Have you ever been tempted to explore the world of grilling with flat top grills taking center stage? If you haven’t, I urge you to spare some time, purchase the one that you could afford, and experience cooking innovation, first-hand. A flat-top grill, or as we know it, doesn’t come with the fancy lids and covers but cuts right to the chase with its efficient cooking capabilities.
Here in this post, We have posted the top 10 best flat top grills of 2021, While we shall take up each attribute and explain at length in a subsequent buying guide, you must keep an eye on some of the primary attributes to get the buying process started. The best flat top grills often have grills and griddles, paired as one.
Plus, size is often a cause for concern as you wouldn’t want to settle for a flat top grill with a smaller cooking surface if you are upbeat for parties and large gatherings. Besides, most flat-top grills are fueled by propane gas, which makes it all that important for you to ascertain heat distribution and BTUs.
Finally, if you are looking for an all-inclusive flat top grill, try getting one with foldable shelves, additional storage space, a grease pan, and hooks to fit in accessories.
Here is Our top pick based on quality, price, and durability
Blackstone 36" Propane Gas Griddle
From personal experience, I would recommend the Blackstone 36-inch as the flat top grill of choice. Essentially a 4-burner flat top grill, this product is a tad bigger than the Blackstone 28-inch grill, which is still a reliable option. As far as exclusive features are concerned, it boasts 720 square inches of the cooking area followed by an integrated griddle top, heat resistant handle, and durable caster wheels.
Coming back to the traits of a flat top grill, it is advisable to opt for products that boast even heat distribution, a large cooking area, and a powder-coated surface that doesn’t run as quickly.
Here Are The 10 Best Flat Top Grills Reviews
Now that I have set a premise, I shall now enlist 10 of the best flat-top grills available on the market. I have put together a list after interviewing close to 30 indoor and outdoor BBQ and grilling fanatics whilst testing close to 50 small and large-size grills.
However, if you do not want to jump right into the selections, you can always head down to the buying guide to understand more about the flat top grills. You can always come back up and select from the list of options, as you see fit.
1. Blackstone 36 inch - Best Overall Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill
In the market for a full-fledged, compact grill! Consider the Blackstone 36-inch flat top grill for its restaurant-style experience, incremental performances, heat resistant holders, and an otherwise detailed specs sheet.
Coming to the innovative features, the Blackstone 28-inch and even the 36-inch grills come with heat zones that can be adjusted at will. You get access to a side-shelf for cooking the food warmer for a longer time. Plus, the cutting board is worth investing in as it allows you to cut and cook veggies, at once.
The cooktop associated with this flat top grill is good enough and comprises 4 burners and 720 square inches of area. Plus, the ignition is as quick as it can get, best suited for restaurant-inspired cooking.
Other reliable and relevant features include the ingenious grease management setup followed by the inclusion of trash bag hooks, durable plastic handles that can tolerate heat, and four strong caster wheels for improved portability.
If you are on the lookout for an easy-to-assemble, propane grill with support for griddle customizations, it is better to invest in the Blackstone 36-inch flat top grill.
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2. Blackstone 28 inch - Best with 2 Burners
Following up the 36-inch variant from Blackstone is the 28-inch best flat top grill that is a good choice for smaller families. While it boasts all the characteristics of the previously mentioned gas grill, it simply stacks in everything in a smaller form factor.
For starters, this best flat top grill features 470 square inches of cooking space, followed by its accommodative nature towards flat top griddle and BBQ setup. As far as the heat zones are concerned, the high heat distribution capacity of 15,000BTUs is good enough for cooking food evenly.
Plus, there is a 20-pound propane tank to consider, which ensures that you never run short of fuel. Coming to the ignition, you get access to a battery-powered setup, which makes the most sense for outdoor cooking.
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3. Camp Chef Flat Top Grill- Best Pre-Seasoned Grill
The Camp Chef Flat Top Grill is the best flat top grill on the list if you are interested in a griddle and grill set up with an overall area of almost 604 square inches. This stainless steel flat top grill is best kept outdoors and even comes with a 1-year warranty on parts.
Coming to the features, this is the perfect outdoor flat top grill to feed people faster than usual. Therefore, if you are a party animal, this grill should be one of your deck or patio inclusions.
As far as standard features are concerned, you get access to a pre-seasoned surface with four stainless steel cooktop burners leading the way. Not to mention the matchless system that ensures faster ignition and even allows you to operate the grill faster than other options in the market.
Finally, this is one of the best flat-top grills to cook food, regardless of nature and even with the ability to pair griddles along.
