Can You Use a Griddle on an Electric Stove? Tips and Tricks
With the holiday season now in full swing, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the cooking and baking. The kitchen becomes a hub of activity as family members gather around to help prepare meals for guests. It can be difficult to keep track of everything going on at once – ovens are heating, pots are boiling over, people are bumping into each other and spilling things everywhere. In order to avoid this chaos altogether, you could purchase an electric stovetop griddle! This appliance is perfect for preparing large amounts of food quickly by using both sides simultaneously for frying eggs or bacon while finishing off some pancakes on the back side.
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? Yes, but it is important to be careful. Griddles are typically designed to sit over two burners, so if your stove only has one burner, there will be no way for the heat from that single burner to reach both sides of the griddle. If this is the case, then you’ll need to rotate the griddle periodically in order to cook food evenly. This can present some safety issues because when using a gas or induction range with many burners, flames may come near where food products are cooking and cause burns or fires.
Table of Contents
What is a griddle? History of griddles
To understand the griddle of today, it is important to understand its history. Griddles have been used for thousands of years and were first developed by our ancestors as a way to cook their meat and vegetables. Some historians believe that this cooking method began with the Greeks and Romans who would place their meat on large stones that they then heated using fire until the coals beneath reached searing temperatures. The food was then placed on top of the stone in order to be cooked. It wasn’t until later when people realized that the same effect could be achieved by placing food directly onto metal surfaces which were extremely hot after being placed over an open flame or built into one’s oven.
Some early examples of griddles included clay plates or metal made from clay. These were dishes that were placed outside of an open flame to allow food to be cooked using only the heat itself, much like cooking over a campfire. Due to the extreme heat these griddles would need to be replaced often and could not be used inside because of their conductive nature.
During medieval times, many cultures started creating their own version of the griddle by coating them with metals such as tin or iron. Still, they remained very popular for outdoor use due to their simple construction but these metal surfaces needed constant polishing either through scraping or sanding in order to remove all traces of burnt residue which would build up over time. Eventually this design evolved into stone griddles that were made out of granite, sandstone, and limestone. These surfaces were not as conductive as metal nor as fragile as clay so they could be used both indoors or outdoors for cooking.
Although it is unclear when exactly the griddle transitioned from being an outdoor tool that required constant maintenance to a more modern version of its former self which was built with convenience in mind, we can trace this shift by looking at some important moments in history:
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? You may have come across the term griddle in reference to cooking surfaces. Griddles are flat, smooth pieces of metal that are heated using either gas or electricity. The heat is then radiated against food cooked on its surface. What makes a griddle unique is that they also serve as an excellent heat conductor, allowing for more even distribution of heat over the entire cooking surface. This means that you can go directly from searing meat to finishing it in the oven without worrying about hot spots in your kitchen!
You may like this: 10 Best Electric Griddle Consumer Reports
What types of griddles are there?
There are two main types of griddles: cast iron and stainless steel. Cast iron griddles are the more traditional option, with smooth cooking surfaces made by pouring molten iron into a sand mold. The shape of this mold determines the size and shape of your cooking surface; some cooks prefer smaller griddles that take up less stovetop space while others like larger models for accommodating larger amounts of food. Cast iron griddle manufacturers claim that these products should develop a nonstick coating as you season them over time.
Today’s cast iron griddles are most closely related to those made of stone which were popular during medieval times. As these recipes grew more popular and widespread throughout Europe, people began making their own versions using cast iron instead due to its durable construction and ability to retain heat well without cracking like stone might over time. However, it wasn’t until the late 18th century when the first patent for a cast-iron cooking device was submitted in France. This design featured legs that allowed its users to suspend their new griddle over an open fire and included a lid that kept ingredients moist and also prevented food from falling into the fire below. Although this original design was not able to be mass produced due to technical constraints of the time, similar designs would continue to develop throughout history with additional features such as three feet for stability, heat resistant handles, and the same lid.
