Most people shopping for a griddle start with the wrong question. They ask how big a flat top they can fit on the patio instead of how much surface they will actually cook on. That is how a 36-inch unit ends up rusting under a cover while a smaller one does all the work. This guide covers six griddles across the full range, from a full-size Blackstone with a hood down to a two-burner camp accessory and a compact countertop electric model. It focuses on the things that decide whether the best griddles for backyard cooking stay in rotation: cooking surface size, heat source, hood and wind protection, surface material, and how easy the grease system is to live with.
Related: How to Season a Flat Top Griddle So It Stays Nonstick
Quick answer
The Blackstone 2311 Iron Forged 28” Omnivore Griddle with X-Braced Hood is the strongest fit for backyard cooking for a household that feeds a crowd because it offers the largest cooking surface in this roundup at 28 inches, and its X-braced hood and powder coated steel construction are built for life outdoors. Choose the Ninja® Sizzle™ Pro XL 20'' Indoor Griddle & Grill instead when the cooking happens indoors on a countertop and an open flame is not an option.
Griddles worth comparing
The six units below split into three clear groups: full outdoor propane flat tops, countertop electric griddles, and camp accessories that drop onto a stove you already own. Each card links to the exact product listing.
Blackstone 2311 Iron Forged 28” Omnivore Griddle with X-Braced Hood, Powder Coated Steel, Black
A 28-inch Omnivore flat top in powder coated steel with an X-braced hood, the largest cooking surface in this roundup and the one built for a full outdoor cooking setup.
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Ninja® Sizzle™ Pro XL 20'' Indoor Griddle & Grill, Silver, GX101
A 20-inch indoor griddle and grill combination in a silver finish, sized for countertop cooking when an outdoor setup is not available.
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Martha Stewart 12"x 22" XL Electric Griddle, Ceramic Nonstick Flat Top
A 12 by 22 inch electric griddle with a ceramic nonstick flat top, the widest countertop electric option here for family-sized breakfasts.
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Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle
A compact electric griddle with a small countertop footprint, sized for one or two servings rather than a full spread.
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Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle, 14" Two Burner Camping Accessory
A 14-inch two-burner camping accessory designed to sit over a compatible camp stove or grill, so the cooking surface comes to you instead of the other way around.
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Camp Chef Cast Iron Griddle - 14 x 16, Non-Stick Grill/Griddle Sides
A 14 by 16 inch cast iron griddle with a grill side and a griddle side, giving you two surface styles from one accessory.
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How these products were compared
This guide compares cooking surface size, heat source and fuel type, hood or lid coverage, surface material and finish, and how the grease handling and cleanup work. Product names, images, and retailer links are matched to the same listing so that every card points to the product shown.
The comparison is based on manufacturer specifications and product listing details rather than lab testing, so treat it as a starting framework rather than a scoreboard. No current prices are printed here because they move, and availability shifts with them. Use the retailer link on each card to confirm the current price, availability, and return terms before you commit.
How to choose the right griddle
Start with where you cook, because that single answer eliminates most of the list. An outdoor propane flat top such as the 28-inch Blackstone needs patio space, a fuel supply, and a cover, and in exchange it gives you the biggest surface and the most room to work. An electric countertop griddle such as the Martha Stewart 12 by 22 inch model or the Presto Liddle Griddle needs an outlet and reasonable ventilation, no fuel, and no outdoor footprint. A camp accessory such as the 14-inch two-burner Camp Chef fry griddle or the 14 by 16 inch cast iron griddle depends on a compatible stove or grill you already own, which keeps the cost and the storage footprint low.
Then size the surface against what you actually cook on a normal weeknight. A 12 by 22 inch electric flat top will run a family breakfast without a second batch. The Presto Liddle Griddle is built for one or two servings, which is exactly right for a small kitchen and exactly wrong for a crowd. On the outdoor side, a 28-inch surface handles a full griddle of smash burgers with room to move them, while a 14-inch accessory is a two-person cooking surface. Measure the space you have, including clearance for a hood to open and for you to stand at the surface with a scraper.
Heat control is the next filter. On propane and camp setups, the number and layout of burners under the plate determines whether you get real zones or one big hot spot, and the layout matters more than the headline output number. Outdoors, a hood or wind break keeps the surface temperature from wandering on a breezy morning, which is why the Blackstone's X-braced hood is worth noting. Finally, look hard at grease management, because that is the part you touch every single cook. A removable, reachable trap or channel means you clean up in a minute. A recessed channel that you cannot get a paper towel into means you fight it forever. If you are new to flat tops, read our guide to seasoning a flat top griddle before your first cook, because the first three sessions set the tone for the next three years.
