A Flat Top Grill or Griddle Can Revolutionize Your Backyard Barbecues-These Are the Best

"A big outdoor griddle can change what summer feels like. And the best flat-top grills can make dinner feel like an event to be proud of. What's a more satisfying sound than the slap of a spatula onto the chopped onions and rib eye meant for a perfect cheesesteak? The blister of corn tortillas cooked in the grease left by hard-seared carne asada? The smash of a burger at a backyard barbecue? The blessed evenness of pancakes cooked on a well-seasoned griddle plate? All you need is a great griddle to set you up for success."

"An outdoor gas griddle is an essential backyard counterpart to the satisfying direct heat of a high-performing charcoal or wood-fired grill-adding all the versatility of your favorite diner to your sunny-day toolkit. I've spent months cooking dozens of smashburgers, bacon strips, tacos, and pancakes to find the best outdoor griddle for each kind of backyard cook. Now, I find myself using the griddle more than a classic grill."

"My top-rated Traeger Flatrock ($1,000) offers the most even and reliable heat out of any I tested, and it feels like a Cadillac idling in the yard. Meanwhile, the rust-resistant four-burner 36-inch Weber Slate ($1,049) provides a broad cooking surface, an easier seasoning process, and the best array of features to build out a flat-top grill into a true workstation."

"For those keeping it to a tighter budget, my best recommendation is just to downsize your Weber. The compact 28-inch Weber Slate is the best value at $798, edging out lower-cost brands whose durability is less assured."

A large outdoor gas griddle adds diner-style versatility to backyard cooking by providing direct, reliable heat. Cooking on a griddle creates distinctive results such as blistered tortillas, well-seared meats, smashed burgers, and evenly cooked pancakes. A top-performing griddle can be used more often than a traditional grill because it supports many food types. The Traeger Flatrock provides the most even and reliable heat. The Weber Slate offers a broad cooking surface, easier seasoning, and features that turn a flat-top into a workstation. For tighter budgets, downsizing to the 28-inch Weber Slate provides strong value and durability compared with lower-cost options.

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