how long to cook pancakes on each side

The 9 Best Pancake Griddles in 2021

Get great pancakes every time with these top-notch griddles

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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong

If pancakes are one of your most beloved breakfast foods, you're not alone—these soft, fluffy morning favorites can be made a hundred different ways to suit anyone's tastebuds. To make them, a griddle is a must; its smooth, expansive surface provides an evenly heated cooktop for turning out stacks of hotcakes and keeping them warm before serving.

But griddles aren't limited to flapjacks. Use them as a restaurant-style flat top to warm toast, scramble eggs, heat tortillas, or cook juicy hamburgers without having to pull out several frying pans at once.

If you think you need to invest in this versatile cooking tool, check out our list of the best pancake griddles to add to your kitchen.

Our Top Picks

This reversible cast iron griddle has a smooth side that's perfect for cooking pancakes and a ridged side for grilling.

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With heat settings from warm to 400 degrees, this nonstick griddle can cook your pancakes, then keep them warm on a buffet.

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A smooth, flat bottom makes this griddle great for electric stoves, and it offers plenty of space for cooking pancakes and more.

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Tri-ply stainless steel with a nonstick cooking surface means this griddle can be used on gas, electric, or induction cooktops.

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The Elite offers more space than the original model, along with more precise controls and two-sided temperature control.

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This round griddle pan is made from durable hard-anodized aluminum and is perfect for cooking one or two pancakes at a time.

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Coated with a proprietary nonstick material that includes tiny bits of diamonds, this griddle is primed for easy pancake flipping.

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Like other Le Creuset cookware, this griddle offers the benefits of cast iron without worrying about seasoning or special cleaning.

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This kit includes a reversible template and four batter bottles for mixing colorful pancake batter for artistic designs.

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What We Like

• Virtually indestructible

• Reversible so you can also use it as a grill

• Generous surface area

What We Don't Like

• Heavy

• Requires care to maintain seasoning

Lodge is an incredibly popular name for cast iron cookware—for good reason. Their pre-seasoned items are made in the USA and are ready to use when they arrive, although they get better and better with extra seasoning and more use. This 10 x 20-inch griddle gives you plenty of space for cooking everything from pancakes to bacon, and it's reversible, with a grill surface on the other side for burgers and steaks. The heavy cast iron does a great job distributing the heat across the entire surface for even cooking, while the slight slope allows fats and juices to drain away to one side.

Our reviewer tested this griddle in her kitchen and backyard and found that it can be used on any cooktop or outdoor grill, but it may not work well on induction because not enough of the bottom surface with be in contact with the stovetop. (Some users noted that it worked well on their induction cooktop, while others reported that the stove didn't recognize the griddle very well.)

Since it straddles two burners, our tester was able to sear on one part of the grill and maintain a more gentle heat on the other by adjusting the heat on each separate burner. Its slim size also made it easy to store, sliding right into the same space as her cutting boards. Just like any other cast iron piece, it does require some special maintenance, but it is a sturdy piece that can last for a lifetime with proper care.

Material: Seasoned cast iron | Dishwasher Safe: No | Max Temperature: 450+ degrees | Induction Ready: Works with some, but not all

What Our Testers Say

"It heats evenly and retains the heat, so you'll get consistent cooking and impressive searing or grill marks." — Donna Currie, Product Tester

What We Like

• Big cooking surface

• Can be used on countertop to free up burners

• Fully submersible for easy cleaning

What We Don't Like

• Only heats to a max of 400 degrees

• Nonstick surface will degrade with time

Ceramic has become increasingly popular as a nonstick surface since it doesn't use Teflon and it tends to be harder than many other types of nonstick coatings. This handy electric griddle offers that ceramic coating on a large, low-profile griddle that measures 10.5 x 20 inches. You'll have plenty of room to cook pancakes, bacon, and eggs all at the same time.

With heat settings from warm all the way up to 400 degrees, this electric griddle gives plenty of options for cooking a wide variety of foods or just keeping them warm for serving on the buffet. For easy cleaning, there's a slide-out drip tray, and the griddle itself can be fully immersed in water with the heat control removed.

