Flat Top Grills & Griddles
Griddles and flat-top grills are highly efficient cooking appliances designed for busy kitchens and exceptional results. These units feature a thick polished griddle plate that can accommodate a wide range of cooking tasks. They offer quick preheat capabilities and consistent heat distribution to ensure maximum productivity. Additionally, they can handle high volumes of cooking, even with frozen food.
Commercial griddles are incredibly versatile and can handle various menu items, including proteins like burgers, paninis, bacon, and vegetables. Flat-top grills come in two types: heavy-duty countertop griddles that can be placed on the counter and clamshell griddles specifically designed for fast cooking.
Clamshell griddles have a spacious cooking surface and a top platen that allows for cooking on both sides simultaneously, significantly reducing cooking time. Some clamshell griddles even have multiple platens to cover the entire surface. These griddles work best with food of uniform height, although there are electric units that don't come into direct contact with the food, eliminating the need to consider food geometry.
Countertop griddles are central units in the kitchen that can be used to cook breakfast favorites like eggs and pancakes, as well as sandwiches and vegetables. They come in various widths, ranging from 24 to 72 inches, and each burner is individually controlled, allowing for simultaneous cooking of different menu items.
Countertop griddles are ideal for kitchens with limited space, as they have a single flat cooking surface and do not require uniform height like clamshell griddles. However, if you prefer the clamshell design and have limited floor space, there are countertop models available with a clamshell hood.
Griddle plates are typically made of steel or chrome. Steel is a cost-effective option that gets the job done, but chrome offers increased heat retention and minimized flavor transfer and heat emission. Composite plates are the most durable and provide the fastest heat transfer and recovery times. The thickness of the plate on countertop griddles can range from half an inch to an inch, with thicker plates allowing for cooking larger volumes of food while maintaining a consistent temperature.