In the world of outdoor cooking, flat top grills are a hot commodity right now. People who previously only owned a traditional charcoal grill or a propane gas grill with grates are rapidly discovering the many advantages and convenience a gas griddle can offer. Finding the best flat top grills, though, can be tricky. So many manufacturers produce various sizes and offer an assortment of additional features at wildly varying price points. Whether you are interested in something smaller, even a portable griddle for tailgating, camping, or to supplement your gas or charcoal grill or if you want something larger for feeding family and friends, I’m going to give you an idea of what to look for. Hopefully, you can find a great model for your home with my suggestions and research.
But first, consider why someone would even want a gas griddle. If you plan on hosting larger parties or events, then one of the best flat top grills has six burners to handle that. In addition to an incredible 877 square inches of cooking space, this Le Griddle comes with some extras that most people don’t even know to consider, but are important considerations. Most notably, it includes adjustable legs. Being able to create a level cooking surface is essential for achieving the desired outcomes. That can be a struggle for anyone with uneven surfaces on a patio or deck.
Features to Consider for the Best Flat Top Grills
Of course, many other options exist on the market beyond the Camp Chef mentioned above, and we’ll be covering them throughout the post. Before you settle on a final purchase, there are several important things you need to consider to get the best flat top grills for you. Some are obvious and some are less so, but every feature impacts the cost, quality, performance, and durability of your new gas griddle.
Griddle Surface Area
There are three main things that influence what size cooking space is going to be ideal for your needs. They are, how many people you plan to routinely feed with your gas griddle, whether you plan to transport it to other locations, and whether you have storage space limitations. Small griddles generally offer between 200 and 400 square inches of cooking space. While that can still work for feeding larger groups of people, you will be making smaller batches, especially for things like burgers and smash burgers, rather than everything hitting the table at once. Most manufacturers define “Large” as anything with over 500 square inches. Griddles as large as 756 square inches are offered for more experienced grillers and serious entertainers.
Material
Flat top grills are manufactured from various materials and there are important reasons why that matters. Here are some of the key things you’ll find out there, how to use them and when it matters most.
Cold Rolled Steel
Most griddle surfaces on lower-priced griddles are made of cold-rolled steel. The same principles apply to how you’d treat your cast iron skillet in caring for this material. Regular seasoning is needed. It is the best choice if your focus is getting that deep caramelization. Although not particularly fancy, it is hard wearing.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel provides much more rapid heating on your outdoor gas griddle, something I learned years ago from testing them and from professional cooks who work in restaurants. That speed and control offer a more precise way to achieve that great restaurant-style crust. That extra benefit will come at an additional expense over a cold-rolled steel flat-top grill. Stainless steel griddles will likely offer longevity, though. Stainless steel surfaces are more resistant to scratches and rust than a griddle made from other materials. One such manufacturer known for its exceptional craftsmanship and high-quality is Le Griddle, a family-owned and operated business offering a commercial-style outdoor griddle experience.
Cast Iron
Cast iron is ideal for use in both flat top grills and traditional grills, although they heat very slowly compared to the two above, especially for griddles. Be sure you understand the care instructions before selecting this type of cooking surface. If cast iron does not have its outer surface coating regularly cared for it can easily rust.
Number of Burners and Temperature Control
Flat top griddles typically offer between 2 and 6 burners. The more burners, the better for more temperature control. For example, if you have four burners then you are able to more effectively utilize heat zones. This offers the greatest level of control as you are able to create more precise adjustments depending on the specific temperature requirement for what you are cooking outdoors on your gas griddle.
Grease Management System
If there is one downside that every flat top grill owner will have to manage, it’s the grease. If you don’t keep the grease and debris regularly cleaned and maintained, you will be inviting rodents and other undesirables to your yard. Cleaning your flat top grill is far easier though, with just a paper towel, once you let it cool down, than any traditional gas or charcoal grill because the cooking surface on a gas griddle is so accessible and flat. Just take care to safely remove and properly dispose of any grease that your outdoor cooking sessions produce.
Ease of Transport
Flat top griddles can be either freestanding or built-in and come in all different sizes. Make sure to look for gas griddles with sturdy, durable, locking wheels to easily move it for storage. Portability may be less important if you plan to just use your gas griddle in a stationary position, perhaps even inside of an outdoor kitchen. If you enjoy using it for tailgating though or at campsites though, you will want a tabletop or small, lightweight, portable, wheeled model, and something that is a good value with 319 square inches of griddle surface like this Royal Gourmet Portable Flat Top.
