The Best Induction Griddle Pans For The Perfect Sunday Pancakes

The other night was a bit emotional for me. 

My precious child crawled into bed, right beside me. 

It was the usual toss and turn. Toss and turn. Toss and turn.

Until he finally found the right spot, buried in the pillows, so close to me. I was about to slip into slumber myself when I glanced at my son once more. When has he gotten this big? His tiny little hands weren’t so tiny anymore.

Of course, he is still a baby to me (and will always be), but where did the years between crawling and walking have gone? Why am I being so emotional? Maybe this is just something that mothers normally go through. While our babies outgrow us, will we ever outgrow the thought of them being these small, little babies that clung onto us every second?

The following morning, I made sure to make him one of his favorites: pancakes! He used to sit in his tiny little stroller as I went around the kitchen, but now, little by little, he is beginning to help me out, too. “Could you pass the salt please?” “Can you mix that together?”. Oh my. My son is growing. 

Moments such as these are quite an epiphany, I have to make the most out of each one. This also somehow serves as a segue to what I will be writing today.

As mentioned in my previous posts, I always have my family in mind whenever I make choices, including switching to induction and choosing healthy ways of cooking. What better way to prepare my little one’s pancakes than with the best induction griddle pan available, right?

Best Induction Griddle Pan Side By Side

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Griddle Pans Vs Grill Pans

I’ve done my own review of the best induction grill pans, and now, let’s focus on griddle pans. But first, let’s go through a quick review on the differences between these two.

The conventional griddle has recently seen a resurgence in popularity with chefs and novices. A level, flat surface on a griddle makes it easier to cook food uniformly. Oil is also maintained on the cooking surface, making it perfect for pancakes or eggs. 

Griddles are commonly used indoors, unlike grills that are mainly for outdoors. 

Thanks to induction, however, grilling food can now be also done indoors! There are also grill pans that can be flipped over, to make them instant griddles. These are called the “reversible” griddle/grill pans. 

Basically, you have to find out what your individual cooking demands are, before you buy a grill or a griddle (or both!). In case you are looking for a particular type of cookware other than a grill or a griddle, you might want to check out my two cents on the best induction cookware to suit your cooking requirements.

Buying Guide: Things To Consider Before Buying Your Induction Grill Pan

Material: A good grill pan will maintain heat well at high temperatures, which is why cast iron will be an excellent choice. These kinds of pans are lighter-weight since they are made of anodized aluminum or stainless steel, and they are better for searing food. There are two types of grill pans, which are square or round, or rectangular that fit over two burners.

Pan Handle: Handle length may either increase or decrease a pan’s temperature; however, a longer handle also adds to the pan’s overall weight, which determines your handling. To raise large pans, we recommend the use of a “helping handle”, which is usually a tab installed on the opposite side of the pan, right across the handle.

Pan Exterior: Whenever you purchase a cast iron pan, it is usually already pre-seasoned with an enamel coating, which makes it easy to clean and to maintain, not to mention it provides a decorative touch to your kitchen.

Cookware Shape: Grill pans, on the other hand, are almost always square. As foods such as barbecued meat, vegetables, and even whole fish cannot be stacked as they are cooked, the square design gives more surface area. A good rule of thumb is that even the farthest edges will keep their heat, because many grill pans are composed of heat-conductive cast iron.

8 Best Induction Griddle Pans Tried And Tested 

Here is a complete list of my top recommendations for the best induction griddle pans out there. 

Read up to the last part to see my recommendation on what your kids can use as a pancake griddle for your induction hob. Start them early!

Lodge’s Iron Griddle With Easy-Grip Handle: The Best Griddle Pan for Induction Cooktops

The headline for this griddle pan might sound cliché, but really, it could be the only griddle pan you’ll ever need! Except of course if you’re cooking for a big family or large groups, then you might need something else further down the list.

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This griddle pan can be used immediately after you purchase it, and is compatible with all heat sources, including campfires and open grills. This is also safe to use in the oven.

The slightly raised sides of the pan won’t get in the way of flipping pancakes or patties, but it is raised enough to protect your food from spilling over, such as cheese from quesadillas or excess batter from your pancakes. Since it is multi-purpose, you can consider this as one of the best induction frying pans, too!

Pros

• This griddle is seasoned upon manufacturing, ready to use as soon as you open the box
• This can be used across all cooking surface types.
• You can sear a good piece of steak or bake a batch of rolls. Go from stovetop to oven without damaging the pan! It is perfectly safe to use.

Cons

• The size of the pan might not be ideal for really big batches of cooking (10.5” diameter)

Lodge’s Pre-Seasoned And Reversible Cast Iron Grill And Griddle: The Best Multi-Purpose Griddle Pan

In case you are looking for that griddle pan to cater to more cooking requirements than just pancakes and burgers, then this is the one for you. This reversible grill-griddle will help you prepare evenly-cooked meals that usually require flat surfaces, and with one flip can be your most reliable indoor grill.

