Alexandra Ramirez
1. Presto 07037
Best Overall Electric Griddle
5/5 Product Rating
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, you’ll have plenty of room for cooking several things at once.
Heat control ranges from 200 to 400 degrees and goes up by 30 degree increments.
This efficient griddle maintains even heat and uses much less energy than turning on the oven or stove.
Heavy cast-iron aluminum makes up the surface of the Presto Jumbo Cool Touch which makes it resistant to warping. This electric griddle has a ledge around the entire surface that gives a backstop for easier flipping of eggs, pancakes, hamburgers or hotdogs. The drip tray underneath the griddle catches greases and drippings and is very easy to just slide out and wash.
The base of the Presto Jumbo Cool Touch stays cool to the touch on all sides during the cooking process which makes it safe for kids to stand and watch or even assist if they’re older. Take the heat control off and you can wash the griddle in a sink of warm, soapy water or the dishwasher with no problem at all.
– Sarah Lytle
2. Oster
Best Overall Electric Griddle – Runner Up
4.7/5 Product Rating
The nonstick surface makes food release simple and clean up is a breeze.
The cool touch edges make it safe for children to be near (never unattended) and also make moving it from one spot to another super easy.
The temperature control is removable for easier cleaning too.
Plenty of room on this griddle for cooking for a medium to large family with no problem. Great for pancakes, eggs, hamburgers, hot dogs and even steaks.
– Sarah Lytle
3. Presto 07211
Best Budget Electric Griddle
4.5/5 Product Rating
It has a nonstick coating that reduces the amount of grease it needs to cook things safely without sticking.
There is a channel along one end that catches grease drippings when meats like bacon, chicken or hamburgers are cooked.
Take the heat control off and you can submerge the entire griddle in warm soapy water to easily clean it.
1000 watts of power that works with any 120v outlet. It maintains even heat ranging anywhere from a warm setting all the way to 400 degrees.
You won’t have to worry about warping with the sturdy cast aluminum body that distributes the heat to avoid hot spots. For even easier storage the legs that are also handles can be unscrewed. This is a perfect sized electric griddle for a college student or single person or couple.
– Sarah Lytle
Electric Griddle Buying Guide
What is a Electric Griddle?
An electric griddle is a popular, useful kitchen appliance that you can just set on the countertop plug in and cook a multitude of delicious foods from pancakes and eggs to burgers and hotdogs. They have gotten much more popular over the years as people realize how easy they are to use and that they are great for cooking a larger amount of food (depending on the size you purchase) than using a regular frying pan.
There are many companies that manufacture electric griddles: Presto, Hamilton Beach, Oster, Broil King, and Black and Decker are the main ones. All of these popular names create good products. What will determine which griddle is the best for you is to look at the features, size and price of each one and then decide.
Why Should I Buy it?
There are many benefits to buying an electric griddle. We have outlined the most common ones below. These are the reasons that most people love these handy appliances.
Faster Breakfast Cooking – If you love to cook a full breakfast for your family on the weekends, an electric griddle could very well become your favorite kitchen appliance. It enables you to cook eggs, bacon and pancakes all at once while you toast the bread in the toaster. The nonstick surface means nothing will stick and being able to cook it all at once means eating hot, delicious food instead of food that has cooled off while you wait for the rest of it to be done.
Easy Cleanup – Cooking large meals can be a real joy…until it’s time to clean up and then some of the afterglow of a good meal wears off. Electric griddles make clean up so easy you won’t mind cooking large meals more often. The non stick surface keeps food from sticking and most electric griddles have removable heat controls that enable you to submerge the entire griddle in the water after those heat controls are taken off. Wiping the base down is also easy and just requires a damp rag or sponge to clean up any spills or splatters that may have gotten on the plastic or metal frame.
Healthier Meals are Easy – Electric griddles require no additional grease thanks to their nonstick surfaces. The elimination of this grease means healthier foods. If you’re cooking meat and the griddle has a grill insert or side, using it will allow the drippings from the meat to be directed away from the meat you’re cooking.
