propane or natural gas.  This fuel type is the most popular and provides convenient, reliable, consistent heat underneath your cooktop.

Electric griddles are rising in popularity.  These units use electricity to bring heating elements up to high temperatures that in turn heat your cooktop.

Charcoal or wood fire griddles are the least common but they do exist.  Most often, wood fired griddles are shaped like fire pits and feature a cooking surface around the perimeter of the fire box.

Built-In, Freestanding, or Countertop?

The next big consideration is whether you want your griddle to stand on it's own, work on a countertop, or to be built-in to outdoor cabinets.

Built-in griddles tend to be popular because you can fully integrate them into your outdoor kitchen.  It's also very space-efficient to have your griddle installed into your cabinets.

Freestanding and countertop flat top grills provide more flexibility and portability - and some models provide portability for on-the-go cooking.  Freestanding options tend to be the most expensive configuration out of the three.

What's The Difference Between A Flat Top Grill And A Griddle?

Technically, the difference has to do with the shape of the burners underneath the cooktop.  A griddle features linear heating elements whereas a flat top features circular or curved burners.

 With that being said, many people use the terms interchangeably.

What's The Difference Between A Griddle And A Grill?

The main difference is the cooking surface - a grill has a mesh-like cooking grate whereas a griddle has a solid piece of metal as the cooktop.

What Can You Cook On A Griddle?

Griddles are known as one of the most versatile types of cookers - which is one of the main reasons why they have become so popular.

With the solid cooktop, you really can cook, sear, or sauté just about anything - here are a few ideas:

• Burgers
• Steaks
• Veggies
• Eggs
• Pancakes
• Fajitas
• Chicken
• Much more

Are Griddles Hard To Clean?

Outdoor griddles do require a certain level of cleaning and upkeep after every cook to ensure that your cooking surface continues to perform at a high level.

The process differs depending on which brand your griddle is, but the idea is simple and usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes.  You need to remove food bits from the cooking surface and give the cooktop a light wipe down after each cook.

How Do You Keep Griddles From Rusting?

It's a good idea to get a griddle that has a rust-resistant stainless steel cooktop.  However there are additional measures you can take to prevent discoloration over time as much as possible.

The best thing you can do is cover your griddle with a heavy-duty lid, a cover, or both.  This will help keep moisture out and keep the flat top looking aesthetically pleasing over a longer period of time.