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The Spruce Eats / Sabrina Jiang
While they may not be as popular as classic grills with grates, flat-top grills are a great outdoor cooking appliance that can effectively cook lots of your favorite foods. From burgers to veggies to eggs to breakfast meat, there are endless ways to put your flat-top grill to great use. It may not give you the signature sear marks that you’ll get from grill grates, but it is extremely effective in searing foods at high temperatures to create deeply caramelized meats and veggies.
Whether you want another fun toy for your outdoor cooking setup or you’re looking to up your outdoor entertaining, a flat-top grill is a great way to kick your grill game up a notch.
From built-in models to budget-friendly options, here are the best flat-top grills.
Best Overall
Blackstone Original 28-Inch Flat Top Griddle With Side Shelf
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Wayfair
Battery push start ignition
Easy to transport
Powerful burners
Only two burners
If you’ve ever wanted to make scrambled eggs, hash browns, and fried rice like the pros, you need a flat-top grill. Blackstone is known for its restaurant-quality grills, and this 28-inch model offers the best of both worlds —it’s affordably priced but doesn’t slack on quality and versatility.
With its battery-powered push to start button, you can get grilling within minutes. Unlike traditional grills, this model doesn’t require any kerosene, charcoal, or matches, so it’s great for beginners or anyone looking to get grilling without spending a lot of time on prep. It also comes recommended by professionals.
"If you're looking for a sturdy, easy-to-use flat top grill, or plan to use it outdoors, then the Blackstone Flat Top Grill is worth considering," says Daniel P. Craig, a chef with more than 20 years of experience cooking in professional kitchens. "It’s an appealing option because it’s easy to assemble and has removable legs, so it can be used on a countertop or outdoors. Its ability to start cooking at the press of a button is also a plus."
Though it’s a decent size, this model only has two burners. It’s a great option for portability and everyday meals but likely isn’t the best choice for large parties. The burners are powered by 34,000 BTUs, which are units that measure the energy needed to raise temperatures. If you’re not familiar with BTUs, that’s a lot.
Price at time of publish: $300
Dimensions: 44.5 x 19.5 x 33.5 inches | Number of Burners: 2 | Surface Area: 470 square inches | Cooking Power: 34,000 BTUs
Best Combo
Royal Gourmet GD401 Portable Propane Gas Grill and Griddle Combo
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Amazon
Two individual cooking zones
Easy to store
Large cooking area
Heavy unit is difficult to transport
If you can’t decide between a traditional or flat-top grill, the good news is that you don’t have to. Simply opt for a combination grill like this one by Royal Gourmet, a trusted maker of grills and griddles.
This model doesn’t use an interchangeable system but instead has two side-by-side cooking zones that operate individually. This may get confusing for some, but once you get the hang of it, you can cook fluffy pancakes and eggs on one side and sausages on the other. Or, make fried rice on the griddle side and grilled shrimp or chicken on the grill.
To keep organized, this grill has designated places for your grilling utensils and two side tables for food prep and storage. The side table also has a bottle opener. After using the griddle, easily dispose of the buildup grease that gets collected in the designated tray and cup.
Though it’s technically portable, doing so isn’t an easy task. The unit weighs more than 100 pounds, so it’s a job for two people. The legs are foldable, but some reviewers have had difficulty and resorted to removing the legs to transport it. This may be a good option for those looking to keep their grill stationary in their backyard but may not be the best for camping and cookouts at the park.
Price at time of publish: $330
Dimensions: 66.1 x 21.8 x 43.7 inches | Number of Burners: 4 | Surface Area: 584 square inches | Cooking Power: 48,000 BTUs
Best Portable
Halo Elite1B Countertop Griddle
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Halo
Nicely designed
Easy to pack and unpack
Heats up quickly
Smaller surface area
This sleek and premium-looking grill is made for transporting around backyard parties and road trips. Don't let the compact size let you underestimate its power though—the dual-zone burner design will upgrade your cooking experience. The brand guarantees there are no cold zones on the griddle, which many users can vouch for. We like that you have the option to turn on just one zone while grilling, providing versatile food prep opportunities.
Another exceptional feature of this grill is its wind-proof design. The griddle is specially constructed to be inset, creating a solid barrier and thus protecting the burner from the wind. This enables you to freely use your griddle outdoors and with peace of mind, regardless of the weather conditions.
Price at time of publish: $299
Dimensions: 24.7 x 25 x 12.8 inches | Number of Burners: 1 | Surface Area: 284 square inches | Cooking Power: 15,000 BTUs
Best Budget
Blackstone Tabletop Griddle
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Amazon
Compact size
Distributes heat evenly
Lightweight
Food might stick to the surface
Flat-top grills are usually portable: They have wheels to move them around and foldable legs and trays to fit into car trunks. Even when folded, they still take up quite a bit of space, and they’re heavy. Still, want a grill to take camping? Tabletop griddles are truly the most portable option to grill on the go.
