Griddles and skillets are two universal types of cookware that allow you to throw some steaks on a grill and fry up your favorite food with ease. However, choosing between a skillet or griddle can be a tricky one.
Before making a choice, there are several options to consider, like your personal cooking style, type of stovetop, how often you cook, and lots more. On top of that, there are many options to pick from, which makes it even more challenging to make a choice.
Let’s take a quick look at the difference and similarities between griddle and skillet.
Griddle
What I Like
Cast iron reversible griddle offers a rigid or flat surface, which will always come in handy. This kitchen utensil features an angled grease slope to minimize the fat content of food items like bacon, making them suitable for maintaining a low-fat diet.
The griddles can be used virtually anywhere from your home stove to the beautiful outdoor campfire and over your back porch grill grates. This kitchen utensil allows you to cook eggs, pancakes, and hash browns at once.
It helps grill steaks, chicken, veggies, or even shrimps; fry ham or bacon; prepare breakfast foods; charbroil steaks and burgers, stir-fry veggies, rice meat; toast sandwiches and flash fry thinly sliced vegetables and meat.
What I don’t Like
Griddles have a large surface area, which might pose some storage issues. Also, they do not leave sear marks on your food. More importantly, they can be challenging to use on a small stove and struggle to attain higher temperatures.
Skillet
What I Like
Just like griddles, cast iron skillets are compatible with cooking methods. They can be used on the stove like the regular frying pans, over the campfire, or slide in your oven.
While most skillets are made from cast iron, there are other options: copper, ceramic, aluminum, and steel.
These essential kitchen utensils are suitable for several tasks, from searing to sauteing and shallow frying. Some models also feature a nonstick coating to ensure quick food release, minute oil requirement, and easy cleaning experience. Another thing I love about skillet is its incredible portability and different shape availability.
What I don’t Like
Skillets are small-sized cookware that can only accommodate a small amount of food. With this utensil, smoking can be challenging, and attaining a higher temperature is nearly impossible. Only a few skillets leave sear marks on your foods, as most options out there do not.
Reviews of Consumer Reports Best Griddle America’s Test Kitchen
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle
Our top pick from Lodge offers a generous amount of cooking area, enough to bake pizzas, cook up eggs, pancakes, warm up tortillas, and toast sandwiches. This model is made of solid cast iron to deliver even heat distribution throughout the pan, including its short sidewalls.
The handle is also made of cast iron, which means it gets very hot and requires a handle holder or oven mitt. The side walls are 0.5-inch deep, making this griddle perfect for preparing food that requires flipping.
Thanks to its reversible design, users can use this model as a griddle or a grill. Aside from what said earlier, this utensil is made of cast iron, which is magnetic and works excellently on your induction stovetop. It can also be used at the campfire, in the oven, or on top of a gas or electric stove.
Presto 07046 Tilt ‘n Drain Big Griddle Cool-Touch Electric Griddle
Our runner-up is Presto 07046 Tilt ‘n Drain Big Griddle Cool-Touch Electric Griddle with a heavy cast aluminum base to offer quick and even heat distribution. More so, it has a superior nonstick surface for stick-free cooking, easy food release, and a hassle-free cleaning experience.
This model comes with a built-in backstop ledge to ensure convenient food handling. It has a Control Master heat control to help maintain your set cooking temperature. Before immersing in this griddle, you must detach it from the heat control system.
Even better, Presto 07046 Tilt ‘n Drain Big Griddle Cool-Touch Electric Griddle features a special Tilt’nDrain feature to allow users to adjust the grilling surface level flat for eggs and tilted for meat.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle With Handles
Another spot, another griddle from Lodge. This model offers excellent heat distribution and retention. It fits two stovetop burners easily. This kitchen utensil features two easy-grip handles to allow users to hang, flip, or lift with ease.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle helps prepare eggs and pancakes or grill steak and chicken. Furthermore, this model comes pre-seasoned and ready to use for a natural, easy-release finish that improves with use.
This model is suitable for use at home in your oven, on the grill, on the stove, and over the campfire. While this model might not be dishwasher compatible, it’s easy to clean with warm water and mild soap.
Legend Cast Iron Griddle for Gas Stovetop
When it comes to model offering workhorse versatility and lifelong durability, this Legend Cast Iron Griddle for Gas Stovetop is a go-to. This model is made from pure, solid, premium-grade steel and iron for excellent heat distribution.
This kitchen utensil has a smooth, scratch-free finish that sits over two stove burners to prepare several dishes at once. It features a sturdy handle that delivers impressive maneuverability, handling, and storage.
