Upgrade pick
Fast heat and exacting temperatures make this griddle great for everything from pancakes to patty melts.
For those who are willing to spend more (more than twice the price of our top pick) for a luxe cooktop that heats quickly, holds seasoning extremely well, and includes some nice-to-have features, the Traeger Flatrock 3 Zone Griddle is worth the splurge.
It heats up, and cooks, quickly. The Flatrock reached well over 500 °F within 10 minutes, and rose to its max temperature (600 °F) in just under 11 minutes. It also cooked burgers and pancakes the fastest of all of the griddles we tested, while never burning them. If you’re a smashburger fan, this one produced the best, with crispy edges and still mouthwateringly juicy centers.
Part of that speed is thanks to the griddle’s U-shaped burners, which, because of their horseshoe form, basically double the flame power of a typical burner. This griddle also includes walls between each burner, which Traeger says help to keep the heat contained to each corresponding “zone” on the griddle top.
Like our top pick, the Flatrock also blocks out wind by eliminating a gap between the cooktop and the griddle body for solid heat retention.
Its carbon steel surface is top-notch. The thick, heavy-duty, textured cooktop drinks in the seasoning because its bumpy finish lends more surface area for the oil to cling to. As a result, food slips right off.
And the cooktop can be easily removed for cleaning and seasonal storage. The griddle top isn’t bolted down, as it is on some models, and handle holes make it extra convenient to lift off (though we did lose a few onions through those holes while cooking).
The foldable side tables are extremely roomy. With 6 more inches on each side compared with our top pick, they’re big enough to hold a half sheet pan. They’ll easily hold the tools and ingredients you need to handle any crowd or cooking challenge.
It’s super sturdy. It is heavy and staunchly stands its ground with side tables that seem immovable, though they do fold down.
And it features cool extras. Since the Traeger has a fully enclosed griddle top, flames aren’t visible from the outside, which can feel especially strange when lighting the grill. Thankfully, a light near the knobs indicates when each flame is ignited.
There’s also a(n albeit glaringly bright) fuel gauge light that shows you when your propane level is low –– to use it, you hang the full tank from a hook that is actually a scale, and it measures the fuel level by weight.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Those cool extras do require electricity. So you’ll need access to an outlet where you can plug the griddle in if you want to use them (not something any other griddle we tested requires). If you can’t plug in your griddle, the ignition system can work on a battery, so it’s possible to go cordless. The igniter and fuel lights do not work on the battery, however.
It was the most agonizing to assemble. It took over four hours for an experienced grill builder to put it together. They pointed out poor instructions, the shedding of sharp metal shards, and a lack of extra hardware. We recommend purchasing this griddle preassembled if possible.
Its warranty is better than Blackstone’s one-year coverage but not amazing for the price. A limited warranty covers the body and legs for five years, but everything else –– controller, cooktop, burners, cord, flame sensors, and igniter –– is covered for one year. In comparison, the Weber Slate (below) costs less and is completely covered on all parts for five years.
