Tabletop electric flattops: Are they a thing?

[DaveD]

Hey griddleheads, wanted to draw on your experience. Considering adding some kind of griddle/flattop cooker, and what would work best for me is something that sits on top of the stainless steel work table I have out on my cooker deck:



It's a 6ft/1.8m table with a built-in backsplash and a lower shelf whose vertical position is adjustable using set-screws where the legs slide into the mounting rings. The shelf is 16in/40cm deep. The power outlet is directly beside the end of the table.

Why now? Years ago, long before I started to learn about cooking in earnest as I have since joining AR, I used to make what I thought was pretty decent stir-fry in a wok type pan on the stovetop. My lovely bride was never very enthusiastic about them, and eventually she gently requested that I no longer bother. Fast forward to recent times, and I've had some success with similar styles, such as making fajitas. I've been reheating previously cooked beef via sous vide and mixing it all in late, and after my most recent rendition she requested I give it a shot the old-fashioned way, cooking the meat with the veggies. What's more, she also asked that I resume cooking stir frys, saying that now that I've leveled up this much, she reckons I'd do a lot better at them now

So - suddenly I have a felt need for a flattop, which would be perfect for those kinds of meals, and I expect it would get regular use. However, as you can see in the photo, I don't have footprint space for another full cooker, but I do have that tabletop. Now, I could likely sit a propane cylinder on that lower shelf to drive a gas unit, but avoiding having an unsecured cylinder just sitting there seems like a good idea, and being fundamentally lazy, a one-touch On switch is very appealing.

I've done some prelim searching and I can see that electric units exist, but they're a lot less common than propane rigs. Happy to have comments, snark, and kibbitzing from the collective

[RonB]

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=electric+griddle&crid=MVBIGZXQSSC4&sprefix=electric+g%2Caps%2C129&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_10

[DaveD]

Thanks - those are more like hot plates, I'm looking for something along the lines of a Blackstone E-series 2-burner unit: https://blackstoneproducts.com/produ...ectric-griddle That's the sort of size and form factor you can easily get in a propane unit.

[barelfly]

Not electric, and I don’t know that I’ve seen one because I haven’t looked at those. And you have probably already seen this one with research. But This is what my dad has for his camper trailer, that we also use at the lake. We put on a table we made with leftover Trex boards. It’s perfect, and probably would fit on that steel table of yours. My dad converted the propane to a regular propane line so we can use a regular propane take. The griddle is a tad small for when I cook for the four of us at the lake, but for him and my mom it’s a great cooker!

cook anything on it, easy to clean up and maintain. It’s not the lightest thing to carry or get in and out of his trailer when they are on the road, but for leaving on a tabletop, it’s good.

and - could you find a dual connector to run this off of the same propane tank your Weber is running off of? Takes the unsecured tank out of the equation for you.

https://blackstoneproducts.com/products/22-omnivore-stainless-front-panel-tabletop-griddle

[Uncle Bob]

My small griddle option is similar to the one barelfly posted and it's very suitable for two people size cooks. And I have a cast iron griddle plate from Camp Chef (16x24) that I use on the outdoor 4 burner stove, again, not what you're asking about.

More in line with what you're seeking is this unit I stumbled across today. What I find intriguing is that it is a multi-tasker. AMZCHEF Double Induction Cooktop with Removable Iron Cast Griddle Pan The griddle surface is a tad smallish, but should work for two. I have an induction burner in my outdoor arsenal, and it comes in handy from time to time depending on what's on the menu. Boil noodles for stir fry on another device? Check. Cook up a homemade bbq sauce? Check. Want to do deep frying without having the odors fill the inside of the house? Check. To get some information on usage, here's a YT video by a guy who's low on chef skills, but seems technically competent. LOVE THIS THING! The AMZCHEF Dual induction cooktop with griddle. Full Review! - YouTube Worth a look to broaden your thinking.

