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Buying The Best Electric Griddle
An electric griddle is slowly becoming a part of every household's regular kitchen arsenal. You can use an electric skillet to cook yourself your breakfast favorites such as bacon, eggs, french toast, and pancakes as well other favorites such as sandwiches, stir fry, and burgers.
That being said you don’t need to spend so much money on an electric griddle. People will try to add unnecessary features or details to their electric griddle listing. You can do your research on what is necessary for your griddle and what you can dismiss.
This guide is designed to help you understand what to look for as well as give you recommendations as what, for you, is the best electric griddle under 100 dollars. There’s no need to pay over a hundred dollars for an electric griddle.
If you are paying hundreds of dollars for a griddle it may as well be a gas griddle. That’s what you see in restaurants and diners, but there’s a reason you don’t see many gas griddles in households. The reason is that if you’re not cooking hundreds of pancakes, eggs, and bacon strips a day, you just don’t need all that power.
There are a couple of things to check off, and if the griddle satisfies all the requirements as your budget, than it could easily be the best electric griddle for you.
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What To Look For In Your Electric Griddle Or Grill
It doesn’t matter if the griddle is 5 dollars, if it has everything on the list below, it’s a good enough griddle. Use this convenient checklist to know what to look for:
Material
The first thing to look for is the material. There are three main griddle materials. You will either find aluminum, cast iron, or ceramic griddles. They all have their specialities. If you want to use your griddle mostly for sauteing and as a skillet you will want aluminum. Aluminum heats up and cools down the fastest.
Unfortunately it is the least durable. Cast Iron heats up and cools down slower, but will last longer and is better for steaks. Ceramic tops are best for slow cooking and also are long lasting. For most of us, aluminum is what is needed, but a ceramic coating could also help.
Evenness
You need an electric griddle that cooks even. The best electric griddle will have no hot spots. Electric griddles are notorious for having some hot spots, mostly near the temperature control panel. Make sure you adequately research your griddle and test it upon purchase to see that all four corners cook the same.
Flatness
This is more of a problem with aluminum models than with others. Even the slightest angle tilt can ruin your griddle. You need the grill top to be completely flat. Otherwise, cooking eggs is near impossible. Everything will run to the center including the grease which will cause its own issue. A flat grill will also help keep all the juices separate, so you can cook eggs on one side and bacon on the other.
Grease Flow & Removal
People underestimate how damaging grease can be. There needs to be proper channels for grease to flow through. If the passage of grease is not smooth, grease buildup can severely damage your griddle. Not only can it destroy the nonstick coating if built up in abundance, but it can leak across the griddle and seep into the temperature control panel.
This will essentially fry the controls and leave you with what is essentially left as a cookie sheet with handles. There needs to be a large enough grease tray that large orders will not overflow the tray. The grease tray also needs to be of good quality or else it will eventually melt and become difficult to remove. It is preferable if the grease tray is dishwasher friendly as well.
Cleanability
The grease tray isn’t the only thing that needs to be easy to clean. If you don’t regularly clean your griddle, the non stick coating will fade away. Grease will build up in corners and your entire machine will slowly die.
Most electric griddles are fully immersible once the heat control is removed. Don’t go for an electric griddle that requires too much effort to clean. It needs to be simple and easy or else there will be complications. Cleanability helps make longevity an easier goal.
Longevity
A good griddle should last you at minimum two years. Unfortunately in the business, it is too easy to make a griddle that works great for a few months but then dies away later on. These companies won’t even help you out later down the line as they will blame the griddles failure on your particular user experience.
Check reviews to make sure this particular griddle grill will last you a long time. Don’t buy one where the metal and coating peels away. Make sure the top won’t warp from extended heat over time.
Versatility
This is something to consider. If you live in an apartment complex that doesn’t allow gas grills (most do not), then you might want to increase your options. There are several griddles than also include grilling options.
This means your electric griddle is also an electric grill. If you do opt for the grill option, make sure it’s one that doesn’t smoke much as you will likely be using it inside. Electric grills can be great for people who want to grill a sausage while making a quick pancake.
Coating
You need nonstick coating. A griddle that requires additional grease is not headed towards a long life. Ceramic coating can also sometimes increase the lifespan of your metal griddle. Make sure there are no chemicals on the coating as well, as some companies are complicit with using hazardous chemicals on the coating. None of the suggestions below will be hazardous.
Price
This is a little obvious, but pick your budget beforehand. You can find a good electric griddle for 30 dollars but they get great closer to a hundred dollars. Don’t even think about buying an electric griddle that is over 100 dollars because it’s just not worth it. Be a minimalist when it comes to price, and don’t overspend compared to how much you really plan on using your griddle.
