10 Best Flat Top Grills of 2023

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Who doesn’t love a good burger? The only thing better than a juicy, flavorful patty is when you can cook it in your own backyard. Nowadays there are so many options for grills to choose from that it’s hard to know which one will suit your needs the best.

In this blog post, we’ll cover 10 of the best flat-top grills on the market today and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Top 10 Flat Top Grills Comparison Table

ImageNameBurnersCooking SurfaceRating (1-5)
1. Blackstone 1666 Heavy Duty Flat Top Grill, 22 inch24,000 BTUs339 square inches4.8
2. Blackstone Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill, 28 inch30,000 BTUs470 square inches4.8
3. Blackstone 1554 Cooking 4 Burner Flat Top Gas Grill, 36 inch60,000 BTUs 720 square inches4.8
4. Royal Gourmet GB4001B 4-Burner Flat Top Gas Grill, 36 inch52,000 BTUs784 square inches4.4
5. U-MAX 4-Burner Portable Propane Gas Grill48,000 BTUs741 square inches4.4
6. Royal Gourmet GD401C 4-Burner Portable Propane Flat Top Gas Grill and Griddle Combo48,000 BTUs292 square inches4.5
7. Royal Gourmet GB4000F 36-Inch Flat Top Gas Griddle52,000 BTUs748 square inches4.3
8. Cuisinart CGG-0036 4-Burner, 36" Gas Griddle60,000 BTUs760 square inches4.6
9. PIT BOSS 10762 5 Burner Gas Griddle62,000 BTUs750 square inches4.5
10. Royal Gourmet Event 8-Burner BBQ Propane Gas Grill104,000 BTUs950 square inches4.4

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Flat Top Grill

Mobility

This is an important factor to consider when choosing the best flat top grill. You need to consider the setting you plan to use it in. You need to know if it will simply be for home use or you will need to carry it to camping sites. You need to buy a flat top grill that is easy to carry around.

Price

The price of a flat top grill will influence your decision whether to buy it or not. You should get a flat tabletop that is affordable. Check your budget and see if you can afford the flat table grill that is available for sale.

You may find quality flat-top grills that are going for around $400. Professional flat-top grills can go for up to $4,000.

Is it Pre-Seasoned?

The seasoning process is very important for a new grill because it will make the food you prepare taste better and also prevent the possibility of rust and damage occurring on the surface of the grill.

A seasoned flat top grill will help eliminate any food leftovers or chemicals. The process of seasoning a flat top grill is quite simple.

All you need to do is apply a light coat of cooking oil to your surface and then bake it at extremely high temperatures for half an hour.

A pre-seasoned cooking surface, on the other hand, means that a layer of oil has already been baked in already while the flat top grill was being made. That is why a pre-seasoned flat top grill works great and saves the user time. When choosing the best flat top grill, you need to consider whether it is pre-seasoned or not.

Versatility

When looking for a flat top grill, consider its versatility. You need to understand that, though a flat top grill is a fantastic way to cook food, it has some valid drawbacks.

One of them is that it is hard to achieve that smoky traditional BBQ flavor in your food as the drippings will not be falling out down into the fire and also the smoke will not be directed back to your food like in the traditional grill system.

Having that in mind, it is important to understand the kind of food you will be making and the kind of results you are looking forward to achieving. Using it with a combination grill will yield great results.

Cooking Area

Just like with any other grill, you need to consider the amount of space you will be needing on regular basis. If you are grilling for a small family or for yourself, you can get away with a flat top grill that has about 400 square inches or even less cooking space.

However, if you are grilling for a large number of people like those that will show up on a family reunion occasion, you will need a piece of larger equipment that can handle a large amount of food at one go.

Top 3 Best Flat Top Grill Reviews

1. Blackstone 1666 Heavy Duty Flat Top Grill

The Blackstone 1666 Heavy Duty Flat Top Grill is one of the best flat-top grills available. It will help make your outdoor adventure more fun because you can carry it around and prepare your food at your desired destinations.

It is a grill that comes with all you need to cook different types of food that include fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, crunchy hash browns, fried eggs, and many more.