[radiodome21]

We have 2 Presto griddles. We keep one at our lake house. My 14 year old son loves it and uses it every weekend. In fact we all do. It can do about 6-8 pancakes at a time and we do use it for eggs too. I’ll take this any day over my Steelmade gas griddle insert. I can use it and clean it in less the time my Steelmade takes to come to temp. YMMV but we only use it for breakfast foods. Never used it for smash burgers, and probably never will.

[N227GB]

I use a Waring induction cooktop on the lanai. I can crank it up to 1800 watts and 500 degrees.

https://www.amazon.com/Waring-Commercial-WIH800-double-Induction/dp/B00C5IJ5AQ?th=1

[58limited]

Drawback: Can't use metal utensils.

https://blackstoneproducts.com/products/22-e-series-electric-griddle

[CaptainMike]

Just get a cast iron pan or griddle for your stovetop.

https://www.lodgecastiron.com/our-favorite-griddles#griddles

[DaveD]

Big motivation is to take the mess outdoors - we have one of those that came with the stove, and it's just not very workable. Makes a HUGE mess every time.

[CaptainMike]

Ah, copy that. I think I misread your OP.

[Oak Smoke]

If you’re interested in such a thing my wife bought a 16 inch Presto electric skillet not long ago. It’s large enough to easily work as a griddle for 2 people and will do so much more. I’ve been amazed at the even heat distribution it has. My old one just heated a circle in the bottom of the pan. It is easy to disassemble to clean also. I’m a cast iron collector and love the stuff but for the most part this is so much simpler and does a good job. If I remember right these are $59.00 on Amazon.

[CaptainMike]

That was my other thought. We had those back in the 60's.

[DaveD]

My lovely bride had one of those when we got together these many years ago... used it until it gave up the ghost! But getting the mess-making outside is a big part of the consideration.

[Mosca]

Electric griddles have been around since the ‘70s, at least. I’ve never owned one, but I have definitely eaten pancakes from one at someone’s house. You won’t do cheesesteaks for a party with it, but they are a useful tool.

Entering “electric griddle” into Amazon as a search term will give you paralysis of choice.

[Mosca]

Quite honestly:

1) Move the gasser about a foot to the right, next to the deck box.
2) Reorient the stainless steel table 90° against the house, next to the gasser. Drop the left shelf of the gasser if you have to.
3) Get a proper griddle and put it where the stainless steel table is now.
4) Enjoy!

ETA: Also, once you put a griddle on top of the table, what would you use for a table? Either rearrange stuff, or replace the table with a proper griddle. There’s no need for the deck box to be on the deck, it could go between the water meter and the steps, reoriented 90°, or on the other side of the water meter.

[DaveD]

Quite honestly:

1) Move the gasser about a foot to the right, next to the deck box.
2) Reorient the stainless steel table 90° against the house, next to the gasser. Drop the left shelf of the gasser if you have to.
3) Get a proper griddle and put it where the stainless steel table is now.
4) Enjoy!

ETA: Also, once you put a griddle on top of the table, what would you use for a table? Either rearrange stuff, or replace the table with a proper griddle. There’s no need for the deck box to be on the deck, it could go between the water meter and the steps, reoriented 90°, or on the other side of the water meter.

Now THIS is some world-class MCS enabling right here! I was wondering who would take that particular cake, I reckon this is it That's the natural gas meter btw, not water. I am loathe to put anything that might impede that access, to be honest.

The table has a lower shelf, and the unit (whether electric or propane) could be stored on there when not in use, and I have a cover for the whole table, so it would be out of the elements. Here's a shot showing everything with covers on:



I really like having my box right there next to the cookers, that's where all the fuel and tools live. I might be able to move it to the other side, next to the SnS, which in turn I could scoot just a bit toward the Pit Boss in the corner to accommodate... I wouldn't want to get rid of that table though, because a) it's very useful and b) I have absolutely noplace else I could put it, would have to give it away or something. Basic principle of rearranging is in the mix for sure though!

EDIT: Sure enough, looks straightforward to move the box over to the other side. That does open up the realm of possibilities considerably...