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4. Pit Boss Flat Top Grill- Best in terms of Cooking Surface
The flat top grill from Pit Boss readily justifies its position on the list courtesy of the stainless steel made cooking surface. The stainless steel surface also boasts cast iron accents for added durability.
This flat top grill offers a cumulative cooking area of 750 square inches, followed by the availability of 5 burners and an equivalent heating capacity of 62,000 BTUs. Not to mention the availability of the push-ignition support, with each burner featuring one.
In addition to these specifications, this flat top grill also makes room for foldable side shelves, clubbed with roomy storage and a large grease pan. The stainless steel burners heat up immediately and ensure the best cooking performances, despite this not being a pre-seasoned flat top grill.
Finally, the caster wheels are pretty mobile and durable and allow you to move the 130-pound product around, without breaking a sweat.
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5. Royal Gourmet 8-Burner- Best for Commercial Cooking
The Royal Gourmet 8-burner flat top grill wins every competition when cooking surfaces are to be evaluated. Best suited for commercial vendors and restaurants, this is an insanely designed grill with the 8-burner setup making life easy for the chefs.
When it comes to the cooking surface, 950 square inches is more than adequate. This means, you can cook almost 60 burgers at once. The structure is rust-resistant to say the least with porcelain-coated grates coming in as reliable inclusions.
However, I was most excited about the dual regulator support, which seems appropriate considering the size of this propane gas grill. The gas distribution is even and what follows is the strategic usage of two durable side shelves, which can be folded, if needed.
The Royal Gourmet 8-burner flat top grill is a tad hard to move around but the caster wheels still offer some mobility. Finally, the matchless ignition is an exceptional resource to have, which reduces the cooking time significantly.
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6. Razor Griddle: Best with Gas Griddle
The Razor Griddle is meant for users who are invested in griddle cooking and prefer flat top griddle paired along with the grill. This gas griddle offers 730 square inches of cooking area followed by an overall cooking capacity of 62,000 BTUs. While this entails uniform heat management and even cooking, it also offers reliable family cooking capacity.
As far as the structural facets are concerned, the Razor flat top griddle comes equipped with a push ignition system, which makes the griddle cooking easier than ever. In addition to that, you also get access to a bottom-shelf for additional storage followed by side shelves, which can double up as usable gas grills, in case you want to cook pancakes, eggs, and breads.
Retailed as a flat griddle, this product also features a secure clasp and two lockable caster wheels for making outdoor usage easier.
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7. Cuisinart CGG-306: Best for Outdoor Cooking
The CGG-306 from Cuisinart is one of the more portable flat top grills on the market, featuring a decent enough cooking area of almost 276 square inches. Plus, there are two burners in play, putting together almost 20,000 BTUs of cooking capacity.
The Cuisinart CGG-306 is a good gas grill if you want to cook for a small family. Plus, the lightweight form factor allows you to cook food outdoors. The outdoor compatibility is complemented further by the folding legs, locking cover, and a handle that allows you to carry the grill around as a briefcase.
This grill also comes equipped with an integrated thermometer, which can monitor the cook temperature, rather perfectly. Also, if you are into searing, baking, and roasting your food, this grill is expected to serve you well.
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8. Evo Professional: Best Design
The Evo Professional flat top grill excels if you are more into the design-specific bells and whistles. While the cooking performances concerning the food are more than expected, it is the aesthetic presence that makes quite an impression, with the integrated grill master and two circular burners leading the way.
As for the cooking surface, you get over 700 sq. inches of space, paired perfectly with the likes of efficient grease management, heat management, and matchless ignition. The steel flat top surface area is circular, which is innovative enough and accommodates more food.
Finally, there is a steel lid to let you warm, smoke, and even steam cooks, if and when necessary whereas the adjustable vent ensures that the steam is exhausted periodically. Despite the higher price point, the Evo Professional Grill is worth investing in, courtesy of the avant-garde construction.
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9. Cuisinart CGG-888: Best Value
Here is yet another circular grill on the list, boasting of a slimmer profile and exceptional heat management capabilities. While there are several great things about the Cuisinart CGG-888, it is the ease of usage and setup that makes me loyal to this product.
The Cuisinart CGG-888 is a lot more than a standard grill. Instead it is a gas griddle grill that lets you experience the best of both worlds. While the grill grates let you cook fibrous chunks of meat, the integrated griddle is good enough for softer food items that might get stoked on grates.
