Everything We Recommend
The griddles and planchas below are the ones that earned their keep – cast iron, carbon steel, enamel, and nonstick – from brands that build kit to outlive their warranties. Whether you want a budget workhorse or a buy-it-for-life slab, we will help you find the one worth seasoning.
Three Key Things When Shopping for a Griddle
Decide on your material first. Cast iron holds heat like a grudge and sears beautifully; carbon steel does the same but lighter; enamel skips the seasoning ritual; nonstick keeps eggs honest but resents very high heat.
Measure your burners before you buy. A double-burner plancha needs two hobs and a decent extractor, while a single-burner griddle suits smaller kitchens, so match the slab to the stove you actually own rather than the one you covet.
Check induction compatibility and heat limits. Not every griddle behaves on an induction hob, and nonstick coatings cap out far below bare metal, so read the temperature ceiling before you crank the dial and ruin a coating.
Best Griddles and Planchas in 2026
Made In Carbon Steel Griddle - Our Top Pick
Our Top Pick is the Made In Carbon Steel Griddle. This is the one we reach for without thinking, the one that has earned its hook by the stove. Two years of near-daily use and it just keeps getting better – the steel has blackened into a slick, mirror-dark surface that releases a fried egg like the egg owes it money. Built for life is not marketing copy here, it is a plain description.
Crafted in Sweden from premium metals, it marries cast iron’s heat retention to stainless steel’s responsiveness and lighter weight. The 8.5 by 17.5 inch surface clears two burners, handles up to 1200F, and goes from stovetop to grill to open flame without complaint. It is fully induction compatible, which not every griddle in this lineup can claim.
Made In Cookware | Carbon Steel Griddle | Professional Cookware | Crafted in Sweden | Induction Compatible
- Hybrid carbon steel pairs cast iron heat retention with the speed and control of stainless
- Endures decades of use and tolerates heat up to 1200F, indoors or over open flame
- Induction compatible and crafted in Sweden from professional-grade metals
This suits anyone who plans to cook on it for the next twenty years rather than the next twenty minutes. Season it, keep it dry, never let it near the dishwasher, and it rewards you with restaurant-grade sears and a non-stick patina you built yourself. The price stings once; the pan thanks you forever.
Lodge Reversible Cast Iron Grill/Griddle - Best Budget Pick
Our Best Budget Pick is the Lodge Reversible Grill/Griddle. For roughly the price of two restaurant breakfasts you get a double-burner slab of honest American cast iron – griddle on one face, grill ridges on the other. It is gloriously, almost rudely, good value.
The 16.75 by 9.5 inch plate spans two burners, arrives pre-seasoned, and is PFAS-free. Flip it for pancakes and eggs, or turn it over for sear marks on a steak. It works on gas, electric, induction, the grill, or over a campfire – this is cast iron doing exactly what cast iron has always done.
Lodge Reversible Cast Iron Grill/Griddle Pan 16.75 x 9.5 - Pre-Seasoned Dual-Sided Double Burner for BBQ, Eggs, Pancakes, Burgers - PFAS Free Cookware - Flat Top Plate for Oven, Grill, & Campfire
- Reversible: flat griddle side for pancakes and eggs, ribbed side for grill marks
- Pre-seasoned, PFAS-free cast iron spanning two burners
- Works on gas, electric, induction, grill, or over a campfire
This suits first-time cast iron owners and anyone feeding a hungry table without spending much. Keep it seasoned, dry it on a warm hob, and it will outlast most of the cookware you own. The only catch is the heft – not one for weak wrists or shallow cupboards.
Staub Cast Iron Plancha - Best Enameled Plancha
Our Best Enameled Plancha is the Staub Double Burner Griddle. French, heavy, and finished in that textured black matte enamel that browns proteins like a kitchen that charges for the privilege. No seasoning, no rust, no fuss – just heat and a little patience.
