| If you are shopping online for a griddle you better | | | | to have non stick surfaces. |
| be specific in your query because griddles come in | | | | A square griddle is also most likely a grill pan with |
| all sizes and shapes, and for all kinds of different | | | | short sides and a conventional handle. The |
| uses. Just to prove the point - the best selling | | | | advantage of the square shape is that it can fit |
| griddle on Amazon, the Calphalon 10 inch nonstick | | | | more pieces. An 11 inch square griddle can fit four |
| griddle, is actually a crepe pan. The short, gently | | | | hamburgers or cheese sandwiches whereas three |
| sloping sides give it away. It is still a great buy as | | | | is the practical limit for a round griddle. |
| a nonstick griddle, especially when it's on sale for | | | | Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel and Cast Iron |
| around $20 as it is at the time of this writing. | | | | Steel griddles are usually the larger rectangular |
| Grill and Griddle | | | | kind, most are longer than 24 inches, and well |
| Let's sort out the difference between a grill and a | | | | suited for cooking for large groups. Nothing |
| griddle. A grill or grilling pan has a grid of raised | | | | prevents you from using a steel griddle on your |
| ridges that prevent the food from cooking | | | | cooktop if it fits but most are made for camping |
| directly in the oil and drippings that accumulate in | | | | stoves. The steel construction is rugged and can |
| the bottom of the pan. If the range heat is | | | | take some abuse from knives and metal cooking |
| pushed high enough you can get the same | | | | utensils. |
| desirable grilling marks on steaks, chops and | | | | Aluminum is less popular than it used to be but |
| burgers that you see when you cook on outdoor | | | | you can still find many sizes and shapes of |
| charcoal and gas grills. | | | | aluminum griddles from top manufacturers, the |
| A griddle properly has a smooth, flat cooking | | | | Farberware Nonstick Double Burner Griddle among |
| surface, which makes it ideal for things like | | | | them. Thick aluminum is an excellent heat |
| pancakes, omelets and crepes. A stove griddle, | | | | conductor although if not hard-anodized it can |
| double griddle or double burner griddle (they all | | | | discolor and pit if cleaned with metal pads and |
| mean the same thing) are often reversible, with a | | | | harsh chemicals. Most aluminum griddles have at |
| flat griddle surface on one side and with grilling | | | | least one nonstick surface. |
| ridges on the reversible side. These griddles are | | | | Variations of the cast iron griddle probably date |
| often advertised as a reversible griddle or as a grill | | | | back to the beginning of the iron age. Cooks who |
| griddle. | | | | use cast iron cookware regularly have no problem |
| A reversible griddle is likely to be a 20 x 11 inch or | | | | maintaining the cookware to produce a nonstick |
| so rectangle with short handles on each end. | | | | cooking surface although newcomers still seem to |
| These griddles are called double burner griddles | | | | get intimidated by the seasoning process. A cast |
| because they are big enough to cover and get | | | | iron griddle can be used indoors or out, dropped, |
| heated by two stove burners at the same time. | | | | and be thoroughly abused with utensils and searing |
| Coleman and Camp Chef make 24 inch and bigger | | | | cooking temperatures with no ill effect. Cast iron |
| griddles which are a bit large for a cooktop griddle | | | | directly on charcoal is the only way the home |
| but are ideally suited for outdoor use. | | | | cook can get the temperature high enough for a |
| Round and Square | | | | real blackened effect. Cast iron can be heavy so |
| A round griddle is most likely a grill pan. A 10 inch | | | | check the weight specs if you're a diminutive size. |
| or so smooth-bottom frying pan with sides just | | | | Unexpectedly, a stainless steel griddle is rare. Even |
| high enough to prevent oil and drippings from | | | | the stainless steel champion All-Clad makes only a |
| spilling over onto the burner, and with a | | | | hard-anodized aluminum griddle. There are a few |
| conventional, long handle. The short sides are | | | | models of 12 inch round stainless steel griddles but |
| designed for easy spatula access to the food. | | | | even these great cooking tools, from different |
| You can appreciate that if you have tried to flip a | | | | manufacturers, for same strange reason have |
| pancake with an angled spatula. Since heat can be | | | | puny side handles that disqualify them from |
| applied to only one side, round griddles are likely | | | | serious consideration. |