Easy and Appealing Designs – Electric griddles are not complicated to use at all which make them a great choice for inexperienced cooks as well. Heat up of an electric griddle is extremely fast. Just turn it on and it’s ready to cook on in minutes. Most electric griddles have heat settings that range from low to high so you can turn the dial and decide how hot a surface you want to cook on. The designs of electric griddles range from stainless steel to black and come in a wide array of styles from side by side griddles with flat and ridged surfaces side by side. Most styles look great with any kitchen décor.
No Electricity – Many people don’t want to buy another plug in appliance to tax their energy bills even more. Electric griddles are the most convenient, but there are other styles available as well such as stove top versions usually made of cast iron and it right on the stove top with no power required. They are not as easy to use and cook on as the electric griddle.
Types
With all of the styles of electric griddles available, it comes down to a matter of choice which one you want for your kitchen. Most griddles are made of stainless steel and aluminum with some hard plastic as well. Some types of griddles off dual controls so they keep one side of the griddle warm while the other is not in use or you could cook two different things at once. Since griddles need to be light enough to move around from place to place, they are typically constructed of aluminum and steel so they remain light.
Electric Griddle – a kitchen appliance that plugs in and has a flat, nonstick cooking surface that has steady heat that is evenly distributed during the entire cooking process. The temperature controls can be set to low, medium and high or if the model is one that offers it, you can set it to a specific temperature. These griddles are great for pancakes, eggs, French toast, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese and much, much more.
Electric Griddle/Grill Combo – Many griddles have come out with a grill insert or side that is great for cooking all kinds of meat on. The grease from the meat drips off and away from the meat. Some grill sections of the griddle can work like a contact grill and have contact with the meat on the top and bottom.
Specifications/Features
Size – There are a few different sizes of electric griddles on the market. Some are small and serve 2-3 people nicely. Others are quite large and can cook enough food for a large family. You need to think about how many you’re cooking for when you research which electric griddle will meet your needs. If you have a larger family and buy a griddle that is really for cooking for 2-3 people, you will always be eating in stages. The larger griddles can take up quite a bit of room so make sure that you have the storage space for it, or a designated place that you will keep it on a countertop.
Surface Coatings – the most common surface for electric griddles is a nonstick surface since most often these griddles are used for cooking pancakes and eggs. The nonstick surface helps this food not stick. It comes in handy for cooking grilled cheese as well. Although some griddles may not have nonstick surface, it is better for you to make sure that the one you buy does.
Grill Inserts – Some electric griddles come with grill inserts or have two sides, one of which is a flat surface and the other a grill surface. Having a grill surface gives you a few extra options when it comes to cooking and makes your meat healthier as well by draining the fat away from it.
Heat Controls – Depending on the electric griddle you choose, it may have simple heat controls of low, medium or high or it could have more choices such as an actual temperature (350 degrees, etc) Having more of a temperature variety is good when you don’t want to cook everything on the same temperature. Some foods might require a more intricate temperature setting.
Dual Thermostats – while is it more common to find electric griddles with a single thermostat, there are a few out there that have dual controls. What this means is that you can theoretically split the griddle in half and cook one side at one temperature and the other side at a different temperature. You can also just heat one side of the griddle if you find you’re only cooking for one or two.
Drip Trays – When fat drains off of bacon or sausage or ground beef it needs to have somewhere to go. Some models have channels along the edge where the grease goes and then runs into a drip tray. Others have holes that allow the grease to drain right through into the tray. Whichever yours has is fine as long as it has a way to dispose of the grease during the cooking process.
Warming Tray – Not all electric griddles have these, but those that do are real convenient. Breakfast food especially can get cold extremely fast. Putting the eggs or pancakes into the warming tray while the rest of the meal cooks is a great way to ensure you serve a hot meal and not one that started cooling off while you tried to finish up the rest of it.
Easy to Clean – Cleaning up after a big meal has been cooked is not fun, but the nonstick surface of the electric griddle makes cleanup much easier and faster. Many electric griddle models have removable heat controls that once removed, enable the entire griddle to be submerged in soapy water or put in the dishwasher. It is important to keep your griddle clean between uses so be sure to clean it one way or the other after every use.
