The top pick is the Blackstone 1517 Grill. It has a large cooking surface, a great ignition system, excellent temperature control, and it sets up really easily too.
After many years of service, my flat top grill finally gave out on me. This set me on a mission to find a new one and boy have things changed since I last went shopping for a griddle! So, I decided to take you along for the ride too.
In this post, I will reveal the best flat top grill and give you some other options too, along with a buying guide. Let’s begin!
Here are the top flat top grills that you need to check out today:
Best Flat Top Grill
One of the things that I love about this griddle is that there is so much cooking space! It can easily hold food for up to four people so it is great for a small to mid-sized family. I also like the fact that this cooking area works for everything from breakfast foods to burgers to fried rice. So, it offers up a nice, versatile space and can even sometimes function as a traditional grill.
The other thing that I really like about this flat top griddle is the ignition system. There is absolutely no hassle involved with it, you simply push a button and your flat top grill will roar to like. I also love that it is so consistent and I can reply on it time after time.
What really stood out for me with this flat top grill is the temperature control. For one thing, I love the even heat distribution. This ensures that the griddle surface is evenly heated throughout.
The other advantage here is that there are two heat zones that you can control independently. So, you can cook foods at different temperatures on each section. This feature also works well if you are cooking a smaller portion of food and don’t want to waste gas by using up the whole grill.
This flat top grill was also pretty easy to set up. I was able to put it together fairly quickly. My only gripe is that the side shelf doesn’t sit straight and you have to do a bit of DIY fixing to get it to stay straight.
Best Electric Flat Top Grill
I really like the range of this electric grill. It goes from 112F to 572F. This gives you a lot more versatility in what you are cooking.
The grill is also incredibly responsive. All you have to do is to select the desired temperature on the dial and the cooking surface heats up perfectly as a result. Whenever I changed the temperature during the cook, the griddle responded accordingly.
The other great thing that I found out about this flat top grill is that it heats evenly across the griddle surface. Due to this, you know that the food is all going to be cooking at the same rate. This makes it a lot easier to cook larger batches of food at once.
Gas griddle models can be a bit tricky and finicky to use. If you are looking to cut down on any guesswork or hassle, then this is the grill for you. It will make it a lot easier to cook your favorite foods.
Unfortunately, the griddle isn’t as easy to clean. It does need to be well seasoned and you need to take a lot of care when cleaning the surface.
Best Tabletop Griddle
For a portable flat top grill, this model actually does have plenty of cooking space. This means that even if you are camping or having a cookout, you will still be able to cook large amounts of food at once.
I was really impressed at how great the temperature control was with this flat top grill. It was as reliable as a traditional grill. It is easy to alter the temperature and whenever you lower or increase the temperature on the dial, the temperature quickly changes on the flat top griddle.
The only downside with this grill is that it does use u a lot of gas quickly. Due to this, you will likely need to stock up on a larger propane tank if you want to be able to cook consecutive batches of food.
One of the things that I love about this portable flat top grill is that it has the same two H-shaped burners that the traditional Blackstone griddle has. Due to this, you get even heat distribution on both sides of the grill.
As an added bonus, it also means that you can set two different temperatures for each side of the grill. This is great for cooking different foods at once.
If you don’t have much space in your backyard or for storage or simply have a smaller family, then you are going to be looking for a smaller outdoor gas griddle. One of my favorite things about this flat top griddle is that despite its compact dimensions, it still has plenty of flat cooking surface. Due to this, you should still be able to cook a sizable amount of food.
I also really like the stainless steel burners with this flat top grill. They are quite powerful and capable of producing a lot of heat at once. Due to this, you will be able to easily sear steaks or cook tougher meats at a higher temperature if you want.
Another thing that I like about this flat top grill is that it has independently controlled burners. Due to this, you can easily set up two different zones for your cooking. It also gives you greater control over the temperature in general.
In spite of its compact design, there are still plenty of storage spots on this flat top grill. You have the utensil hooks, the side table, and a place to hitch your propane tank to.
The only downside here is that there are some quality control issues with the grill such as with the wheels.
Unlike many other flat top griddles, this model actually boasts a detachable design. This means that you can use it as a freestanding flat top grill if you want. At the same time, you can detach the griddle section from the rest of the frame and use it as a tabletop grill.
