6 Best Flat-Top Grills of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Tested by Kamron Sanders

With the growing popularity of outdoor griddles, it has never been easier to channel your inner hibachi chef, sizzle up a batch of smash burgers or make a breakfast spread for the whole family. But with so many flat-top grills on the market, it can be difficult to make sense of the wildly different price points, sizes and advertised features without hands-on experience.

Griddles have been around in one form or another for years, but the Blackstone brand helped bring outdoor griddles into the mainstream, and they've since become nearly as common in backyards as traditional grills. Brands like Weber, Traeger, Char-Griller, Solo Stove and others have followed with their own outdoor griddle models, giving shoppers more options than ever.

To separate the standouts from the rest, we put 14 flat-top grills to the test. Below, you'll find the models that impressed us most, along with the ones that fell short.

How We Tested

To find the best flat-top grills, we started by researching models from popular brands like Blackstone, Weber, Char-Griller, Traeger, Solo Stove and more, looking for options that varied in size, price, features and overall design. We settled on 14 models, then put each one through a series of hands-on tests.

Setup and Assembly: Each griddle arrived unassembled, so we started by putting them together according to the manufacturer's instructions. We noted how long assembly took, how thorough and easy the instructions were to follow, and whether we ran into any quality issues or other hiccups along the way.

Seasoning: Many of the flat-top grills we tested required seasoning before use, which generally involved heating the griddle until very hot, then applying a thin layer of cooking oil. Once the oil stopped smoking, we repeated the process as directed. We followed each manufacturer's specific seasoning instructions, including the recommended number of coats, and noted whether any models came pre-seasoned, which helped cut down on prep time. During this test, we measured each griddle with an infrared thermometer and noted how hot each surface got after 10 minutes of preheating.

Smash Burger Test: Once the griddles were ready to cook on, we broke them in with a round of smash burgers. We cooked several burgers across different parts of the cooking surface, noting how quickly they developed that signature crust and how well each griddle maintained heat once the food hit the surface. We also looked for obvious cold spots or noticeable drops in temperature.

Breakfast Test: To evaluate multi-zone cooking, we prepared a full breakfast spread of bacon, pancakes and eggs. This test showed how well each griddle could handle foods that require different temperatures at the same time, while also giving us a better sense of cooking-space practicality and temperature control. We noted how the more delicate foods performed, noting whether the eggs or pancakes stuck to the cooking surface, cooked unevenly or were prone to burning.

Grease Management: Grease comes with the territory when cooking on a flat-top grill, so we paid close attention to how well each model handled it. Every griddle we tested featured a grease drain leading to a removable grease cup. During the bacon and smash burger tests, we noted how effectively grease moved off the cooking surface, how practical the drain placement was, and whether the grease cup was adequately sized and easy to remove and clean.

Overall Performance: Throughout testing, we evaluated each flat-top grill's overall performance and ease of use. That included how well features like lids, wheels, shelves and wind guards functioned, as well as the general cooking experience, temperature control and build quality.

Once testing was complete, we followed each manufacturer's instructions for cleanup and re-seasoning. The process was generally similar from one model to the next, but we noted anything that made a particular griddle noticeably easier or more cumbersome to maintain.

Our Top Flat-Top Grill Reviews

What To Consider When Buying a Flat-Top Grill

Size and Number of Burners: One of the most important considerations when choosing a griddle is its size, specifically the cooktop. This is typically advertised in inches (width) and square inches (total cooking surface area). At the risk of oversimplifying things, we recommend buying a bigger griddle than you think you need, as the cooking surface fills up faster than you think, especially when you attempt to cook multiple foods at once.

On the note of cooking multiple foods at once, the number of burners controls how consistently hot your griddle can be while letting you cook at different temperatures across the cooking surface. However, this is also an oversimplification, as the cooktop's underside design and the burners themselves will affect it.

Cooktop Material: The cooktop material affects everything from the cooking experience to upkeep and the griddle's longevity. Most outdoor flat-top grills use some form of carbon or rolled steel, which heats quickly, develops a naturally nonstick surface when properly seasoned and is great for high-heat cooking. However, it requires regular seasoning and should be kept dry to prevent rust. Stainless-steel cooktops generally require less maintenance and resist corrosion, though they can behave differently when it comes to sticking and heat retention. Some models use ceramic or other nonstick coatings, which can make cooking and cleanup easier, but may require more care to avoid scratching or damaging the surface.

Features and Accessories: Lids, hoods, wheels, folding legs, shelves and storage are among the many features you can find on outdoor griddles. While not all of them are essential, we found ourselves gravitating toward models with sturdy attached hoods, strong locking wheels, and ample prep and storage space. If you plan to move your griddle often, portability features like folding legs and large wheels may matter more, while a permanent backyard setup benefits from generous shelving and an easy-to-use hood.