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? Stainless steel griddles give you something very similar to what you would find in professional kitchens: extremely even heating with easy cleanup. They do not, however, develop any kind of nonstick characteristics like their cast iron counterparts do.
Do I need to season my griddle? Yes! The “seasoning” on your griddle is a thin layer of oil polymerized onto the surface. This prevents rust and increases the nonstick quality of your cooking surface; it also adds flavor to any food that you cook directly against it such as bread or meat! Many online recipes suggest using flaxseed oil, soybean oil, vegetable oil, bacon grease for taste, canola oil, or shortening for fat content; some people even use their own homemade concoctions. If you use an excess amount of coarse salt while cleaning off your griddle then you will undo all progress made during seasoning so be careful how rough you are with it!
Is rust a problem? Any cast iron griddle will rust if not properly cared for. Cast iron griddles should be seasoned before their first use, washed in warm water with a stiff brush and soap only when necessary, and generously re-oiled after every few uses to prevent pitting from salt corrosion. If you have a stainless steel griddle then this is a non-issue; just follow normal cleaning and storage procedures and no rust will be found on your cooking surface.
Types of electric stoves
There are 5 types of electric stoves. Here we will discuss about them:
Type 1: Glass top stove. Glass top stove is a new and modern style cooker, which makes cooking more easy and more fun than ever before. With the glass surface, you can easily see what’s going on at all times without lifting the lid or disturbing anything underneath. And with no metal parts to scratch or damage the surface, your glass cooktop stays looking fresh and new for years to come. In addition, glass top stoves are very easy to clean and maintain. You can find a glass top electric stove in full-size range or cooktops with burners on one side, but not both sides.
Type: 2: Smoothtop electric stove. Smoothtop electric stove is called a low-profile stove, which has no knobs in the front. The temperature control is located at the rear of the surface instead of being right underneath your hand where you need them most.
Type 3: Ceramic glass top electric stove. Ceramic glass top electric stove has a thin layer of smooth porcelain enamel glazed onto an iron or steel plate that extends through the middle of it from side to side, usually five mm think., instead of a hot metal surface in a gas stove. Ceramic glass top is used to make electric smoothtop stoves.
Type 4: Radiant coil electric stove. Radiant coil electric stove is little different from the ceramic glass top stove. It’s been through many steps of refinement and improvement over the years, resulting in today’s better performance and user friendliness that you expect from a modern appliance. In general, it can be divided into three types: Open coil electric stove, Semi-Open coil electric stove and Enclosed coil electric stove.
Type 5: Halogen cooktop electric stove. Halogen cooktop electric stove has a smooth ceramic glass surface that provides an extremely durable cooking platform compared to traditional coils or elements. A nonstick coating helps ensure food won’t stick to the surface, making it much easier to clean. Halogen bulbs are embedded into the glass surface offering a concentrated heat source within the pan itself. Cleaning is effortless with this cooking method because there are no exposed coils or elements to damage when you clean your cooktop.
See more: Top 9 Best Gas Grills Under $500
How to use a griddle on an electric stove – Is it safe to use on an electric stovetop?
How to use a griddle properly? Although it may seem easy to just crack some eggs onto a hot cooking surface and flip them over, there are some techniques you’ll want to know before attempting this at home. The first step is to make sure your griddle is properly heated. This requires learning the difference between cast iron’s hot spots areas of high heat and cooler areas- areas that retain less heat under normal conditions. Once you’ve done this, you can move on to the next step which is seasoning your cooking surface. A griddle is a cooking pan or stovetop grill used to cook pancakes, bacon, eggs and other dishes. It is somewhat similar to a frying pan but has grooved surfaces instead of flat ones so food does not slip through the cracks while being cooked.
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? A griddle can be placed on an electric stove if that appliance includes coil elements rather than smooth glass-ceramic plates which cannot conduct heat effectively. A standard electric range will not work because the surface of the burner must be able to reach at least 250 degrees Fahrenheit before it begins to warm up. Even though coil burners generate less heat per square inch, they are usually sufficient for preparing most dishes.
