# Difference between an electric griddle and an electric skillet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593 "2012-07-27T18:27:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/1 "2012-07-27T18:27:08Z")
I want a large, flat surface to make pancakes, etc. Our electric stove’s burners are differently sized, so I want something with its own heat source. Looking on Amazon I see they have separate categories for electric griddles and electric skillets. At first glance, all I can see is that the latter has a lid. Are the cooking surfaces the same? Also, any thoughts on features to look for? ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/2 "2012-07-27T18:34:39Z")
IMO, an electric griddle is flat and usually rectangular with no sides (or very short sides). An electric skillet has higher sides, is square, and has a lid. For the griddle, I’d say non-stick. For the skillet, I don’t really know because mine is so old my mom used to make grilled cheeses in it when I was a kid and I’m in my forties now. Sorry I can’t be of more help. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/3 "2012-07-27T18:54:11Z")
If specifically for pancakes and nothing else, I vote griddle. I’m anti-non-stick, though it is hard to find stuff that is not non-stick nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/4 "2012-07-27T18:57:20Z")
I’ve got an old electric skillet [like this](http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=826&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=Bi1G_WrQqq6BrM:&imgrefurl=https://homeappliances.wordpress.com/2006/11/02/electric-skillet/&docid=eK_AUBz1--Ne6M&imgurl=http://homeappliances.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/electric-skillet.jpg&w=760&h=560&ei=UeMSUOHHAoyk8AS_oYHABA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=435&vpy=72&dur=796&hovh=193&hovw=262&tx=138&ty=123&sig=115186525159019908627&page=2&tbnh=104&tbnw=132&start=9&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:9,i:135) that I use for pancakes and bacon, and I also have an old Foreman grill [like this](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=826&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=oQStHu4W6PUL-M:&imgrefurl=http://salestores.com/georgefo.html&docid=8-sHy2SpE7-CNM&imgurl=http://salestores.com/stores/images/images_747/GR36CB.jpg&w=325&h=397&ei=x-MSUNGlH5SQ8wS00oAI&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=81&vpy=16&dur=3822&hovh=248&hovw=203&tx=103&ty=194&sig=115186525159019908627&page=4&tbnh=109&tbnw=89&start=34&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:34,i:232) that I use for burgers, chicken, hot dogs, grilled sandwiches, etc. I think I’m going to ditch both of them to save some space and get a [Griddler](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=826&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=7U5sF4WbFLARcM:&imgrefurl=http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/25647-cuisinart-griddler-gr-4n.aspx&docid=QkCPbigqlihyLM&imgurl=http://www.chefscatalog.com/img/products/285x285/25647_285.jpg&w=285&h=285&ei=O-QSUN3xBIy08ATEqoC4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=206&vpy=40&dur=5148&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=121&ty=168&sig=115186525159019908627&page=3&tbnh=113&tbnw=112&start=24&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:24,i:180). ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/5 "2012-07-27T19:22:58Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I think I’m going to ditch both of them to save some space and get a [Griddler](http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=826&bih=400&tbm=isch&tbnid=7U5sF4WbFLARcM:&imgrefurl=http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/25647-cuisinart-griddler-gr-4n.aspx&docid=QkCPbigqlihyLM&imgurl=http://www.chefscatalog.com/img/products/285x285/25647_285.jpg&w=285&h=285&ei=O-QSUN3xBIy08ATEqoC4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=206&vpy=40&dur=5148&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=121&ty=168&sig=115186525159019908627&page=3&tbnh=113&tbnw=112&start=24&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:24,i:180). Bet the Bat Man would cook with that. Pancakes (reg. and potato) are the primary thought behind this. But there have been a number of things over the years that I wished I had a large, flat cooking surface. Of course, none of those things are coming to mind right now. Assuming for the moment I’m not looking for a press, is there any functional difference save shape? I guess it might be easier to flip the occasional obstinate item if there’s something to work against, but anything else? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/6 "2012-07-27T19:26:27Z")
You may want to try [The Griddleman](http://video.adultswim.com/tim-and-eric-awesome-show-great-job/griddleman.html)! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/7 "2012-07-27T19:29:28Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Assuming for the moment I’m not looking for a press, is there any functional difference save shape? I guess it might be easier to flip the occasional obstinate item if there’s something to work against, but anything else? All I can think of is how much food you can do at once - an electric griddle will have more cooking surface than a skillet (at least the ones I’ve seen). My electric skillet can do four slices of french toast - our griddle pan (not electric - our burners are the same size) does eight. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/8 "2012-07-27T19:33:46Z")
The skillet is designed for cooking and using sauces. The griddle is designed for pancakes, bacon, french toast, grilled cheese, etc. You could probably use the skillet as a griddle, but you can’t use a griddle as a skillet and make something like Spanish rice. The griddle also has more space, so you can cook more items – six pancakes instead of just four. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/9 "2012-07-27T19:40:09Z")
I have found that the size and difficulty of cleaning of an electridle griddle just are worthwhile. The higher quality non-sticky surface is hard to beat on the stove top versions. I have this [2-burner griddle](http://www.amazon.com/Ecolution-Artistry-Double-Burner-Griddle/dp/B002LAS5TA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1343417439&sr=8-5&keywords=2+burner+griddle) that works well. If you buy a quality (\>$20) griddle the conduction is such that the two different size burners make very little difference. On my stove I put the little burner at 5.5 and the big one at 4.5. After the second batch of pancakes comes off, I move them both down to 4.0 and cook as long as needed. So not as “simple” as the counter top one, but I think you will be very happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-an-electric-griddle-and-an-electric-skillet/629593/10 "2012-07-27T19:45:22Z")
We have both. I think I’ve used the skillet maybe once in 10 years. The wife uses it more often, but the griddle gets used more by maybe a factor of ten.