If you’re thinking about buying a griddle, READ THIS FIRST.
You may have heard the story of why I decided to replace my propane/charcoal combo grill with a griddle, but what you don’t know is even with all the research I did – I didn’t know everything.
Griddles are extremely popular with on-the-go outdoor enthusiasts, making it easy to cook meals if you enjoy RVing, camping, or even taking the 4×4 out for the day. What’s new, is how popular this type of cooking has become for the at-home outdoor kitchen. You may have even found yourself walking past a griddle display at the store and thinking, “do I NEED one of these?” And yes, yes you do. But first, let’s talk about some major points of interest for anyone new to griddling.
- The bigger, the better. When it comes to griddles, square inches make the difference between a 10 minute meal, and a 20 minute meal. Here’s what I mean: larger griddles have more space, more burners. This means you can cook multiple items at different temperatures, at the same time. ZONE COOKING. Think of it like this – using 3 or 4 different burner settings on your stovetop at once, but no dirty pans to clean up afterward. The more griddle surface area you can accommodate in your space, the better.
- You get what you pay for. As griddles rise in popularity, there are lots of brands tossing their hats in the ring. It’s always tempting to go with the cheapest options, but make sure to do your research. Read reviews, check out the griddle in-person if possible, and compare brands AND models side by side. Even if you don’t plan on using your griddle every day, lower quality materials can cost you more in the long run when you’re replacing your griddle every couple of years because of breakdown, uneven cooking, or not maintaining your unit.
- Don’t buy EVERY accessory you see. Trust me, it’s easy to get excited about all the fun new gadgets that it seems like you can’t live without – but it can get overwhelming and expensive if you don’t focus on the basics.
- Buy a back-up propane tank or two. If you’re a seasoned propane griller, you’ve probably already got this covered. But if you’re new to propane cooking, or even cooking outdoors, have an extra tank on hand. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in the middle of a meal without fuel.
- You can cook ANYTHING on a griddle. Ok, maybe not anything – but I have found very few recipes that cannot be modified to work on the griddle. In fact, one of my favorite things to do is find a new recipe and then figure out how to make it on the flat top. Even modifying a recipe you’ve made a hundred times for the griddle can be inspiring and fun. Also, here’s a bonus: kids love to cook on it.
Don’t forget to take your time when looking for the right griddle for you. With so many options, it can be overwhelming, but the griddle community is helpful, supportive, and so much fun to be a part of. Let me know in the comments below which griddle you bought and why!
As an Amazon and Walmart affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site contains affiliate links.
