--- title: "Griddle: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "A griddle is a flat, heavy cooking surface, and to griddle is to cook on it. It makes pancakes, flatbreads, burgers and grilled cheese with an even brown." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/griddle" --- # Griddle A griddle is a flat, heavy cooking surface, and to griddle is to cook on it. It makes pancakes, flatbreads, burgers and grilled cheese with an even brown. Also called Griddling, Griddled, Flat-top. A griddle is a flat, heavy metal cooking surface with no sides, or very low ones. To griddle is to cook food on it with a thin film of fat. It gives the even, all-over browning you see on pancakes, smash burgers, flatbreads and grilled cheese. In the UK, "griddle pan" often means a ridged pan that leaves stripes, which Americans call a grill pan. The flat kind is close to a Spanish [plancha](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/plancha). ## How to do it 1. Heat the griddle over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes so it heats evenly. Thick [cast iron](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/cast-iron) takes the longest. 2. Test it. A drop of water should skitter and evaporate within a couple of seconds. 3. Wipe on a thin layer of oil or butter with a paper towel. 4. Add the food with space between pieces. 5. Cook until the underside is browned, then flip once. Common settings: * Pancakes: medium heat, about 190°C (375°F) on an electric griddle. Flip when bubbles form and pop on top and the edges look dry. * Burgers and flatbreads: medium-high to high heat. * Eggs: medium-low heat. ## How to tell it is done The surface is evenly [golden brown](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/golden-brown). Pancakes spring back when pressed in the middle. Burgers reach 71°C (160°F) inside. ## Why it works A thick, flat plate holds a lot of heat and spreads it evenly, so the food browns all over instead of in stripes. The large area means many pieces cook at once at the same temperature. ## Common mistakes * Starting cold. The first batch sticks and comes out pale. * Too much fat. Pancakes get greasy, lacy edges. Wipe the excess away. * Heat that is too high. The outside burns before the middle cooks, especially with pancakes. * Pressing burgers after the first minute. It pushes the juices out. ## In recipes "Griddle the bread" means toast it on a hot, dry or lightly oiled flat pan. A British recipe that says "griddle" for steak or vegetables often means a ridged pan, which you can swap for a [grill](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grill) or a heavy skillet used the same way as you would [pan-fry](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/pan-fry). ## Recipes that use this technique 14 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2014/08/Blueberry-Pancakes-scaled.jpg)Blueberry Pancakeswww.onceuponachef.com · 30 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/blueberry-pancakes.html) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Whole-Grain-Pancake-Mix-SQUARE.jpg)Whole Grain Vegan Pancake Mix (6 Ingredients!)minimalistbaker.com · 10 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/whole-grain-vegan-pancake-mix/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/minimalist-baker-strawberry-danish-french-toast9-680x1024-google.jpeg)Strawberry Danish French Toastminimalistbaker.com · 10 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/strawberry-danish-french-toast/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Snickers-Pancakes-google.jpeg)Vegan Snickers Pancakesminimalistbaker.com · 25 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-snickers-pancakes/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Vegan-Pumpkin-Cornbread-Waffles-Minimalist-Baker-google.jpeg)Vegan Pumpkin Cornbread Wafflesminimalistbaker.com · 25 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-pumpkin-cornbread-waffles/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Whole-Grain-Griddle-Cakes-with-Blueberry-Orange-Compote.jpeg)Whole Wheat Griddle Cakes with Blueberry Orange Compoteminimalistbaker.com · 25 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/whole-wheat-griddle-cakes-with-blueberry-orange-compote/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Mini-Sopapilla-Pancakes-Dairy-Free-minimalist-baker-SQUARE.jpg)Mini Sopapilla Pancakesminimalistbaker.com · 20 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/mini-sopapilla-pancakes/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/GF-Pancake-Mix-SQUARE.jpg)Gluten Free Pancake Mixminimalistbaker.com · 25 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/gluten-free-pancake-mix/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Vegan-Cinnamon-Roll-Pancakes-SQUARE.jpg)Vegan Cinnamon Roll Pancakesminimalistbaker.com · 125 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-cinnamon-roll-pancakes/) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2011/04/Spicy-Corn-Cake-Breakfast-Stack.jpeg?fit=225%2C225)Spicy Corn Cake Breakfast Stackpinchofyum.com · 35 min](https://pinchofyum.com/spicy-corn-cake-breakfast-stack) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/2011/03/Cinnamon-Apple-Carrot-Pancakes.jpeg?fit=225%2C225)Cinnamon Apple Carrot Pancakespinchofyum.com · 30 min](https://pinchofyum.com/cinnamon-apple-carrot-pancakes) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/pecan-pancakes21.jpg?fit=200%2C225)Butternut Squash Pecan Pancakespinchofyum.com · 20 min](https://pinchofyum.com/butternut-squash-pecan-pancakes) ## Related terms * [PlanchaA plancha is a thick, very hot flat-top used in Spanish cooking. Cooking a la plancha sears seafood, meat and vegetables fast with only a little oil.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/plancha) * [Pan-fryPan-frying cooks food in a skillet with a thin layer of hot fat over medium to medium-high heat, so it browns on each side as it cooks through.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/pan-fry) * [Cast ironCast iron is heavy iron cookware that holds heat for hard searing and turns nonstick when seasoned. Here is how to cook in it and clean it.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/cast-iron) * [Golden brownGolden brown is the deep, even gold color food turns as it browns in the oven or pan. It signals flavor from browning and that baked goods are cooked.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/golden-brown) * [GrillGrilling cooks food on a grate over direct, high heat from charcoal, gas or wood. It gives a browned, smoky crust and those dark stripes in minutes.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grill) [More in dry-heat cooking](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/dry-heat-cooking)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)