Updated: July 2025

Planning your next outdoor cooking setup? Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a daily outdoor cooking enthusiast, choosing between a grill and griddle is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your backyard kitchen in 2025.

Both options offer unique advantages, but understanding their key differences will help you make the right choice for your cooking style, space, and budget. Let’s break down the three most important factors to consider.

Grills are the classic outdoor cooking choice, perfect for creating that signature smoky flavor and beautiful char marks on burgers, steaks, chicken, and vegetables. The high heat and open flame design allow for excellent searing and that authentic barbecue taste that’s hard to replicate indoors.

With options for charcoal or propane fuel, you can customize your flavor profile. The lid feature allows you to trap smoke and create convection cooking, essentially turning your grill into an outdoor oven for roasting and slow cooking.

However, grills typically require more space than griddles and tend to be taller, which may not work for smaller patios or balconies. Premium models with multiple burners, rotisserie attachments, and advanced features can also get quite expensive.

Griddles offer a completely different cooking experience with their flat, open cooking surface. They excel at breakfast foods like pancakes, bacon, and eggs, as well as sandwiches, quesadillas, and stir-fries.

The flat surface makes them ideal for cooking large quantities of food simultaneously, perfect for feeding crowds. Modern griddles also offer excellent temperature control and even heat distribution across the entire cooking surface, eliminating hot spots that can burn food.

When it comes to health considerations, griddles offer several advantages. The flat cooking surface allows you to cook with minimal oil, and you can easily control how much fat you use for each dish.

Additionally, there’s no risk of food falling through grates and getting burned or charred beyond recognition. This gives you better control over food safety and cooking consistency, especially with delicate items like fish or vegetables.

Grills, while producing delicious flavors, do come with some health considerations. The high-heat cooking and char formation can produce heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – compounds that health experts recommend limiting. Additionally, proper safety protocols are essential when dealing with open flames and flammable gases.

Safety tips for grill users:

• Always monitor propane tanks and connections for leaks
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions precisely
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby
• Never leave a lit grill unattended
• Clean grease traps regularly to prevent flare-ups

The bottom line: If health-conscious cooking is your priority, griddles offer more control and flexibility. If you love traditional grilled flavors and practice safe grilling techniques, either option can work well with proper precautions.

Grill versatility shines when it comes to traditional barbecue foods. Beyond the standard burgers and hot dogs, grills excel at cooking steaks, chicken, fish, vegetables, and even pizzas. The fuel variety (charcoal vs. propane) adds another layer of flavor customization.

Griddle versatility extends far beyond breakfast foods. While they’re unmatched for pancakes, bacon, and eggs, griddles also handle lunch and dinner excellently. Think smash burgers, fajitas, fried rice, grilled cheese, hibachi-style vegetables, and even delicate items like fish that might fall through grill grates.

Key versatility considerations:

• Grills: Best for foods that benefit from direct flame, smoke, and grill marks
• Griddles: Superior for foods requiring even heat distribution, easy flipping, and liquid-based cooking
• Capacity: Griddles typically offer more usable cooking space per square foot
• Temperature zones: Griddles allow multiple temperature zones simultaneously

Consider your cooking frequency and group size. Large families and frequent entertainers might prefer grills for their traditional appeal and ability to create that authentic barbecue atmosphere, while those cooking for smaller groups or wanting breakfast versatility might favor griddles.

Maintenance requirements differ significantly between grills and griddles, and this factor often influences long-term satisfaction with your purchase. Understanding the ongoing care required can help you make a more informed decision.

Grill maintenance involves:

• Cleaning grates with wire brushes after each use
• Deep cleaning the interior every few uses to remove grease buildup
• Ash disposal and charcoal replacement (charcoal grills)
• Propane tank monitoring and replacement
• Annual deep cleaning and part replacement
• Grease trap cleaning to prevent fires

Griddle maintenance is typically simpler:

• Wipe down the surface after each use while still warm
• Occasional deep cleaning with mild detergent and scraper
• Periodic seasoning (for cast iron models)
• Simple grease management with removable drip trays
• No grates to scrub or replace

Material considerations matter. Cast iron griddles require more maintenance through seasoning, while stainless steel options need less frequent care. Cold-rolled steel offers a middle ground with good heat retention and moderate maintenance needs.

Time investment: If you prefer minimal maintenance, griddles generally require less ongoing care and cleanup time. However, both options need regular attention to maintain performance and longevity.

After analyzing these factors, the choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. Both grills and griddles offer unique advantages that cater to different cooking styles and outdoor entertaining approaches.

For budget-conscious beginners, consider starting with a Steelmade USA griddle top. These flat-top surfaces are designed to convert your existing stovetop or grill into a griddle.

This approach allows you to test griddle cooking without the full investment of a standalone unit. Steelmade USA tops are compatible with most existing setups and offer an affordable entry point into griddle cooking.

The conversion option is particularly appealing because it maximizes your existing equipment investment while giving you the flexibility to experience griddle cooking firsthand. Once you experience the convenience and versatility, you’ll understand why so many outdoor cooking enthusiasts are making the switch.

Choose a griddle if you want:

• Easier cleanup and maintenance
• Healthier cooking with better oil control
• Superior breakfast cooking capabilities
• Better space efficiency for smaller outdoor areas
• More consistent cooking temperatures
• Ability to cook multiple food types simultaneously

Choose a grill if you prioritize:

• Traditional smoky flavors and char marks
• Classic barbecue cooking methods
• Entertaining with familiar cooking styles
• High-heat searing capabilities
• Outdoor cooking ambiance with open flames

Consider a hybrid approach if your budget and space allow. Many outdoor cooking enthusiasts find that having both options gives them maximum flexibility for different occasions and food types.

Ready to try griddle cooking? Start with a Steelmade USA griddle top to experience the difference firsthand. You might just discover that griddle cooking revolutionizes your outdoor culinary adventures in 2025.