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The great outdoors The griddle can change the way summer feels. And the best grills can make dinner a proud event. What’s a more satisfying sound than the slap of a spatula on sliced onions and rib eye made for a good cheesesteak? Corn blisters cooked in grease left over from thick carne asada? Smashing burgers at the backyard barbecue? The happy pairing of pancakes cooked on a beautifully decorated griddle? All you need is a good griddle to set you up for success.
An outdoor gas griddle is essential behind the direct heat of a charcoal or wood fire – adding the flexibility of your favorite food to your solar array. I’ve spent months cooking countless smashburgers, bacon, tacos, and pancakes to find the perfect griddle for behind-the-scenes cooking of any kind. Now, I find myself using the griddle more than the grill.
My top ratings Traeger Flatrock ($1,000) it offers more warmth and reliability than anything I’ve tried, and it feels like a Cadillac just rolling around the yard. This time, it is a stainless steel four burner 36-inch Weber Slate ($1,049) it offers a spacious cooking surface, an easy way to season, and a number of great features to make the flat iron a real workhorse. For those on a tight budget, my best suggestion is to simply downsize your Weber. The compact The 28-inch Weber Slate is the best value at $798producing cheap models whose durability is uncertain.
For more information on outdoor cooking, check out WIRED’s guide Best Pizza Ovens, The Best Smokeless Fireplacesand Best for Cast Iron Pans.
Updated May 2026: I added a 28-inch Weber Slate, a Solo Stove Stainless Griddle, and a 22-inch Weber Slate portable griddle. I moved the LoCo 36-inch griddle to honorable mention. I also added news and updates on the griddle’s performance over time and made sure the links and prices were up to date.
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The Best Griddle Ever
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Photo: Matthew Korfhage
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Photo: Matthew Korfhage
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Drager
Flatrock 33-inch 3-Zone Griddle
THE WIRE
- Too hot for any cooker I’ve tried
- Strong construction and wind protection
- The top of the cooking surface
HE IS TIRED
- The side tables do not have hooks for utensils
- Temperature above 600 degrees
I grew up in Oregon, where Traeger was born. Even after the company sold and moved to Utah, a Traeger grill or user The backyard has always been a source of desire and pride for those who raised me – a sign that you are living well and doing well. Flatrock’s solid three-piece band lends the same vibe.
The usual enemy of high-quality glass is uneven heating, which depends on the amount of thermal energy it takes to heat thick steel or metal plates. This Traeger, like any grill I’ve tried, is designed to provide impressively even heat distribution despite its size. The secret is three U-shaped burners that double the heat sources under the carbon steel frame. Flatrock also provides strong heat control between zones and strong wind protection above and below the burners. In all the years of cooking, I have never had a fire. There is not even a hot spot, which has a difference of at least 20 degrees on the cooking surface. This means even, simple spices on the grill to cook well browned pancakes; burgers that are cooked the same way around the world; and easy temperature control between veggies, meat, berries, tortillas.
Flatrock is big, built solidly, and doesn’t wobble or wobble. It handles well with castors locked on its wheels. If you keep it plugged in, the accessory allows you to check the status of your propane tank. It doesn’t get too hot (it goes below 600 degrees Fahrenheit), which isn’t great if you’re trying to quickly grill a smashburger, but the temperature remains steady for a respectable grilling of fish or meat.