If you want the meal to be done quickly, you should use a cooking method that heats up a much larger area of space such as a campfire or charcoal grill. Coils are far less effective at conducting heat than flames and take longer to do their job. You can expect cooking times to double if not triple when using an electric stove compared with cooking over an open flame.
A griddle is a cookware that evenly distributes the heat to allow for consistent cooking. It is very similar to a sauté pan, but it’s design creates more defined grill marks which tastes delicious. On an electric stove, you will need to use your range’s back burners in this case. This will make sure the front burners are free for other uses. One of my favorite things about using a gas stove is how quickly it heats up but sometimes I miss the high control over the griddle on an electric stove since gas usually has shorter preheat times and higher heat output. Let’s get started!
First thing first before anything else – preheat all four of your burners to medium-high with even spacing between each of them. This will prevent any elements from being damaged due to the heat at a later time.
Now it’s time to start cooking! In order for your griddle to do its job, you must first start by greasing up all over the surface of the cooking area with either cooking oil or butter – whichever one you prefer. If you use a non-stick pan then this process can be skipped for convenience purposes.
Now that you have the griddle evenly hot and well greased, it is about time to place some food onto the cooking surface. For optimum results, try using a protein such as chicken, pork, beef or tofu along with veggies such as onions and peppers for flavor enhancement due to their natural sweetness. Any kind of food that is similar in texture and consistency to these will work just fine. You can even practice your culinary skills and try out some grilled cheese or paninis!
In order to check if the griddle has been heated enough, place a few drops of water onto the cooking surface. If it sizzles on impact then you are ready to get started with cooking your food! This steaming process only takes about 2 minutes so it should be done relatively quickly. In addition, this also prevents any type of sticking from occurring which means less oil or butter for future uses.
Finally, after all the appropriate pieces have fallen into place – you’re ready to start cooking! Place your protein directly onto the middle section of the griddle and start by placing your veggies on the outside area. Depending on the size of your food, it is recommended to let them stay in contact with the griddle for up to 6 minutes which should be enough time to get these bad boys fully cooked through. If you feel like they are starting to burn after 5 minutes then it’s safe to say that you need to turn down your heat a little bit more since the griddle is currently too hot.
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? As for cleanup, any leftovers or scraps can simply be scraped off using a small spatula or other flat-edged device. Once you are done, remember to turn off your stove and unplug it before attempting any type of cleanup for the day.
The benefits and drawbacks to using a griddle on an electric stove
A griddle is a piece of cookware that has a flat , smooth surface in which you cook food. A typical electric stove top or induction stove consists of coil elements in order to heat up the pan or pot griddle that one puts on top of it. The two most common types of griddles sold are cast iron and aluminum, due to their low cost and durability respectively . Each type has different benefits and drawbacks however when learning how to use an electric stove with a griddle.
Using an Aluminum griddle on an electric stove top: Aluminum griddles are very economical, they conduct heat evenly, and because they warp over time, allow you to form them according to your stove top surface. Moreover, aluminum griddles are lightweight and thus easy to handle as well as being non-reactive with foods. The drawback however is that aluminum griddles have a tendency to become warped over time due to heating up and cooling down constantly on a stove top which tends to be hotter than an outdoor grill or gas range . This will create an uneven cooking surface which could present problems if you were making the perfect pancake for instance. You may find yourself having to press down on your pancakes in order for them not to spill out all over your stove top which depending on the size of your griddle can take forever! The other issue comes when oil is heated up on the stove top and then too much heat builds up causing it to burn which may result in a bad smell or even smoke .
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? Using a cast iron griddle on an electric stove top: Cast iron griddles are very indestructible, they conduct heat evenly, stay flat for an extended period of time, weigh more than aluminum yet retain heat better than aluminum. Unlike aluminum, cast iron will not warp over time. Cast iron however is also prone to rusting if not taken care of properly. If you were to use soap, water or any material that wasn’t inert, rust would occur. With rust comes deterioration making your cast iron griddle useless.
