Home & Kitchen
The Best Electric Griddles: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We weighed four countertop electric griddles on heat evenness, surface size, nonstick durability, cleanup and storage to find the ones worth buying.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Cooking surface
- Nonstick surface
- Heat evenness
- Storage & handling
- Cleanup
- Best use
A good countertop electric griddle turns pancakes, bacon, grilled cheese and smash burgers into a one-surface job with no stovetop hot spots to fight. We synthesized independent testing and a large pool of owner reports to compare four current models across the price range. Two earn a clear buy, one is a fine pick for the right kitchen, and one we would pass on.
The most even, most consistent griddle here — you pay for it, but the results show up on every batch.
Best for: Cooks who make griddle food often and want every pancake the same shade of golden.
- Independent testing repeatedly ranks its edge-to-edge heat evenness among the best in class
- Titanium- and ceramic-enhanced triple-layer nonstick releases food cleanly and wears well
- Body and cooking plate are fully immersible once the temperature control is removed
- Costs several times more than the mainstream options
- Cooking surface is medium-large, not the biggest on this list
The value pick: a huge PFAS-free ceramic surface that still tucks into a cabinet.
Best for: Families and batch cookers who want the most surface for the least money.
- Roughly 250 square inches of cooking space — the largest surface in this comparison
- PFAS-free ceramic nonstick, and independent testing measured consistent, accurate heat
- Handles pop off so the cast-aluminum base slides into a standard cabinet; slide-out drip tray
- Big footprint needs counter space during use
- Ceramic surfaces reward gentle utensils and hand washing over time
A dependable, cheaper classic — but you trade down on surface, coating and storage.
Best for: Small households that want a no-frills griddle and do not need the largest surface.
- Cool-touch handles and a stable base make it easy to move and serve from
- Fully immersible once the control is detached, with a drip tray for grease
- Among the least expensive ways into a trusted griddle brand
- Traditional PTFE nonstick rather than the newer ceramic coating
- Smaller cooking area and fixed handles, so it does not store as compactly as the 07061
Roomy and cheap, but owner reports on heat evenness and the drip tray hold it back.
Best for: Occasional users on the tightest budget who can live with the quirks.
- Large 20 by 11 inch surface feeds a family
- Removable cooking plate and immersible base make cleanup straightforward
- Adjustable temperature up to a searing setting
- Owners frequently report the drip tray fits loosely, falls out and can crack
- Heat evenness is only middling, with warmer and cooler zones noted across the plate
| Criteria | Zojirushi EA-DCC10 Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle | Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle with Removable Handles Top pick | Presto 07047 Cool Touch Electric Griddle | BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family-Sized Electric Griddle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Cooks who make griddle food often and want every pancake the same shade of golden. | Families and batch cookers who want the most surface for the least money. | Small households that want a no-frills griddle and do not need the largest surface. | Occasional users on the tightest budget who can live with the quirks. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget | $ · budget |
| Cooking surface | ~19 x 12.5 in (medium-large) | 22 in / ~250 sq in (largest) | ~16 x 11 in (compact-medium) | 20 x 11 in (large) |
| Nonstick surface | Titanium + ceramic triple-layer | Ceramic, PFAS-free | Traditional PTFE nonstick | PTFE nonstick, removable plate |
| Heat evenness | Excellent — among the most even tested | Very good, accurate dial | Fair — fine for breakfast | Middling — hot and cool zones reported |
| Storage & handling | Cool handles, immersible body | Removable handles fit a cabinet | Fixed cool-touch handles | Removable plate, fixed base |
| Cleanup | Fully immersible off the control | Immersible, slide-out drip tray | Immersible, drip tray | Immersible; drip tray reported flimsy |
| Best use | Even, low-fuss everyday cooking | Feeding a crowd / big batches | Small-household basics | Budget family batches |
| Owner sentiment | Consistently high | Consistently high | Solid for the price | Mixed — drip tray complaints |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget | $ · budget |
Which one is right for you?
- Cooks who make griddle food often and want every pancake the same shade of golden. Buy it Zojirushi EA-DCC10 Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle
- Families and batch cookers who want the most surface for the least money. Buy it Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle with Removable Handles
- Small households that want a no-frills griddle and do not need the largest surface. It depends Presto 07047 Cool Touch Electric Griddle
- Occasional users on the tightest budget who can live with the quirks. Skip it BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family-Sized Electric Griddle
How we judged the field
We did not run our own lab. Instead we synthesized independent testing and a large pool of owner reports, then weighed the factors that actually decide whether a griddle earns its counter space: heat evenness across the whole plate, usable cooking area, the durability and safety of the nonstick surface, how easy the unit is to clean, and how it stores when you are done. Price sanity-checks every result — a griddle only earns a buy if it beats cheaper rivals in ways you will notice. Where we cite performance, it reflects what reviewers report and what independent testing found, not first-hand measurements of our own.
Zojirushi EA-DCC10 Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle — buy
This is the performance benchmark. Independent testing repeatedly places its heat evenness among the best of any countertop griddle, and owners echo it: batches of pancakes or bacon come out uniformly rather than scorched in the middle and pale at the edges. The titanium- and ceramic-enhanced triple-layer nonstick releases food cleanly and holds up to regular use, and both the body and the cooking plate are fully immersible once you pull the temperature control. The catch is the price, which runs several times that of the mainstream picks, and a cooking surface that is generous but not the largest here. If you cook griddle food often and want the most consistent results, it is worth it.
Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle with Removable Handles — buy
The 07061 is the one most households should buy. Its roughly 250-square-inch surface is the biggest in this comparison, so it genuinely feeds a crowd, and independent testing found its heat both consistent and accurate to the dial. The ceramic nonstick is PFAS-free, and the standout trick is the removable handles: pop them off and the cast-aluminum base slides into a standard cabinet, which solves the storage headache that plagues big griddles. A slide-out drip tray keeps cleanup simple. It asks for real counter space while running and, like any ceramic surface, rewards gentle utensils — small trade-offs for this much griddle at this price.
Presto 07047 Cool Touch Electric Griddle — it depends
The Cool Touch is the honest budget classic. It is dependable, easy to move thanks to cool-touch handles, fully immersible once the control is off, and among the cheapest ways into a trusted griddle brand. But it trades down in three ways that matter next to the 07061: it uses traditional PTFE nonstick rather than the newer ceramic coating, its cooking area is smaller, and its handles are fixed, so it does not store as compactly. For a small household that wants a straightforward griddle and does not need the largest surface, it is a reasonable pick; for only a little more, most people will be happier with the 07061.
BLACK+DECKER GD2011B Family-Sized Electric Griddle — skip
On paper the GD2011B is appealing: a large 20-by-11-inch surface, a removable cooking plate, an immersible base and a temperature dial that climbs to a searing setting. In practice, owner reports drag it down. The most common complaint is a drip tray that fits loosely, slides out during handling and can crack, and reviewers also note only middling heat evenness with warmer and cooler zones across the plate. None of that is disqualifying if you cook occasionally and want the lowest price, but the other griddles here do more, more reliably, for not much more money.
Presto 07061 vs Zojirushi EA-DCC10: which should you buy?
This is the real decision for most shoppers. The Zojirushi wins on pure performance: its edge-to-edge heat evenness is, by independent testing, about as good as countertop griddles get, and its coating is built to last. The Presto 07061 wins on value and practicality: a noticeably larger surface, PFAS-free ceramic nonstick, accurate heat and removable handles that let it disappear into a cabinet — for a fraction of the Zojirushi’s price. Buy the Zojirushi if even browning on every batch is worth a premium and a slightly smaller plate. Buy the Presto 07061 if you want the most capable all-rounder without overpaying, which is why it is our overall pick.
What to look for
- Heat evenness: the single biggest quality difference between griddles; look for consistent browning corner to corner.
- Usable surface area: around 160 to 200 square inches suits two people; 20 inches or more of length suits families and batch cooking.
- Nonstick type: ceramic (often marketed PFAS-free) versus traditional PTFE — both work; treat either gently to make it last.
- Immersible base and drip tray: removable temperature controls let you wash the whole unit; a secure drip tray makes grease cleanup painless.
- Storage: removable or folding handles decide whether a big griddle fits in your cabinet or lives on the counter.
- Cool-touch handles and stable feet: small things that make the griddle safer to move and serve from.
Our final take
For most kitchens, the Presto 07061 is the griddle to buy: the largest surface here, consistent heat, a PFAS-free ceramic coating and removable handles that solve storage, all at a modest price. Step up to the Zojirushi EA-DCC10 if you cook griddle food constantly and want the most even results money can buy. The Presto 07047 Cool Touch is a fair, cheaper fallback for small households, while the BLACK+DECKER GD2011B is the one we would skip until its drip tray and heat consistency catch up to the competition.
Questions, answered
Ceramic or traditional nonstick — which should I get?
Both release food well when new. Ceramic coatings, like the one on the Presto 07061 and the Zojirushi, are marketed as PFAS-free and tend to feel slicker out of the box; traditional PTFE nonstick, as on the Presto 07047, is proven and inexpensive. Whichever you choose, low-to-medium heat, soft utensils and hand washing extend the coating's life.
How big a griddle do I actually need?
For two people, a compact surface around 160 to 200 square inches is plenty. For a family or batch cooking, look for 20 inches or more of length — the Presto 07061 leads here at about 250 square inches, and the BLACK+DECKER is also generous. Remember the unit needs that much clear counter space while it runs.
Are these electric griddles easy to clean?
All four are designed to be immersed in water once the removable temperature control probe is detached, which makes them far easier to clean than a built-in cooktop. Most include a drip tray for grease; on the BLACK+DECKER, owners report the tray fits loosely, so handle it carefully.
Why is the Zojirushi so much more expensive than the others?
You are largely paying for heat evenness and coating quality. Independent testing consistently places the Zojirushi's edge-to-edge temperature consistency at or near the top, and its titanium- and ceramic-enhanced surface is built to last. Whether that is worth the premium depends on how often you cook and how much even browning matters to you.
Can I make more than pancakes on an electric griddle?
Yes. A flat electric griddle handles eggs, bacon, hash browns, French toast, grilled cheese, quesadillas, smash burgers and stir-fried vegetables. Higher temperature settings let you get a real sear; lower settings hold food warm. The large, even surfaces here are what make cooking several items at once practical.
