By
James
Updated on
Unlike other kinds of grills or smokers, flat top grills have a flat and laid-down cooking surface with heating elements pointing straight ahead. This is why flat top grills are also known as backyard griddles.
If you’re a huge fan of backyard entertainment, you can make a show out of watching the food cooking and preparation process on a flat top grill. They are perfect for cooking pancakes, burgers, sautéing vegetables, bacon, hashbrown, and so much more! They are multifunctional backyard wonders.
In this article, we’re going over the 6 best flat-top grills that are available online.
Our Top Picks
Below is a summary of the top picks from our SummerBaron.com team. To help you understand where each pick ranked, we have included “badges” next to each pick’s key findings. “Best Overall” is a combination of price and value. “Best Budget” is great for summer lovers who want a top-quality product but are on a tighter budget. “High End” is for people who just want the best, and price is no object.
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Product
PIT BOSS DELUXE 4-BURNER GRIDDLE
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments
Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby
Reviews of Each Pick
Below are our detailed reviews of each product. Each product included in this review is reviewed by our team ⎯ with 1,000s of hours testing and working with products to help you pick the best one for your specific situation.
PIT BOSS DELUXE 4-BURNER GRIDDLE
4-burners
748 square inches of cooking space
Portable
None
The deluxe by Pit boss is a 4-burner gas cast iron griddle that has received a large number of positive reviews and recommendations across different websites where it is sold.
This is a great on-the-go portable griddle that has a folding mechanism to make it compact and easy to store. You can use this griddle either stationary or in the great outdoors. One great thing about this griddle is that the cooking surface is already pre-seasoned for you. That means you don’t have to pre-season your griddle anymore.
There are easily interchangeable griddles that have a non-stick surface that prevents food from clinging to your griddle, which makes cleanup difficult. There are 4-burners that divide the cooking space into 4 heat zones. Each burner has a BTU that can reach up to 62000.
The griddle is 748 square inches, meant to cook for a family of 10 or more. With these 4-burners and a large cooking surface, it’s easy to cook for a large family with a variety of meats and food without the need to stand on the grill for long.
Features include easy-lift handles, folding side shelves that double as built-in covers when not in use, as well as 4 caster wheels for easy mobility. Additionally, the ignition is a push and turn system.
The most common phrases found in the reviews section praise the mobility, compactness, great quality and construction, and a high-quality heat control function.
Camp Chef flat top grill
Can grill up massive amounts of stuff quickly.
Easy to clean
Heavy duty
Griddle it’s always a bit rusty
This is one of the most popular choices for flat top grills that are sold online. It has received recommendations across a wide range of BBQ and grilling websites, as well as positive rates and reviews from its previous customers.
The Camp Chef flat top grill comes in three different sizes: Flat Top Grill 475, Flat Top Grill 600, and Flat Top Grill 900.
The best thing about Camp Chef Flat Top Grills is that cooking has never been easier. Four separate heat zones have corresponding four individual burners. You can quickly cook different kinds of food, in different parts of the cooking surface, at different temperatures.
The surface heat is controlled by a built-in matchless ignition system that does cooking by the backyard patio even more of a breeze.
There are also interchangeable griddles that make it easy for you to cook a wide variety of food. You can simply grill burgers or cook bacon at once, and then switch your griddle to cooking pancakes and buns for your next batch. They are easily interchangeable, making the cooking process much easier and faster.
This is also incredibly efficient and is made for entertaining and bringing together guests and family members during backyard parties. There are folding side shelves that can hold cooking condiments, tools and equipment. There are also gliding roller wheels that make this flat top grill moveable and easy to relocate.
And lastly, clean up has never been so easy by having just one, the all-around cooking surface that has a grease collection system, to avoid grease collecting everywhere.
Camp Chef is a brand that manufactures everything you need for outdoor cooking. It prides itself in high-quality units that are the product of a long-time relationship with their customers.
There is just one phrase that is found in all reviews of previous buyers: this is the king of flat top grills. With the superior versatility and durability of this Camp Chef flat top grill, nothing else compares.
