The main difference between griddle and grill is that griddles have a smooth flat surface while grills have raised edges.
Griddles and grills are cooking appliances that help us to grill food. Grilling food involves cooking food by exposing it to direct heat. The heat sources for both can be gas or electricity. However, there are several differences between griddle and grill.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is a Griddle
– Definition, Features
2. What is a Grill
– Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Griddle and Grill
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Griddle, Grill, Grilling, Grill Pan, Grill Plate
What is a Griddle
A griddle is a cooking appliance with a broad flat surface that’s rectangular in shape. This flat surface is made of metal, usually stainless steel or cast iron. This is quite like a hot plate. Just imagine a big rectangular frying pan without sides or handles. Heating this metal cooking surface from below produces dry heat, which cooks the food in its own juices or in the oil applied on top of the griddle.
Griddles can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can cook food like bacon, sausages, pancakes, French toast and eggs using a griddle. You can also use griddles to make grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas. Griddles are also found in restaurants. Moreover, the optimum cooking temperature of a griddle is usually 350°F.
What is a Grill
A grill is a metal cooking surface that mainly contains raised ridges. These ridges help to separate oils and fats from the food. Placing the food on top of the ridge allows more direct heat to be applied to the food.
Grills come in the form of grill pans or grill plates. We usually associate grills with large outdoor grills used for barbecues. However, these outdoors grills can’t be used outside as they are large and produce a lot of smoke. Therefore, grill pans and plates are the best way to make grilled food inside your kitchens. These have raised edges and can be used on the stovetop.
You can use grill pans for cooking vegetables, meat and seafood. Much of the oil and fats in the food drain off and get collected at the bottom of the pan where they continue to sizzle and add flavour to the food. Grilled sausages, grilled chicken, and grilled shrimp are some popular food items you can make on a grill.
Difference Between Griddle and Grill
Definition
A griddle is a cooking appliance with a broad flat surface that’s rectangular in shape while a grill is a metal cooking surface that mainly contains raised ridges.
Appearance
While griddles have a smooth flat surface, grills have raised edges.
Cooking
Griddles cook your food slower (more like baking or roasting), but grills cook your food faster.
Heat
Moreover, grills cook at higher temperatures than griddles.
Food Items
You can’ make food like pancakes and eggs on a grill, but you can make them in a griddle.
Scorching and Searing
Grills can sear and scorch food, but griddles can’t.
Inside vs Outdoors
We commonly use griddles inside the kitchen, but grills can also be found outdoors.
Conclusion
The main difference between griddle and grill is that griddles have a smooth flat surface while grills have raised edges. Moreover, grills cook at higher temperatures than griddles.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Griddle-commercial-countertop-cooking” By Cyungbluth – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Griddle pan” By CookipediaChef – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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