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The Spruce Eats / Amelia Manley electric kettle and toaster sets
If pancakes are one of your most beloved breakfast foods, you're not alone—these soft, fluffy morning favorites can be made in hundreds of different ways to suit anyone's tastebuds. But a griddle is a must; its smooth, expansive surface provides an evenly heated cooktop for turning out stacks of hotcakes and keeping them warm before serving.
But griddles aren't limited to flapjacks. Use them as a restaurant-style flat top to warm toast, scrambled eggs, or heat tortillas without having to pull out several frying pans at once. Plus, many of our recommendations can also be used on your grill to make juicy hamburgers.
Reversible so you can also use it as a grill
Requires care to maintain seasoning
Lodge is an incredibly popular name for cast iron cookware—for good reason. Its pre-seasoned items are ready to use when they arrive, although they get better and better with extra seasoning and more use. This 20 x 10-inch griddle gives you plenty of space for cooking everything from pancakes to bacon, and it’s reversible, with a grill surface on the other side for burgers and steaks. The heavy cast iron does a great job distributing the heat across the entire surface for even cooking, while the slight slope allows fats and juices to drain away to one side.
With each round, we found that it can be used on any cooktop or outdoor grill, but it may not work well on induction because not enough of the bottom surface will be in contact with the stovetop. Just like any other cast iron piece, it does require some special maintenance, but it is a sturdy piece that can last for a lifetime with proper care.
We tested this griddle in a home kitchen and backyard, plus in our Lab. Since it straddles two burners on the grill and stove, we were able to sear on one part of the grill and maintain a more gentle heat on the other by adjusting the heat on each separate burner. The center, not over a flame, can be a slightly lower temperature when cooking begins, but the longer the cooking takes, the more the temperature stabilizes.
Over time, we have noticed that the direct high heat from a grill can burn the seasoning off, so it’s a good idea to check the bottom and re-season if needed. Ever since we first tested it, we've continued to use it on the grill, but also on the stovetop and even in the oven to bake bread or personal pizzas. Because this is so slim, it’s easy to store but it might be a bit heavier than some people want to wrangle. But its size also makes it easy to store, sliding right into the same space as cutting boards.
Material: Seasoned cast iron | Dishwasher Safe: No | Oven Safe Temperature: 450+ degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: Works with some, but not all
Heats evenly across whole surface
Comes in a variety of colors
Might be hard to store
If you’re going to make pancakes for the family, or heat a tortillas for a crowd, this double-burner griddle is exactly what you need. In testing, the heat spread well across the griddle, and even the food in the middle browned nicely. The only difficult thing is making sure both burners are at the same heat, particularly if your stove’s burners aren’t the same size, but it’s not too difficult. And, when we needed to keep food warm while still cooking, it was a breeze to keep one burner super-low while the other was higher.
This has generous, tall handles, which makes it easy to lift and move, but those handles might also make it more difficult to store. Due to the nonstick coating, this is easy to clean with just a soapy sponge, and it’s ready for its next batch of pancakes, burgers, fritters, eggs, sausages, and more.
For people who don’t need that much cooking space, there’s a single-burner griddle pan with the same coating that works just as well, but in a more compact size.
Material: Aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic coating | Dishwasher Safe: No | Oven Safe Temperature: 550 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: Yes
Each half has a separate temperature control
Removable plates are easy to clean
A bit bulky to store
The Elite Griddler offers more space than the original model, along with more precise controls and a few extra features to make cooking easier. For cooking pancakes, this griddle opens flat for a total of 240 square inches of cooking space. The heat on each half can be controlled separately, so you can cook pancakes at one temperature while browning breakfast sausages on the other side at a different one.
While we haven't tested this with pancakes yet, it outperformed the competition when it came to making panini, ultimately becoming our overall favorite sandwich press. For that, you simply reverse the plates to the grill side, and the whole thing can be closed for use as a contact griddle. It can also be set to stay open at a variety of heights for heating the top of foods without making contact, which works well when you're reheating pancakes, or for cooking delicate foods that you don’t want to crush.
After continued use, what we like about this one is its versatility. Not only does it have reversible grill/griddle plates, it can also be used open or closed. We can open it to fry some eggs for breakfast, then use it closed for a Cuban sandwich, but particularly like the "floating top." We discovered that it was perfect for reheating leftover pizza, keeping the bottom crisp while gently remelting the cheese on top.
