What is the best type of camping griddle?
When you’re camping, cooking outdoors is one of the most fun ways to enjoy a meal. Whether you’re making scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast or hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch or dinner, a camping griddle will take your cooking experience to the next level.
Our top pick, the Camplux Propane Gas Griddle Grill, remains a favorite for its spacious cooktop and ability to heat up fast.
What to know before you buy a camping griddle
A griddle is a great way to serve up a hot meal without having to wait for each dish to cook. The spacious cooking surface allows you to prepare many different foods while keeping the others warm. Griddles are designed to make campfire cooking fast and easy, and cleanup involves just a few quick wipedowns.
Determine your budget
The amount of money you are willing to spend will determine your choice of a camping griddle. If you’re on a tight budget, a griddle that you can place directly on a camping stove will be your best bet. If you are cooking for a larger family, you might want to consider a portable gas griddle or a freestanding model that uses propane.
Consider how much cooking area you need
When purchasing a camping griddle, think about how much cooking surface you will need. Keep in mind the number of people you’ll be feeding and whether you prefer a portable or freestanding model. If you are cooking for a large number of people, a freestanding model will be better suited to your needs than a portable one that has a smaller cooking area designed to feed just a few people.
Find one that is easy to clean
When you’re camping, one of the most difficult tasks is clean up after cooking. A camping griddle is one of the easiest ways to ensure you don’t spend a lot of time cleaning, so you can have more time enjoying the outdoors. Avoid choosing a griddle that has plates with lots of gaps where grease can leak and become difficult to clean.
Camping griddle features
Camping griddles are available in three different models: a griddle pan that can be placed on a camping stove, a portable gas griddle that runs on propane and a freestanding gas griddle that can easily be moved around the campsite.
Camping griddle pan
A camping griddle pan can be placed on top of a camping stove. The nonstick surface can be wiped down easily to avoid food getting stuck onto the pan.
Portable gas camping griddle
A portable gas camping griddle is easy to transport, and it typically comes with two burners fueled by propane for even cooking and searing.
Freestanding gas camping griddle
A freestanding gas camping griddle can be mounted on a cart with wheels that you can easily move around the campsite. This model is ideal for longer camping trips.
Camping griddle cost
Camping griddles range in price from $20 for a camping griddle pan to $150 for a freestanding gas camping griddle.
Camping griddle FAQs
What can you cook on a camping griddle?
A. One of the most popular things to cook on a camping griddle is breakfast. From scrambled eggs and crispy bacon to seared sausage links and perfectly made pancakes, you can create your favorite breakfast dishes in just a few minutes. When it comes to lunch or dinner, you can make hot dogs, burgers, veggies, grilled cheese sandwiches, steaks, fish and chicken.
How do you clean a camping griddle?
A. Once your food is fully cooked, clean your camping griddle right away. Scrape off any pieces of food left on the surface. Griddles can be washed under hot water and dried off immediately afterward. Be sure to season the bottom of the griddle with a little olive oil to protect it from rusting when you are not using it.
Which camping griddle should I get?
Best of the best camping griddle
Camplux Propane Gas Griddle Grill: available at Amazon
Our take: The U-shaped burner offers 15,000 Btu of heat and is designed to cook your food evenly, while the flat-top griddle is easy to clean.
What we like: There is a knob to easily control the griddle’s temperature. The griddle’s lightweight design makes it easy to transport.
What we dislike: Some users have said there are hot spots on the griddle.
Best bang for your buck camping griddle
Tacklife Gas Griddle 2-Burner Portable Outdoor Griddle: available at Amazon
Our take: This propane gas camping griddle has two burners, and you can adjust the temperatures for searing or grilling.
What we like: The baking tray is made of stainless steel, so it won’t warp when heated.
What we dislike: We wish it had a larger cooking surface.
Honorable mention camping griddle
Country Smokers The Highland 4-Burner Portable Griddle: available at Amazon
Our take: With nearly 600 square inches of cooking space, this camping griddle is enormous and ideal for cooking large quantities of food.
What we like: The steel griddle top is pre-seasoned and ready to use right out of the box.
What we dislike: This camping griddle is not as sturdy as we would have expected.
Kellie Speed is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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