It is a very convenient grill since you can carry it to any place. It does not matter if you are grilling at a camping site or your backyard, you can carry it thanks to its lightweight design. Its size is compact and you can carry it to family gatherings.

Another good thing about this flat-top grill is that it has a fairly large cooking space of around 339 square feet. It generates about 24,000 BTUs of heat meaning it can cook almost everything in just a few minutes.

It comes with powerful “H” burners that enhance the even distribution of heat. They ensure that there is a maximum distribution of heat that results in even cooking. Both of these burners come with built-in igniters and one can control them independently. That means you can cook food at different temperatures if that’s what you need.

It comes with an innovative grease management system. What this means is that if you are planning to cook juicy meat like bacon, you will not have to worry about cleaning the grill. The rear grease this grill comes with collects the mess and makes clean up easy.

Pros
  • It is lightweight, portable, and has a compact design
  • It is pre-seasoned


  • It has a good cooking capacity


  • It is made of a durable construction


  • It features an exceptional grease management system
Cons
  • Poor customer service

2. Blackstone Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill

The Blackstone Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill is another great flat top gas grill you should consider purchasing. It has a cooking area of 470 square feet making it perfect for cooking either breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

You can grill all types of food including steak, eggs, grilled cheese, pancakes, and many other types of food. The good thing about this flat top grill is that it is easy to assemble enabling you to do your cooking quickly.

You can move it around with ease because it has foldable legs, a removable grid top, and caster wheels. This flat-top grill is designed for longevity.

It comes with two burners that can be controlled independently and burn at a total of thirty thousand BTUs. That makes it a versatile cooking option.

Pros
  • It is foldable


  • It comes with two independent cooking zones


  • It has a durable construction


  • It features a fast start-up with an electronic ignition
Cons
  • Its grease management is not right

3. Blackstone 1554 Cooking 4 Burner Flat Top Gas Grill

Blackstone 1554 Cooking 4 Burner Flat Top Gas Grill has a working area of 720 square inches. It offers versatile cooking with controllable heat zones. It has four stainless burners each with 15,000 BTUs making a total of 60,000 controlled BTUs.

It uses propane as the source of fuel. It comes with storage space to place your tank. You can comfortably make breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Blackstone griddle is easy to assemble and use. Since it uses propane gas, it saves you all the hassle of charcoal, kerosene, and match preparation. It has a battery power ignition button.

To start the griddle, press the button and, your griddle is ready to cook. The simplicity helps you to enjoy your time outdoors.

Any cooking leaves a mess behind. Blackstone flat top grill has a rear grease management unit to ease your cleaning. The grill has two side shelves and a bottom shelf to store grilling aids and preparations. The grill is built for durability as it has powder-coated steel burners and steel cooktops.

The portability of the grill is catered for as you get a removable griddle top, foldable legs, and four caster wheels.

Pros
  • Durable design


  • Electric ignition


  • Removable griddle top


  • 60,000 BTUs of heat
Cons
  • The grease drain design is not perfect

What is the Best Steak to Grill?

There are many different opinions regarding the best steak to grill. Many people like their steak rare, however, not everyone has the same preferences. We’ll try to answer this question by looking at three popular choices.

  • Ribeye is one of the most versatile cuts you can grill because it’s meaty and tender. Ribeye goes well with sauces like A1 steak sauce or marinara sauce that will give it crispy edges mixed with crispy bits on top.
  • Tenderloin is also a good choice if you’re looking for an extremely lean cut of meat that cooks quickly thanks to its lack of fat. Tenderloin can be difficult to grill, however. If you’re looking to cook your meat rare and don’t have a good thermometer this might not be the best option because it can quickly overcook.
  • Sirloin is an affordable cut of steak that tastes great when grilled. For those on a budget or new to grilling, sirloin is a great place to start. This steak can be cooked with or without marinade and is one of the most flavorful cuts on the cow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Flat Top Grills Worth It?

A flat-top grill has various benefits, but it depends on a person’s preference to know their worth. The main advantage of a flat top grill is the ability to drain excess fats and oil from foods cooking on them hence having a healthier meal at the end.

