Grills & Griddles

Q: What is the difference between a grill and a griddle?

A grill has an open grate or ridged cooking surface, while a griddle has a flat, continuous surface. Grills are commonly used for burgers, kebabs and vegetables. Griddles are popular for pancakes, eggs and sandwiches.

Q: What can you cook on a griddle besides breakfast?

Griddles are great for quesadillas, grilled cheese, smash burgers and flatbreads. You can also use one for fajita vegetables or toasted sandwiches, making it a useful option for lunch and dinner.

Q: What foods can you cook on a grill besides meat?

Try vegetable skewers, portobello mushrooms, tofu or halloumi. Fruit such as peaches and pineapple also belongs on the grill, whether served as a side dish or paired with ice cream for dessert.

Q: How do stovetop and electric grills and griddles differ?

Stovetop grills and griddles sit on a cooktop and use its burners as their heat source. Electric models plug into an outlet and have built-in heating elements and temperature controls.

Q: What utensils are commonly used with grills and griddles?

Tongs are useful for turning vegetables and kebabs on a grill, while a spatula is a go-to for flipping pancakes, burgers and sandwiches on a griddle. A basting brush lets you add marinades or glazes. Choose utensils suited to the cooking surface’s care instructions.

Find grills and griddles for searing burgers, cooking pancakes and preparing meals on a broad cooking surface. Choose a ridged surface for grill marks or a flat surface for foods that need even contact, then compare cooking area and compatibility with your heat source to find the right fit for your kitchen.

Grills & griddles give you room to cook everything from a quick breakfast to the main course for a shared meal, with different cooking surfaces suited to different foods. A grill’s raised ridges or open grate create defined contact points for searing, while a griddle’s broad, flat surface supports foods that need continuous contact with the heat. That makes the distinction especially useful when choosing for your usual menu: burgers, vegetables and chicken work well on a grill, while pancakes, eggs and quesadillas are natural fits for a griddle. Both can earn a place in an everyday cooking routine, whether you want to prepare several sandwiches together or give sliced vegetables a browned finish. As you compare, consider not only what you like to cook but also how much usable cooking space each shape provides. A generous surface can help you cook more portions at once without crowding, while a smaller footprint may be easier to accommodate in a compact kitchen.

The right fit also depends on where you plan to cook and how the grill or griddle receives heat. Check each item’s intended use and heat-source compatibility rather than assuming it works on your cooktop or is suitable for outdoor cooking. For stovetop designs, the relationship between the cooking surface and your burner layout matters: a surface that extends across multiple burners needs adequate support and appropriate heat coverage. For electric designs, consider outlet access, countertop space and the placement of temperature controls. Overall dimensions tell you how much room an item occupies, but handles, edges and grease-collection areas can reduce the space available for food. Weight and handle placement are worth comparing, too, especially if you expect to move your grill or griddle between a storage shelf and the cooking area often. Frequent breakfast cooks may prioritize a flat surface with room to turn several pancakes, while those cooking meat or vegetables may place more importance on drainage and space between portions.

Care requirements and everyday handling can be just as important as cooking capacity when choosing among grills and griddles. Compare the stated surface materials, recommended utensils and cleaning instructions to find an option that suits your routine. Some surfaces require seasoning or more careful drying, while others have restrictions on utensils, heat levels or dishwasher use; the individual product details should guide those decisions. Ridges, corners and channels for collecting drippings also affect how much attention cleanup takes after cooking. Storage deserves a practical look before you choose, particularly for wide cooking surfaces that may not fit neatly alongside smaller pans. For a gift, knowing the recipient’s cooktop, available space and favorite meals is more useful than choosing by size alone. Whether you cook for one or regularly feed a full table, a grill or griddle that matches your setup and the foods you make most often is easier to put to regular use.