When it comes to must-have kitchen appliances, the best electric griddle is one of the essentials. A lot of people do not have it yet, despite the fact that it can deliver multiple functionalities, making you enjoy a delicious food in more ways than one.
If you are thinking of buying an electric griddle but clueless on which one makes the best choice, this guide will help you. We’ll discuss some of the most important critical considerations. We’ll also look at some of the best models available in the market, as well as their notable features.
Benefits of an Electric Griddle
Not convinced that you need to have an electric griddle at home? Below are some of the compelling reasons that might make you change your mind:
- Versatile: One of the best things about an electric griddle is that it delivers multiple functions in a single appliance. You can use it for hams, bacons, eggs, and pancakes, among others. It is excellent for frying, grilling, and sautéing, among other cooking methods.
- Healthy: If you are looking forward to transition into a healthier and fitter lifestyle, this is also an excellent investment. It has a non-stick cooking surface, which means that you can cook with minimal oil
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- Huge Surface Area: The generous size of an electric griddle is also a plus. This is bigger than a traditional frying pan, which means that there is a bigger space for cooking more at the same time.
- Easy to Use: Depending on the specific griddle that you will choose, you will love the fact that it is user-friendly. There is an adjustable thermostat, which will allow you to choose the temperature that is required by a specific recipe.
In the short video below, you will see a visual guide of how to cook perfect bacons and eggs through the use of an electric griddle, or also sometimes called an electric skillet.
Choosing the Best Electric Griddle
As you try to narrow down the possibilities that are available in the market, the following are some of the most important factors that you should take into consideration:
- Material: The choice of material is one of the most important considerations as it will be indicative of durability and functionality. With this, the following are the most common types of materials used for an electric griddle:
- Steel: Durability, ease of cleaning, and efficient heating are just some of the main benefits of steel, which makes it the most common material. However, it requires heavy maintenance since it can be easily prone to rusting.
- Cast Iron: If you are looking for a material that is more affordable than steel, this should be included in your list. However, some of its drawbacks include being prone to rusting and heavy.
- Chrome: The smooth surface of this griddle makes it ideal for eggs and pancakes, among others. Many people enjoy it as well because it is effortless to clean. You have to be careful when cleaning as it can be easily damaged by abrasives.
- Composite: Most of the composites are made using aluminum as the base material. Some of its benefits include efficient heat transfer and being lightweight. However, this may not necessarily be the best when it comes to durability.
- Size: Consider the amount of space that is available in the kitchen when deciding on the right size of the griddle to choose. It must be perfect for the amount of storage space that is available. To add, consider as well how many people you will be cooking for most of the time.
- Control: It is important for the electric griddle to have well-designed control, which will make it easy for you to make the necessary adjustments to set the temperature that is desired. You can choose from thermostatic or manual control. The former is the better option as it is more accurate.
- Cleaning: It is also important for an electric griddle to be easy to clean and maintain. This will help to extend its functional life and offer excellent value for money. In most cases, the parts are dishwasher-safe.
- Cooking Surface: This refers to the grilling plate that is integrated in the griddle. One of the most important is that it should have non-stick cooking surface. This means that you can cook with lesser oil and that it will be easier to clean as well.
- Drip Tray: This is an important part of the electric griddle that should not be ignored. This means that it will automatically catch fats and excess oil from whatever you will be cooking. This makes cleaning easy and also allows you to cook food in a manner that is healthy.
- Warming Drawer: Not all electric griddles have a warming drawer or tray. It is a handy feature because it will provide a dedicated space to keep the foods while you are still grilling some, making sure that it remains at its right temperature.
- Safety: You also have to pay attention to the safety features that are present in the griddle. One of the most important is for it to have a stable base, which means that it will not be prone to tripping.
- Warranty: This is an important consideration if you want to have peace of mind. A better option is one that comes with a more extensive warranty period. This means that you can expect free repair and replacement of parts if the product becomes defective.
Top Picks for the Best Electric Griddle
In this section, we will have a quick look at some of the brands and models that you will be confronted with.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-04-22 at 18:38 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Premium nonstick surface provides stick-free cooking and easy cleaning. Slide-out drip tray removes and cleans easily.
- Control Master heat control maintains the desired cooking temperature automatically. Heavy cast aluminum base is virtually warp-proof.
- Griddle is fully immersible with the heat control removed.
- Simply open latch clips to detach handles from griddle base. No tools needed.
- With handles removed, base stores in most standard 18-inch kitchen cabinets.Cooking area: 231 square inch
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-04-22 at 08:16 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Extra-Large Capacity - Cook for the whole family! The 8-serving cooking area offers 200 square inches of griddle surface for all your breakfast favorites (10"x20")
- Non-Stick Cooking Surface - The durable non-stick cooking surface allows for easy cooking and fast cleanup
- Click & Lock Thermostat - The removable probe features an adjustable temperature knob, providing the ideal heat for every cooking task
- Built-In Warming Tray - The slide-out warming tray lets you have everything hot and ready for serving; just move cooked foods into the tray while you prepare the rest on the griddle surface
- Removable Drip Tray - Excess grease and fat drain into the removable tray for easy disposal
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-08-26 at 12:27 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Made in China
- Deluxe nonstick surface, inside & out, for stick-free cooking & easy cleaning
- Doubles as a handy buffet server when entertaining
- Saves energy more efficient than using a range burner or oven
- Fully immersible & dishwasher safe with the heat control removed
- 120 volts AC, 1500 watts.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-04-22 at 18:27 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Electric griddle pan with titanium infused DuraCeramic nonstick coating lasts 8x longer than ordinary nonstick coatings
- Natural, PTFE and PFOA free ceramic coating won't flake or peel and cleans easily
- Cooks up to 30 percent faster to save time and energy
- Removable, adjustable temperature control to accurately set cooking temperature
- Convenient warming tray keeps food warm until you are ready to serve
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-04-22 at 18:27 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- The heavy cast aluminum base with premium nonstick surface assures stick-free cooking and easy cleaning
- Built-in backstop ledge for convenient food handling
- Control Master heat control maintains the desired cooking temperature automatically; Griddle is fully immersible with the heat control removed
- Special Tilt'nDrain feature allows the griddle to easily adjust from a level grilling surface for eggs to a tilted draining surface for meats
- Griddle tilts by simply pulling the handles outward; Push the handles back in and the griddle returns to a level cooking surface
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-04-22 at 18:38 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
Indeed, the best electric griddle is one of the essential appliances that can be useful in more ways than one. The sky is the limit when it comes to how you can use it. To take advantage of its many benefits, however, you need to be a responsible buyer. Be sure to do your research to see how one product is better than all others.
From the products mentioned above, one that stands out from the rest is Presto 07061 Electric Griddle. Among others, the affordable price is one of the reasons why you might want to include this in your list of choices. It comes with a nonstick cooking surface, easy to adjust temperature control, and it is also effortless to clean.