To avoid this, you must clean your cast iron griddle immediately after cooking on it with soap and water then allow it to dry completely before you store it away for next time. You must always cook on low heat using oils that are inert which includes lard, peanut oil or canola. Never, never wash your cast iron griddle with soap or harsh abrasive materials as this will chip off pieces of your griddle which you do not want to happen! The other drawback is due to the weight of cast iron as they tend to be more expensive than aluminum but still less than copper. Due to the weight it can be very difficult to manage and thus very dangerous.
In conclusion, if you are a beginner or not confident with cooking , I would suggest using an aluminum griddle instead of cast iron as the learning curve is less due to its lightweight . If you use your griddle correctly and take care of it properly, it will last for many years!
Read more: 10 Best Electric Smokers Consumer Reports and Ratings in 2022
Tips for using a griddle on an electric stove
Firstly, Make sure you have the right griddle for your stove. Griddles generally do not fit on any stovetop, but we were able to find a good selection of them: Type 1: With detachable handles; Type 2: That extends about half way across the stove; or Type 3: It was made for electric ranges.
Secondly, Pick an appropriate burner size for your pan. This is especially important if you are using a griddle with large cutouts intended to drain grease away from foods that are fried, like bacon or toast sticks. You want these openings positioned over the front burners only, not on the back of the stove.
Thirdly, If you have a griddle with detachable handles, place it on the stove first and adjust the burner to its lowest setting. This will help prevent your handle from melting. There are high-risk areas where handles meet elements so closer is better than further away! After turning off the burner completely, wait until surfaces are cool enough to touch before removing the pan completely. Reason being some griddles require some time for them to glide across the stovetop without catching or scratching surfaces. You don’t want that new griddle surface getting ruined right out of the gate! Also keep in mind some griddles do not have removable handles, so make sure they’ll easily fit over your largest burner.
Next, If you have an electric range, many griddles will come with a detachable thermostat that you should be able to adjust from 160-400 degrees Fahrenheit for frying meats or other searing tasks. For pancakes and other delicate stovetop recipes, set it between 250-350 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure your griddle is sitting securely on the element so there’s no slippage when turning food over or removing to a different burner! You can place a wood cutting board beneath each corner of the griddle for extra stability if needed. Make sure the whole surface is in contact with the burner before plugging in because otherwise, there may be hot spots! This is especially important if you are using a griddle that can be adjusted to different temperatures like a dial.
In addition, Purchasing good quality cooking oil is essential for stovetop usage; generic vegetable oils will smoke at high temps and may also leave an unpleasant aftertaste. We prefer to use peanut oil because of its high smoking point (450 degrees Fahrenheit), but you can also choose sunflower, safflower, grapeseed or unrefined coconut oil as well. If you’re looking to deep fry foods we believe beef fat and lard work best!
And, Preventing food from sticking: Make sure your pan and recipe are up to temperature before placing the first piece of food on it. However, if some foods do stick when trying this technique, you can still save them thanks to a little water and a spatula. If pieces of pancakes, burgers or vegetables are sticking when cooking, add a small amount of water directly onto the griddle surface and immediately cover with a lid or aluminum foil for about 30 seconds. This will create steam which should release your food from the pan!
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? Finally, If you’re searing meats you can use a stovetop grill pan if your range does not come with one built in. For broiling large cuts of meat we recommend using our cast iron reversible stovetop grill or griddle combo that works on any range without the need to remove handles! Preheat griddle side over low heat for five minutes before adding meat, then cranked up to high for the searing process.
Safety considerations when using a griddle on an electric stove
If you are planning on doing some serious cooking with a griddle, an electric stove is an optimal choice. If you must use an electric stove, keep in mind that food will take longer to cook than it would on a high end gas range. Because of this problem, here are some tips for getting the most out of your griddle while using an electric stove:
Firstly, Always preheat your griddle over low heat for at least five minutes before cooking. This allows all surfaces to reach equilibrium with the oven’s temperature; if you place food on a cold griddle it will stick and may burn.
