Griddle Buying Guide: Surface Area, Temperature Range, and Non-Stick Explained

A lid is useful for two cooking applications: melting cheese on smash burgers (trap steam to melt the cheese without flipping), and cooking thicker proteins through to the center without overcooking the exterior (use the lid to trap heat around the sides). Most electric griddles do not include a lid. A splatter screen (a mesh cover that allows steam to escape) serves the cheese-melting function without trapping too much steam. The Blackstone 28-inch includes a lid.

Yes, with an egg ring. Stainless steel or silicone egg rings hold the egg in a round shape while it cooks. Without a ring: fried eggs spread to the edges of their available space and cook thin. At the right temperature (325°F to 350°F), eggs on a non-stick griddle with a small amount of butter or oil cook perfectly in 2 to 3 minutes without an egg ring, the surface tension holds the egg roughly together. The egg ring produces the perfect round shape for sandwiches.

350°F is the standard recommendation for pancakes. At 350°F: the batter sets and the bottom browns in approximately 2 minutes per side. Above 375°F: the exterior browns too quickly and the interior is undercooked. The pancake is ready to flip when bubbles form across the full surface and the edges appear set (no longer shiny wet batter at the perimeter). Preheat the griddle fully before adding batter, adding batter to a partially heated griddle produces pale, undercooked pancakes.