They have a large cooking space offering you extra area to cook different foods at the same time. The cooking rate is the same since heat is evenly spread on the surface. The flat-top grill heats up quickly and, you can start cooking almost immediately.

You can comfortably grill indoors using a flat top grill. Only little oil is needed to grill or cook hence making the grill easy to clean. With a flat-top grill, you can use different pans or pots as they fit on the surface. This gives freedom to cook instead of being glued to one pan for heating.

Why Would You Want a Flat Top Grill?

A flat-top grill can cook different and multiple foods. You can grill or cook seafood, pancakes, eggs, BBQ steaks, or ribs. Multiple rounds of heat element is an attractive feature of a flat top grill.

You can use pans and pots on the surface, it is easy to clean and heats up quickly.

What Do Restaurants Use on Flat Top Grills?

In a restaurant, flat top grill use differs from how you use it at home. They use a flat metal plate known as a commercial griddle that is easy to multitask on. Various sources of heat are used to heat the flat top grill.

Electricity, coal, wood, and gas are some energy sources used in restaurants to heat the grill. You can cook different foods at different temperatures as you can have varying temperature points on the griddle.

Temperature zones are on the upright section like warm, reasonably hot, and very hot on one plate.

How Do You Clean a Dirty Flat Top Grill?

When you notice excess burnt food on the grill or the surface gets non-uniform heat spots, it is time to clean the grill.do not ignore these signs, you don’t want to have stomach upsets for eating food grilled on a dirty flat top.

Start by turning on the griddle to cook off any leftovers as you use the griddle scrapers to get rid of all dirt.

Pour some warm water on the griddle to easily remove grease and debris. For a stainless steel griddle, use stainless steel cleaner to finish the cleaning process and then wipe it off and dry it.

If you have a cast iron or chrome top, do not use stainless steel cleaner, instead, use oil or food-safe polish to complete the cleaning.

How Often Should I Season My Blackstone Griddle?

You need to season your Blackstone griddle with several coats for the first time use. A light seasoning coat is required after every cook to keep a non-stick area.

Are Steaks Better on Grill or Griddle?

Both are great ways to prepare steaks. Grilled steaks have char, flavor with grill marks. Griddle gives the steaks a uniform brown crust on the surface that adds more flavor to it. You can use either of the methods depending on your preference.

How Long Should I Grill Steaks?

Put the steaks on the grill for 4 to 5 minutes to achieve a slightly charred and golden brown. Turn them and grill for about 5- 10 minutes depending on the temperature present.

How Do You Season a Flat Top Grill for the First Time?

Knowing the material used to make your flat-top grill is important before you season it. For cast iron flat surface, start by wiping the top, then turn on the grill high to allow any debris to cook off.

Add some oil on the surface once the grill is hot and wipe it around carefully to a point the grill gets coated and the oil is smoking. Use paper towels between tongs. Redo the process to have a shiny oiled surface.

A carbon steel flat top has stainless steel and cast iron grill properties. For such a flat top, start by cleaning with a grill scraper. Avoid any cleaning products that cause scratching.

After this stage, you continue the seasoning as in cast iron surface. Turn on the grill to heat high, pour some oil, and wipe it around to achieve a shined oiled surface.

Can You Grill on a Flat Top?

Yes, you can. A flat-top can be used to grill and barbeque almost any food. Flat tops offer space to cook and grill various delicacies simultaneously.

Conclusion

A flat-top grill allows you to enjoy stress-free cooking experiences. It allows you to be versatile and make your indoor and outdoor cooking experiences more enjoyable.

The best flat top grill for you might not be the same as it is for someone else. It depends on your needs and what type of cooking experience you want to create in your home.

If you are looking for a flat top grill, consider the three we reviewed in this article.

Bobby Johnson

When he's not writing about barbecue, you can find Bobby smoking meat for friends and family. He's been a backyard pitmaster for roughly half his life, and has worked with nearly every cut of meat. Not everyone has a hands-on guide to teach them BBQ, but that's what Bobby hopes to do with Electric Smoker HQ. He wants to help people create amazing food that they can be proud of.