Let’s take a look at some of the different varieties of stainless steel griddles out there. What separates the good from the bad? You would think that they are just a slab of stainless steel and all of them should be similar, right? Well, not exactly. There are many options out there and some are just not the best.
Hopefully, I can help you avoid the bad choices that are currently on the market and help you find the best stainless steel griddle out there to enhance your cooking experience!
What to Expect With Stainless Steel Griddles
You may be wondering why stainless steel has become such a popular metal for cookware?
With stainless steel, you’re avoiding any chemical reaction and that’s why it’s become the #1 choice for many of the top chefs around the world. The flavor of your finished dish can’t exactly compare to food cooked on a seasoned carbon steel or cast iron griddle, but it’s still extremely delicious.
A quality stainless steel griddle isn’t exactly inexpensive, but it will last decades with proper use and care.
Look for a griddle with all stainless construction, including fasteners if it has handles or seams. Sometimes manufacturers will use aluminum fasteners. While they do the job, they can show signs of corrosion if you run them through the dishwasher.
There are a few differences between using stainless steel griddles and surfaces like nonstick pans.
Don’t put your food on the griddle until it’s hot and you’ve laid down a thin coat of cold oil or a fat like bacon grease.
People that complain about food sticking are not letting the pan heat up to the right temperature. I suspect they also add their oil or fat to a cold pan and let it “heat up” with the pan.
There’s a saying I learned long ago that has always served me well when it comes to cooking on steel: “Hot pan, cold fat, food won’t stick.”
Second, cleaning is a little different. You can put just a few drops of dish soap and hot water on your griddle after you’re done cooking. Let it sit, scrape away any stuck-on food with a nylon scraper or a griddle cleaning pad, rinse, and wipe it with a paper towel.
That said, a good quality stainless steel griddle is dishwasher-safe. However, it’s not absolutely necessary.
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The Best Stainless Steel Griddles
Here’s the thing… there really aren’t very many choices if you want a good stainless griddle.
Let’s talk about what’s available, and what’s actually worth buying.
#1 Chef’s Secret Stainless Steel 11″ Square Griddle
One of my favorite little griddles (that’s not cast iron) is this Chef’s Secret Stainless-Steel 11-Inch Square Griddle.
As far as the quality of this stainless steel griddle pan, it’s about as good as I could find and seems similar to the European cookware that costs a ton of money. It’s heavy and holds the heat very well.
Overall, it’s a beautiful stainless steel griddle pan that gets the job done in style. It’s a good choice if you don’t need much griddle space or want to toss it into the dishwasher after using.
Alternative choice: The round Chef’s Secret stainless steel griddle pan with a clear glass lid is absolutely gorgeous and has the same construction qualities. However, being round means there is slightly less cooking area and it’s just a little more challenging to store.
#2 Little Griddle Stainless Steel Flat Top Griddle
This classic flat top SQ180 griddle by Little Griddle is a favorite for outdoor cooking. You can find a wide variety of shapes and sizes by this brand, many of which are all very high quality stainless steel.
At approximately 18″x13″ the SQ180 stainless steel griddle fits perfectly on a stovetop and on just about every grill.
The 14-gauge stainless steel is beautiful and the underside of the griddle has a cross bracing which helps to evenly distribute the heat.
Overall, this is a very impressive griddle and one of my favorites and I plan to use this to make amazing food for many more years to come!
#3 Stanbroil Stainless Steel Flat Top Griddle
So maybe you bought a Blackstone 2-burner gas griddle, but you wish it had a different cooking surface? Like stainless steel?
Well, this 28″ stainless steel griddle was made to solve that exact problem! It works as an aftermarket replacement griddle top for your 2-burner Blackstone. (Always check your specs before buying.)
Although this griddle has the preferred rear grease management system, there have been complaints that this model’s system is not up to the usual standards and needs some extra work to keep it functioning properly. You’ll want to keep that in mind if you choose to use this stainless outdoor-style griddle.
#4 Stainless Steel Electric Griddle
What stainless steel griddle review would be complete without covering at least one stainless steel electric griddle? Unfortunately, there are not many options when it comes to finding a good stainless steel electric griddle.
The Yescom 1500W 14″ Electric Countertop Griddle with adjustable temperature was the only one that I could find that boasts an actual stainless steel surface. They also have a 2500W 24″ model.
Upon doing a little more research I found that it can be difficult to use electricity to heat up the stainless steel electric griddle. This is why the majority of them are used on a gas range or grill, which heats up very quickly.
I would like to try this one out and have been looking for some used ones on eBay but haven’t found one yet. The reviews are pretty good with the biggest drawback is that it takes quite a while to heat up.
So, I’m really not sure I can actually recommend this griddle. I would stick with the Blackstone or a griddle pan for now.
#5 Blaze Built-In Natural Gas Stainless Steel Griddle
I felt like I have to include this one, even though I’ve never used it. It just kind of completes the list of the types of stainless steel griddles you can buy.
Anyone building an outdoor kitchen is probably thinking that a built-in griddle made of stainless steel is the perfect solution. And the Blaze Premium LTE 30-Inch Built-In Natural Gas Griddle seems like it would fit the bill nicely.
It’s pretty – really pretty. And it’s stainless steel, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it being out in the weather, right?
Well, not exactly. Unless you have a covered kitchen area, it’s likely that rain will seep into the grease tray, leading to possible messy overflows.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a beautiful griddle and it has a price tag to match. If you simply must have gorgeous matching appliances for your new outdoor kitchen, then this might be a great model to consider. Plus it’s available in natural gas or propane. But for most of us, there are plenty of other choices that produce fantastic food with amazing taste.
Advantages of Using a Stainless Steel Griddle
- Healthy. Stainless steel is one of the best materials to use if you’re concerned about your health. Stainless steel is free from synthetic polymers PFOA and PTFE. With stainless steel, there’s no chemical reaction that occurs during cooking. Look for surgical grade stainless steel to get the best quality.
- Flavor Preservation. Stainless steel is used by chefs because it doesn’t leach any of the metals into your food. This is what you want in a top stainless steel griddle and you get that full food flavor.
- Appearance. One of my favorite things about stainless steel is that shiny look of the metal, as opposed to cast iron griddles, which have more of a classic old western style look. The polished look is nice to have around the house, especially if you’re cooking in front of visitors. Many of the top cooks in the world use stainless steel pots and pans solely for the elegant appearance. You can use them for many years and if you take care of them properly, they will always shine.
One other great thing I should put on the list is how hot these stainless steel griddles can get. I find that they get hotter quicker than most other types, yet they cool quicker than a material like cast iron after the heat is turned off.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a beautiful piece of cookware, a stainless steel griddle is the way to go. They’re easy to use, easy to clean, and you can make great food with them.
Overall, I would highly recommend stainless steel griddles. Try one for yourself, and you may just end up buying one as a gift for a friend or family member as well!