The 4 Finest Flat-Prime Grills and Outside Griddles of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

Let’s set the scene: The month is June and the climate is within the 90s with nary a cloud in sight. The humidity is oppressive and, given the selection, we’d be indoors. This isn’t an choice. There are flat-top grills to check, burgers to smash, grilled cheese to flip, and bacon to fry. 

That is all to say: We fairly actually put our sweat into testing flat-top grills. In the event you’re unfamiliar with them, these out of doors griddles are greatest described as propane-powered variations of the massive flat-tops short-order cooks use to churn out all types of delights at your favourite diner. Not like a gasoline or charcoal grill, flat-top grills are grateless, with giant items of carbon metal serving as their cooktops. Whereas they gained’t ship grill marks or smoky taste and may’t do low-and-slow cooking, flat-top grills are nice for browning and searing. Due to their extensive cooking surfaces, partitions, and a number of burners, flat-tops let you cook dinner an entire lot directly, use completely different warmth zones, and make historically un-grillable issues exterior. Consider a full breakfast with pancakes, eggs, and bacon; a heap of peppers and onions; a bounty of fried rice.

To make use of a flat-top is to fall head over heels for cooking on one. As a way to discover one of the best of those out of doors griddles, we put six of them to the check.

 The Winners, at a Look

The Weber’s expansive cooktop, easy-to-ignite burners, and built-in, slide-out drip tray made this flat-top grill exceptionally simple to make use of. It cooked meals evenly and browned it deeply, and obtained as sizzling as you needed it to go, climbing over 575°F in our assessments. After all, you get Weber’s distinctive customer support, too.

This flat-top grill is smaller and pricier however has a digital temperature gauge, extra-wide facet tables, a fold-out extending desk, and storage bins to accommodate all your grilling instruments. It browned meals shortly and evenly and, as with the 36-inch Weber, we cherished the built-in, drawer-style drip tray.

Whereas it’s the priciest flat-top grill we examined, the Traeger provides you a great deal of management. It has three separate cooking zones, indicator lights to point out when it’s lit, and even a propane tank degree monitor. Whereas it ran cooler than different grills we examined, it nonetheless produced golden grilled cheese, crispy bacon, and lacy smash burgers.

It is a unbelievable flat-top grill given its sub-$400 price ticket. It will get depraved sizzling, has a drip tray within the rear (which stays out of the best way of the motion), and seared among the laciest, crispiest-edged smashed burgers.

The Exams

• Heating Check: We preheated the grill for 10 minutes, taking the temperature at varied factors on the cooktop with an infrared thermometer to judge how evenly it was heating. We continued to do that intermittently all through testing, too.
• Grilled Cheese Check: To see how evenly the grills carried out on low warmth, we positioned 12 grilled cheeses throughout its floor. We flipped the grilled cheeses halfway by means of cooking, evaluating their browning. ‘Twas a grilled cheese warmth map!
• Breakfast Check: We made bacon, pancakes, and fried eggs on every griddle, counting what number of of every match. We used two warmth zones for this check: medium for the bacon and low for the pancakes and eggs.
• Smashed Burgers Check: We used every grill to make smashed burgers, cooking them on medium-high warmth. On the opposite facet of the grill, we toasted the burger buns on low. 
• Usability and Cleanup Exams: All through testing, we evaluated how simple the grills have been to make use of and ignite. Between every check, we scraped any meals remnants into the drip tray. On the finish of testing, we cleaned the drip tray, evaluating how simple it was to take action.

What We Discovered 

The Finest Flat-Prime Grills Heated (Largely) Evenly 

Flat-top grills’ cooking surfaces are large, honking sheets of carbon metal. Their sheer measurement means they’ll take longer to warmth up, however the steel will keep ripping sizzling (very like a carbon metal skillet). Due to their expansiveness, we didn’t suppose it was irregular for there to be some slight sizzling or chilly spots. Nonetheless, one of the best flat-top grills warmth largely evenly and are able to producing near-perfect grilled cheese warmth maps. We didn’t wish to see a blackened sandwich beside a golden brown one.

Distinct Heating Zones and Searing Talents Have been Appreciated

All the flat-top grills we examined had three or 4 burners. Due to how extensive their cooktops have been, we needed to have the ability to use distinct heating zones (one burner on low, three on medium; two burners on excessive, one on medium) so we might, for instance, make smashed burgers and toast burger buns directly. All of our winners have been capable of obtain this, although we’ll say many of the flat-tops obtained extremely sizzling, so err on the facet of utilizing barely decrease warmth. 

For searing, we needed the grills to have the ability to simply hit 500°F. The Webers, particularly, proved adept at this. The Weber 30-inch repeatedly clocked in at 500°F and the 36-inch at 575°F, which is admittedly, actually highly regarded. The Traeger did effectively, too: It was 514°F within the middle earlier than we made smashed burgers.

Straightforward Ignition and Drip Tray Openings Impacted Usability

We cherished the simple, dependable ignition on the Weber fashions. That they had click-to-ignite burners, which, after we turned the burners to the ignite place, actually clicked them on. It was good to not have to carry down a separate ignitor. It was additionally useful to have a small area between the grill’s physique and cooktop, so you may visually examine if the burners have been on. 

So far as cleanup, extensive openings that led to sizable drip trays have been a should. The Camp Chef failed right here, with a small gap for its grease effectively that simply obtained clogged. The Weber grills’ drip trays and openings have been to the left of the grills, with the trays situated in built-in, pull-out drawers. We cherished the disposable, aluminum pans of those drip trays. It was a lot simpler to simply toss them relatively than scrub down an un-lined tray. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Flat-Prime Grill and Outside Griddle

The most effective flat-top grills warmth (largely) evenly, have a large temperature vary, and are able to distinct heating zones. They needed to be simple to ignite and have extensive drip tray openings that didn’t clog. We additionally appreciated grills with giant facet tables—useful for putting sheet trays of raw and cooked meals. 