The cooking plates still look good after many years of use, but the top has sustained some small dents over the years from unexpected falling objects. It is also bulky and therefore a bit difficult to store.
Material: Cast aluminum with nonstick | Dishwasher Safe: Yes (removable plates) | Max Temperature: 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Power: 300 watts
This 12-inch pan is technically designed for making crepes but is great for cooking one or two pancakes at a time. The low sides let you get a spatula easily under the pancakes, and the heavy body keeps the pan stable on your cooktop. The pan is constructed from bare carbon steel and needs to be seasoned before its first use. It will continue to develop a seasoning with continued use, which will help make the pan's surface more nonstick.
We found that it heats quickly and evenly, ideal for turning out perfectly cooked pancakes. It also responds well to temperature changes, whether you want to raise or lower the heat to control how quickly your batter cooks. One drawback is the pan can only be used in the oven for short amounts of time at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but that it shines on the stovetop and can be used to also heat tortillas or other flatbreads in addition to making crepes and pancakes.
This pan is very durable and can withstand use with metal utensils. It is also compatible with just about any cooktop, including induction ranges, but does have a lower oven temperature limit compared to other griddles. Like all carbon steel cookware, this pan requires hand washing and a little extra care to maintain its seasoning, but with proper care it should last for many years.
Material: Carbon steel | Dishwasher Safe: No | Oven Safe Temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: Yes
Nonstick coating will degrade over time
A smooth, flat bottom makes this griddle great for electric stoves, while the roomy cooking surface offers plenty of space for cooking pancakes, bacon, burgers, and more. It’s even oven-safe to 430 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can keep the extra flapjacks warm for the late-risers. The griddle is 11 inches square with rolled edges that keep juices from getting onto your stove during cooking.
The internal hard-anodized aluminum with conduct heat evenly across the whole surface, and the stainless-steel handle is super comfortable. The griddle has three layers of nonstick coating for easy flipping of your pancakes and won't leave a baked-on mess for you to clean up after breakfast, but it will fade over time. For even easier cleaning, the whole thing is dishwasher safe, so you’ll be done with cleanup in no time.
Material: Hard anodized aluminum | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | Oven Safe Temperature: 430 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: No
Raised handles for easy moving
Manufactured in Sweden, this griddle from Made In is designed to function like a restaurant flat top. The large surface offers maximum contact with burners and is made of carbon steel, resulting in excellent responsiveness when it comes to heat control.
This 24 x 10.5-inch griddle straddles two burners—giving you the option to manage different temperature zones—and offers lots of space to cook fluffy pancakes or crispy bacon. It also features raised, hand-welded handles so you can easily lift and transport the griddle, even with oven mitts on. It weighs just under 10 pounds, making it fairly lightweight compared to its size, and can be used on just about any cooktop, including induction.
Since it's made of carbon steel, it isn't dishwasher safe, but its smooth surface makes it fairly easy to wash by hand. It's also backed by a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, making the price tag on this griddle well worth the investment.
Material: Carbon steel | Dishwasher Safe: No | Oven Safe Temperature: 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: Yes
Comes in a variety of colors
Smaller size might be limiting
Le Creuset is a familiar name when it comes to high-quality enameled cast iron cookware and delivers on its reputation with this griddle pan. Like their other cookware, this griddle offers the benefit of cast iron without worrying about seasoning or special cleaning. It’s also attractive, with a porcelain-enameled exterior that’s available in several different colors, all with a black cooking surface.
This skillet can be used on any cooktop, including induction cooktops and your outdoor grill, and you can also use it in the oven. It’s not a huge grill, measuring just 9.5 x 9.5 inches, so it can fit on a single burner, leaving you plenty of space for frying eggs or cooking sausages on other burners. When cooking is done, it’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Material: Enameled cast iron | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Oven Safe Temperature: 450+ degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: Yes
Oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
Loop handles make it easy to transport
Nonstick coating is susceptible to scratches
This 2-burner griddle is made with tri-ply stainless steel with a dishwasher-safe nonstick layer, which means it can be used on gas, electric, or induction cooktops. Its generous 10.75 x 21-inch size gives you plenty of room to cook your pancakes—and whatever else you're eating for breakfast.
