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A long-time contributor to SeriouslySmoked. Jim has had a lifelong relationship with the art of grilling, passed on from his father and grandfather to him.
Annabelle is an experienced food writer and editor. She focuses on common sense, easy to replicate recipes formulated to help keep things fresh and exciting while fitting into her day to day life as a wife and mother.
Outdoor griddle cooking is lots of fun. Primarily reserved for camping or tailgating, it’s growing in popularity in backyards across the country as well. While the idea of griddling conjures up images of pancakes being cooked on electric griddles in your kitchen, gas grills are versatile enough to accomplish this fun and easy way of cooking in an outdoor setting, too.
While charcoal grills are generally considered favorites for barbecuing, baking, roasting, or braising, substituting a griddle top for the grill racks allows outdoor chefs to add extra flavor to their pancakes or eggs by infusing wood flavors into the food.
1. What are Griddles?
Griddles are specialized grill tops that excel at cooking a variety of foods. They’re large, flat surfaces that feature heating elements under them to cook the foods placed on the surface quickly.
There are different types of griddles. Some grills only feature griddle tops, like the ones you often see in restaurants. Others are cast-iron inserts that can be placed over stove burners or grill burners, while portable options are electric for easy countertop cooking.
2. Are Griddles Expensive?
When it comes to the price of a griddle, it depends on what type of griddle you’re purchasing. Larger gas grills with griddle tops can be in the thousands, while simple countertop gas grills may only cost a few hundred dollars. Cast-iron griddle pans and small, non-commercial countertop griddles cost even less.
3. Why Choose?
Delicious foods don’t always need to be flame-licked on charcoal grills. Sometimes grilling your favorite food using a griddle is more effective than pan cooking over your stove. It can be easier to retain moisture in your food while providing enough room to cook for more than 4 or 5 people at one time.
Griddles provide consistent heat across a large surface, and upgraded models often feature more than a single burner under the griddle surface, making temperature control super easy. You can cook anything on a griddle that you’d cook on a regular grill plate.
4. What you can cook on a griddle?
Just about any food can be cooked on a griddle making it one of, if not the most, effective grill tops available. You can’t pour batter over a grill grate, but by tossing a griddle top onto your grill, you transform it into a versatile cooktop that can handle just about any job.
A few foods are ideal for griddling, and they also happen to be tailgating favorites. Don’t feel confined to red meat and veggies for your griddle. Let your imagination run wild because this cooktop is so versatile; you can do just about anything with it.
Annabelle Watson
The Takeaway
Using a griddle to prepare your favorite foods is an excellent way to cook at home or on-the-go. Griddle systems for tailgating, camping, or in your backyard are affordable and fun to use.
Even grilling at your restaurant is made easier with a griddle top. You can easily expand your menu and serve your customers faster with one of these versatile cooking appliances.
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