A griddle is a wonderful to have around. It allows you to cook large amounts of food all on the same surface at once. This saves you time when you need to cook a lot and stove space for when you also need to cook things that won’t work as well on the griddle. The question is, what kind of griddle is best? There are two varieties, electric and gas. Each one can have a time and purpose, so it’s important to know under what circumstances you’ll need the griddle in order to determine which will be the ideal choice for you.
Electric Griddle
An electric griddle is powered by being plugged into an electrical outlet. This can make it great when you have electricity available to use, whether that be at home, in a campsite or hotel or anywhere else you may need to cook. When the stove can’t cook enough at once, or you just don’t have access to one this can be an excellent replacement tool. Typically, electric griddles are great for the smaller jobs. When you’re just cooking for family or friends, it can be a great help.
These griddles also tend to be the less costly of the two, making them easier and more convenient to get ahold of. They do tend to be made with a thinner metal plate on top of the heating elements, which allows for that less demanding cost. Electric griddles tend to pack a decent amount of power into a low-heat situation. They don’t emanate as much heat as a gas griddle can, which keeps the area around you less hot while you’re cooking. This can be great in a home situation when you don’t want to be stuck in a hot kitchen.
Gas Griddle
Gas griddles run on either propane or gas, which means that if you want to use one of these griddles you will need to make sure that you have the fuel needed to get it going. This makes it great for situations where this kind of fuel is abundant and inexpensive. The heat on these tools is created by a griddle burner that is typically U or H shaped. Gas griddles do tend to be more responsive than their electric counterparts, which can make them better at heating. They can also create more heat in the area, so it’s important to keep in mind that you may end up working in a hot space.
The downsides to this kind of griddle are few, but can be dangerous if you’re not careful. There is a possibility of the tank that the fuel source comes from may explode. Typically, it’s considered to be relatively safe if the proper care is taken of the entire device, but if not, it can increase the risk. These griddles also have tendency to be more expensive because they have a more complicated design and require thicker plates due to the heat source. The temperatures on these griddles can tend to be a lot higher than the electric ones.
Comparison
In short, gas griddles are capable of offering up more power in a quicker way than electric griddles, but require gas or propane as a power source which can potentially be dangerous if not handled correctly. They also are more costly than electric griddles due to the materials used to make them.
Electric griddles are less expensive, but may not respond as quickly or provide the same amount of power. They also tend to be safer than the gas griddles because of their power source. Ultimately, it’s going to depend on when and how you plan on using your griddle. In situations where you need more heat and don’t mind having to use the fuel, a gas griddle might be the ideal choice. However, if you’re looking for something for home use that is easy to get going, an electric griddle is a great choice.
Conclusion
Overall, both the gas griddle and the electric griddle can provide a lot in the way of benefits. They both allow you to cook large amounts of food on a completely flat, well-heated surface. They also allow you healthier meal options because they drain the grease away from any meat or other substances that produce a lot of it. Regardless of which kind of griddle you choose, you’re bound to get a great tool that you’ll continue to get a lot of use out of for years to come.
