What Is a Griddle and How Do You Cook With One?

Cooking pancakes and other breakfast foods on the griddle is a popular pastime, but this versatile appliance can cook up many other meals. Griddles are often used to cook cuisines such as scones, crumpets, and tortillas to meals including seafood, meat, and vegetables. Learn more from our experts about what a griddle is and how to properly cook on one.

What Is a Griddle?

A griddle is a large, flat cooking surface with a square, rectangular, and sometimes round shape. A griddle's shallow edges make it easy to flip foods, such as pancakes, eggs, or burgers. A griddle is convenient because you don't need to use several pans or skillets to prepare food for larger groups of people.

There are many types of griddles, from inexpensive nonstick griddle pans to pricier cast-iron griddles. Griddles are also available in ceramic, nonstick aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, and cast iron.

Types of Griddles

Griddles are ideal for people who prefer to cook at home. "Rather than ordering a grilled cheese at the local lunch spot or pancakes at the diner, they're cooking these items at home," says Will Copenhaver, the vice president of Smithey, a premium cast-iron cookware company. "Griddles are an incredibly useful tool for any home kitchen and a tool that may not have been a standard item in many cookware sets." Here are types of griddle styles to choose from for your needs.

Classic Griddle

A classic griddle is a basic flat plate built into a range or placed on a stovetop burner. Many griddles fit over two burners on a standard cooktop or an outdoor grill. Basic griddles are often reversible, with raised edges on one side and a flat surface on the opposite side.

Griddle Pan

A griddle pan or grill pan fits over one stovetop burner. It's the perfect option for smaller meals, says Narins. A griddle pan stores better in a kitchen with limited space.

"A griddle pan gives you more versatility in the kitchen," says Copenhaver. "For example, you may want to sear a steak on the stovetop and then transfer the pan to the oven to finish heating—a classic technique. The handle on the griddle pan makes transferring the pan between stovetop and oven much more convenient."

Electric Griddle

Electric griddles are stand-alone appliances that can often be taken apart for easier cleaning and storage. They also conduct heat more evenly than a pan or griddle placed over burners on a stove. An electric griddle is versatile and can be used indoors or outdoors on a table or counter.

Cast Iron Griddle

Rachael Narins, chef, cookbook author, and founder of the Chicks With Knives event planning company advocates naturally nonstick cast-iron griddles. "They are so beautiful and elevate any kitchen, but more importantly, they're functional," says Narins. "A cast-iron griddle will have more than double the surface area of your high-sided skillets, so you can cook more at once. That's helpful and practical."

How to Choose a Griddle

Consider what size griddle you need and can easily store it. For example, a smaller, lightweight, nonstick griddle is easier to store, but it may not be as long-lasting as a larger, heavier cast-iron griddle that can be used with very high heat.

How to Clean and Maintain a Griddle

Cleaning most nonstick griddles requires a few quick steps to keep the surface in good condition. Let the griddle cool down and scrape off food remnants with a rubber spatula. Then, clean the griddle by hand with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge and dry it before storing.

The key to maintaining a cast-iron griddle is to wipe and rinse it clean and keep it seasoned. "The more you use cast iron, the happier it is," says Narins. "When you cook, it keeps the seasoning fresh and that stick-resistance at its peak."