If you are in a hurry and want to find out what the Best Flat Top Grill is then we would recommend the CUISINART CGG-888 Grill.
When you’re in the mood for grilling out, but don’t want to deal with the mess that comes with it, you want a flat top grill. This type of grill offers unique features you won’t find in traditional grills, allowing you to cook a wide variety of foods quickly and easily.
If you’re looking for the best flat top grill on the market today, you’re in the right place. The following guide includes everything you need to know about what these grills are and what features they offer. Plus, I’ve listed five of my favorite brands you’ll want to consider.
It’s time to up your grilling game with a flat top grill!
Here are the grills that we will be reviewing:
- CUISINART CGG-888 Grill
- MaxKare Propane Gas Grill
- Royal Gourmet GB4001
- U-MAX 4-Burner Portable Propane Gas Grill
- Camp Chef Flat Top Grill
Flat Top Grill Buyer’s Guide
Let’s take a closer look at what these grills are and what features to consider when shopping for one.
What Is A Flat Top Grill?
When you think of a grill, you probably think of a classic grill with grates along the top. It’s what most of us got started on. But a flat top grill or griddle is a little different.
Instead of the signature grates, flat top grills have a metallic grilling surface that is entirely flat. No opening or gaps, just a flat surface for you to cook your food on.
Benefits of a Flat Top Grill
Flat top grills can cook faster than traditional grills. The solid flat surface is a phenomenal heat conductor, making large family gatherings a breeze.
Even better, they’re easy to clean and use. Traditional grills get stuck with soot and burnt charcoal that can be incredibly difficult to remove. With a flat top grill, all you need to do is scrape off the top, scrub it down, and you’re good to go.
Since you don’t have gaps for all the juices from the food to escape, flat top grills are more forgiving for novice grill masters. It’s much harder to dry out a burger if the juices don’t have anywhere to escape!
Have you ever tried grilling eggs on a traditional grill? Of course not! But with a flat top, this is a breeze. It’s one cooking surface that can handle it all. Eggs, burgers, bacon, sandwiches, whatever you want, the best griddle grill can handle it.
Major benefits of a flat top include:
- Even cooking
- Easy cleanup
- Keeps all juices
- Can cook a wide variety of foods
It’s amazing how a simple design change results in such an increased range of cooking options!
Drawbacks of a Flat Top Grill
The biggest drawback of a flat top grill is right in the design. Because flat top grills don’t have openings between the cooking surface, any smoky flavor is eliminated right from the start. There is no way around it — this isn’t the best option if you want to add smoky accents to the flavor of your food.
The 5 Best Flat Top Grills for 2020
Not sure where to start? Check out the following reviews of five flat top grills that I recommend:
Best Overall: CUISINART CGG-888 Grill
This grill might not seem like much, but it’s the epitome of convenience and functionality. It has a 360-degree design, which makes it easier than ever to grill. Even better, it comes with a vented lid. This gives you the option to roast, steam, bake, or smoke all with one grill!
Of all the grills highlighted here, this Cuisinart grill is the easiest to assemble. It comes with a paper towel holder, a removable oil cup, and two-burners. Its small size might be a concern if you’re looking for a grill for larger gatherings, but it’s perfect for a small backyard cookout.
While it’s on the pricier side for a small grill, it’s incredibly versatile and can cook anything from salmon to pizzas. If you’re finding yourself wanting to grill a wide range of foods with a wide range of techniques, this grill might be precisely what you need.
When you’re looking for the best flat top grill, look on further.
Pros
- Comes with a lid for more cooking options
- Easy assembly
- Built-in paper towel holder
- 360-degree design for easy access
Cons
- Small size – only two burners
- Expensive for its size
Best 2-in-1 Grill: MaxKare Propane Gas Grill
Why not get the best of both worlds? There are countless times I would have loved to have both a flat top and a traditional grill at my disposal.
That’s what makes this grill so great, it’s a 2-in-1, so when you just can’t go without that smoky flavor, take off the flat top and install the grates!
This grill is perfect for beginners; it’s easy to assemble and use. It’s both an indoor and outdoor grill, so no matter where you have space to cook, it can get the job done. The chrome plating helps to prevent both scorching and rust for added durability.
