For many of us, we can easily recognize food that has been cooked on a grill. The distinctive sear marks on a piece of cooked meat is hard to miss, but is that all? While grills and griddles are often used interchangeably, they are actually two very different cooking surfaces.  Let’s get into the explanation about their differences. 

The Basics 

A griddle is pretty much like a hotplate, with a flat surface made of steel wherein food is heated from below. It is used for cooking a plethora of breakfast fare such as bacon, pancakes, French toast, and  scrambled eggs. 

On the other hand, a grill has raised ridges or bars with openings in between to give food their beautiful grill marks. The ridges on a grill are similar to that of an outdoor barbecue and is best for hamburgers, steaks, chops, sandwiches, and all kinds of vegetables. 

Texture and Taste

Grills cook at temperatures around 204°C which is significantly higher than griddles at around 177°C. Also, one of the major differences between food cooked on a griddle and grill is their different heat transfer method. 

With griddles, the heat is transferred from the entire metal surface to the food, resulting in even cooking and browning. Grills, however, utilizes higher cooking temperatures than griddle cooking. Through the grill grate, heat is transferred directly from the fire, with the metal absorbing and intensifying the heat when it comes into contact with food. 

It is for this reason that grilled food have prominent char marks, which is a result of intense browming or burning. Food cooked on a griddle never comes in direct contact with the heat source or flames. 

Grilled food have a slightly burnt, charred texture which imparts a smoky flavor. Griddles are more mellow in terms of texture and taste, tasting like regular cooked food. With that said, griddles are equally great for cooking all types of food. It can also be used for frying.    

Convenience 

When it comes to cooking times, grills work twice as fast as griddles when it comes to cooking. Without the steel surface as a barrier between the food and the heat, grilled food takes only a few minutes to cook, unlike griddled food which require longer times and plenty of flipping over those pancakes and patties. 

In terms of portability, however, griddles are much portable especially since it is also available as an electric model. These days, more and more grills and griddles are available as countertop appliances that can be used anywhere in your kitchen. It is also possible to have two types of cooking surfaces in one with reversible grill/griddle. Some even have interchangeable plates to make waffles. They can also come in the form of small contact units or large contact units.  Ultimately, the choice depends on your cooking and eating needs. Cooking on grill is a little healthier because the fat can drip off and create extra smoke and flavour, instead of sitting in grease on a griddle. 

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