What is a Pancake Griddle?
Pretty much everyone loves pancakes and while it is a simple recipe and basic preparation, it is one of those things that takes practice and the right tools to perfect. Sometimes the simple things require good technique or the right equipment to get just right, which is why so many love pancake griddles.
There are a lot of different types of griddles, but in essence, they are flat, broad cooking surfaces. There are cookware griddles that you put on a stovetop that is large, often square, and very flat to promote even heating across the surface of the pan. The flat surface also makes it a lot easier to flip pancakes.
There are also standalone griddle appliances that are perfectly designed to make pancakes and some take a lot of the guesswork and effort out of the process. Electric griddles are separate appliances that are used on a countertop surface to make pancakes, and often other recipes like crepes and tortillas.
Griddle pans and electric griddles are two great options for making a tasty, traditional breakfast without a ton of effort and without as much room for error. Whether you choose a pan style griddle that goes on the stove or a standalone appliance, we are sure you will enjoy many mornings of fluffy, buttery, delicious pancakes.
Our Top 9 Picks for Best Pancake Griddles
Here we will look at a wide range of griddles to provide an overview and a good starting point for people looking to buy the best pancake griddle for their needs. We review basic stovetop griddle pans, electric standalone griddles, and even griddles that heat from both sides. These options cover a range of price points and show the variety of options at your disposal. Any of the options we review here are great choices and a good value. What works best for you will depend on your preferences, available space, budget, and cooking skill.
1. Lodge 10.5-inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle
Lodge is a trusted and well-known manufacturer of a variety of high-quality cast iron kitchen products. They are known for their well constructed and heavy duty cookware and offer a wide range of products from outdoor cooking solutions to cast iron griddles perfect for making fluffy pancakes.
Their pre-seasoned cast iron griddle is suitable for use on any type of stove, from gas to glass top to induction. It features a large, flat surface area, perfect for cooking multiple pancakes at a time.
The griddle pan is heavy duty and foundry seasoned, so it is ready to use as soon as you get it. It is made in the USA from the highest quality materials and can even be used on grills and campfires. The griddle is also oven safe.
Key Features:
- large, broad cooking surface
- foundry seasoned
- safe for use on all cooking surfaces
- made in the USA
- oven safe
Specifications:
Brand: Lodge
Model: 17L9OG3
Weight: 4.5 pounds
2. Cuisinart 10-inch Nonstick Hard-Anodized Chef’s Classic Pan
Cuisinart is a reputable and time-honored brand that makes a wide range of affordable and high-quality kitchen appliances and accessories. They make products ranging from small appliances to griddle pans and are known for making heavy-duty, durable, and well-made products that won’t break the bank in the process.
Their griddle pan features a large, 10-inch cooking surface that is safe for use with any type of cooking surface. The pan is made from hard-anodized aluminum that is non-porous and highly resistant to wear, warping, and scratching.
The pan also features a patented nonstick cooking interior that is reinforced with titanium to provide a strong, powerful, safe, non-toxic, nonstick cooking surface. It is made from solid stainless steel riveted handles that stay cool, even when you are cooking at high temperatures. The tapered rim helps reduce drips.
The pan is also oven safe and can withstand temperatures of up to 500 degrees.
Key Features:
- hard-anodized aluminum body
- titanium-reinforced nonstick surface
- broad, flat cooking surface
- stay cool handle
- oven safe
Specifications:
Brand: Cuisinart
Model: 623-24
Weight: 1 pound
3. Goodful Aluminum Non-stick 11-inch Square Griddle Pan
Goodful is an up-and-coming brand that makes a wide range of kitchen products and solutions to fit the needs of families large and small. Their products are well-made and affordable, providing even the cook on a budget a great value for a variety of kitchen needs. Their product line ranges from food storage and reusable containers to cookware and nonstick griddles.
Their 11-inch nonstick griddle offers a large, square-shaped cooking surface that is perfect for pancakes and suitable for use on any type of cooking surface. The griddle is made from high-quality aluminum and also boasts a non-toxic nonstick coating so your pancakes will never stick. Not only does it make it easier to cook with, but it is also easier to clean.
The griddle also comes with a jumbo nylon pancake turner to make it even easier to make perfect pancakes. The griddle features comfort grip handles that stay cool, even when cooking at high temperatures. The griddle is also dishwasher safe.
