Barbecues are becoming increasingly popular as a means of entertaining friends and family this summer. If you started looking into propane griddle, you’ve undoubtedly seen the flat top grill’s increasing popularity, as we have. “Should I consider one of these?” “Is a flat top grill beneficial for me?” “What is a flat top grill?” you may be thinking. To help with such inquiries, we’ve created a list of ideas based on our decades of grill-testing experience.
Top 10 Best Propane Griddle For Outdoor Meals in 2021
Outdoor cooking has never been easier thanks to flat-top propane griddles. Get the propane griddle that best meets your demands and tastes if you want to be regarded as a champion. Cooking outside has a restorative impact on many men and women. Flipping that excellent beef burger or smelling the lobster and fajitas sizzling on the griddle surely gives me a sense of achievement. To eliminate the confusion from this decision-making process, we have meticulously researched the best propane griddle for 2021.
Flat Top Grills: What You Should Know
Now, let’s get to the bottom of the matter: what precisely is a flat top grill? A flat-top grill, depending on who you ask, is frequently a large, flat griddle with no lid or cover. The phrases “grill” and “griddle” are, nevertheless, occasionally used interchangeably. When we search for “flat-top grills,” we find propane griddles and grills that appear to be pretty similar and are put together in the same category. Which one is best for you depends largely on what you want to prepare. While both may produce a wide range of meals, there are some distinctions.
Propane Griddle
A propane griddle is a heated surface that is continuous and flat, with no holes or openings. Grilled foods sit in their own oil and grease, or, if the meal on the griddle lacks any, require some type of oil or grease. For items such as eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, cheesesteaks, grilled cheese, and other hot sandwiches, propane griddles work best at temperatures somewhat lower than 400 degrees Fahrenheit. There are also many more sophisticated culinary options, such as stir fry, fajitas, and tacos. And, yes, White Castle has been serving burgers this way for over a century.
Grills
A grill has a grate made of metal rods or a cast metal plate with ridges and holes that allows oil and grease to drain away from the food being grilled. In most cases, grills operate at temperatures considerably beyond 400 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly when searing meat. Meals cooked on grills include burgers, chicken, ribs, bratwurst, chops, steaks, and veggies. Flat top grills have a griddle or grill cooking surfaces and share a few features. They are rectangular in shape, have two or more gas burners, and have no cover or lid—they are completely open. (Some griddles, however, have three low sides to prevent food and grease splatter from flowing over the edge.) Because there is nothing to cover the cooking surface, flat-top grills are not appropriate for low and slow cooking—or smoking.
Flat top grills, on the other hand, provide an entirely accessible cooking surface. Traditional grills with a flip-up top usually include warming racks as well as solid sides, which can make accessing all of the cooking surfaces challenging at times—particularly when there is a lot of food on the grill.
Choosing a Flat Top Grill
What you typically cook on a barbecue or what you wish to cook on a grill determines which surface to obtain on a flat top grill. Some versions of flat-top grills combine both grill and griddle cooking surfaces, eliminating the need to select between the two. The last consideration is size, which is decided by the number of meals—or how many people you’ll be cooking for. Most small families can get by with two-burner grills, but four-burner grills are best for larger families or casual cookouts with friends.
If you want to entertain larger guests, you may need five or more burners. Because most flat-top grills are fuelled by propane, you should consider how many BTUs of cooking power a grill offers. Wheels, frequently with lockable castors, are common extras, as are folding-side serving shelves, a huge storage shelf beneath, hooks for grilling equipment, and retractable grease buckets. To avoid rust, most, but not all, are powder-coated; those that aren’t must be stored indoors or undercover. Finally, some flat-top grills incorporate foldable legs for storage or mobility.
How We Made Our Decision
Our flat-top grill recommendations are based on comprehensive grill testing as well as our experience with firms we know and trust. To guarantee that there is something for everyone, we picked grills in a variety of sizes and price ranges, as well as portable options. Finally, our selections are backed up by hundreds of positive reviews from owners of these models. Every flat top grill on this list has received at least four stars on average, with several obtaining 4.5 stars or higher. Grills in a range of sizes and price points, from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy, are available in our selection. We looked at the aforementioned attributes across the board and weighed them against the total cost.
1.
Cooking area: 720 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Gas
Burners: Four
BTUs: N/A
This flat top gas grill features four independently controlled, push-button ignition burners that provide adaptable four-zone grilling. The stainless steel body is complemented by a thick rolled stainless steel cooking surface and a grease collector at the back. A large bottom shelf can accommodate everything from cutlery to plates, and there are two side serving shelves, a cutting board, a paper towel holder, and two lockable caster wheels. The grill is reasonably priced ($435 at the time of writing), and it has received positive feedback from more than 3,400 consumers, with an average rating of 4.7 stars.
2.
Cooking area: 748 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Four
BTUs: 52K
This stainless steel Royal Gourmet flat top grill has a gloss ceramic-coated griddle top, four independently controlled burners, and an output of 52,000 BTUs at a competitive price point with features that compete with similar models. The stainless steel grill features a front push-button ignition control plate and a large 748 square-inch cooking area. Collapsible side trays, a large bottom tray, and hooks for grilling utensils and gloves are among the other features. There’s also a grease trap that may be removed.