Material: Cast aluminum with nonstick coating | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, with heat control removed | Max Temperature: 400 degrees | Induction Ready: N/A

What We Like

• Big cooking surface

• Dishwasher safe

• Oven safe to 430 degrees

What We Don't Like

• Nonstick coating is durable but will eventually degrade over time

A smooth, flat bottom makes this griddle great for electric stoves, while the roomy cooking surface offers plenty of space for cooking pancakes, bacon, burgers, and more. It's even oven-safe to 430 degrees, so you can use it for roasting vegetables or finishing a stove-seared steak in the oven. The griddle is 11 inches square with rolled edges that keep fats and food juices from getting onto your stove during cooking.

The griddle is nonstick, so your pancakes will flip easily and won't leave a mess for you to clean up after breakfast. For even easier cleaning, the whole thing is dishwasher safe, so you'll be done with breakfast cleanup in no time.

Material: Hard anodized aluminum | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | Max Temperature: 430 degrees | Induction Ready: No

What We Like

• Very large cooking surface

• Oven safe to 500 degrees

• Loop handles make it easy to transport

What We Don't Like

• Nonstick coating is susceptible to scratches

This two-burner griddle is made with tri-ply stainless steel with a dishwasher-safe nonstick layer, which means it can be used on gas, electric, or induction cooktops. Its generous 10.75 x 21-inch size gives you plenty of room to cook your pancakes—and whatever else you're eating for breakfast.

The griddle's oven-safe to 500 degrees, so you can also use it to finish steaks in the oven or for roasting vegetables, and if your favorite cookie sheet disappears, you can even use it for baking cookies or a loaf of artisan bread. The large loop handles make it easy to move when it's time to serve or when you're transferring it to and from the oven.

Material: Stainless steel with nonstick coating | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | Max Temperature: 500 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes

What We Like

• Versatile functionality

• Each half has a separate temperature control

• Removable plates are easy to clean

What We Don't Like

• Expensive

• A bit bulky to store

The Elite Griddler offers more space than the original model, along with more precise controls and a few extra features to make cooking easier. For cooking pancakes, this griddle opens flat for a total of 240 square inches of cooking space. The heat on each half can be controlled separately, so you can cook pancakes at one temperature while browning breakfast sausages on the other side at a different one.

The griddle plates can be reversed for grilling, and the grill can be closed for use as a contact griddle or sandwich press. It can also be set to stay open at a variety of heights for heating the top of foods without making contact, which works well when you're reheating pizza or pancakes, or for cooking delicate foods that you don't want to crush.

Material: Cast aluminum with nonstick | Dishwasher Safe: Yes (removable plates) | Max Temperature: 500 degrees | Induction Ready: N/A

What We Like

• Hard anodized aluminum heats well

• 12-inch diameter is fairly roomy

• Higher edge allows you to cook other foods like bacon

What We Don't Like

• Not compatible with induction

This 12-inch, round griddle pan is perfect for cooking one or two pancakes at a time. The low sides let you get a spatula easily under the pancakes, but there is a slight edge that means you can cook meat without the juice or fat dripping off of the edge.

The pan is made from durable, nonstick-coated hard-anodized aluminum that heats foods quickly and evenly. Metal utensils can be used in this pan, and it's even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. It's not compatible with induction ranges, but it can be used on a gas or electric stovetop.

Material: Hard anodized aluminum | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Max Temperature: 500 degrees | Induction Ready: No

What We Like

• Very high quality construction

• Large surface area

• Dishwasher safe

What We Don't Like

• Expensive

• Heavy

Made in Switzerland, this pan is manufactured from cast aluminum and is coated with a proprietary nonstick material that includes tiny bits of diamonds. The aluminum core reacts quickly to heat changes and spreads the heat evenly across the surface for even cooking.

This 11 x 17-inch griddle straddles two burners and gives you plenty of space to cook fluffy pancakes or crispy bacon. It can be used on either gas or electric stoves but is not induction compatible. For easy cleaning, the griddle is dishwasher safe, but it's simple to clean by hand if it's a bit too large for your dishwasher.

