“A griddle is a flat rectangular piece of metal that sits on top of a grill’s existing grates.” Griddles are removable, making them simple to bring inside and clean, he points out. “Both cook food in the same way.” If you want to get technical, “A flat-top grill is an all-in-one unit where the griddle cooking surface and burners are attached to each other,” Sidoriak says. “The main difference between flat-top grills and griddles is the way in which the surface is heated,” say Canadian-based grill masters Maddie and Kiki Longo. But, if you’re more of a thick pattied, unhinge-your-jaw-to-fit-the-burger-in-your-mouth kind of person, then I’d stick to the standard grill.” Another perk of using a flat-top for burgers? “They make it easy to get a toasty, buttery bun just before assembling the burger.” Is There A Difference Between A Flat-Top Grill And A Griddle? I want the patty thin and crispy and cheesy. But experts say flat-top grills are excellent for so-called “smash burgers.” “It depends on the type of burger person you are,” says Natasha Feldman, chef and author of The Dinner Party Project: A No-Stress Guide to Food with Friends. If you like char-broiled burgers, it’s best to stick with a traditional grill. That said, if you crave a smoky or charred flavor for your meats and vegetables, it may be better to opt for a traditional grill. “People may call them flat top ‘grills,’ but, with the right training and right accessories, these appliances can cook almost any style.” You can also cook more items at once with a flat-top grill, and you even have the option to cook multiple side dishes and protein while entertaining your guests outside rather than running back into the kitchen, he says. “There are some benefits of choosing a flat versus a regular grill one of the advantages is versatile cooking,” says Alejandro Bonilla, head chef of Tribeca-based restaurants Tiny’s, Smith & Mills and Yves.

In most cases, yes-but it depends how often you plan on using it. Reviews from real users were also factored in to get a sense of how these grills perform in various households, as well as how they hold up over time. Then, we took a closer look at the griddles’ cooking area, BTUs, burners and add-on features. Meanwhile, we scanned the market to identify top-rated and bestselling flat-top grills, noting which models met our standards for quality.

To determine the absolute best flat-top grills you can buy right now, we started by consulting five culinary and grill experts for their input on what to look for in these versatile machines. Forbes Staff How We Chose The Best Flat-Top Grills

Flat top grill reviews