Our Top Recommendations
We have assembled 8 electric griddles that we think will include the best electric griddle for you. They range in price, quality, and material so surely one will fit you needs.
Consider the following:
The Secura GR-1503XL 1700W Electric Reversible 2 In 1 Grill Griddle With Glass Lid
The Secura GR-1503XL 1700W Electric Reversible 2 in 1 Grill Griddle w/ Glass Lid covers all the bases. It comes in at a mid tier price of around 70 dollars, but offers the quality of a more expensive piece.
It has a large reversible plate which seems to last most user a long time. I have had no issues with the metal bending or breaking. It also includes a glass lid which is awesome. It’s the only model I’ve seen with a glass lid.
The lid helps with the evenness by keeping the heat trapped inside. There are vents on the side to keep food moist, so don’t worry about dryness.
The grease tray is very large and located under the suspended griddle plate. This allows any and all overflowing grease to be caught underneath. It is then easily removed and cleaned. In fact, the entire piece is easy to clean.
It is very large and bulky though, so storage is a potential problem. For its price, this is at the top of my list for best electric griddle under 100 dollars, because it offers you everything you need and more.
The Presto 07061 22-Inch Griddle With Removable Handles
The Presto 07061 22-inch Griddle With Removable Handles is one of the cheaper electric griddles. It will only cost you around 30 dollars, but that comes with a price.
If you really don’t plan on using your griddle much, then you may as well go with the presto. It’s aluminum and has a heavy base. For a couple of uses it will be perfect. If you think you will use your griddle more than 100 times, you may need to pay a little bit more money.
For its price, it’s amazing. It is a very large skillet that can easily fit 8 pancakes at once. It’s very simple and basic. The removeable handles make the griddle extremely easy to clean. You just pull out the handles, and then you can clean the entire plate easily.
The heating is fast, but not perfectly even. There are hotspots, and mostly located near the temperature control. You can’t expect perfect craftsmanship for 30 dollars.
They claim the heavy aluminum cast is warp proof, but the same cannot be said about the actual cooking surface. Reports of extended long term use show that it will eventually bend towards the middle making it impossible to cook eggs.
The Oster CKSTGRFM18W-ECO DuraCeramic Griddle With Warming Tray
The Oster CKSTGRFM18W-ECO DuraCeramic Griddle with Warming Tray is also priced around 30 dollars. Instead of being aluminum like the Presto, the Oster electric griddle is ceramic.
Oster is known for their patented DuraCeramic coating which is allegedly designed to last 4 times longer than its metal counterpart.
I have personally found that the DuraCeramic coating does not chip as easily as the metal ones. Unfortunately, the piece does not have master craftsmanship. It comes with a warming tray which, while a good idea, was not perfectly executed.
After a while, the warming tray will essentially melt in place and become unusable. The top grill is still effective, but it does not last as long as more expensive ceramic griddles. The coating is PTFE and PFOA free, so there are no chemicals to worry about.
This Oster electric griddle is also scratch resistant, which is a nice cosmetic addition. The temperature control is easily removed which makes cleaning very easy.
The Presto 07064 Tilt ‘n Drain Big Griddle Cool-Touch Electric Griddle
The Presto 07064 Tilt ‘n Drain Big Griddle Cool-Touch Electric Griddle is a slightly better version than the previous Presto. It is also about 10 dollars more expensive.
It is another simple griddle. It has a large surface that is a little better than the other Presto. It bends and warps less. The best feature is the Tilt ‘n Drain feature.
It handles the grease overflow problem well. The back legs can boost up, putting the entire griddle at a tilt. This makes cooking meats like bacon much more manageable as all the grease will flow down into the grease removal tray.
All you have to do is pull the handles out and the griddle will tilt downwards. When you need a flat surface again, all you have to do is push the handles back in. For just around 40 dollars, this presto electric griddle is a great deal.
It is efficient in price and relies on gravity (which is free by the way) to fix the grease problem. It won’t perfectly cook even, but that’s what you get at this price.
The Hamilton Beach 38546 3-In-1 Grill/Griddle
The Hamilton Beach 38546 3-in-1 Grill/Griddle is the cheapest dual threat on this list. It come is just above 40 dollars, which is a great option for all its versatility.
It has two plates which are both reversible. This means you can grill two separate dishes, griddle two separate dishes, or even griddle and grill at the same time. You are essentially getting an indoor grill and griddle for less than 50 bucks.
Instead of one large plate, the Hamilton Beach electric grill uses two smaller plates. The smaller plates are less susceptible to bending and warping. What’s also great is that each plate has it’s own temperature control which means you can slow cook on one side while rapidly fryin on the other.