This tabletop griddle by Blackstone has a lot to offer. It’s lightweight coming in at 32 pounds, has two burners, and features a large cooking surface. The two burners have separate built-in igniters, so you can control the temperature for both sides. The heavy-duty burners distribute heat evenly on the carbon steel griddle, so food cooks swiftly and evenly. It also has a hood to trap heat, but the handle is heat-resistant for your safety.
To cut down on the mess, there is a grease trap in the rear that collects juices and other liquids that are the inevitable result of cooking on a flat-top grill. This griddle has an overwhelming amount of positive reviews, but some consumers have had issues related to the warranty, igniters, and distribution of heat. Most reviews praise the griddle for its convenient size when traveling and reliability.
Price at time of publish: $200
Dimensions: 22.5 x 19 x 9 inches | Number of Burners: 2 | Surface Area: 339 square inches | Cooking Power: 24,000 BTUs
Best 360-Degree Station
Cuisinart 360-Degree Griddle Cooking Center
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Amazon
Grease management
Vented lid allows you to smoke food
Easy to assemble
Not a lot of prep space
Only two burners
With any flat-top grill, some assembly is required. This is daunting for many people, and some models prove challenging to assemble. If you’re looking for a model that is quick and easy to put together, this one requires under 30 minutes to assemble.
It’s also uniquely designed. Round grills that feature a 360-degree cooking surface allow you to view food from all angles or for two cooks to be in the kitchen. The oversized grease pan is also 360 degrees, so you don’t have to worry about a greasy mess to clean. Grease will collect in one cup, which can be removed and emptied after each use. Since the grease collects slowly, this allows more juices to stay in the food—no more dry steaks and burgers.
One feature this model offers that others don’t is the lid. Since it has a vent, the lid can be used to smoke, roast, steam, or bake food in addition to cooking it on the flat-top griddle. The lid is also useful for trapping heat so cooked food doesn’t get cold in between tasks. Flat-top grills usually have two trays for food prep, but this model only has one. However, it has a place for a paper towel roll, which comes in handy since grilling can be messy.
Price at time of publish: $250
Dimensions: 30.7 x 29.9 x 12.2 inches | Number of Burners: 2 | Surface Area: 380 square inches | Cooking Power: 30,000 BTUs
Best for Large Parties
Razor Griddle GGC1643M 37-Inch 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
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Amazon
Powerful burners
Large cooking area
Build-in cover
Heavy
If you’re looking for the biggest flat-top grill you can find, you’ve found it. This one has a massive cooking area that measures 984 square inches (the largest we’ve seen) and can fit up to 57 burgers, so you can easily feed everyone at your parties. It also has the most powerful burners we’ve seen, coming in at 62,000 BTUs across four burners.
There are two large foldable side trays for food prep. When folded up, these double as a protective built-in cover on top of the grill. Under the grill is a shelf to store your grill accessories and tools. It also has four wheels for portability. However, the legs don’t fold, so it’s not an easy unit to transport or store in small spaces. It’s also very heavy, weighing more than 130 pounds.
User reviews praise the grill for its quality and sturdiness. Many reviewers note the efficiency of the grease trap, which is placed in the front instead of the rear. Users also appreciated the easy assembly. Overall, this model is large, powerful, easy to assemble, and easy to clean. It’s not the easiest to move, but if you’re not planning on transporting it, it’s a solid choice.
Price at time of publish: $409
Dimensions: 77 x 24 x 35 inches | Number of Burners: 4 | Surface Area: 984 square inches | Cooking Power: 62,000 BTUs
Best Splurge
Traeger Flatrock
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Traeger Grills
Large surface area
Heats evenly and quickly
Wind protection
Hot air can come out of grease trap
Traeger has impressed us with this powerhouse of a grill. It is a premium piece of work with an expansive surface area (594 square inches worth!) that allows for versatile possibilities of serving fajitas, pancakes, steaks, quesadillas, and more. You could grill up breakfast, lunch, and dinner on this flat-top. There is plenty of potential to get creative and have fun with your cooking. Plus, the large side shelves are ideal for extra prep and serving space.
A special feature to note is this grill's ability to maintain different temperatures in each zone. There are three burners with insulated walls dividing each section, which allows you to keep one zone on high heat for searing up steaks while the next zone is set at a lower temperature to sautee some veggies.
Rest assured you'll be getting your money's worth, and then some, with this incredibly high-quality and versatile flat-top. It will have you outdoors year-round, sizzling away like a professional chef. It's guaranteed to power through windy weather thanks to its solid design that protects the burners.