Secondly, If you are cooking multiple batches of food, preheat the oven with the griddle inside for 10 minutes, then turn it off and remove the griddle to cook your food. This slightly increases your preheating time but will allow you to cook at a higher temperature than if you had left your griddle on low heat during the entire meal prep process.
Thirdly, Try not to open the oven door unless necessary. Every time you open the door, all hot air escapes and must be replaced with new heated air from over your stove top coils – this takes several minutes longer than simply letting more of that heated air escape from opening a window or turning on a fan. If you must turn the heat up and down throughout the cooking process, do so in 10-15 degree increments to avoid large fluctuations that will also affect your griddle’s hot spots.
Next, Use a griddle pan to decrease damage caused by moving food between cook surfaces of vastly different temperatures. Never place a cool griddle directly on an electric stove’s heating element or it may crack! Can you use a griddle on an electric stove?
Lastly, make sure to measure your stovetop coils’ temperature before turning on your oven – some older stoves can only reach 350 degrees at their maximum setting without a buffer pan underneath the heating element. This is not enough for most recipes which call for a cooking surface in excess of 400 degrees. If you have an electric stove with coils that cannot achieve the necessary heat levels, consider investing in a different stove or using a griddle pan on top of your burners to cook foods that require high heat settings.
See more: Top 8 Best 4 Burner Gas Grills
How do you clean a griddle?
How much grease does it trap? This depends upon the manufacturer’s design, though most models seem to be able to collect some excess fat drippings. If you are worried about this then get a model with grooves along the side to direct excess oil towards an integrated trough . If your griddle is not designed in this manner then be sure to tip it over regularly to allow all of the fat to pool at one end, gradually drain it out through a sink, and wipe down with paper towels. You also may want to consider getting some aluminum foil or parchment paper and folding them so that they fit underneath your griddle for easy cleanup. Or go ahead and invest in a special “grill pan” if you frequently cook many greasy foods on your cooking surface.
To begin with, never scrub off any black residue that may already be on your new griddle! After all, this is what helps make it non-stick so don’t remove it unless you plan on re-seasoning your cooking surface. Another key tip is to avoid using any soap or harsh chemicals when cleaning your griddle. Instead, simply use a stiff brush and some hot water to clean away most of the residue that’s stuck on your cooking surface. Then rinse it off under hot running water and dry with a towel before heating it up again for cooking.
Although most people think seasoning means creating a coating over an old piece of metal which you must repeat regularly in order to maintain its non stick properties, this is not the correct way to approach things especially if you only plan on using your cast iron griddle occasionally rather than regularly for heavy duty jobs such as flipping pancakes all day long.
Cleaning your griddle is very simple! You can use a thin, stiff rubber or silicone spatula to scrape away excess food – just be sure that it’s free of any other material such as wood that could damage the cooking surface. To clean off stubborn residue you may need to do some basic scouring with soap and water or even coarse salt. Just remember to rinse it all off afterwards! Repeat this process after every use for best results
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? Electric stoves make cooking easy, because you don’t have to deal with a fire or an open flame. You can cook anything from soups and chili to steak and even make omelets on an electric stove. Cleaning is as simple as wiping the burner pans down after each use and if they start looking worse for wear, try one of these cleaning tricks below:
Firstly, Make sure that all burners are off and unplugged before starting your cleaning process. It’s easiest in a lot of ways just to leave them alone while you’re working rather than having to turn something back on in the middle of things.
Secondly, Using either baking soda or cream of tartar mixed with lemon juice, rub the paste over any stains on your stovetop. Let it sit for about ten minutes, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
Thirdly, Dip a cotton ball in either lemon juice or white vinegar. Scrub at tough stains with it until they are gone. You can also make an effective cleaning paste by mixing one part baking soda to two parts lemon juice for this purpose as well. Just let it sit overnight before you wipe away. If you’re dealing with really bad build-up of food, grease or rust spots that won’t go away easily even after these remedies, try letting them soak into a bowl overnight first before wiping them off in the morning.