The only issue that I have with this design is that it can take a long time to put together. So, you should be prepared for a tricky setup.
What makes this model one of the best flat top grills is its burners. They can create a significant amount of heat. This means that if you want to grill food, you can still cook thick slabs of meat on this surface without any issue at all.
The other thing that I like about this grill is that it has three burners over a smaller surface area. This ensures that every inch of this flat top grill is heated properly. What’s more, there is more even heat distribution across the surface.
I also like the storage options on this flat top grill. You have this side shelf as well as a narrow shelf that you can use to store seasonings, sauces, etc. This is a nice little additional feature.
I really like the ignition system on this flat top grill. It is quick and it is efficient, ensuring that the grill starts up immediately, without any downtime at all. I also found that the ignition system was consistent and would work the same way over and over again.
What puts this model on the best flat top grills list is that it has some really powerful burners, despite its small build. As a result, your flat top grill is able to get incredibly hot during the cook. In turn, you have the option of cooking or searing a wide variety of foods.
The only complaint that I have with this grill is that the drip hole is poorly aligned. Now, for the most part, this problem doesn’t present itself. The issue arises if you decide to go camping or have a cookout outdoors. If the grill is not on a perfectly level surface, then the oil will not drain properly.
I really like how the burners are spaced on this flat top grill. As a result, the heat is evenly distributed from one point to another. This means that all the food will cook at a similar rate, preventing any cold or hot spots.
With 604 square inches of cooking space, this is a great flat top grill for a large family or for someone who likes to host frequent breakfasts or cookouts. You will be able to either cook large batches of the same foods or cook lots of different foods at the same time – so many options!
My only complaint was that this flat top grill did feel a little low. So, if you are on the taller side then you may find yourself needing to stoop over this grill.
What makes this one of the best flat top grills on this list is that this grill has four burners. This is really great due to the larger cooking area. As a result, each section has its own burner, resulting in even heating. This means that your foods will be cooked at a similar rate and be done at a similar time too.
Outdoor gas griddles can be tricky to clean sometimes but this isn’t the case with this flat top grill. This is because the grill comes pre-seasoned, resulting in a slicker surface. This reduces the likelihood of food sticking to the grill and can be cleaned up more readily.
Although this may be a free-standing grill, I love that it can be transported so easily. Simply fold the legs and it can be carried to any location that you like. So, it works well for families who like to camp or BBQ outdoors.
One of the things that I like about this grill surface is that it is already pre-seasoned. Now, I seasoned it again – and so should you – but having that initial layer meant that I didn’t have to season the grill as many times as I would usually have to.
Not to mention, the pre-seasoning process meant that the surface was a lot more non-stick, allowing you to cook food on it more easily.
In typical Pit Boss style, the quality of this grill was quite good. It was built well and felt sturdy during each and every cook. This is a good investment grill as it is likely to last you a long time.
There are two burners on this grill and they can each be controlled with their own temperature dial. As such, not only can you maintain even heat distribution but you can also set up two separate heating zones.
The only thing that I don’t like about this grill is that the burners don’t cover an inch or so of the front of the griddle. And, so, this section doesn’t get as hot as the rest of the grill.
I have to say that for such a small grill, these burners can create a lot of heat. They produce a combined output of 20,000 BTUs, ensuring that you can cook almost any kind of food that you want to!
The only downside here is tat this grill doesn’t function well when there is wind or the climate is a little colder. It will struggle to get as hot as it needs to be.
I do like how responsive the temperature on this grill is. As you lower or increase the temperature, the griddle responds accordingly. This makes it a lot easier to control and maintain the temperature at your desired level.
Once seasoned, I love how nonstick the surface is. For one thing, it is a lot easier to cook your food without worrying that it is going to burn or get stuck to the grill. For another, it also makes the grill a lot easier for you to clean.
If you are looking to cook for a large crowd of people at once or want to make several batches of different foods at once, then this is the griddle for you! There is a lot of cooking space here so no one should have to wait too long for their food.
The cool thing about this grill is that its large cooking surface is matched by four burners. This means that the heat is diffused more evenly throughout that space. So, you can cook on any part of the surface and be able to cook your food at similar rates.
