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That’s plenty for low-heat tasks like rendering bacon. The best flat-top grills reach 300° F, or close to it, within 10 minutes.
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Here’s what the top models have in common: The experts at Consumer Reports zero in on flat-top grills that are capable of cooking a great meal with consistent results. Or if you’re into camping or tailgating, a flat-top grill might make more sense than a regular grill because you can cook a broader array of foods without the need for extra grill accessories, like a griddle.
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You can cook a steak over your gas or charcoal grill, for instance, and use a flat-top grill for eggs, pancakes, and home fries to make a farmer’s breakfast. So is a flat-top grill worth it? The answer comes down to how much you enjoy cooking outdoors and for a crowd. It’s also easier to regulate temperature, and in turn, get better results, because a griddle lets you fine-tune temps without transferring heat to a separate pan. A flat-top grill can hold far more food than a griddle accessory for a grill. A griddle is just a flat piece of metal (or a pan) that you place onto your grill. A flat-top grill gets connected to a propane canister, generates a hidden flame, and distributes the heat from that flame across a metal cooking surface. The terms are often used interchangeably, but in the grilling world, a griddle is typically an accessory to be used with your regular grill, while a flat-top grill is a separate freestanding appliance.
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