Next, Wash all surfaces of the stovetop with soapy water. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth to avoid streaks.
Finally, To get rid of strong cooking smells, wipe your stovetop down with bleach to kill the odor-causing bacteria that’s left behind after cooking. Once again, make sure that all burners are off and unplugged before you start this process!
See more: Weber Spirit vs Genesis – Which is the Best Model?
Tips for using a griddle on an electric stove
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove?
Tip 1: Make sure to turn off the stove burner when you leave or go to sleep and also turn the oven and toaster ovens completely off before leaving the house or going to sleep for extended periods.
Tip 2: Never put anything directly on an electric stove top pan without it being in a pan. Anything placed directly on one of these surfaces can short out the surface which can cause the stove to overheat and start a fire.
Tip 3: Never clean electric stove top burners without unplugging the unit first. This will prevent you from getting shocked while cleaning.
Tip 4: Always use an appropriate burner pan on your stove top. If not, damage can occur due to direct heat contact with the surface of the electric stovetop which may cause it to overheat or even result in a fire causing further damage to home or property in addition to loss of life or injury..
Tip 5: Keep all food type items away from burners when cooking by at least 2 inches. A good tip is using one of those metal pans that has been turned into a fruit bowl for holding your veggies.
Tip 6: Do not ever place electric stove burners under cabinets or into the backsplash area. If heat rises, damage can occur causing serious property damage and loss of life or injury.
Tip 7: When removing an electric stove top pan always use a dry towel to place it on after removing it from the surface. While still hot, placing a wet towel will result in steam burns which are very dangerous as well as cause further potential damage to home or property due to water contact with hot metal surfaces.
Tip 8: Allowing excess juices from meats such as steak etc., dripping onto your stove burner pans will cause permanent staining and require eventual replacement of said pans if you don’t care for proper cleaning methods over time .
Tip 9: Always keep all small children and animals away from your electric stove top unit. If not, serious injury can occur to both child and animal with potential further damage to home or property with loss of life possible as well
Tip 10: Using a thin metal spatula is the best way for removing any food spills on oven racks..
Tip 11: Always have fire extinguishing materials near an operating oven at all times when in use . These include baking soda, salt, powder cleanser etc., Never leave cooking unattended no matter what type of heating appliance is being used. Have a working smoke alarm installed that will sound if there are fumes present .
Tip 12. Make sure all children are out of the house before using any type of cooking appliances either gas or electric especially deep fat fryers. Always make sure all doors to the kitchen are shut while cooking.
Tip 13. All surfaces should be free of grease and dirt before using any type of cooking appliance, even microwaves. Follow manufacturers instructions for cleaning the inside of your unit if dirty before operating.
Tip 14. Do not use any appliance that has been dropped onto a hard surface or shows signs of being heated from the bottom up with an excessive amount of heat such as glowing red on the bottom portion.
Tip 15. In case of a fire in your home always extinguish it with baking soda, salt etc., no water at all.
>>> How To Grill Everything| Can you use a griddle on an electric stove?
Conclusion
One question that often comes up is whether you can use a griddle on an electric stove. The answer to this question will depend on the size of your griddle and how much heating power your stove has. An electric burner may be too small or insufficiently powerful to heat large pans like those used with a griddle without scorching food or even catching fire. The griddle is a common kitchen appliance that can be used for cooking eggs, pancakes, bacon or any other item you would normally cook on the stove.
Can you use a griddle on an electric stove? Electric stoves are not designed to have pots and pans placed directly onto them, but they will work with an electric griddle if it has feet to lift it off of the coils below. If you do find out that your appliance is compatible, make sure there are no children in the kitchen while cooking; they could easily grab onto any hot handles and burn themselves!
See more:
Rec Tec vs Traeger: Which one is the best for the money?