The enameled cast iron needs no seasoning and will not rust, with raised sides to keep juices from making a break for the hob and oversized handles you can grip in oven mitts. It suits every cooktop including induction, is dishwasher safe, and oven safe to 500F. The 18.25 inch surface is built for serious, even browning.
Staub Cast Iron 18.25 inch x 9.5-inch Plancha/Double Burner Griddle
- Textured matte enamel delivers exceptional browning with no seasoning required
- Enameled cast iron resists rust, wipes clean, and is dishwasher safe
- Raised sides contain juices; induction compatible and oven safe to 500F
This is for the cook who loves cast iron’s heat but resents its maintenance. It is an investment, and a heavy one, but the enamel lets you cook acidic things, scrub it properly, and never think about seasoning again. A plancha to hand down rather than replace.
Cuisinart Reversible Cast Iron Plate - Best Reversible Value
Our Best Reversible Value is the Cuisinart Cast Iron Grill/Griddle Plate. A sensible middle ground – more refined than the entry-level slabs, kinder to the wallet than the French enamel. Two cooking surfaces for the price of one decent pan.
The 15.75 by 9 inch pre-seasoned cast iron gives a flat face for breakfast and a ribbed face for grill marks, with handles for hauling it about. It holds heat evenly across the surface and is at home on the stove, the campfire, or set straight on the grill grates.
Cuisinart Reversible Cast Iron Grill/Griddle Plate, 15.75" x 9" Pre-Seasoned Cooking Surface with Flat and Ribbed Sides, Stovetop Griddle for Electric Ranges, Use on Stove, Campfire, or Gas Grill
- Reversible flat and ribbed sides for breakfast or restaurant-style grill marks
- Pre-seasoned cast iron with even heat retention across the plate
- Usable on the stovetop, on a gas grill, or over a campfire
This suits the cook upgrading from nonstick who wants cast iron without the Lodge heft or the Staub price. Season it after washing, keep it dry, and it earns its place. A touch smaller than the double-burner slabs, which makes it friendlier for everyday use.
OXO Enhanced Ceramic Nonstick Griddle - Best for Easy Cleanup
Our pick for Easy Cleanup is the OXO Enhanced Griddle Pan. The antidote to seasoning anxiety – a hard-anodized griddle with a diamond-reinforced ceramic surface that lets a pancake slide clean off and wipes down in seconds. No patina to nurse, no rust to fear.
The 11 inch single-burner pan is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium, with a comfortable stainless handle and oven safety to 430F. Cook’s Illustrated rated its nonstick the best of its class, and the hard-anodized body resists scratches better than most ceramic pans manage.
OXO Enhanced 11" Griddle Pan, PFAS-Free Ceramic Nonstick, Durable Hard Anodized Cookware, Scratch Resistant, Stainless Steel Handle, Good Grips, Dishwasher Safe, Oven safe, Black
- Diamond-reinforced ceramic nonstick releases food and wipes clean instantly
- Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium; dishwasher safe
- Hard-anodized body resists scratches; oven safe to 430F
This suits small kitchens, weeknight eggs, and anyone who flatly refuses to season anything. The trade-off is heat: ceramic nonstick should never be cranked to searing temperatures, so keep it to medium and it will last. The single-burner size makes it the easiest of the lot to store.
All-Clad HA1 Nonstick Griddle - Best Nonstick Double-Burner
Our Best Nonstick Double-Burner is the All-Clad HA1 Griddle. A wide, flat, 13 by 20 inch expanse of hard-anodized aluminium that turns a weekend breakfast into a production line. Nonstick convenience at a genuinely generous scale.
The heavy-gauge aluminium spreads heat evenly with no mean little hot spots, the PFOA-free coating releases eggs and pancakes cleanly, and the double-riveted steel handles stay put. It is oven and broiler safe to 500F and dishwasher safe – though note it is not induction compatible, so check your hob first.
