Skillet Vs Griddle: One of the confusing cookware questions most people know is what the difference between a skillet and a griddle is. In simple words, both cookware is ideal for cooking a variety of dishes, but there are some basic similarities and differences between the two. For instance, the best ceramic electric griddles are best for grilling, whereas skillets with compact-sized are highly portable and best for outdoor cooking. However, if you are a new user and don’t know what the difference between skillets is and griddle, this brief guide about skillet vs. griddle will help you to decide which one is best for your needs.
Skillet Vs Griddle
Feature | Skillet | Griddle | Recommended |
Surface Area | Recommended for 1-2 persons | Ideal for a large gathering | Griddle |
Taste | Not for ideal taste and smoking | Offers ideal taste and smoking | Griddle |
Sear Marks | Sear marks very rarely | No sear marks | Griddle |
Portability | Compact size and highly portable | Larger size and less portable | Skillet |
Price | Affordable | High price | Skillet |
Grilling | Not best for grilling | Excellent choice | Griddle |
Outdoor cooking | Perfect choice | Not recommended | Skillet |
Indoor Cooking | Not recommended | Perfect choice | Griddle |
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What is Skillet?
In simple words, it is the frying pan available in almost every kitchen. A frying pan or skillet is a cooking pan featuring slanted sides. This is the only feature that distinguishes between the skillet and the regular sauté pan, which has entirely straight sides.
You can use a skillet to prepare a variety of dishes, including bacon, eggs, pancakes, fried nuggets, and also some light-hearted steak. Typically, skillets are manufactured with non-stick steel and stainless steel, which makes them highly portable and also last longer than typical pans.
The odd side is that they offer a smaller cooking surface and don’t provide the ideal smoky taste and texture that grills have. There are skillets with sear marks, but they are rarely found.
Pros
- Small and compact design
- Affordable price
- Highly portable
- Best for indoor cooking
- Best for frying
Cons
- Difficult to smoke with
- Cannot accommodate more food
- Some models may leave sear marks
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What is a Griddle?
You can call a grill the flatter cousin of the grill. Offering a large flat surface, the griddle has handled just like the baking tray. The prime differences between the griddle and typical tray are they have hardcore taste and perfect temperature resistance.
One of the best features of the griddle is that they have a unique taste that you can’t find in other cookware. They are a decent choice for indoors as they are pretty useful and fun to cook with. But when it comes to outdoor parties, griddles are just perfect. You can use this versatile cookware for almost including seafood, eggs, bacon, steak, shrimp, vegetables, and even waffles for the crazier ones.
The only drawback of the griddle is that it offers more area, and that’s why they are not portable. Also, the griddle doesn’t leave any sear mark that most grill and grills pans leave.
Pros
- Best for roasting and smoking
- Larger surface area
- Best for outdoor cooking
- Excellent for high-temperature resistance
Cons
- Not ideal for small stoves
- The larger surface area makes it less portable
- High price
- Doesn’t leave sear markets on cooked foods
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Difference in Taste
Griddles and skillets are both quite different in taste. For instance, skillets can fry or roast the food to some extent, whereas griddles are best for ideal roasting and smoking the food. In simple words, a griddle is made for typical barbecues and large family gatherings. The most appealing aspects are the larger surface area along with the smoky hot mess. Another benefit of the griddle is that it can cook food at high temperatures to give it a perfect taste.
When it comes to skillets, they have smaller cooking surfaces and are not good for higher temperatures. They are not ideal for outdoor cooking, and even if you somehow manage to smoke the food, you won’t enjoy an expected smoked flavor. When it comes to indoor cooking and frying, the skillet is highly recommended. It brings out the excellent taste in shrimp and egg.
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Difference in Price
The most important thing before buying any item is to decide the price range. No matter how effective it is, you are not going to buy it; you can’t afford it.
Skillets are a budget friend as compared to griddles. You can find a good quality skillet from $15-$40.
On the other hand, griddles have a high price with handy features. You can find a good quality griddle from $30-$100.
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Difference in Portability
Another prime difference between skillet and griddle is portability. You should select an item that is easy to carry around and store conveniently.
Ceramic Electric Skillets offer the best portability as they have small sizes and perfectly fit onto a variety of stoves. Their compact design also makes them ideal for small kitchens. However, if you are looking to prepare food for a larger gathering, then skillet is too small for you.
Griddle offers ideal grilling with a large surface area and can help to prepare more food. However, when it comes to indoor use, they are not ideal as they can’t fit most stoves perfectly. Skillets are more portable than griddles.
Conclusion
Everyone loves perfectly cooked food, and both skillets and griddles are best for cooking different foods. It depends on your needs to choose the best between these two. However, if you prefer perfectly smoked steaks, the griddle is an ideal option, whereas skillets are an excellent choice for frying.