It's Time To Elevate Your Grill Game

Happy Friday, backyard heroes! If you have followed any major barbecue brands, you may have noticed that flat-top barbecues are being produced across the board. Griddles are all the rage in outdoor cooking right now, and we’ve been putting in the hard work (and grilling time) to bring you the lowdown on the top models for the summer.

Why are people choosing a flat-top BBQ? A griddle’s smooth, flat surface means no more losing juices or bits of food. It cooks evenly without annoying flare-ups, which makes it perfect for everything. Plus, most models allow you to have complete control over the temperature across the surface. You’re able to cook high-heat food on the left while toasting buns on the right.

The magic of the griddle is that you can cook anything. Cook pancakes and bacon for breakfast, smash burgers for lunch, and Japanese stir fry for dinner, all on the same appliance. The number of recipes you can cook on a griddle is limitless. Eating out has gotten outrageously expensive, so save money by cooking up restaurant-quality food at home. Explore copycat recipes from your favorite chains. Imagine entertaining AND cooking for your friends and family!

Also, many of these griddles/planchas are great for travel. Their compact design fits snugly in your truck bed and rolls out easily at the cottage. The smooth surface makes clean-up a breeze as well, no matter where you are. Rather than having to remove grill grates and scrub interiors, a griddle typically just needs a quick wipe down and you’re back in action.

Already have a BBQ? No worries! You can easily turn your grill into a griddle with no need to purchase another appliance. Many brands offer griddle inserts that you can swap with grill grates to transform your barbecue experience. With no gaps or grates for food to fall into, your barbecue will stay cleaner longer and you’ll notice more cooking space. A large rectangular flat surface allows more space to prepare more food all at once.

At the end of the day, we still love our classic barbecue, but the griddle is revolutionizing the way we cook outdoors. Families and friends won’t gather around your microwave or stove, but they WILL gather around the BBQ. Entertain your group while you feed them - try Hibachi cooking out on your flat top, or surprise them by preparing a recipe from their favorite restaurant. And when everyone is fed and relaxing, spend more time laughing and mingling and less time cleaning - the griddle makes it possible!

By Phylicia Burd