If you’re looking for a versatile cooking surface that can handle just about anything, then you probably feel the need for a ceramic griddle in your life. Whether you’re making a weekend brunch or searing a steak for dinner, a ceramic griddle can do it all. However, with so many different brands and models on the market, choosing the best ceramic griddle isn’t easy.
No matter what your cooking style, there’s probably a ceramic griddle out there that’s perfect for you.
Do you need more cooking space than your stovetop can provide? (Hello, big batches of pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches!) Then an electric ceramic griddle is the way to go.
And if you’re looking for a ceramic griddle pan that you can use on the stovetop, we’ll discuss the best options to choose from.
Let’s cover some tips to help you select the right ceramic griddle for your needs. I’ll also review the ceramic griddles that I think are the top choices right now.
Not sure ceramic is for you? I’ve also got picks for the best electric griddles and top stovetop griddles – and most of them are made of different materials.
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Top 5 Ceramic Griddles
Now that ceramic is becoming a popular cooking surface, more products are coming out. A few years ago you couldn’t even find a ceramic griddle. Today, there are several out there with ceramic coating, so let’s take a look at the best that I could find.
#1 Zojirushi – Gourmet Ceramic Electric Griddle
Best choice for: ceramic griddle with a lid
A good friend of mine bought this ceramic griddle a few years ago. For this review I asked her what she thought and she had nothing but good things to say about the Zojirushi ceramic griddle.
I’ve had electric griddles with teflon surfaces and those tend to start flaking off after a while. With ceramic, the surface doesn’t flake off. My friend has had hers for over 2 years and it looks brand new.
This griddle heats up very quickly and evenly. One of my biggest problems with electric griddles is that they take forever to heat up. Some of them even make weird noises when heating up. The Zojirushi gets hot quickly and doesn’t make any of those strange noises from other lower-quality brands.
I also really like that it comes with a ceramic lid. I enjoy steaming my food and a problem with a lot of electric griddles is that they don’t come with a lid!
Features:
- 19″ x 12.5″ (237 square inches) of cooking area
- Keep Warm (176°F) to 425°F
- Disassemble for Easy Cleaning
Most complaints are in regard to the heating temperature not reaching its full 400 degrees. Most electric griddles do not seem to get up to 400 degrees, and you probably don’t want to use a ceramic griddle at that high temperature anyway.
If you ask me, this might be the best electric ceramic griddle. Out of hundreds of reviews, only a few have complained.
#2 GreenPan Ceramic Griddle Pan
Best choice for: non-electric ceramic griddle
Not everyone needs or wants an electric griddle. Often, all you really need is a griddle pan for your stovetop.
If you’re the cook-everything-on-the-stove type, then this might be your ceramic griddle! The GreenPan hard anodized ceramic nonstick 11″ griddle pan is definitely one of the best out there when it comes to ceramic cookware.
The ability for food to slide right off when you’re done cooking is amazing. I’ve had friends who have replaced all of their cookware with GreenPan products because they love this ceramic griddle so much.
Alternative choice: This GreenLife Soft Grip Ceramic Nonstick 11″ Griddle Pan is made by another reputable company. The soft grip handle is nice because it means you don’t need a potholder or a separate handle cover.
#3 Presto Cool-Touch Electric Ceramic Griddle
Best choice for: sleek appearance
This Presto ceramic griddle has over 2,500 ratings and 500 written reviews on Amazon, so I decided to see why it’s so popular.
From what I can see, most people love this griddle. The large cooking surface, good-size drip tray, and mostly even heating are definitely positives.
Although it can’t go into the dishwasher, it can still be washed in a sink of soapy water after you’re removed the cord and allowed the griddle to cool down.
Features:
- 20″ x 10.5″ (210 square inches) of cooking area
- Cool Touch surround on front and sides
- Fully immersible for hand washing
No matter which griddle you look at, there are going to be some negative reviews. For this one, it mostly comes down to the fragility of the plastic base and handles, which can break if dropped or knocked around.
