The griddle is a great multipurpose tool in any restaurant kitchen. Its evenly heated flat top is practically made for pancakes or French toast in the morning, along with home fries for the perfect crispiness diners expect. The large surface also lets you whip up almost anything for dinner, including stir fry, fajitas and seafood.
For home cooks, griddles offer more space than a pan, fit over top of two burners and require minimal maintenance. As another bonus, you’ll find that a griddle can substitute a wok, skillet, grill and sauté pan, eliminating extra equipment in the kitchen. If you own one, try these unique recipes and tips!
1. Get Creative With the Basics
“Whisk, cook, done” is the formula for many staple breakfasts like French toast, pancakes and omelets. If you’re interested in trying diner creations like stuffed French toast or ultra-thin crepes filled with fruit and whipped cream, a griddle can help you take on these sweet, multilayered recipes at home.
Lunchtime presents a similar opportunity. Stack on the vegetables and protein whenever you make a grilled cheese sandwich or panini for the perfect sear and savory satisfaction.
You can also try a hybrid recipe, using a waffle maker for the base of your sandwich and grilling the slices with cheese and protein on the griddle for a sweet-savory creation.
2. Crisp Up Vegetables
Looking to add more vegetables to your diet? Slice and dice peppers, carrots, onions, eggplant and other favorites before cooking them on the griddle to get crisp. You can also wrap your griddled vegetables in a tortilla with salsa, sour cream and cheese to make fajitas.
To add protein, the wider top – often with multiple temperature controls or zones – allows the space to sear steak or chicken breast separately from sautéing vegetables.
3. Up Your Burger Game
You can make restaurant-quality smash burgers with a griddle! Prep patties from scratch with ground beef and mix in your favorite seasonings. Then press each patty into the surface of the griddle while the onions, mushrooms, burger buns and cheese are all cooking in separate sections. Flip your burger patties over and cook until done before assembling everything together.
Wonder how restaurants make smashed potatoes? Cook your spuds all the way through, flatten each into a patty and fry them on your griddle top before adding a sauce or seasoning of your choice.
4. Make Movie-Style Popcorn
Yes, it’s possible to make popcorn on a griddle! Just like you would in a pan, layer and heat the oil before adding your kernels, then cover with a dome until the popping is complete.
5. Build Crispy Pizzas
Craving an ultra-crispy crust? The next time you plan to make pizza, do it on your griddle! Once layered with sauce, cheese and toppings, the dough can go right onto the heated surface. After it starts to expand, move it to a rack and dome placed on top of the griddle to cook all the way through.
When you want the night off from cooking, head to Colony Diner for a griddled-to-perfection meal any time of day! Browse our menu to explore the possibilities.