If you enjoy outdoor entertaining you will really like the latest Flat Top Grills and Griddles. Flat Top Grills have a nice large cooking surface area for cooking up your favorite meats and veggies. These grills are evenly heated and provide great versatility. With a flat top grill, you can cook great dishes like pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs for large groups. You can also make foods like mongolian bbq, stir fry, fajitas, hamburgers, smashburger tacos, and so much more. We have taken a look at the best flat top grills based on their quality, performance, and features, and provided our feedback to help make the decision on which one to buy for your specific needs much easier. Also take a look at our pellet grill, and our amazing cookware pages.
Things To Consider When Buying A Flat Top Grill
Grill Size
When you are looking to buy a new flat top grill, it’s important to think about what you would normally cook on it for your family. Then pick a grill size that is bigger than that. Then add some more size for when you will cook for any friends that you may have over for dinner. Our recommendation is to go big. The more you cook on it, the more you will add to what you will cook on it. 28 inches or more is a good size. For my family get togethers the 36 inch Flat Top Grill is perfect. Most flat top grill manufacturers offer grills in the 17, 22, 28, and 36 inches wide size.
Grill Materials
Very expensive commercial griddles typically have a stainless steel grill top, but most consumer grade grills will have cold rolled steel, which is similar to a cast-iron skillet, so it will need regular maintenance to avoid rust.
Grill Heat Source
Some flat top grills are electric, but most of the outdoor models work with standard liquid propane tanks. For some models you can buy a conversion kit that will allow you to hook it up to a natural gas line. Electric flat top grills are more popular for indoor use.
Grill Covers
As for grill covers, they make hard metal covers that protect your grill surface, as well as larger synthetic covers that will protect and cover your entire grill. It’s a good idea to get both types as the the metal cover will stop the water from sitting directly on your grill’s surface, and the synthetic cover will protect your grill’s external surfaces from dirt, pollen, and leaves. It’s a good idea to protect your grill by storing it in a covered area, like a shed or garage, at the end of the season or when it won’t be used for a while.
Best Flat Top Grill - Blackstone 36” Griddle with Air Fryer & Cabinets
This Flat Top Grill Griddle gives you high end performance with a luxury design. It’s a fully loaded grill that lets you do it all. Giving you 769 square inches of cooking and grilling space, along with dual 4 quart air frying drawers, and a 4 quart warming drawer. It also has some built in cabinet space for all of your tools, spices, and accessories. This is one of the most popular flat top grill griddles on the market. Give yourself the gift of luxury cooking with plenty of room for your family meals, and your friend get togethers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use a griddle flat top grill?
Cooking on a flat top grill or griddle is similar to cooking on a skillet. It’s a good idea to have a squeeze bottle of your favorite cooking oil that has a high smoke point on hand, so that you can prevent your food from sticking and burning. Have your ingredients and food prepped and ready to go so there are no slow downs during cooking.
How do you clean a flat top grill?
Read your manufacturer recomendations for cleaning your grill. Typically you should keep a thin layer of oil on the surface. A scraper will help you keep the surface free of burns from foods and sauces. After you are done cooking each time, you should funnel the grease into the cup or tray anad dispose of it, and clean the grill surface as well as wiping down the surfaces that you may have gotten dirty.
Can you use pots and pans on a flat top grill?
Yes, you can use pots and pans on a flat top, but it’s a little different than using your stovetop. The heat created by the burner has to heat the thick steel top and then the pan itself. You can definitely boil water, simmer your sauces, or cook some veggies, but griddles aren’t as responsive as stoves.
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About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. Delicious cooking on your Flat Top Grill!