Also, this model doesn’t have anything on the bottom of the legs to keep the griddle from sliding around while cooking. Using a silicone pad underneath is a great solution, and it will also protect your counter from potential heat damage.
Alternative choice: The regular Presto ceramic griddle (without the ‘cool touch’ surround) has a slightly larger cooking surface at approximately 240 square inches. However, it has a more textured ceramic surface which seems to be a major drawback for many users.
#4 Hamilton Beach Electric Ceramic Griddle
Best choice for: versatile cord placement
Not the biggest fan of Hamilton Beach products as well but since this Hamilton Beach Durathon ceramic griddle pops up in all of my research, I thought I would have to take a closer look.
The first thing I like about it is that it has a reversible ceramic plate that you can throw in the dishwasher. “Reversible” in this case doesn’t mean flipping it over. Instead, the plate and cord can be picked up and rotated 180 degrees on the base, which really helps if your outlet is in an awkward location.
Most of the products by this brand can be a bit expensive and the quality is not always the best. Many of the complaints here are about the drip tray and the plastic frame not being the best quality. The ceramic griddle is not a problem and the copper color looks pretty stylish.
Doesn’t seem to be many complaints about heating but there are problems with sound. Sound? Yes, with cheaper electric griddles you can hear a buzzing sound which can be quite annoying.
Overall, I would wait for Hamilton Beach to improve the design and come out with an updated ceramic griddle.
#5 BELLA Electric Ceramic Griddle
Best budget-friendly choice
While the BELLA housewares brand is kind of the new kid on the block, this BELLA ceramic griddle is crazy-popular.
Why? Well, for one thing… it’s very pretty, with a copper-colored ceramic cooking surface (NOT actual copper). And, probably the main reason… it’s extremely budget-friendly. At the time of this writing, it’s the least expensive option of the ceramic griddles in this post.
It has similar features to the other ceramic griddles we’ve discussed here, with about 200 square inches of cooking space and being immersible for cleaning.
I don’t know if “you get what you pay for” is exactly the right term here, but many of the complaints run along the lines of the griddle not heating correctly upon arrival to not working after a few months of use. I would recommend that if you buy this ceramic griddle, you’ll definitely want to test it immediately in case you need to return it.
What is a Ceramic Griddle?
True ceramic is a type of clay that has been hardened in a process known as kiln-firing at high temperatures.
A ceramic griddle is not actually made of clay. Instead, they are normally made of a metal such as aluminum. Then, they’re coated with a gel solution derived from silica (basically, sand), sprayed on the pan, and cured at high heat to form a ‘ceramic’ non-porous coating.
Before you buy anything, you absolutely need to understand that the nonstick properties of a beautiful new ceramic griddle don’t last forever. Frequent use and cooking at high heat will cause the coating to deteriorate. This is why ceramic nonstick pans work so much better when they are new.
Although some ceramic nonstick griddles are promoted as being dishwasher-safe, it really is best to handwash them. I would also recommend not using metal utensils. Just like with regular nonstick pans, scratching the coating on ceramic nonstick pans can compromise the integrity of the coating more quickly.
How safe is Ceramic?
While ceramic griddles are touted as being organic and completely safe, there honestly hasn’t been much research done to determine the effects of long-term usage.
Of course, new high-quality ceramic griddles will meet current government specifications. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, including not using olive oil or non-stick sprays. You’ll also want to make sure to not cook at a high temperature.
Conclusion
If you have your heart set on a ceramic griddle, then all you have to do is choose one of these to best suit your lifestyle. But if you’re still in search of “a” griddle and aren’t yet sure what you want, you’ll want to read my other posts for the best cast iron griddles and stainless steel griddle guide.
That just about covers the best ceramic griddles out there for right now. Every year they seem to be improving designs and coming out with new ceramic griddles, which is great.
Once again, remember this nonstick coating is not permanent. You will have to replace this griddle, and it could be sooner than you expect if you use it often.
So, while ceramic sounds like a better, less chemical-laden choice for a nonstick surface on a griddle pan, I would still recommend going with cast iron or steel if you have a choice. They may require more effort to clean, but they will last much longer.