Blackstone 2311 Iron Forged 28” Omnivore Griddle
The Blackstone 2311 is a 28-inch Omnivore griddle finished in powder coated steel with an X-braced hood. It is the largest and most complete outdoor unit in this roundup: the cooking surface is wide enough to work several items at once, and the hood gives you coverage when the weather or the wind does not cooperate. The powder coated steel construction is the part that matters for a griddle that lives outside, because it is the frame and body that take the abuse while the cooking surface takes the heat.
The trade-off is space and commitment. A 28-inch outdoor flat top is not a countertop appliance. It needs a permanent or semi-permanent spot, a fuel source, and a cover, and a larger surface means more steel to season and keep seasoned. If you cook for two most nights and a crowd twice a year, the honest answer is that a smaller unit or an indoor electric griddle will serve you better, and the larger flat top will sit idle. Buy the size you will use on a Tuesday, not the size you imagine using on a holiday.
Alternatives to consider
The Ninja® Sizzle™ Pro XL 20'' Indoor Griddle & Grill is better suited to countertop cooking in a kitchen or apartment, where its 20-inch indoor griddle and grill format replaces an outdoor setup entirely, while the Martha Stewart 12"x 22" XL Electric Griddle is a stronger fit when you want the widest electric flat top here and a ceramic nonstick surface for pancakes, eggs, and griddle breads without a fuel hookup.
The Presto 07211 Liddle Griddle, the Camp Chef Professional Fry Griddle, 14" Two Burner Camping Accessory, and the Camp Chef Cast Iron Griddle - 14 x 16 cover the small-footprint end of the market. The Presto is the one-or-two-person electric option. The two-burner Camp Chef accessory is for campers and tailgaters who already own a compatible stove and want a flat surface on top of it. The cast iron Camp Chef gives you a grill side and a griddle side in one 14 by 16 inch piece, which is the most flexible single accessory in the group if you want both surface styles.
Day-to-day use and maintenance
Seasoning is a habit, not a one-time event. Thin coats of oil, heat until the surface darkens evenly, then let it cool and repeat. Do that for the first several cooks and the surface starts releasing food on its own. Do it once and walk away, and you will be scraping stuck eggs for a month. A metal scraper is the tool that does the real work: while the surface is still hot, push the residue off into the grease channel, then wipe with a light film of oil before the griddle cools. That routine takes a minute and it is the entire difference between a griddle that lasts and one that does not.
Grease handling deserves the same discipline. Empty the trap or channel after every cook rather than letting it sit, because cooled fat in a hard-to-reach channel is the least pleasant cleaning job in outdoor cooking. Cast iron should be wiped and oiled, never soaked. Powder coated steel bodies should be checked for standing water after rain, since water that pools in a hood or on a frame is what shortens the life of any outdoor unit. And no surface is exempt from neglect: cast iron, steel, and nonstick finishes all degrade if you skip the wipe-down, so treat every "will not rust" claim you read anywhere with suspicion. Nonstick surfaces, including the ceramic coating on the Martha Stewart griddle, also want soft tools rather than metal, and a moderate heat setting rather than the highest one the dial offers.
Buying checklist
- Measure the counter or patio space, including clearance for a hood to open and for you to stand at the surface.
- Choose surface size based on your normal weeknight cooking, not an occasional party.
- Confirm the heat source matches your setup: propane, standard outlet, or a compatible camp stove.
- Check the grease trap or channel and make sure you can reach it for cleaning.
- Read the manufacturer's seasoning and care instructions for the exact model.
- Verify current retailer price, availability, and return terms before ordering.
Final recommendation
Choose the Blackstone 2311 Iron Forged 28” Omnivore Griddle with X-Braced Hood when you cook outdoors regularly, you have the space for a 28-inch flat top, and you want a hood and powder coated steel body that are built for a permanent patio spot. Choose the Ninja® Sizzle™ Pro XL 20'' Indoor Griddle & Grill when the cooking happens inside and a countertop unit is the practical answer. If your real pattern is small batches, the Presto Liddle Griddle or a Camp Chef accessory will do more work for you than a large flat top that never gets uncovered.