If you are looking for a grill that you can pack up and take with you on a camping trip, then this is definitely an option to consider. Not only is it quite lightweight but the collapsible legs make it really easy to transport.
Now, the only downside of such a design is that the grill isn’t very sturdy. In particular, you have to hold it still while you are attempting to clean it.
Here are the top tips to follow when shopping for a flat top grill for yourself:
Now, before you go looking at flat top grills, you must understand what it is and how it differs to flat top griddles.
When most people think of grills, they think of grill grates. However, flat top grills have smooth, flat surfaces that don’t have any spaces in between them.
The reality is that there is no real difference between flat top grills and griddles. In fact, most people use these terms interchangeably.
In some cases, the term flat top grills may be used to define larger outdoor grills.
I do want to start off by saying that most electric flat top grills are tabletop or compact designs. So, if you are looking for a larger grill, you may have no other option than a gas grill.
The great thing about electric grills is that they are consistent. They are also a lot easier to use as it is just a matter of flicking on the switch. The grill top then heats up and you can begin to cook.
That being said, gas flat top grills offer a bit more control over temperature. This is because they heat up and cool down more quickly. So, lowering or increasing the temperature will have a faster impact on the cooking rate.
With gas top gridles, you have the option to take the grill wherever you want as you can get going as long as you take a gas tank along with you.
One of the first things that you will need to consider is whether you should get a tabletop design or a standalone design.
This can depend on how you plant to use the grill. For instance, do you like to go camping or going to secondary locations to have cookouts? Or, maybe, you would like to occasionally use your grill inside.
In these instances, it is best to go with a tabletop grill. This can also be a good option if you are only cooking for one or two people at a time.
A standalone grill is good if you want a permanent grill or one that can serve a greater number of people. Just keep in mind that many flat top grills don.t come with covers. So, you will nee to find a suitable cover or have an appropriate place to store the grill, away from the elements.
From rolled steel and cast iron to ceramic coating, there are lot s of different materials for you to choose from. So, which one should you go with? Well, each of these materials have their pros and cons.
The benefit with steel is that it heats up faster and then maintains an average temperature throughout. Due to this, you get more consistent results each and every time.
However, with steel you get a neutral cooking flavor. Now, this may seem like a good thing but with cast iron, the material absorbs oil and adds a beautiful smoky flavor to the food.
Unfortunately, cast iron is also a great deal heavier and requires more maintenance.
Then you have ceramic coated griddle surfaces. These are great because they have non-stick properties and you don’t have to season them quite as much. These surfaces do get scratched rather easily, though. And, when they do, they lose those non-stick properties.
So, it is up to you to decide which properties sound good to you and which cons you can live with.
It is important to consider the cooking surface area carefully before making your decision. For instance, if you are cooking for just one or two people, then a tabletop or compact grill will do the trick.
In case you are cooking for up to four people, though, you should look for a mid-sized grill. If you have a large family or cook for crowds, then you should consider a large cooking surface, perhaps even an extra large one.
However, you shouldn’t get a really big grill if you don’t need one. This is because the larger grills tend to guzzle up gas. So, you will be unnecessarily going to a lot of fuel if you don’t pick the right choice.
If you are getting a gas griddle, then you need to consider the number of burners in comparison to the cooking surface.
If you have a small flat top grill, then a single burner will do. On the other hand, for a mid-sized grill, you will require two or three burners. For a large grill, you will require four or more burners.
So, why are the number of burners so important?
Well, each burner is responsible for heating a particular part of the grill. The more burners that you have, the more evenly divided the segments are. In turn, there is more even heat distribution.
As a flat top grill is well, flat, there is no where for the excess oil or grill to go. This is why a good grease management system is so important.
So, make sure that you examine this feature carefully. Is the outlet positioned in a way that makes sense to that grill design? Is the outlet large enough to allow larger particular of food to also drain out?
Does the oil and food debris neatly fall into the grease trap so that it can be removed?
You should ask these questions before making your decision.
The best flat top grill is undoubtedly the Blackstone 1517 grill. It has a large grill surface, excellent temperature control, a great ignition system, and it is easy to assemble!
Sure, this grill is the best, but I would advise you to go through this entire article. This is because I have included a lot of other flat top grills, each with its own features and advantages. So, you can never tell which one is the right one for you before you check it out!
