Griddle vs. Grill: When to Use Each for Maximum Flavor

Unsure of whether to use a griddle or a grill for your next outdoor barbeque?

There are dozens of foods you can cook on both a griddle and a grill, but some taste better depending on the cooking method.

This article breaks down the difference between grills and griddles to help you decide which one to choose based on your cooking preferences.

Griddle vs. Grill: What Is the Difference?

Griddles and grills serve the same purpose, so they’re often used interchangeably. However, they’re different cooking devices that offer distinct cooking experiences.

Here are the differences between the two:

Surface Structure

First, let’s talk about the most obvious difference between grills and griddles: the surface.

Grills have raised surfaces that create “grill marks” on meat, fish, and vegetables. They’re best for cooking large chunks of meat and fish because the grates allow excess fat and drippings to drain away.

On the other hand, griddles have a flat, heated surface. This makes them ideal for cooking foods that might fall through the grates of a grill, like pancakes, eggs, rice, fajita-style beef and onions, and small vegetables.

Griddles are like oversized frying pans, so you can cook basically anything on them, including steak, hot dogs, chicken, and burgers.

Heat Distribution

Griddles have a smooth, flat surface, so they heat up foods evenly. This makes them perfectly suitable for delicate food items that easily burn over high heat, like fish fillets, grilled cheese sandwiches, eggs, and pancakes.

The same can’t be said for grills.

With their raised grates, grills create zones of varying heat intensity. This might sound like a bad thing (and it is, for some foods), but in practice, it’s what allows for that sought-after caramelization and charring on burgers, steaks, and vegetables.

Cooking Styles

Griddles and grills are suited for different cooking techniques.

Griddles are great for foods that need to be cooked at an even and consistent temperature, like eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

They also shine for double-sided searing of items like steaks and burgers.

This makes them a versatile all-rounder, capable of cooking nearly everything from shrimp fried rice to smash burgers to stir-fry.

On the other hand, grills excel at quick and indirect cooking.

You can sear meat directly over high heat on the grates, then move it to a cooler zone on the grill so it can finish cooking without burning the outside.

Grills also offer the option of smoking food, using low heat and wood chips to infuse meats and veggies with a smoky flavor.

Ease of Use

Griddles are a lot easier to use than grills.

To fire up a traditional charcoal grill, you need to arrange charcoal briquettes, light them, wait for them to heat up, and then adjust the temperature.

With a griddle, you don’t have to worry about all that. You just need to preheat it and you’re ready to start cooking immediately.

Cooking on a griddle is also simpler. Since griddles distribute heat evenly, you don’t need to worry about hot spots or adjusting heat zones like you would on a grill.

Plus, griddles rarely flare up due to their flat surface, reducing the risk of burnt food and, well, burnt you.

And if clean-up is a concern, griddles take the crown on that, too. Their smooth surface is way easier to clean than the grates of a grill.

What Is the Flavor Difference Between a Griddle and a Grill?

Grills impart a deep, smoky flavor to food items, characteristic of outdoor barbeques.

You can enhance this smokiness by using different types of charcoal and wood. For example, hickory adds a robust, bacon-like smokiness, while cherry or apple imparts a sweet, slightly fruity flavor.

Food cooked on a griddle has a mild, almost caramelized flavor.

Griddles retain moisture better than grills, so meats cooked on a griddle typically have a tender and juicier texture. They also benefit from the Maillard reaction, a browning reaction that unlocks the umami flavors of food.

That said, you’ll still have to rely on seasonings and marinades to flavor your food. Without the right seasonings, you may as well be cooking food on a standard non-stick pan.

Which Is Better, the Grill or the Griddle?

There’s no clear-cut answer to this question because it all depends on the food you’re making and the flavor you’re going for, as well as your preferred style of cooking.

If you love the smokey flavor of the grill and don’t mind the extra setup effort, go for a grill.

But if you don’t have the space for a grill, or prefer the all-rounder convenience of the griddle, then the griddle is likely a better investment.

Which Is More Expensive?

Generally, grills tend to be more expensive than a griddle.

Grills are often large and more complex in design, with additional features like built-in temperature gauges, multiple burners, and adjustable grates. The charcoal used in charcoal grills can also be costly, especially if you’re sourcing them from a high-end brand.

Meanwhile, griddles use propane or natural gas, which tends to be more affordable. They also have a simpler construction, consisting of a flat cooking surface and a heat source.