[DaveD]

Mosca Not sure on 2 vs 3, now that my option space is much larger I'm sort of back to the drawing board - but I was pretty much at the drawing board anyway, was just starting to think about this seriously in response to my lovely bride's encouragement

No Jenga for me, I've designed too many laboratories to just wing it...! But I'm guessing that the space opened up by moving the box and the Weber and then swinging the table around will be pretty ample...

[Mosca]

As long as there’s room: you will never wish you had fewer burners, but you might wish you had more. Even with 3, sometimes I wish I had 4!

[Panhead John]

I have the 2 burner Pit Boss and I’m only cooking for one. It’s always been good enough size wise for me, but there were a few times I wished it was a little bigger.

[SmokeyGator]

I picked up a Blackstone 22 inch 2 burner griddle. Uses propane, you can use the 1 pound cylinders or get the adapter for the 20 pounders. It is perfect for a table top. I think they also make a smaller model.

Added bonus: it is gas. So if there is a hurricane and the power is out guess what I can still do. It is a bit large and heavy to be portable, but you could lug it away from home if you wanted.

I am considering getting a 120 gallon propane tank and a medium size dual fuel inverter generator. Then I can get a transfer switch and if the power quits I can still have cold beer. And bathroom lights. And if the fiber optic internet still works, computer games and memes. Won't be able to run the AC but I could run the blower fan.

[jfmorris]

I am a couple days late to this party, but my recommendation, looking at your deck space, is that if that is a Weber gas grill that Weber now sells a full size griddle insert for, that you consider that before you go electric.

The issue in North America with electrical appliances that plug in is that at most they can be in the 1500W to 1800W range and work on a common 15A residential circuit. It's the same thing that has kept electric grills from being a bigger thing in the US and Canada. Just not enough heat.

You really only need 350F to 450F on the griddle surface, so maybe a plug in portable model can get there, but the table top ones I've seen are pretty small. I would go with a 2 burner 22" Blackstone table top model before I went electric I think. You can get a hose to let it run from a full size 20# propane tank if you don't want to use the 1# propane bottles. I know that Blackstone 22" or even 17" will get plenty of heat.

But back to where I started - if you have a Spirit 3 burner grill made since 2016, a Genesis 3/4 burner made since 2016, or a Summit made since 2024, Weber sells full sized inserts that will let you do double duty with the grill you already have, using either conventional grates or the griddle insert.

https://www.weber.com/US/en/griddle/full-size-griddle-inserts/

I've got a 6 burner Camp Chef griddle that is probably still the biggest backyard griddle out there, and I've NEVER wished I had less griddle space, even when just cooking for 2, as it gives me space to have different zones. I did a recent stir fry for example, and having more griddle space gave me zones to do my chicken in one area, which cooked the longest, my veggies in another area, and finally my fried rice. I ran the zones in this case at all about the same temp, but sometimes will crank one end of the griddle hotter than the other, to have a cooler zone for veggies, or even turn one or two burners off, and move food there as a "warming" area.



My stir fry type cooks come out much better on the griddle than they do in my 14" carbon steel wok, and I believe it has to do with heat on the griddle versus the stove top, and having more area to spread stuff out and let some of the liquid evaporate, and more browning occur. The above stir fry gave dinner for two for two meals, so that we didn't have to cook the next day.

Oh - here's another shill for more space for stir fry.... in the above cook, at the last few minutes I added a bunch of shredded cabbage to my veggies - something I picked up at a local Asian place the wife likes, and while it cooked down, this would not have worked well in my wok... it cooked down and incorporated into the veggies and gave it a little more crunch.

[DaveD]

jfmorris That's good input Jim, thanks!

[tamidw]

Blackstone has an electric 22” flattop. I’ve thought about getting it but don’t need another flattop.

https://blackstoneproducts.com/products/22-e-series-electric-griddle

[DaveD]

Yup, that's the model I mentioned above. Thanks!