Our Favourite Flat-Prime Grills

What we appreciated: This Weber pairs an affordable worth with wonderful efficiency and value. Its extensive cooking floor heated evenly, yielding golden brown grilled cheeses, handily accommodating a breakfast that’d serve 4, and cooking super-crispy smashed burgers with aplomb. It has a smooth-opening hinged lid that sits out of the best way behind the griddle, click-to-ignite burners that reliably begin with an audible “click on,” two facet tables, and a built-in drawer-style drip tray. The disposable aluminum grease pans make for ultra-easy cleanup. Plus, with any Weber grill you get the model’s distinctive customer support.

What we didn’t like: The grill’s facet tables have been a bit narrower than we’d like, although they nonetheless accommodated half-sheet pans.

Key Specs

• Variety of burners: 4
• Cooktop space: 756 sq. inches 
• Further options: Instruments hooks, facet tables, shelf
• Variety of wheels: 4
• Suitable cowl: See right here
• Guarantee: 5 years

What we appreciated: For a smaller flat-top grill with all the similar options, this Weber impressed us with its searing talents and user-friendliness. For a few hundred greater than the 36-inch Weber, you get a digital temperature gauge, big facet tables, an extendable desk, and storage bins. Like the opposite Weber, the hinged lid easily slides again, resting vertically (however out of the best way) behind the griddle. And the built-in, drawer-style drip tray with disposable liners was a boon for cleanup.

What we didn’t like: Its small measurement, in fact, match much less meals than different fashions. For these planning to throw yard bashes, this might restrict its versatility.   

Key Specs

• Variety of burners: 3
• Cooktop space: 540 sq. inches
• Further options: Instruments hooks, facet tables, shelf, bins
• Variety of wheels: 4
• Suitable cowl: See right here
• Guarantee: 5 years

What we appreciated: With a spacious 594-square-inch cooktop, three completely different temperature management zones, and lights that point out when the grill is lit, that is the Tesla of flat-top grills. And it actually was simple to manage the temperatures of the zones; it did a great job having a cooler zone for toasting buns whereas sustaining a warmer space for searing smashed burgers. Whereas the griddle ran on the cooler facet, it nonetheless produced superbly golden grilled cheese sandwiches and pancakes, crusty, lacey smashed burgers, and shatteringly crisp bacon. The facet tables match a half-sheet pan properly, too. In order for you management and have a concern of burning dinner, the Traeger takes what could be a disturbing, short-order cook dinner vibe and turns it into one thing manageable.

What we didn’t like: Whereas the gasoline sensor is a pleasant bonus, hoisting the propane tank onto the weighing hook was strenuous. It’s a must to carry it along with your shoulders for the reason that underside of the grill is low, which is a recipe for pulling your again muscle tissues. One other quibble was the dearth of hooks to hold a grill brush or pair of tongs; it’s important to purchase them individually. At $900 on the time of testing, this was the most costly flat-top grill in our lineup.

Key Specs

• Variety of burners: 3
• Cooktop space: 594 sq. inches
• Options: Constructed-in ignitor, gasoline gauge, ash keg
• Variety of wheels: 4
• Suitable cowl: See right here
• Guarantee: 5-year restricted

What we appreciated: This factor obtained ripping, blazing, sweat-on-your-eyelids sizzling. And, in consequence, all the pieces we threw on the floor—be it bacon or burgers—cooked as much as golden, caramelized, crispy-edged perfection. We solely observed sizzling spots through the grilled cheese check; a fast look on the bread instructed us the middle and prime of the grill have been working hotter than the entrance and sides. However past that, and a few gentle sticking of the fried eggs, the Blackstone carried out effectively for a sub-$400 flat-top grill. The paper towel holder was a pleasant contact, too. 

What we didn’t like: The facet tables had a niche the place they met the grill, which lowered their usable floor space. The middle and prime of the grill ran a bit hotter than the entrance and sides. 

Key Specs

• Variety of burners: 4
• Cooktop space: 768 sq. inches
• Options: Constructed-in ignitor, rear grease lure, paper towel holder
• Variety of wheels: 4
• Suitable cowl: See right here
• Guarantee: 1-year

The Competitors

FAQs

How do you clear a flat-top grill? 

To scrub a flat-top woman, scrape any meals particles into the drip tray utilizing a steel spatula or scraper. If obligatory, you need to use just a little water to loosen and scrape powerful, stuck-on bits, however ensure to dry the grill very totally afterward. After cleansing, rub the floor with just a little oil and clear the drip tray.

Do that you must season a flat-top grill?

Identical to carbon metal cookware, you do have to season a flat-top grill. Producers often have their very own directions for pre-seasoning, however ensure to wipe the floor with just a little impartial oil after cooking and cleansing it, which is able to stop the cooktop from rusting. 

What’s one of the simplest ways to retailer a flat-top grill? 

We suggest storing the grill with a canopy on it, to forestall water from rusting the floor. For long-term storage, stash the grill in a dry place, like a shed or storage. 

Why We’re the Specialists

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior commerce editor for Critical Eats. She’s been with the positioning since 2021 and has been testing gear for about six years. She’s written different grilling evaluations for the positioning, together with gasoline grills. 
• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor for Critical Eats. She’s been with the positioning for about two years and beforehand labored for America’s Check Kitchen and as a line cook dinner. She examined the Traeger Ironwood XL. 
• For this evaluation, we examined six flat-top grills, evaluating how evenly they heated, how simple they have been to make use of and clear, and extra.