Cost – Electric griddles range from very inexpensive to super costly depending on things like more advanced features and precision heat control. It is pretty easy to find an electric griddle that fits all types of budgets.
Tilt capability– some griddles have a tilt design that enables grease to be drained off while cooking meat, without having to unsafely pick up the griddle. This tilting ability is a feature of a griddle and not a type of griddle.
Power cord – Power cords on the electric griddle are typically short to avoid them being so long they interfere with the cooking process or with safety in general. A long cord invites the griddle being pulled off the counter by a curious child. Your voltage on most electric griddles will be 120v which is pretty standard. Try to avoid using extension cords if you can, but if you find there is no other alternative, use one that has at the very least the same capability or more. Never less or it can cause other electrical problem.
Safety Tips
Just as with any other electric appliance, safety must be taken into consideration. The following safety tips can help new and seasoned users get the most from their griddles and still stay safe while using them.
- Your griddle should always be used on a dry, level surface that is heat resistant. This would be a countertop or island or a sturdy table. Never use the griddle on the floor or on a bed or soft surface.
- Make sure the drip tray is in place when cooking to catch any drips especially from meats. Hot grease can cause nasty burns so be sure that the drip tray is never forgotten and that it is in place correctly.
- Plug the power cord into the griddle first and then the wall outlet. Never plus the griddle in with wet hands.
- Refer to the heating charts if using a griddle that has variable heat settings. These charts will more than likely be included in the user manual. Let the griddle preheat for 5-10 minutes only.
- Once the unit is preheated then you can add your food and do the cooking you need to do. Do not leave the griddle unattended.
- After the cooked food is removed, turn off the heat and unplug it from the wall first. Let the unit cool down completely and then unplug the cord from the griddle. When unplugging the griddle, don’t pull on the cord itself to avoid potential shocks and damage to the cord.
- Use wooden or plastic utensils on your griddle and not metal. Metal can scratch the nonstick surface and cause the food to start sticking and burning.
- The surface of the griddle is for food only. Don’t set pots, pans, plates, and bowls or casserole dishes of any kind of the griddle to try and cook things that way.
- Don’t let the power cord hang down over the edge of the counter or table you are cooking on.
- Don’t use any other power cord with the electric griddle except the one that came with it.
- Don’t use any power cord that has been damaged in any way
- When dumping the drip tray wait until it has cooled first. Spilling hot grease on you can cause permanent scarring.
- Electric griddles are not for children to use. Always make sure the kids are supervised when you are cooking on the griddle.
Cleaning
Here are some simple guidelines to follow to make sure that your griddle is cleaned properly.
- Once food is done cooking and is removed, unplug the griddle from the wall. Let the unit cool down and then remove the heat controls from the griddle.
- Remove the drip tray and put it in the soapy water or if using the dish washer (after making sure the drip tray is dishwasher safe) rinse with hot water and then put it in the dishwasher.
- Using a nylon or plastic (not steel wool) scrubby, clean the entire griddle (minus the heat controls) in hot soapy water thoroughly. You can also put the griddle in the dishwasher if it will fit safely. (not the power cords)
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners on the griddle as this can scratch the nonstick surface.
- Never get the power cords or heat controls wet. You can wipe the cord off (NOT the plug) with a tightly wrung out rag but that is it.
Conclusion
Electric skillets have gotten so popular they could very well be the favorite kitchen appliance of most cooks. Their ease of use, the types of food they cook and the convenience not to mention the saving in power are all excellent reasons to get one for your own kitchen.
With all of the information contained in this buyer’s guide, you are ready to choose the right electric griddle for your cooking needs and you won’t have to go searching to find out which are better than others. This buyer’s guide tells you exactly what makes a good electric griddle and what all of those features can do for you.
Choosing a new kitchen appliance should be enjoyable not stressful and it is our goal to provide you with the most complete information you can have for making your decision.
Resources
- Liddle Griddle – http://ecx.images-amazon.com/
- Jumbo Cool Touch – http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/
- Oster – http://i.ebayimg.com/
- Liddle Griddle – http://www.gopresto.com/downloads/instructions/07211.pdf
- Oster – http://www.oster.com/