The griddle's oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can also use it to finish steaks in the oven or for roasting vegetables, and if your favorite cookie sheet disappears, you can even use it for baking cookies or a loaf of artisan bread, though the nonstick coating is susceptible to scratches. The large loop handles make it easy to move when it’s time to serve or when you're transferring it to and from the oven.
Material: Stainless steel with nonstick coating | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees Fahrenheit | Induction Compatible: Yes
Good temperature range up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Small size makes it less versatile
Pancake art is a lot of fun for both kids and adults, but not all parents can draw well on paper, much less with batter on a hot pan. This set makes artwork easy. It includes a reversible template and four batter bottles for mixing different colors of pancake batter for your masterpieces.
The griddle itself is designed to look like a canvas in a frame, making it even more fun. The included, reversible template gives you the outline of an ice cream cone and a lion; more templates are available for purchase. When you're not using it for colorful and creative cooking, this 11 x 9-inch griddle isn't huge but can be used for hash browns, burgers, and all your other favorite griddled foods.
Material: Aluminum with nonstick coating | Dishwasher Safe: No | Max Temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit | Power: 1000 watts
We like the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Griddle/Grill because of its outstanding durability and unbeatable versatility. The De Buyer Mineral B Carbon Steel Crepe & Tortilla Pan is also a versatile and a worthwhile cookware addition.
The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey
We've tried out several pancake griddles both in our official testing lab as well as in the kitchens of our experienced at-home product testers. With each griddle we, of course, flipped flapjacks, but also tested the ability to make other foods like burgers, sautéed veggies, and more. No matter where the griddle was tested, we paid close attention to heat retention, non-stick capabilities, how easy or difficult it is to clean, and more.
After keeping and using some of the griddles on this list for up to several years, we have some tips and tricks up our sleeves.
For pans designed to cook pancakes, you'll want something that heats evenly and will release your food easily. Aluminum—either cast or hard-anodized—is an excellent conductor of heat, and when paired with a nonstick coating, makes for a smooth pancake-flipping experience. If you plan to cook for a longer stretch of time (i.e. churning out dozens of pancakes over the course of the morning), a well-seasoned cast iron griddle or pan will hold heat extremely well so you can continuously cook without waiting to reheat.
Large griddles, whether they are double-burner cookware griddles or electric models, are helpful for making larger quantities (think a dozen flapjacks or a package of bacon) quickly. These are definitely ideal for bigger households or parties. But if you're only planning on serving a small household, you can definitely go smaller. When it comes to cookware, a 12-inch griddle should do just fine. For electric options, we found compact electric griddles could hold about a half-dozen bacon slices or only a couple of pancakes.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Prepare your batter as you heat up your griddle over medium heat. Add a pat of butter or some other type of oil, then add your pancake batter using an ice cream scoop or quarter-cup measure. Wait until the surface of the pancake has formed some bubbles, then flip your pancake to finish cooking the other side. For a more in-depth tutorial, watch this video on How To Make the Fluffiest Pancakes.
If you're cooking on the stovetop, it's best to heat your pan over a medium setting—any higher and your pancakes or butter might burn. For an electric, 375 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. If you need to keep them warm as you finish making the batch, place them on a baking sheet in a 200-degree oven. They'll stay nice and toasty until it's time to eat!
Most nonstick pancake griddles can be cleaned by wiping them down with a clean sponge, provided there isn't too much residue or burned food to be cleaned off. If you require a more thorough cleaning, you can wash nonstick pans by hand with mild dish soap and a non-abrasive sponge. For cast iron, consult this Cast Iron Care Guide.
A pancake griddle is incredibly versatile. You can use this as a restaurant-style flat top and grill up burgers, bacon, eggs, sausages, vegetables, and more. Heat hot dog and hamburger buns, tortillas, pita bread, and anything else that can benefit from a large, flat cooking surface.
The author of this piece, Donna Currie, is a food writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. A self-professed "kitchen geek," she's written many roundups on a range of essential kitchen items, from the best Thanksgiving gadgets to the top seafood kitchen tools of the year. She continues to test griddles to find the best for your weekend pancakes.
electric barbecue machine Renu Dhar is a personal chef, culinary instructor, and a food blogger. She also made a few batches of pancakes while testing griddles.