Blackstone 36″
Cooks great
Easy cleanup
Easy to assemble
Some reviews received damaged item
This is a trendy flat top grill, with over 900 ratings on Amazon, and recommendations left and right in various grill and barbecue websites.
This new version has additional features and an improved design that makes the usage of this gas grill even more efficient. For one, the side shelf is equipped with built-in holders for paper towels, and hooks that will hold your trash bags.
Another feature added with the new version is the new and improved grease collection system that makes cleaning up much more comfortable.
There are four heat zones that each have corresponding independent burners so that you can divide your food according to heat and cooking instructions. You also have a choice of cooking for small batches by merely opening one or two of the burners.
This is also easy to use, with a no-fuss, no-match, no outside intervention ignition system. You can simply push the electric igniter if you wish to use your grill any time.
Aside from the easy ignition, there are also industrial-quality caster wheels that make it easy to wheel this flat top grid around, wherever you want. If you choose to stay in one place, you can easily lock the caster wheels to keep your cooking station from moving.
Another great thing about this grill is that the large, 36-inch cooking space makes it possible to cook in large batches. It can accommodate up to 36 burgers or 72 hotdogs at once.
Blackstone is a company that manufactures grills, smokers, and outdoor cooking equipment. It is especially well-known for its flat top grills.
Previous buyers who have given reviews are at an agreement: this is an excellent grill with a remarkable cleaning system that makes cooking fast and easy.
Royal Gourmet Regal GB2000
Excellent easy to assemble with the manual
Easy to move around its two tires
The plate is fantastic it doesn’t stick
The black paint on flat top portion of the grill is bubbling and peeling.
This is a much smaller option, as compared to the other flat top grills in this list. It is perfect for those looking to find smaller griddles that suit their little families and a small number of party guests. It is also highly recommended, and it has received high ratings from previous buyers.
For a 2-burner, small-family grill, it is already quite spacious with a 486 square inches cooking space. It makes it possible to cook all your food in one batch, without standing by the grill for multiple quantities.
This is also incredibly efficient, with a no-fuss ignition system. Electronic ignition provides the necessary push to start up this flat top grill. Two individual stainless steel burners control two different heat zones in your cooking surface.
Aside from the easy usage that this flat top grill offers, clean up will also certainly be a breeze, with an extensive and efficient grease collection system that simplifies the multiple steps needed in cleaning your grill.
When it comes to efficiency, this Royal Gourmet griddle does not fall behind. There is an attached side table that can hold plates, condiments, and other things you need while cooking. There is also a lower hanging bar that has 4 hooks so that you have something to hold your tools temporarily. This makes sure that your cooking space is clean and tidy.
Royal Gourmet is a brand that produces grills and outdoor cooking equipment such as smokers of different kinds, grills, and even grilling accessories. Royal Gourmet also provides tips, tricks, ideas and recipes that you can use in conjunction with your outdoor cooking equipment.
This particular 2-burner griddle has made previous buyers satisfied with its perfect size and cooking capacity, as well as the easy and self-explanatory assembly.
Blackstone 36 inch Stainless
It is portable and a griddle. Those two things are hard to find in combination and although I won’t be using it that way.
I like the top. Seems like something that will last forever and get better with time like a good cast iron pan which is just what I wanted.
Assembly is easy
Castor wheels are of good quality
The base has some pinch points and some sharp edges.
With a large number of high-quality flat top grills from Blackstone, it is no surprise to see another Blackstone unit in this list. Like the other Blackstone griddle unit, this one is also highly recommended and has surpassed the expectations of its buyers.
This flat top grill is significant, and can certainly cook up a feast. It is also used in restaurants. The 36-inch grill has 720 square inches of total cooking space that makes it easy to cook large amounts of food for a large number of guests.
It is incredibly space-efficient, with one bottom shelf and two side shelves that can hold all your cooking essentials needed for your food prep. The propane tanks also have a storage area, right under the left side of the shelf, so it stores away in a compact shape.
