Best outdoor griddles: 10 flat-top cookers worth comparing

The Slate GP 56 is our Top Pick for regular family cooking without a full-size trolley. Solid construction and useful cooking control are its strengths, although it is heavy for a portable model. The two independently controlled burners are the useful upgrade over smaller single-burner planchas.

The current listing provides a 2,270cm² porcelain-enamelled cast-iron surface, adjustable feet and separate heat controls. You can devote one side to browning while keeping another gentler for vegetables, although the continuous plate still transfers heat between zones. Budget for a stable, heat-appropriate table or the compatible stand. It suits someone who wants frequent breakfasts, burgers and stir-fries outside, with less surface preparation than a bare-steel griddle.

The Sigma 1 CV is our Budget Pick for a small patio or car-camping setup. It offers a simpler way into flat-top cooking than a large wheeled unit. The most practical advantage is its cartridge-based gas supply, especially if you do not already own a barbecue cylinder.

The checked Amazon package includes the hose and regulator, with the CV470 Plus cartridge bought separately. Its 30 × 45cm enamelled cooking plate sits above a single 2.8kW burner, so you cannot independently set a hot and cool side. Plan meals in batches if you are feeding several people. At a listed 15.5kg, it is transportable by car rather than something to carry far on foot.

The 71cm Slate is our Expensive Pick for a permanent outdoor cooking area. Even heating, straightforward assembly and accessible cleaning make it an appealing option for regular outdoor meals. We would choose it over a tabletop model when the included trolley and preparation space will be used every week, rather than merely because the plate is larger.

The current Amazon version has three burners and a 3,252cm² cooking surface, plus side tables, tool hooks and an oversized grease tray. More width gives you room to organise food instead of crowding it into one wet pile. There is no separate side burner for a saucepan. Measure the complete cooker with its shelves in use, and leave the manufacturer’s required clearance from walls and other combustible materials.

The Onyx 2 is an appealing middle ground between a tiny camping griddle and a wheeled outdoor kitchen. Quick heating and simple controls are useful, but the small grease collector needs attention and metal beside the lid handle can become hot. Those details matter more in everyday use than its compact appearance suggests.

The checked Amazon package is a tabletop griddle with a cover, using a 58 × 36cm enamelled cast-iron cooking surface. Two burners provide more flexibility than the Sigma’s single zone, but the listed 25kg weight means it is better moved occasionally than packed away after every meal. Allow space for a compatible cylinder and confirm the hose and regulator supplied by the seller. Choose it if covered plancha cooking fits your menu.

Blackstone’s 22-inch tabletop format is a practical option when you want a substantial cooking plate without a full-size cart. Our selected Amazon package is the 2144 with a hood, rather than assuming every 22-inch listing includes the same accessories. It is a sensible size for someone who wants the familiar seasoned-steel griddle experience without a large cart.

The two burners let you manage different foods across the plate, while grease drains to a rear collector. The trade-off is maintenance: follow Blackstone’s seasoning instructions and protect the dry cooking surface between uses. This needs more attention than an enamelled plancha. Check the supplied gas connection and any stand separately before buying, particularly when comparing imported bundles. Choose it for the cooking style, not because the lowest advertised price includes everything.

The Ultimate’s lift-off design is useful if one cooker must serve both a patio and occasional trips. The ceramic surface and flexible arrangement are appealing, but allow time for the cart’s fiddly assembly. Some areas of the three-burner plate can run cooler, so move food as needed rather than expecting identical heat across the surface.

The current Amazon listing is the PB3BGD2 three-burner package with a cover. It offers a coated surface instead of bare steel, but that coating still needs the correct tools and cleaning method. Careful cleaning and suitable utensils are important for protecting the coating over time. Confirm the exact cooking dimensions and regulator package with the seller: specifications differ between regional listings. It is portable in sections, not a lightweight camping appliance.

The Griddle 3400 is worth comparing when you want a full trolley without paying for a long list of extra cooking modes. The broad plate and storage space are useful, although there is no thermometer. Check the plate dimensions against the portions you normally cook.

The current model uses a 48 × 68cm porcelain-coated cast-iron plate above three stainless-steel burners. It includes electronic ignition, side shelves, hooks and a removable grease tray. Those are useful essentials for keeping raw ingredients, tools and cooked food organised. The plate cannot provide open-grate char in the way a conventional barbecue does. Buy it for flat-top meals and compare the total cost after adding the correct gas supply and weather protection.

The 43cm Slate is the smaller choice for cooks who value build quality more than maximum batch size. The solid plate suits small ingredients that would fall through a grate, with weight and gas consumption among the trade-offs. It belongs on the shortlist for couples or smaller meals rather than as a miniature replacement for every full-size barbecue.

Weber’s model-specific specification gives one burner, a 43 × 41.5cm plate and a 19.5kg weight. The checked 1500540 model is also listed on Weber’s British site and uses disposable gas cartridges, with only approved alternative connections appropriate. Unlike the 56cm Slate, it cannot independently heat two zones. Choose it when the smaller storage footprint genuinely helps, and budget for a stable table as well as fuel.

The Flat Iron Premium is the capacity-focused alternative here. Its verified specification is the main reason to shortlist it: a broad ceramic-coated steel plate, four burners and useful enclosed storage. Check the delivery fully and confirm that the fittings are present before planning a first cook.

The current Amazon listing gives around 5,000cm² of cooking space and an overall width of 163.3cm. That extra room is valuable for batch breakfasts or keeping vegetables separate from burgers, but it also demands more cleaning and covered storage. Flat Iron packages use different tops and accessories, so confirm the exact Premium specification before ordering. Check the exact manual’s care instructions and whether the gas hose and regulator are included.

The Versa-Tile is the most flexible cooker in this selection, but its three functions are not equally strong. Its speed and cooking space suit family meals, but pizza bases can brown before the toppings have finished cooking. Allow extra assembly time because the instructions could be clearer.

The Amazon package includes a griddle tile, cast-iron grate and pizza attachment, with two independently controlled zones. We would buy it primarily as a spacious griddle and barbecue, treating pizza as an occasional extra. Decide your configuration before lighting it: swapping hot tiles mid-meal is impractical. Its fixed side shelves also make storage demanding. If you only want a flat plate, the simpler Griddle 3400 is easier to justify.