Material: Cast aluminum with nonstick coating | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended | Max Temperature: 500 degrees | Induction Ready: No

What We Like

• Holds heat exceptionally well

• Excellent quality

• Comes in a variety of colors

What We Don't Like

• Smaller size might be limiting

• Expensive

Le Creuset is a familiar name when it comes to high-quality enameled cast iron cookware and delivers on its reputation with this griddle pan. Like their other cookware, this griddle offers the benefit of cast iron without worrying about seasoning or special cleaning. It's also attractive, with a porcelain-enameled exterior that's available in several different colors, all with a black cooking surface.

This skillet can be used on any cooktop, including induction cooktops and your outdoor grill, and you can also use it in the oven. It's not a huge grill, measuring just 8.5 x 13 inches, so it can fit on a single burner, leaving you plenty of space for frying eggs or cooking sausages on other burners. When cooking is done, it's dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. For big families of pancake lovers, Le Creuset also makes a larger pan in a similar style that fits over two burners.

Material: Enameled cast iron | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Max Temperature: 450+ degrees | Induction Ready: Yes

What We Like

• Great activity for kids

• Can be used as a regular griddle too

• Good temperature range up to 400 degrees

What We Don't Like

• Small size makes it less versatile

• PTFE coating will lose its nonstick qualities eventually

Pancake art is a lot of fun for both kids and adults, but not all parents can draw well on paper, much less with batter on a hot pan. This set makes artwork easy. It includes a reversible template and four batter bottles for mixing different colors of pancake batter for your masterpieces.

The griddle itself is designed to look like a canvas in a frame, making it even more fun. The included, reversible template gives you the outline of an ice cream cone and a lion; more templates are available for purchase. When you're not using it for colorful and creative cooking, this 11 x 9-inch griddle can be used for hash browns, burgers, and all your other favorite griddled foods.

Material: Aluminum with nonstick coating | Dishwasher Safe: No | Max Temperature: Not specified | Induction Ready: N/A

Final Verdict

Our top-rated pick is the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Griddle/Grill because of its outstanding durability and versatility. We also love the Cuisinart Griddler Elite (available on Amazon) for those who want an electric option as it is incredibly easy to use and clean up and can be used as a grill too.

What To Look For When Buying a Pancake Griddle

Material

For pans designed to cook pancakes, you'll want something that heats evenly and will release your food easily. Aluminum—either cast or hard-anodized—is an excellent conductor of heat, and when paired with a nonstick coating, makes for a smooth pancake flipping experience. If you plan to cook for a longer stretch of time (i.e. churning out dozens of pancakes over the course of the morning), a well-seasoned cast iron griddle or pan will hold heat extremely well so you can continuously cook without waiting to reheat.

Size

Large griddles (like double burner options) will be helpful for making bigger quantities quickly, but if you're only planning on serving a small household, a 12-inch griddle should do just fine. Whatever size you choose, be sure that you'll be able to find a place to store it when it's not in use.

FAQs

How do you cook pancakes on a griddle?

Prepare your batter as you heat up your griddle over medium heat. Add a pat of butter or some other type of oil, then add your pancake batter using an ice cream scoop or quarter-cup measure. Wait until the surface of the pancake has formed some bubbles, then flip your pancake to finish cooking the other side. For a more in-depth tutorial, watch this video on How To Make the Fluffiest Pancakes.

What temperature do you cook pancakes on a griddle?

If you're cooking on the stovetop, it's best to heat your pan over a medium setting—any higher and your pancake might burn. For electric griddled, 375 degrees is ideal.

How do you clean a pancake griddle?

Most nonstick pancake griddles can be cleaned by wiping them down with a clean sponge, provided there isn't too much residue or burned food to be cleaned off. If you require a more thorough cleaning, you can wash nonstick pans by hand with mild dish soap and a non-abrasive sponge. For cast iron, consult this Cast Iron Care Guide.

What else can you cook on a pancake griddle?

A pancake griddle is incredibly versatile. You can use this as a restaurant-style flat top and grill up burgers, bacon, eggs, sausages, vegetables, and more. Heat hot dog and hamburger buns, tortillas, pita bread, and anything else that can benefit from a large, flat cooking surface.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

The author of this piece, Donna Currie, is a food writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. A self-professed "kitchen geek," she's written many roundups on a range of essential kitchen items, from the best Thanksgiving gadgets to the top seafood kitchen tools of the year.

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how long to cook pancakes on each side

Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-pancake-griddles-4773604

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