Key Features:
- broad, square-shaped 11-inch cooking surface
- made from high-quality aluminum
- PFOA-free nonstick surface
- stay cool handle
- comes with a pancake flipper
- dishwasher safe
Specifications:
Brand: Goodful
Model: Goodful
Weight: 4.39 pounds
4. DASH 20-inch Everyday Nonstick Griddle
Dash is a relatively new but up-and-coming company that makes a wide range of well-made, environmentally-friendly kitchen solutions. They seek to make cooking at home safer, healthier, and easier. They have a wide range of products ranging from blenders to coffee makers to electric griddles. The company is also well known for combining form and function into versatile and eye-catching products.
Their 20-inch electric skillet is incredibly well-made and affordable and is available in five different color options. This is a standalone electric griddle that is excellent for making pancakes, but also much more. It features a large cooking surface that makes it possible to easily feed even large families with ease.
It is easy to use and simple needs to be plugged in and set to the desired temperature. The griddle features a PFOA-free nonstick cooking surface that helps to ensure that pancakes don’t stick and that the griddle is easy to clean. The griddle also comes with a drip tray to catch grease in case you want to cook bacon or sausage along with the pancakes.
The griddle is a powerful 1500W and is backed by a 1-year limited warranty for peace of mind.
Key Features:
- 20-inch cooking surface
- PFOA-free nonstick cooking surface
- plug and use
- 1500W
- backed by a 1-year warranty
Specifications:
Brand: Dash
Model: DEG200GBAQ01
Weight: 6.29 pounds
5. Presto 22-inch Electric Griddle with Removable Handles
Presto is a time-honored and trusted brand that makes a wide range of products with an emphasis on small appliances, especially those for the kitchen. They are known for making affordable, high-quality products that can reduce the hassle of cooking and make the whole process a bit easier.
Their 22-inch electric griddle is a great value and is made from high-quality, professional-grade aluminum and features a wide, broad surface perfect for making pancakes for the whole family. The griddle also features a non-toxic nonstick cooking surface and a slide-out drip tray to catch any grease or other drips that can occur during cooking.
The griddle features an adjustable heat control and the base of the griddle is made from cast iron for extra durability. When the heat control is removed, the griddle can be fully submerged in water for easy cleaning. The handles can easily be removed without tools using the latch clips.
Key Features:
- high-quality aluminum construction
- 22-inch cooking surface
- non-toxic nonstick surface
- cast iron base
- adjustable temperature controls
- drip tray
- removable handles
Specifications:
Brand: Presto
Model: 7061
Weight: 6.5 pounds
6. Bella Electric Ceramic Titanium Griddle
Bella is a trusted and up-and-coming maker of high-tech, well-designed, modern kitchen solutions. Their products beautifully merge form and function into sleek, modern designs that make cooking so much easier. Their products range from indoor smokeless grills to bakeware to electric griddles.
Their 1500W electric griddle offers an affordable and powerful way to make pancakes with ease. The handles feature cool-touch technology so you can pick up the griddle, even when the cooking surface is piping hot. The griddle features adjustable temperature controls so you can get just the right temperature for cooked to perfection pancakes.
The griddle is incredibly durable and utilizes a ceramic nonstick coating that not only keeps food from sticking but can also cook food as much as 30% faster than other nonstick skillets. The nonstick surface is also titanium reinforced for added strength and durability. The nonstick coating is also scratch-resistant.
Key Features:
- 1500W
- ceramic and titanium-reinforced nonstick coating
- adjustable temperature controls
- scratch-resistant
- cook food 30% faster
Specifications:
Brand: Bella
Model: 14606
Weight: 3.88 pounds
7. Black + Decker Family-Sized Electric Griddle
Black + Deckers is a time-honored and trusted brand that makes affordable, quality products that make our homes lives just a little bit easier. Their products provide a great combination of value and quality and their product line ranges from home cleaning appliances to electric griddles.
Their family-sized electric griddle is a great value and a good choice for people with larger families who want an easy solution to making pancakes. The griddle features 200 square inches of cooking surface and can handle as many as 8 servings at a time.
The griddle is durable and well-made and features a non-toxic nonstick surface that makes for easy pancake flipping as well as easy cleanup. The griddle also features an adjustable thermostat and removable probe. It also boasts a built-in slide-out warming tray to make it easier to keep foods warm before serving. It also features a removable drip tray.