Budget and Warranty
Obviously price point is a key driver in settling on the best flat top grills that will work for your home. When deciding which flat top grills you are interested in, look at their current warranties. Longer warranties will typically provide greater peace of mind over their performance and durability, although a manufacturer offering such long warranty periods will require a larger initial outlay of money, a higher price to buy their product.
5 of the Best Flat Top Grills on the Market
So now that we have covered the main points of what you will need to look for, consider which one of the best flat top grills is right for your cooking and entertaining needs. No two are exactly the same, they all offer their own distinct benefits and unique features, with price points for virtually every budget.
Le Griddle Ranch Hand 30-Inch 2-Burner Built-In / Countertop Propane Gas Commercial Style Flat Top Griddle
This Ranch Hand flat top griddle is a great option if you need something for smaller spaces. But don’t let the size fool you! It still has two burners and 50,000 BTUs of cooking power. The 30-inch griddle top is large enough to cook for a crowd. You’ll have plenty of room to make burgers and hotdogs for everyone. This model is great as a built-in, but you can also get a cart if you want something freestanding.
Weber Grills Traveler 22-Inch Portable Propane Gas Flat Top Griddle
Some folks think the best flat top grills need to be big, bulky, and stuck in one place. But if you like to take your grilling on the go, the Weber Grills Traveler 22-Inch Portable Propane Gas Flat Top Griddle is for you. This grill is small but mighty! It is perfect for tailgating, camping, or just cooking out on your patio.
This grill has a large cooking area. You can fit a good amount of food on it. It heats up quickly and evenly, thanks to its powerful burner. Plus, it’s easy to clean up. This is because it has a porcelain-enameled finish.
Weber Grills Slate 30-Inch Freestanding 3-Burner Propane Gas Rust-Resistant Flat Top Griddle with Digital Thermometer
This Weber flat top griddle is ready to go. This griddle will help you make all of your family favorites. You can use this propane gas flat top griddle as a permanent fixture or you can move it around your patio. This model comes with a digital thermometer but you also get a lot more. It has a grease management system and a convenient paper towel holder. You’ll love the two side tables that fold down when you need them to.
Blaze Grills LTE 30-Inch Built-In Natural Gas Commercial Style Flat Top Griddle with Lights
This Blaze Grills LTE 30-inch built-in flat top griddle is perfect for seasoned grill masters. But it’s also great if you are just starting out with flat top grills. This griddle is built to last. It has heavy-duty materials. This griddle also has a sleek design. You’ll love the way it looks in your outdoor kitchen.
This flat top griddle has two independently controlled burners. This lets you cook different foods at different temperatures at the same time. The large cooking surface gives you plenty of space to cook for a crowd. You’ll also get great heat distribution from the thick, solid stainless steel burner. This means your food will cook evenly every time.
Cleaning this griddle is a breeze. It has a built-in grease trough that catches any drippings. And the stainless steel construction makes it super easy to wipe clean. You will love the integrated interior lights. They make it easy to grill at night.
Le Griddle Big Texan 41-Inch 3-Burner Freestanding Propane Gas Commercial Style Flat Top Griddle
This is a great option if you need a big griddle. It’s a freestanding model, so you can put it anywhere. The three burners give you a lot of cooking power. But you’ll want to make sure you have enough propane on hand. This griddle is perfect for large groups or anyone who loves to entertain.
FAQs about Best Flat Top Grills
What are the disadvantages of a flat top grill?
While there are a ton of benefits and advantages to outdoor griddle cooking, there are downsides to keep in mind. Here are some common drawbacks associated with most flat-top grills: Grease Accumulation – Cleaning a flat top after use is a bit easier than a traditional grill, but cooking on one produces a LOT of grease splatter and messy cleanup. Even Heat Distribution – Many griddle tops can develop uneven heating that creates challenges in cooking effectively on lower or higher priced models. Size and Portability – Moving a flat top, even smaller ones with wheels, can be incredibly awkward, especially after the unit gets coated in grime after a fun evening of grilling.
What is the best surface for a flat top grill?
If your interest is to rapidly get a griddle surface to high heat, and this should be one of your first considerations because if you’ve never used a stainless steel griddle compared to cold rolled steel you will never know what you are missing, then the best surface to achieve a sear that matches a commercial kitchen experience, a great restaurant-style crust, is a surface made from Stainless Steel. A thicker stainless steel flat top can handle many more heat cycles and still provide a level of cooking consistency unattainable with lesser quality products.
Conclusion
Flat top grills have grown in popularity because of how versatile they are and because cleanup after using a gas griddle is far simpler than having to contend with burnt food on greasy grill grates, an unfortunately unavoidable consequence of having fun grilling food outdoors. Hopefully this has helped you get a little closer in knowing the things to think through when making a decision, whether you choose one of the best flat top grills here or opt for something else completely.