All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Griddle 13x20 Inch Oven Broiler Safe 500F Pots and Pans, Cookware Black
- Heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminium delivers even heat across a 13x20 inch surface
- Durable nonstick coating releases eggs and pancakes with no fuss
- Oven and broiler safe to 500F with secure double-riveted handles
This suits big households and pancake-Sunday devotees who want easy cleanup spread over two burners. It is not for induction hobs and not for brutal searing temperatures, but for high-volume breakfast duty it is hard to beat. Hand-washing will keep the coating honest for years longer.
Le Creuset Alpine Outdoor Griddle - Best for the Grill
Our Best for the Grill is the Le Creuset Alpine Outdoor Griddle. Designed for a life over coals and flame, in that matte black enamel that develops a patina and shrugs off the abuse an outdoor cook dishes out. As handsome as it is hard-wearing.
The enameled cast iron needs no seasoning, resists chipping and rust, and tolerates a startling 842F, which is precisely why it is happy on an open grill. The low profile lets a grill hood close over it, oversized handles make lifting safer, and it nests with the rest of the Alpine range. Note: it is not induction compatible.
Le Creuset Alpine Outdoor Collection Enameled Cast Iron Rectangular Griddle, 15.75"
- Enameled cast iron safe to 842F for grill and open-flame cooking
- Matte black enamel develops a patina and resists chips, cracks, and rust
- Low profile fits under a closed grill hood; metal-utensil and dishwasher safe
This suits the grill obsessive who wants a proper flat-top for smash burgers and breakfast outdoors without scorching a delicate coating. It is a premium price for a single griddle, and it will not work on induction, but for cooking over fire it is built to take everything you throw at it.
Lodge 18-Inch Carbon Steel Griddle - Best Carbon Steel Value
Our Best Carbon Steel Value is the Lodge 18-Inch Griddle. If the Made In tempts you but the price gives you pause, this is the carbon steel halfway house – lighter and slicker than cast iron, at a fraction of the boutique cost. Carbon steel, without the carbon-steel premium.
The generous 18 inch round surface arrives pre-seasoned, with the smoother carbon steel finish that makes it ideal for eggs, fish, and vegetables. It carries Lodge’s unparalleled heat retention and moves happily from the gas stove to the grill to the campfire. Family-owned since 1896, and it rather shows.
Lodge 18 Inch Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel Griddle - Unparalleled Heat Retention - Use in the Oven, on a Gas Stove, on the Grill, or Over a Campfire - Black
- Pre-seasoned carbon steel with a smooth, easy-release finish
- Large 18 inch surface with unparalleled edge-to-edge heat retention
- Moves from oven to gas stove to grill to campfire
This suits the cook who wants to learn carbon steel without committing to a Swedish mortgage payment. It needs the same care as our top pick – season it, keep it dry, build the patina – and over time it develops the same slick, dark surface. The round shape suits a single large burner.
Camp Chef Cast Iron Griddle - Best for a Crowd
Our Best for a Crowd is the Camp Chef Cast Iron Griddle. At a vast 16 by 24 inches, this is less a pan than a cooking landscape – the one you want when you are feeding a campsite, a tailgate, or a family that has gone and invited people. Sheer acreage is rather the point.
A reversible design gives a flat side for traditional cooking and a ribbed side for sear marks, with a pre-seasoned finish that resists rust and molded side handles for wrestling the considerable bulk into place. It heats evenly and holds that heat right across the sprawling surface.
Camp Chef Cast Iron Griddle - 16 x 24, Non-Stick Grill/Griddle Sides
- Huge 16x24 inch reversible surface, flat for cooking and ribbed for sear marks
- Pre-seasoned finish offers a ready-to-cook, rust-resistant surface
- Molded side handles give a secure grip on a heavy griddle
This suits outdoor cooks, big gatherings, and anyone who spans two burners as a matter of routine. It is heavy and demands real storage space, so it is not the everyday-weeknight choice – but for volume cooking over a stove or grill, nothing here matches its capacity. Keep it seasoned and bone dry.