Also, Legend Cast Iron Griddle for Gas Stovetop comes pre-seasoned with 100% vegetable oil and gets better with every use for stress-free food release. The manufacturer boasts of a lifetime warranty with its cast-iron construction.
Sizzle-Q SQ180 100% Stainless Steel Universal Griddle
Next on the list is Sizzle-Q SQ180 100% Stainless Steel Universal Griddle. This model is crafted from 100% stainless steel featuring generous sidewalls, ample griddle surface area, and a full-width grease well.
This cooking utensil has a patented vented cross-brace system to offer even heat management. The Sizzle-Q SQ180 100% Stainless Steel Universal Griddle is easy to clean and hassle to cook on and fit almost any gas grill.
Furthermore, this model rocks a patented ventilated construction to deliver even airflow. For the sake of rigidity and strength, Sizzle-Q SQ180 100% Stainless Steel Universal Griddle sports underside cross-bracing. Also, it features 14-gauge stainless steel construction. On top of that, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty to protect your investment and assure buyers of the high-quality griddle.
Reviews of Consumer Reports Best Skillet America’s Test Kitchen
Lodge Skillet, Dual Handle Pan
The Lodge Skillet, Dual Handle Pan is a 10.25-inch skillet that’s perfect for everyday cooking, from preparing breakfast foods like pancakes to roasted chicken and turkey for dinners.
This cast iron model offers unparalleled heat retention and uniform heating. This utensil is seasoned with oil to ensure it is ready to use straight out of the box and delivers a natural, easy-release finish that gets better with every use.
Lodge Skillet, Dual Handle Pan, comes in handy for frying, grilling, braising, broiling, baking, sauteing, or searing. Plus, it’s compatible with your oven, stove, campfire, and even your induction cooktops.
This unit has a tempered glass cover, which is sold separately to allow users to monitor whatever you’re cooking with ease. Plus, it isn’t dishwasher safe but easy to hand wash.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 2-Piece Set
By now, you’ve figured out that Lodge is one of the leading brands in this industry. The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Combo Cooker is crafted to do it all. It includes a fryer. A deep skillet, a dutch oven, and a lid that doubles as a griddle or shallow skillet. This combo cooker is a versatile piece that is perfect for both outdoor and indoor kitchens.
If you are looking for the perfect tool to fry, roast, bake, braise, simmer, saute, and sear? The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Combo Cooker is the model to splurge on. With brutally-tough construction, this utensil will serve you for decades.
What’s more? It delivers superior heat retention and even heating to get rid of hot spots. Like any top model reviewed here, this utensil can be used at home in the oven, over the campfire, on the grill, or the stove.
Carote Nonstick Frying Pan Set/Fry Pan Set/Cookware Set
This model is arguably the best skillet set out there. The Carote Nonstick Frying Pan Set has a granite stone nonstick coating to allow users to cook with less oil and fat. Plus, it comes with a bakelite handle featuring an ergonomic design, Anti-scald, and stays cool properties.
This skillet is 5mm thick and suitable for all stoves, including induction. It offers even heat distribution and excellent heat retention. Furthermore, this model is easy to clean by hand and hassle-free to maintain.
Additionally, it’s oven safe up to 350 degrees F. Also, it’s suitable for dishwashers for a convenient cleaning experience. This set includes a 3 piece set including 12 inch, 9.5 inch, and 8-inch pans.
Circulon Radiance Hard-Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan Set
Making our list is Circulon Radiance Hard-Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan Set with heavy-duty hard-anodized construction for fast, even heating and extreme durability. This product has a premium nonstick coating with raised circles that deliver natural food release and clean up snappy.
What’s more: it is metal utensil safe and oven safe up to 400 degrees F for outstanding stove-to-oven performance. This high heat skillet set comes with a double-riveted stainless steel handle with a silicone grip to deliver optimal control and comfort.
Even better, it is dishwasher safe for a more convenient cleaning experience and works well on all cooktops except induction. Besides, Circulon Radiance Hard-Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan Set is backed by a hassle-free lifetime guarantee, which shows the manufacturer’s high-level of confidence in this product.
Conclusion
Purchasing either a skillet or griddle depends mainly on your cooking preference and needs. If not, owning both the griddle and the skillet is not a bad idea.
In this post, the difference between these cookware utensils was discussed in detail based on my personal experience and hopefully helped you pick a side. After deciding which of the utensils to purchase, you should consider our top 5 best griddle and top 4 best skillet options to serve your purpose.
Leave a Reply