Portability: If you plan to take your griddle camping, tailgating or on other adventures, portability should be high on your list. Just keep in mind that one brand's idea of "portable" may be very different from another's. For larger griddles, look for features like locking lids, easy-to-use folding legs and large wheels that make transport and setup easier. For tabletop models, pay especially close attention to the overall dimensions and weight, since even a compact griddle can be surprisingly cumbersome to carry.

Care and Maintenance: No matter which model you choose, proper cleaning and maintenance are key to keeping your griddle in good shape for years to come. While the basic process is similar across most brands, the cooktop material will determine how much upkeep is required after each cook. Carbon-steel surfaces typically need to stay dry and be re-seasoned periodically, while stainless-steel and coated cooktops may require different cleaning methods and less frequent seasoning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a flat-top grill and a traditional grill?

A flat-top grill uses a solid, griddle-style cooking surface instead of open grates. Food cooks entirely on the hot metal surface, so there's no direct contact with the flame and grease doesn't drip straight down between grates. That makes flat-top grills especially well-suited to foods like smash burgers, eggs, pancakes, vegetables and other ingredients that would be difficult to cook on a traditional grill.

Do I need to season my outdoor griddle before I use it?

It depends on the cooktop material and the manufacturer's instructions. Many carbon-steel griddles require an initial seasoning before cooking, while others arrive pre-seasoned. Manufacturers may recommend applying a light coat of oil after use to help protect the surface, but that isn't always the same as performing a full seasoning process. Some materials, including certain stainless-steel and coated cooktops, may not require seasoning at all.

How do you season a griddle?

Seasoning typically involves preheating the griddle, applying a very thin layer of oil and allowing it to heat until the oil stops smoking. The process is then repeated several times to build up a protective, increasingly nonstick layer on the cooking surface. Exact instructions vary by manufacturer, so always follow the directions for your specific griddle.

How do you clean and maintain an outdoor griddle?

Most griddles, especially carbon-steel models, are relatively easy to clean. While the cooking surface is still warm, scrape grease and food debris toward the grease drain, using a small amount of water if needed to loosen stubborn residue. Once the surface is clean, dry it thoroughly and apply a light coating of oil if recommended by the manufacturer.

Do outdoor griddles rust?

They can. Carbon-steel cooktops and other exposed metal components are susceptible to rust if they're left wet or exposed to moisture for long periods. Thorough drying, proper seasoning and storing the griddle under a cover or in a protected location can go a long way toward preventing corrosion.

Can you leave a griddle outside year-round?

Many outdoor griddles are designed to stay outside, but they last longer with some protection from the elements. Keep the cooktop clean and dry, use a fitted cover and, when possible, store the griddle in a sheltered area. For long-term or winter storage, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific model.

Other Flat-Top Grills We Tested

While we loved the design of the Solo Stove Steelfire, we found a few flaws that were hard to overlook at its $1,200 price point. The stainless-steel cooktop was wonderful to cook on, delivering excellent searing for smash burgers and gentle control for eggs. However, it was fairly labor-intensive to clean and remained discolored even after prolonged scrubbing. We also preferred traditional rectangular griddles to its oval cooktop, particularly when scraping away food residue or cooking multiple foods at once.

The Nexgrill Daytona seemed promising for its size and price point and included several features we liked, including an integrated paper towel holder and dual grease drains. Unfortunately, it had some of the most noticeable cold spots of any griddle we tested, with the entire front edge running more than 100 degrees cooler than the center. And while the dual grease drains worked well, they also took up a considerable amount of usable cooking space.

We loved cooking on the Weber Slate 22-Inch Tabletop Griddle, but it was extremely heavy and bulky for a tabletop model, which somewhat defeated the purpose for us. If you don't plan to move it often, it's still a solid option, though we also found it a little pricey for its size.

The Cuisinart Portable Electric Griddle performed reasonably well for an electric model, but it couldn't match the propane griddles we tested in terms of cooking results or overall experience. We also felt a price above $200 was hard to justify given its size and build quality. That said, if you need an electric griddle or want a model that works indoors and out, it's a perfectly suitable option.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

This article was written and tested by Kamron Sanders, a freelance home improvement writer and professional product tester with experience as a cheesemonger and barista, and an ongoing passion for smoking BBQ and perfecting homemade pizza. For this list of best flat-top grills, he tested 14 models from online retailers like Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart and Ace Hardware, exploring products ranging in size, price, accessories, design, features and more. He evaluated each griddle for ease of use, durability, quality, functionality, usefulness and design, as well as price point and overall value, noting his likes and dislikes to determine the overall winners we think you'll love.

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