Best Griddles and Planchas Buyer’s Guide
Choosing Your Material
Material decides nearly everything about how a griddle cooks and how much it asks of you. Carbon steel, like the Lodge 18-inch, is the connoisseur’s compromise – it sears like cast iron but weighs less and heats faster, and it rewards seasoning with a slick, dark patina you build yourself. The trade is maintenance: keep it dry, oil it, and never let it sit wet. For cooks who enjoy that relationship, nothing else feels quite as alive under the spatula.
Lodge 18 Inch Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel Griddle - Unparalleled Heat Retention - Use in the Oven, on a Gas Stove, on the Grill, or Over a Campfire - Black
- Pre-seasoned carbon steel that develops a natural non-stick patina
- Smoother finish ideal for eggs, fish, and delicate vegetables
- Unparalleled heat retention from oven to gas stove to campfire
Size and Burner Coverage
A griddle that does not fit your hob is just an expensive trivet. Double-burner slabs like the All-Clad HA1, a full 13 by 20 inches, are glorious for feeding a crowd but demand two strong burners and a kitchen that can vent the heat. Measure your stove, picture the thing straddling it, and be honest about how often you actually cook for six. A single-burner griddle stores more easily and heats more evenly on a modest hob.
All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Griddle 13x20 Inch Oven Broiler Safe 500F Pots and Pans, Cookware Black
- Spacious 13x20 inch surface spans two burners for high-volume cooking
- Even heat across heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminium
- Oven and broiler safe to 500F for finishing under the grill
Seasoning or Enamel
This is the great fork in the road. Bare metal – cast iron and carbon steel – needs seasoning and careful drying, but lasts forever and sears like nothing else. Enameled cast iron, like the Staub plancha, skips all of that: no seasoning, no rust, and you can scrub it or cook something acidic without guilt. You pay for the privilege, and the enamel will not take quite the same blistering heat, but for cooks who want cast iron performance without the ritual, it is the sensible peace treaty.
Staub Cast Iron 18.25 inch x 9.5-inch Plancha/Double Burner Griddle
- Textured matte enamel browns proteins with no seasoning required
- Resists rust, wipes clean, and is dishwasher safe
- Raised sides contain juices; oven safe to 500F
Induction and Cleanup
Two practical gotchas catch people out. First, induction: many griddles, including the OXO ceramic pan, are not compatible, so confirm before you buy if that is your hob. Second, coatings have limits – nonstick and ceramic surfaces should never be cranked to searing heat, or they degrade. The upside is cleanup. A pan like the OXO wipes clean in seconds and tolerates the dishwasher, which for weeknight eggs is worth a great deal more than bragging rights about patina.
OXO Enhanced 11" Griddle Pan, PFAS-Free Ceramic Nonstick, Durable Hard Anodized Cookware, Scratch Resistant, Stainless Steel Handle, Good Grips, Dishwasher Safe, Oven safe, Black
- Diamond-reinforced ceramic nonstick for effortless release and cleanup
- Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium; dishwasher safe
- Hard-anodized body resists scratches; oven safe to 430F
In Conclusion
Griddles and planchas are having a quiet moment, and 2026 offers a slab for every kind of cook. Whether you want bare cast iron at pocket-money prices, enamel that frees you from seasoning, nonstick for a frictionless weeknight, or carbon steel you can pass to your children, the choices here cover every burner count and budget. Each one earns its place – the trick is matching the metal, the size, and the maintenance to the way you actually cook.
Our top recommendation remains, by a comfortable distance, the Made In Carbon Steel Griddle. Two years of near-daily use have only made it better – slicker, blacker, more obliging – and at 1200F-tough, induction-ready, Swedish-built, it is genuinely a buy-it-once pan. Season it well and it will outlast the kitchen around it.
Made In Cookware | Carbon Steel Griddle | Professional Cookware | Crafted in Sweden | Induction Compatible
- Hybrid carbon steel combines cast iron heat retention with stainless speed and control
- Tolerates heat to 1200F and endures decades of indoor or open-flame use
- Induction compatible and crafted in Sweden from professional-grade metals