3.
Cooking area: 760 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Four
BTUs: 60K
If you have a little extra money to invest, this flat top grill has 760 square inches of cooking space on a cold-rolled steel cooking surface, as well as two detachable front grease traps for simple cleanup. It also produces a total of 60,000 BTUs, 15,000 for each of the four burners, which can be separately adjusted to cook food at different temperatures at the same time. Other features include two wheels for transporting it from the sliding glass door to the sunny patio with burgers and dogs, two fold-down serving trays, and a spacious bottom shelf for storage. Overall, its appearance is straightforward and sleek, although while folding flat for storage, it isn’t exactly portable, weighing a whopping 96 pounds.
4.
Cooking area: 730 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Four
BTUs: 62k
This stainless steel flat top grill boasts an outstanding 62,000 BTU cooking output and a 730-square-inch cooking area for the price—about $370 at the time of writing. Four push-button ignition stainless steel burners, a huge bottom shelf for storage, and two large fold-down side shelves that serve as a grill surface cover and fasten with a clasp are among the features. There are four wheels as well as two locking castors.
5.
Cooking area: 750sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Five
BTUs: 62K
This premium flat-top barbecue from well-known manufacturer Pit Boss is pricier, but it has 62,000 BTUs and five push-button ignition burners. Large fold-down side shelves with side rims to prevent plates and utensils from rolling off, a capacious storage shelf beneath, a retractable grease trap, and four lockable casters at the base are all included. The flat-top grill is built of stainless steel and cast iron has a strong design, and weighs around 130 pounds.
6.
Cooking area: 373 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Two
BTUs: 22K
This two-burner stainless steel grill weighs only 32 pounds, making it ideal for anything from casual tailgating parties to camping trips. It’s built by Country Smokers, a company recognized for its high-quality portable barbecues. The 373-square-inch cooking surface of the steel griddle top has been pre-seasoned with organic plant-based oil. It produces 22,000 BTUs of heat, which is impressive for a grill of this size, and it also has collapsible legs, protective burner covers to keep frigid winds at bay, and a grease bucket. The side handles include foam-covered grips for convenient carrying.
7.
Cooking area: 597 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Four
BTUs: 44K
When it comes to portable flat-top grills, it’s difficult to beat Country Smokers, so we couldn’t resist including the larger sister to the one above. This four-burner grill has the same features as the smaller model, including a steel griddle top that’s been pre-seasoned with organic plant-based oil. This device, on the other hand, has a 597-square-inch cooking surface and provides 44,000 BTUs of heat, making it ideal for frying burgers and dogs for groups of up to ten people. It’s also a little heavier at 48 pounds, which isn’t too bad if carried by two adults.
8.
Cooking area: 604/501 sq. in. (griddle/grill)
Cooking Surface(s): Griddle and grill
Fuel: Propane
Burners: 4
BTUs: 48K
Versatility abounds with this Camp Chef model, which has both a grill and a griddle cooking surface. Over the four stainless steel 12K BTU burners, you’ll be able to cook almost anything, from pancakes to burgers. The griddle features a “genuine seasoned” surface that is nonstick and ready to use right out of the box. Fold-out shelves on both ends provide plenty of space for prepping food for the barbecue or transferring food from the grill to serving plates. Below the grill, there is also plenty of staging/storage space, with two full-length shelves. We’ve tested a number of Camp Chef grills, and they’ve all performed and held up admirably—we anticipate no less from this four-burner flat top.
9.
Cooking area: 380 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Griddle
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Two
BTUs: 30K
There’s a lot to like about Cuisinart’s beautiful flat top grill. For starters, its two burners provide 30,000 BTUs of heat, and it has a 22-inch diameter cooking surface as well as an enlarged grease pan that siphons oil into an easy-to-remove bin. Another significant advantage is its vented dome cover, which allows for steaming, roasting, and even baking—a capability that most flat-top grills lack. It also has a hidden propane tank beneath the grill surface, four wheels with two locking casters, a folding prep table, and a towel rack.
10.
Cooking area: 950 sq. in.
Cooking Surface: Grill
Fuel: Propane
Burners: Eight
BTUs: 104k
This big flat top from Royal Gourmet looks precisely like the ones used by food vendors at festivals—which is exactly what it is. The eight-burner “Event Grill” is intended to feed a large group. If you enjoy entertaining—and it appears that you will this year—then this is the grill for you, with 950 square inches of cooking area. The porcelain-coated steel cooking grate has a capacity of 60 burgers. Two independent regulators assist in governing the flow of gas to the grill, one on each side, distributing the gas evenly, especially when the burners are set to high. On the sides of the grill, two robust folding shelves are supplied, with one-and-a-half shelves underneath for storage. Because a grill this size might be difficult to transport, it is equipped with massive, 4-inch lockable caster wheels.