The biggest drawback to the MaxKare Propane Gas Grill is the size. It’s only a two-burner grill, and as such, isn’t capable of cooking large amounts of food at a time. Of course, for the price, it’s hard to beat!
Pros
- 2-in-1 design combines a flat top and traditional grill
- Easy to assemble and use
- Chrome plating prevents scorching and rust
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Small – only two burners
Easiest to Clean: Royal Gourmet GB4001
The worst part of grilling is the cleanup. Royal Gourmet considered this when they made their GB4001 model. It has an easy access detachable oil cup to catch your oil runoff.
All the oil works its way down into the channel, then gets pushed out towards the detachable cup. All you’ll need to do for cleanup is remove the cup and clean it out!
Even better, the removable flat top has handles on each side so you can easily remove it for cleaning. I, for one, am tired of jamming my fingers into the sides of flat tops to try and pop them off when I’m cleaning the grill.
Of all the grills I reviewed here, the Royal Gourmet GB4001 has the largest cooking surface. With 792 square inches of cooking space and 52,000 BTU’s of cooking power, this grill can handle even the largest family barbecues.
But since it comes with 4-burners, if you don’t need as much heat, you can easily save a little propane! While Royal Gourmet makes cleanup a breeze, they don’t make preservation one.
You’ll need to buy a cover for this grill and dry it after each cleaning because it doesn’t have any rust prevention built in. It’s a headache, but if you take care of it right, it will last.
Pros
- 4-burner grill
- Has side handles for easy cleaning
- Large cooking surface
- Easy access detachable oil cup for easy cleanup
Cons
- No rust prevention in the design
Best For Beginners: U-MAX 4-Burner Portable Propane Gas Grill
I love all the extra features that the U-MAX Portable Grill comes with. A built-in spot for a cutting board, trash bag hook, and an underneath storage basket makes grilling a breeze. I know I have tons of equipment that I like to keep out by my grill. The storage basket makes it easy to stay organized.
If you’re a novice griller, this grill comes with everything but the propane. You get a storage bag for your grilling tools, grill tongs, a grill spatula, a grill fork, and even a cutting board when you buy this flat top grill.
The biggest drawback to the U-Max Portable Grill is that the grease trap is underneath the grill instead of its side. I’ve had to deal with these before, and when you go to remove the grease trap from underneath the grill, it’s almost impossible to do it without getting some grease along your arm.
But when you’re looking for a flat top grill that can quickly cook for everyone at your family get-together, this is a perfect fit.
Pros
- Large cooking area
- Comes with cutting board and trash bag hook
- Underneath storage basket
- Comes with grilling tools
Cons
- The grease trap is underneath
Best Big Grill: Camp Chef Flat Top Grill
It really is the best outdoor flat top grill for large gatherings. No, it might not seem like it’s jam packed full of features, but everything that it has is quality. I’m tired of repeatedly replacing cheap grills. With the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill, you don’t have to worry about this.
It’s made from the best materials around to prevent any warping or rusting and has a huge grilling surface. It has two storage racks underneath the grill, so whether you’re keeping the next batch you’re looking to cook nearby, or you want to keep all the finished food close at hand, you have plenty of space.
Speaking of additional space, it has two folding shelves, one on each side of the grill. While most flat top grills have these, they don’t usually fold down. That means if you need the extra space, you have it, but if you’re trying to fit the grill into a tight space, you don’t have to worry about it.
The only downside to the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill is that it’s the most expensive option that I’ve included here. But in this case, the mantra “you get what you pay for” holds true in a good way.
Pros
- Multiple underneath storage racks
- Large grilling surface
- Made from durable materials
- Two folding shelves
Cons
- Relatively expensive compared to the other options
The Final Verdict
After reading flat top grill reviews, you really only want to know, “what’s the best flat top grill?” To me, the clear winner is the CUISINART CGG-888 Grill. It’s not the biggest and baddest flat top grill on the market, but it’s the most versatile.
When I’m looking at buying a flat top grill, I want one that can handle everything I want to cook. The Cuisinart grill can do that. Whether I’m looking to smoke some salmon or cook up some stir-fry, that grill gets the job done, and doesn’t leave a mess to clean up afterward.
Get ready to enjoy a whole new type of grilling!