Price at time of publish: $899
Dimensions: 36 x 74 x 57 inches | Number of Burners: 3 | Surface Area: 594 square inches
For a great value flat-top grill that will serve up restaurant-style quality meats, you can't go wrong with the Blackstone 28-Inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill. Looking for something budget-friendly for a small space? Go with the Halo Elite 1B Countertop Griddle.
What to Look for in a Flat-Top Grill
Price
You can pay anywhere from $100 to $3,000 on a new flat-top grill, so establishing a budget and knowing what you’re looking for is crucial for your shopping experience. Cast iron griddles are usually more expensive than stainless steel, but it also depends on the design of the grill. The more burners you want on your grill, the more expensive it will be. Electric-start models also tend to fall on the pricier side.
Surface Area
One of the biggest factors to consider when picking out a flat top grill is how many burners it offers, which is often then reflected by how much surface area you have to cook. Depending on how many people you typically cook for and how much food you are cooking simultaneously will factor into which size is best for you. If you’re cooking for a family of four, you should have no problem with two burners and a smaller surface area, but if you’re cooking for large groups or have large amounts of food, you probably shouldn’t consider a grill that is smaller than two burners. Some flat-top grills are also shaped like a circle instead of a rectangle, which can allow multiple people to grill at once and gives you 360 access to maneuvering your food around on the griddle.
Design
There are several features that these grills can offer that are worth considering. Some models have natural gas hookups, so if that’s important to you, make sure your model has the capabilities. Some come with side shelves and tables for extra prep space and some are outfitted with cabinets and shelves for added storage and convenience. Some are built-in models, which means that you’ll need a stone outdoor cooking set up to place this built-in version into. Some standalone models are equipped with wheels for easily carting around. You can look for smaller, lightweight portable versions which are ideal for camping and outdoor excursions.
Material
Some flat-top grills have a cast iron cooktop while others have carbon stainless steel. The maintenance and care for each material are slightly different, so if you have a preference, it’s definitely worth considering. Cast iron is typically heavier, more durable, takes longer to heat up but distributes heat extremely evenly, and requires more care. Stainless steel is thinner, lighter, and easier to care for, but does not get as hot or distribute heat as well. Stainless steel is typically less expensive than cast iron.
FAQs
What can you cook on a flat-top grill?
The biggest difference between a flat-top grill and a classic grill with grates is that you won’t get any sear lines on a flat top. Because there is more surface contact with foods that are cooked on a flat top, it’s best to cook items that you want to have deep, uniform caramelization. Burgers are great on a classic grill, but they’re also great on a flat top because you’ll get an extra dark crust around the outside of the patty. You can cook any protein that you might cook over grill grates on a flat-top grill, just know that you will get a darker crust around the product.
Keep in mind that fattier cuts of meat, like bacon or skin-on chicken thighs, tend to render lots of fat, and not all flat-top grills have multiple grease catches, making oil splatters pretty common. Fish is another protein that you can cook on a flat top, just stay in the cooler heat zones since it can be a bit more fragile. You can also get a brunch spread going on your flat top and cook pancakes, eggs, toast, French toast, and breakfast meats for a fun, outdoor breakfast.
How do you season a flat-top grill?
It’s important to know what kind of material your flat-top grill is made of before you season it. If you have a cast iron flat-top grill, you should wipe down the grill and turn the grill on high to cook off any additional debris. Once the grill is hot, add liberal amounts of oil and carefully wipe it around (put paper towels between tongs) until the grill is coated and the oil is smoking. Repeat this process until the surface is oiled and shiny.
If you have a carbon steel flat top, that means your grill has properties of both cast iron and stainless steel. Start by cleaning the surface with a grill scraper, avoiding any cleaning products, which can cause scratching. From there, you’ll season just like you would a cast iron. Turn the grill heat to high, then add some oil and rub it around until the surface is oiled and shiny.
How do you clean a flat-top grill?
When you start to notice an excess of burnt food bits or your surface starts to get uneven heat spots, it’s definitely time to deep clean the grill for a fresh start. Turn the griddle on to help cook off any remaining food bits and use a griddle scraper to remove all debris. Add warm water to the griddle, which will help to cook off any dirt or grease. If you have a stainless steel griddle, apply stainless steel cleaner at the end; then wipe it off and dry the surface. If the surface is chrome or cast iron, skip the stainless steel cleaner and use food-safe polish or oil to finish it off.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Sara Tane is a private chef and has written nearly a dozen buying guides for The Spruce Eats, understanding what consumers and cooks need to consider before making a new purchase for their culinary adventures. After researching gas grills, charcoal grills, budget grills, and portable grills, she can help you find the best outdoor cooking setup for your home.
Lacey Muinos is a seasoned food and procomplete duct writer. She’s also a fiend for a good summer BBQ. According to her, a backyard isn’t without a grill, and she appreciates the versatility of a flat-top grill.
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