In addition to the 22-inch circular cooking surface, what stands out is the 360-degree collector, which is of great help when it comes to keep the grill grates clean. The 360-degree pan sits perfectly underneath the 22-inch diameter, thereby ensuring that the drippings and even the grease are collected uniformly.
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10. Blackstone 1819: Best Combo
This Griddle-Grill combo from Blackstone deserves a place on the list. To be honest, this product lets you cook soft and fibrous food portions with equal aplomb with the griddle adhering burner ensuring even heat management.
From a structural perspective, the grill is lined by cast iron undertones, which further the durability of the same. Also, the griddle side of the product is precisely effective for cooking fish and pancakes. The grates, on the other hand, lend the BBQ feel to the same.
Overall, this product from Blackstone is not just a trusted name but a quality addition to your home cooking setup, if you want to experience the perks of a standard flat top grill and an integrated griddle, all at once.
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Editor verdict
As you are investing your tough-earned money, you should purchase the best product from the rest. After considering all the pros and cons, Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Grill appears to be the best. This griddle features ample specifications.
While you can take a pick as per your preferences and requirements, you can always rely blindly on the Blackstone grills if you are unsure about others.
Furthermore, only this griddle station features a trash bag and a paper towel holder. Else, the two mentioned cons are negligible. If you handle with care, then this grill will last for years. Checkout the best oil to use while cooking on flat top grill.
Steps to choose the flat top grill that fits your budget [User Buying Guide]
Let’s chalk out the different types of top grills first...
Getting a flat top grill that justifies the price tag and is in sync with each of your requirements can be slightly overwhelming. But not if you know what to look for!
Here are features and the extent of each that need to be ascertained before taking a closer look at the products and making an opportune purchase.
1. Cooking Area
It is expected of the best flat-top grills to offer at least 300 square inches of cooking space. While this seems like a lower limit, most products with a griddle and grill integrated as one can even proffer something close to an 800-square inch surface or even more.
Also, before you consider investing in a flat-top grill as per its cooking area, you need to understand that even a smaller space is good enough as with flat-top grills, the heat distribution is circular and even. Therefore, as the steel used in constructing the grill is heavier as compared to a standard girdle, a 600-square inch grill would be more than enough to cook for 100 people, each hour.
Finally, the cooking surface pertaining to a flat top grill isn’t laden with grates and it becomes easier to look at almost anything consumable on it, without worrying about the batter seeping through.
2. Seasoned or Not!
Here is an important consideration that most first-time grill buyers fail to ascertain. If you want to minimize the role of maintenance, it is better to opt for a pre-seasoned grill that already has a layer of oil adhering to the surface. Also, once you start cooking, the grill surface starts getting better or rather seasoned, which then imparts flavors better.
3. Power
If you plan on purchasing a flat top grill, you must choose between variants powered by gas and electricity. Also, if you are more inclined towards gas-run variants, grills run on propane and natural gas are the more common choices. You can always opt for electrical grills but gas-run variants heat up faster.
4. Versatility
While a flat top grill is a reliable investment, you might want to consider additional features, including ones with BBQ support, large grease pans, and even integrated griddles for a holistic cooking experience.
5. Mobility
Your choice of the grill should depend on how you plan on using the same. While bigger grills are preferred for home cooking, you might want to invest in portable options with caster wheels for tailgating and busting the grills out on outings.
FAQ
1. What is a griddle?
A griddle is a plane smooth surface to cook delicious food items. This is commonly used for preparing breakfast, meals, and dinners. Here you can cook several items at the same time. A griddle is perfect for preparing bacon, steak, grilled chicken thighs, eggs, and French toasts. Else, it is also used to cook quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more.
2. What is the difference between a griddle and a grill?
The grills feature rods in between that directly receive the heat from the flames in the bottom. The food is meant to keep over the rods, and the direct heat will cook it for you. On the other hand, a griddle speaks of a plain cooking surface. The griddle receives less temperature than the grills.
3. What are the best flat top griddles?
The best flat top griddles are the ones that have a larger space to manage almost any item that can be cooked. Plus, it is important for the gas griddle to have an integrated thermometer as it would then allow you to manage heat better, without overcooking them.
4. Are flat top grills good?
Yes, flat top grills are exceedingly useful as they are your best options for healthy cooking. Flat top grills can readily weed out the excessive fat and unhealthy oil from meat, therefore ensuring salubrious cooking.
5. Is Nexgrill or Blackstone better?
I prefer Blackstone over Nexgrill as the former offers better grilling choices and even lets you pick a griddle-grill combo, if required.