The two plates are separated by a grease channel which all grease is directed to. The grease than flows into the grease plate which is removeable. If you don’t clean and watch for grease overflow, the Hamilton Beach can be an issue. Overflowing grease in the center will flow overboard and destroy the electric controls.
The Broil King PCG-10 Professional Portable Nonstick Griddle
The Broil King PCG-10 Professional Portable Nonstick Griddle is the most expensive griddle on this list. It will cost you just under 100 dollars. It’s also one of the best on this list.
They really invested in quality with the Broil King electric griddle. There aren’t additional features besides a cheap backsplash. The griddle isn’t even reversible.
Instead, the Broil King has a high quality metal base and ceramic coating. It combines the best of different griddles to make the perfect breakfast cooking device. It is the most flat and even cooking griddle on this list.
It has a giant 21 by 12 inch cooking surface, which can easily cook the entire family a meal at once. It also comes with a rear leg lift design that makes grease run-off much easier.
The heat is adjustable up to 425 degrees, and it self regulates. Unlike many other models, this broil king will not have hot spots.
They were so confident in this model that it comes with a 2 year warranty. None of the other models come with such a warranty. So if you don’t need a grill but instead want the best quality griddle for under 100 dollars, this is your best bet.
Just don’t use the splash guard. It’s unnecessary and will only warp into an awkward shape anyways.
The Oster CKSTGR3007-ECO DuraCeramic Reversible Grill And Griddle
The Oster CKSTGR3007-ECO DuraCeramic Reversible Grill and Griddle is one of the few ceramic griddles with both griddle and grill capabilities.
It is similar to the previous Oster electric griddle, but with much higher quality. The DuraCeramic coating is thicker and intended to last 4 times longer than metal tops as well.
I have not found this model to flake or peel. It is much smaller than other griddles, and can’t fit the same family sized meals as the previous models. It comes in just above 80 dollars, but it is loaded with versatility.
If you are mostly cooking for yourself and at max one other, the Oster electric griddle is a great buy. It is of high quality, and its main drawback is size.
The grease channel is located under the plate, just like the Secura electric griddle. The grease flows down naturally, and the grease plate is very large. One problem is that the drip plate is not washer friendly. It’s not terribly difficult to clean, but it could be easier.
It aims to cook and heat up 20% faster than competitors, which is impressive since it has a ceramic finish. If you don’t plan on cooking for many, but still want a fantastic quality electric griddle, than the Oster electric griddle is the best electric griddle for you.
The Broil King USG-10G Ultra Large Griddle
The Broil King USG-10G Ultra Large Griddle is massive. It will cost you the same as the Oster above (around 80 dollars), but it does not come with a grill attachment.
Instead, the Broil King electric griddle offers you a 21 by 12 inch cast surface. The cast aluminum is thick and great quality. It is very flat and it cooks very even.
It surprises with quality for its size. You would assume such a large piece would be difficult to evenly cook on, but the Broil King Electric griddle surprises.
You can easily cook your entire family a meal at once on this piece.
The non stick coating is also very tough. It does not fade like many other pieces do. It will last you much longer.
If you occasionally like to do giant breakfasts, or just need a skillet for your large family sunday breakfast tradition, then this Broil King is the best electric griddle for you. It has all the quality and all the size. It doesn’t have many extra features like a lid or a grill top, but it will cook you a mean breakfast.
It even has the rear leg lift design, that can tilt your grill so grease runs down easily. This is one of the smartest designs to have in a griddle, because grease is the biggest element of wear and tear in your griddle.
Conclusion
What are you looking for in an electric griddle?
Think about how many people you want to cook for, how often you want to cook, and how well you want your food to be cooked.
The only other criteria is the money you are willing to spend.
When you have answered all of these questions, the best electric griddle will come to you. The list above provides you with a wide variety of griddles, and if you know what you are looking for one of them is sure to fit the bill.
They aren’t the only ones however. They are here to give a good idea of different classes and versions. Use your knowledge of griddles now to actually buy the best griddle for you.
Most of these griddles will offer an option for a 2, 4, or even 8 year warranty. These will cost just a few bucks generally, and if you are buying a lower quality griddle they may be worth it. If you are buying a high quality griddle, they may save you from getting stuck with a lemon.
The last thing to know is that you need to clean your griddle. Some are better made for this, but all of them can be cleaned. Whichever griddle you end up going with, know that it’s longevity will be affected by proper maintenance.
So what are you waiting for? Now’s the time to check out your options on Amazon and pick up an electric griddle today. After all the research you’ve been through, you sure deserve some bacon and pancakes.