Key Features:
- 200 sq. inch cooking surface
- non-toxic, nonstick cooking surface
- adjustable temperature controls
- built-in slide-out warming tray
- easy to clean
- removable drip tray
Specifications:
Brand: Black + Decker
Model: GD2051B
Weight: 4.96 pounds
8. Dash Electric Round Griddle Mini Maker
This will be the second Dash product we review here. It is a great brand and makes high-quality, affordable products, so we couldn’t resist reviewing another of their options here. Their Mini Maker electric round griddle is an affordable and excellent option for people who aren’t looking to cook a ton of pancakes at once or who aren’t entirely comfortable with their flipping abilities. This griddle is perfect for small kitchen spaces and small families and is available in six different color choices.
The griddle can easily make individual pancakes, but can also do much more from eggs, cookies, and even grilled cheese. It has a compact and space-saving design that makes it great for people who lack a ton of counter space and is incredibly lightweight.
It is easy to use and all you have to do is plug it in and wait for the indicator light to come on. It is made from high-quality aluminum and cast iron and features a non-toxic nonstick surface that evenly heats the pancakes from both sides. The griddle also features non-slip feet so it won’t slide around on your counter while in use. The griddle also comes with a simple recipe guide.
Key Features:
- even heat on both sides
- compact, space-saving design
- can make individual pancakes or other foods
- temperature indicator light
- non-toxic nonstick surface
- lightweight
Specifications:
Brand: Dash
Model: DMS001SL
Weight: 1.25 pounds
9. Nostalgia My Mini Personal Electric Griddle
Nostalgia is a reputable and fun brand that brings a new twist to classic kitchen and party favorites. They use retro designs with modern technological innovation to create beautiful and fun designs that also make cooking easier. Their product line ranges from chocolate fountains and snow cone machines to personal electric griddles.
My Mini is a cute and fun way to make individual pancakes and even other foods like quesadillas, cookies, or hashbrowns. It is incredibly easy to use and is a space-saving compact design perfect for people who don’t have a ton of counter or storage space.
The griddle is simple to use, you simply plug it in and wait for the temperature indicator light to shut off. The griddle features a dual-sided cooking surface for fast, even heating. The surface is 5-inches wide, so perfect for even large pancakes or sandwiches.
The griddle features a nontoxic nonstick coating that means your food will never stick and cleanup is a breeze. The griddle also has cool-touch handles that keep your hands safe, even when using high heat.
Key Features:
- cute, compact design
- lightweight
- 5-inch cooking surface
- even heating on both sides of the food
- temperature indicator light
- non-toxic nonstick coating
Specifications:
Brand: Nostalgia
Model: MGD5OR
Weight: 15.5 ounces
Pancake Griddle Buying Guide
When looking for the best pancake griddle for your family and needs, there are a few things to consider. You will want to determine what type of griddle you want and this will depend on your cooking skill and confidence. Stovetop pans require you to actually flip pancakes, whereas some standalone devices cook the pancake from both sides and don’t require any flipping.
As one might expect, there is a bit of a price difference between a basic stovetop griddle pan and an electric griddle, so your budget will also likely play a role in what you ultimately choose.
When looking at electric griddles size, material, and price are often the biggest considerations.
Size
You want a large cooking surface for making pancakes as it is easier to flip them and make multiple pancakes at once. However, you will also want to consider the size of your stovetop or the space you have available that you can dedicate to an appliance.
Material
You want to choose a griddle that is broad and flat and well constructed. Nonstick is also incredibly important when making pancakes so it is helpful to look for griddles that have a safe nonstick surface like ceramic.
Price
Your budget will also help determine what griddle will work best for you. If you are working on a scant budget, a stovetop griddle pan is likely the best option. If you have a bit more to spend and the room to store it, an electric griddle is a great choice.
Pancake Griddle FAQ
What is a pancake griddle?
Pancake griddles are flat, broad cooking surfaces that make it easy to pour and flip pancakes and other flat food items like crepes and tortillas. There are stovetop griddles that are large, often square, pans that have low edges for even heating and easy flipping. Electric griddles are standalone appliances that are designed for making pancakes with ease. Some heat more like a traditional griddle and others heat from both sides.
Do I need a pancake griddle?
If you want to have perfectly cooked pancakes without a ton of hassle and mess, a pancake griddle is a great tool to have.
What is the biggest consideration when choosing the best pancake griddle?
There are a lot of factors that go into what will be the best griddle for your needs. Your budget, preferences, space considerations. and cooking skill will determine whether you would be better off with a standard griddle pan or an electric griddle.
See Also: The Best Quesadilla Makers and The 10 Best Microwave Egg Poacher
