The 7 Best Electric Griddles of 2020

Best Overall: Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle

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If cooking with a griddle is going to be an everyday occurrence, investing in a top-quality griddle might be a wise decision. This luxurious model from Zojirushi has a nice-sized 19 x 12.5-inch cooking surface and can heat from 176 to 425 degrees. The cooking surface has a nonstick ceramic coating enhanced with titanium to make it long-lasting and easy to clean, while it promotes even browning. The griddle disassembles easily for cleaning, so you’ll get all the nooks cleaned every time.

The cooking plate sits inside a body guard, which helps to prevent accidental scalding while cooking. Both the guard and cooking plate are fully immersible for thorough cleaning. This griddle includes a lid for faster cooking, to hold in steam, and to protect against splattering. A stainless steel spatula is also included.

Best Compact: Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle

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A large griddle is great for feeding a crowd, but if you’re cooking for one or two, this compact griddle has plenty of space for four fried eggs, a pair of steaks, or hash browns for breakfast. The cooking surface is 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches and has a nonstick coating for easy cleanup. The griddle has a built-in channel that catches fat and other drippings, but there is no drip tray, so you’ll need to pour it out after cooking.

With the temperature control removed, the entire griddle is fully submersible for easy cleaning. The temperature goes from warm to 400 degrees, so you can use it for most of your cooking needs, whether at home, at a vacation cottage, or in a dorm room. If you need to store it in a small space when it’s not in use, the leg/handle pieces can be removed to make it even more compact.

Best Multi-Tasker: Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler

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If versatility is important to you, the 5-in-1 Griddler from Cuisinart is a great choice. This model has interchangeable plates that allow you to use the machine as a griddle or grill, as well as a traditional panini press (a waffle plate option is also available for purchase). Open the lid all the way to create a flat top griddle, perfect for making pancakes, eggs, and bacon for the family. Use the selector knobs in front to control the temperature, from 175 to 450 degrees in griddle mode. When in panini/grill mode, you have a variable temperature selection from "low" to "sear," so you can adjust to your heating preferences as needed.

This easy-to-use griddle/grill combo has a sturdy brushed stainless steel exterior, easy to maintain with a simple wipe down to remove any debris. Cleaning up is simple—the removable nonstick plates are dishwasher safe but can also be easily washed by hand.

Best High-End: Wolf Gourmet Precision Electric Griddle

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High-end performance is what we've come to expect from Wolf appliances, and this griddle is no exception. Made to coordinate with Wolf kitchen ranges (and several other small appliances), this griddle is made of professional-grade cast aluminum in a brushed stainless steel housing. The heating element is cast directly into the cooking surface to ensure optimum heat distribution, and the surface measures 12 x 17 inches to give you plenty of space for cooking up flapjacks and eggs.

The temperature control ranges from 150 to 450 degrees, so you can use the cooktop to keep a batch of pancakes at serving temperature or to sear a steak. The vented lid lets you steam more delicate items, like fish, shrimp, or vegetables. Cleanup is easy thanks to the nonstick surface—wipe down the griddle and put the drip tray into the dishwasher.

Best Budget: Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill + Griddle

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If you want your griddle to do more, this grill/griddle combo has two removable and reversible plates, so can make pancakes on its smooth surface and grill steaks or burgers on the ridged grilling surface. If you’re making steak and eggs for breakfast, you can scramble eggs on a smooth surface and grill your steak on the ridged surface at the same time. Each side has its own temperature control that goes from warm to 425 degrees, so you can cook foods at two different temperatures at the same time, or use one side for cooking while the second side keeps finished foods warm for serving.

There is a center grease channel that funnels the fats and juices to the dishwasher-safe grease tray. The cooking plates snap into place and are dishwasher safe for super-easy cleaning, and the total cooking surface is 18 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches; the center channel is about 1/4 inch wide.

Some users have noted that the temperature marks wear off easily, so you might need to estimate the temperature or make your own marks on the dial after the griddle has been around for a while.

Best For Travel: Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle

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There are compact griddles, and there are really compact griddles, and this one is a mini-sized model that can cook virtually anywhere there is an outlet. Ideal for an office kitchen, dorm room, or tiny apartment, this fun-sized griddle by Dash can make single servings of eggs, pancakes, cookies, and more. Simply plug it in and wait for the indicator light to turn off, and it's ready to cook—you can make grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas in mere minutes.

The cooking surface is just 4 inches in diameter, but you can confidently cook up a burger or breakfast sandwich without needing a whole pan and burner setup. The nonstick, PFOA-free cooking surfaces are easy to clean with a damp cloth, and its super-compact size means it won't take up too much storage space when not in use.