This grid has a battery-powered push-button that ignites the system right away: no fuss, no matches, no outside equipment.
Another great feature of this product is its mobility. There are four, sturdy fold up legs that support the full body of this grill, but there are also caster wheels that make it easy to transport this unit anywhere you want.
There is also a powerful heating system, with the cooking surface divided into four heat zones that can be independently controlled. There are 4, 15 000 BTU steel burners, providing full control over low and high temperatures for a versatile cooking surface. You could simply cook different kinds of food, all at once.
This unit is made to be durable. The frame and burners are all made of stainless steel, which is rust-resistant, no-corrosion and high-quality material. It is also easy to clean, along with the front grease collection management system of the grill.
Previous customers all say the same thing: go and invest in this excellent flat top grill.
To provide more options, we’ve included this highly recommended Blackstone tabletop flat top grill, that is perfect for stationary and portable cooking stations. It is also highly rated, with over 2600 ratings forming an average of 4.5 stars.
This is 22-inch across and has a total cooking surface of 330 square inches. This is the perfect size for cooking a full meal outside, away from the comfort of your backyard.
The griddle is designed to keep in the juices of your meat, cooking to juicy perfection. You also don’t need to worry about flare-ups or loss of flavor.
The best thing about this flat top grill is that it is portable. You can easily transport this through the back of your van to camping sites or outdoor picnic locations. It can be set atop tables, or any other levelled high and flat surfaces, and you are good to go.
There is a built-in rear grease management system that collects the grease in one location so that your food is not swimming in oil while you are cooking. This also makes the cleaning process quick and easy.
You can buy a matching Blackstone tabletop hood that is built for this flat top grill so that your griddle is kept clean in between uses. The hood also helps to keep in the heat and maintain a constant temperature. It also clips in and detaches easily whenever you choose.
There are a large number of positive feedback about this grill. It is easy to clean, highly functional griddle that is sold for a reasonable price.
Those are the 6 best flat top grills that you can buy online, from stainless steel to regular metal, to roller wheel units to one with caster wheels, as well as tabletop items. We’ve covered a wide variety so that you can find something that suits your needs and preferences.
What to keep in mind when buying flat top grills
Flat top grills are an excellent investment for your backyard parties and events. Not only do they help feed and entertain the guests, but they could also be used as a one-stop cooking surface, to avoid making such a mess of your indoor kitchen.
While there are a lot of advantages to owning a flat top grill, there are still some things that you should keep in mind to choose the best grill for you and your budget carefully.
Consider the versatility
With the technology that we have today, non-versatile griddles are already out of fashion, and not as functional as their versatile counterparts.
When we say versatile, make sure that you can use your flat top grill for cooking a large variety of foods (from meat, vegetables, pancakes, hash browns and so much more). It’s a bit inconvenient to be owning a flat top grill that can only cook burgers or bacon—that’s what charcoal grills are for.
Buy pre-seasoned cooking surfaces
Pre-seasoned cooking surfaces prevent rust and damage, as well as improve the quality and flavor of your food by a considerable margin. Additionally, pre-seasoned cooking surfaces remove any chemical residue that may have been left from the manufacturing process.
Pre-seasoning the surface is easy, directly applying a coating of oil and baking the surface at high heat for at least 30 minutes, it’s much better to buy pre-seasoned griddles.
After all, most grills are significant and could not possibly fit in your standard oven. Also, the pre-seasoning that a company would do is a lot better than whatever you can achieve on your own.
Consider the mobility
If you already have a set space that you are planning to place your grill on, you can maybe skip caster or roller wheels with your flat top grill. But if you are looking to moving around your grill, and even transporting it, you would want one that has wheels to make things a lot easier for you.
However, in general, it’s always a good idea to buy a unit with wheels. You will never know when you will need to move your unit, after all.
Buy one with a no-fuss ignition system
About The Author
Reviewed by
James
James is a writer who is a self-confessed kitchenware and coffee nerd and a strong advocate of Sundays, good butter, and warm sourdough.
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