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You can achieve that even cooking for your food, and if you’re obsessed with those grill marks, then this pan is the answer! Black, slightly charred marks achieved, all without the smoke, the sweat, nor the heat of the sun while grilling.

Pros

• This grill has corner handles that can help you flip or carry the pan around when needed.
• It has a bigger dimension of 16.75”, so you can cook more food!

Cons

• Be careful when handling the pan, use silicone mitts or pot holders to avoid burning.
• If you’re particular with the direction of the grill marks, note that this pan has diagonal grill lines, not the vertical ones that we are mostly used to.

Lodge’s Pre-Seasoned And Reversible Cast Iron Grill And Griddle With Handles: Bigger Space And Better Handling

This is Lodge’s reversible grill-griddle’s bigger or older sibling. It has a wider surface (20” x 10.5”), which makes it the perfect griddle pan for large family breakfasts, for example.

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Aside from the amazingly even distribution of heat throughout the pan, the material that this griddle is made of can definitely tolerate high temperatures, which makes it perfect for searing steaks or tossing vegetables for a quick stovetop stir-fry.

Pros

• This pan can also be used on direct flames and even in the oven. You can go from grilling to baking in just seconds.
• This griddle is made of durable cast iron, with a non-stick surface that makes your cleanup a breeze. Stress-free cooking indeed! You can also try their scrapers, which work perfectly each time I clean my griddle pan.

Cons

• It can be a bit heavy, so unless you’re cooking mostly large volumes, then you might want to consider smaller pans from this list.
• Follow the seasoning directions that come along with this pan, to preserve the non-stick properties of your griddle. Sometimes, all it takes is water, some salt, and a paper towel to wipe off and clean your pan.

Clearly, Lodge takes the top 3 spots. Their dedication in maintaining the quality, performance, and durability of their cookware is evident in their products. No wonder they produce some of the best non-stick pans for induction cooking!

Let’s continue with our list ☺

Victoria Rectangular Cast Iron Double Burner, Reversible Griddle Grill: Bigger Surface At A Lower Price

This one is a more affordable version of a griddle pan that doubles as a grill, with a big cooking surface (18.5” x 10”). This is also very versatile when it comes to cooking heat sources, and can be used with your broiler, grill, oven, and can even be placed directly over a flame such as your burner stove or your bonfire while camping. T

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he cooking area of this griddle pan is so big that your slumber party guests won’t have to wait too long to have their share of pancakes!

Pros

• This reversible griddle pan is manufactured with bigger handles than most of its contemporaries, to ensure better handling each time.
• This griddle is all ready to use, with 100% non-GMO flaxseed oil seasoning applied. 
• It is free of PTFE and PFOA, which are both potential health hazards. With proper seasoning and cleaning, you will notice that the non-stick quality of your pan will be even better through the years!

Cons

• On the marketing side of things, note that these reversible griddle pans are pictured as two items on ads, but it’s just really one pan with both sides being shown on the photo. It is a reversible pan after all, so expect to receive only one piece of cookware.

Cuisinart Double Burner Griddle: From Stovetop To Table

If you’re a busy bee like me, we sometimes resort to cookware that could double as serving dishes. Well, even if some of our cookware are not the said type, I am guilty of serving food in them anyway, specially with skillets (oops!).

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This griddle from Cuisinart has stylish handles that are riveted, which makes way for easy handling. Cook or heat your food on the griddle and go straight to serving it to your eager diners.

Pros

• Heat is distributed evenly across the cookware including the sides, thanks to its original “Heat Surround Technology”.
• The stainless steel handles remain cool to the touch, keeping you away from burns as you move the griddle about.

Cons

• Depending on the level of  “evenness” of your stove top, you might find that the heat distribution might not be “perfect”. Although, you can take the “heat surround” with a grain of salt: the pan will try to even out the heat distribution, but I imagine this would not be perfect. If you think about it, the areas directly on top of the burners, for example, might cook pancakes faster than the ones on the side. You can manage the arrangement of your food on your pan by keeping this concept in mind.

Lodge Wildlife Series-10.5″ Cast Iron Griddle With Moose Scene: Art And Cookware In One

The moment I saw the design on the bottom of this griddle pan, I just knew I had to get my hands on one! So there it sits on my kitchen countertop, a beautiful piece of art which is also a reliable cookware, by the way!

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The unique design just speaks of tradition, and how the craftsmanship of Lodge has been passed on to generations. I don’t think any of us are surprised that their pans are always on the top of my recommended lists.

Pros

• This piece of cookware art is not only ideal as a collector’s item, it is the perfect kitchen accent and a conversation starter.
• The material is durable cast iron, which can last your family for years, or even decades if well-taken care of.
• It is perfect to use on any type of cooktop and heat source, including induction or direct flame.

Cons

• This pan can be a bit heavy because of its material. You might need to find an alternative if you have difficulty in mobility due to your pan’s weight.
• You have to be very particular in cleaning, to maintain the non-stick property of your pan.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Rectangular Skinny Griddle: Colors To Match Your Taste

 The Skinny Griddle by Le Creuset is not only for preparing breakfasts, it’s a versatile pan for preparing sandwiches, searing meats, pan-roasting veggies, and more.

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In order to avoid damage and wear, the griddle’s flat surface is covered with a satin black enamel coating, especially formulated by Le Creuset. The somewhat abrasive surface is great for searing and browning. To give back as much countertop space to you as possible, the space-saving design increases the amount of side-by-side room on both the cooktop, and in the oven.

Pros

• There are so many color options for you to choose from, pick one that fits both your personality and your kitchen.
• A good, ergonomic grip is provided to you through its firm iron handle.
• Black enamel on Le Creuset cookware indicates no seasoning is necessary. This external enamel coating is built to last, and resists breaking and splitting.
• The manufacturing of this pan ensures an even distribution of heat, as well as improved retention. 

Cons

• The size of this pan is quite small, so if you’re cooking for an entire family, expect a long waiting time… or select a bigger griddle from my recommendations!

EZJOB Pancake Pan: The Perfect Griddle Pan For Kids

My grand finale!

Of course my list would not be complete without recommending something for the little ones! Do you have kids that love to join you while cooking? Further spark that culinary interest within them by purchasing this pan just for them!

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Cooking is even more fun with all the designs on the surface that directly imprint on the pancakes. You can also use the pan for cooking other items like any griddle would: eggs, bacon, sausages, patties, name it. You have to take note though, that the quantities would fill up your little ones, but not the whole family though – you would need to use a bigger griddle pan for that!

Pros

• Your kids will fall in love with the different designs of their pancakes using this griddle!
• It has a non-stick surface, which also evenly distributes heat and retains it for your kids’ perfect cooking.
• It is lightweight, in fact it weighs less than 2 pounds, which makes it easy for you little ones to handle. It is indeed the best non-stick induction frying pan for the young ones.

Cons

• The griddle slots are small, so don’t expect to use this to prepare family meals. 
• You might have difficulty at first flipping the pancakes while keeping the design. It might take a bit of practice but you and your kids will get the hang of it in no time!

Tips When Cooking With A Griddle Pan

• Before cooking, heat your pan for a few minutes, so that the entire surface of the pan will be equally heated. Preparing the griddle will ensure that you obtain close to perfectly even cooking each time. 
• You may use tongs to position your meat and/or vegetables in a parallel fashion, leaning the slices against the ridges. Let there be a half-inch (0.5 inches) of space between each layer for maximum cooking. 
• Keep yourself from turning the food way too early, because it might still stick to the griddle surface. 
• While the cooking time may vary based on what you’ve placed in the pan and the thickness of your slices, keep in mind that a higher heat can help caramelize your meat or veggies more. Use a thermometer to make sure the meat and fish are cooked thoroughly. 

Ready to test your induction griddle pan? Why not try our recipes that are perfect for your griddle pan, such as my Mom’s reverse searing of steak (make sure you choose a griddle that is oven ready, for a more seamless cooking), or how about trying a classic boneless Chuck roast?

FAQs

What Is The Best Griddle For An Induction Cooktop?

For me, the best griddle pans are the ones produced by Lodge. Its Iron Griddle is probably one of the most versatile cookware that I own, if not the most durable.

Can I Use A Griddle Pan On An Induction Hob?

Definitely! You have to make sure that the cookware that you are buying is induction cooktop-compatible. This information is usually listed along with the cookware’s other features.

What Brand Of Cookware Is Best For Induction Cooktops?

I really prefer Lodge’s cookware, I believe the high quality of the products that they manufacture is a sum of all the hard work, tradition, and best practices that has been passed on to generations. This is very evident in the quality of their cookware.

Which Is The Best Griddle Pan To Buy?

I would keep saying Lodge, because their cookware promises and delivers both quality and durability. Lodge offers a great line of the best non-stick frying pans for your induction cooktop. It is great to invest in something you know would last you years or even decades. Nothing can beat that!

Wrap Up

Griddle pans may seem to be a quick, simple decision, but on another note, buying one could take time. You have to consider the amount of food you’re cooking, your cooktop, and the type of food you will be preparing, to determine which is most suitable. 

For me, it’s purchasing the best griddle pan for my son’s pancakes. It is durable and of high quality. No matter how old he gets, even when he does eventually move out, I know that there is this one durable griddle pan, waiting for him to come home, to prepare those pancakes that he has always loved.

As they always say about raising kids: the nights are long, but they years… the years are short.