A flat top grill, also known as a griddle grill, features a smooth cooking surface instead of the traditional grill grate with bars. On standard electric grill, gas grill or charcoal grills, smaller foods—like onions, finely chopped vegetables or bacon—can slip through the grate. Even delicate items like fish can be tricky, as they tend to flake apart over the open grates.

With the even surface of a flat top grill, you can expand your outdoor cooking to include these hard-to-grill foods, as well as items like pancakes, quesadillas and other dough-based dishes. Best of all, griddles still handle classic barbecue fare like burgers and hot dogs with ease.

Whether you’re figuring out how to design an outdoor kitchen or just adding a grill to the deck, an outdoor griddle provides a versatile cooking surface. Many large outdoor griddles even allow you to control heat separately across different zones of the griddle.

Griddle grills come in both indoor and outdoor options. While indoor griddles are electric, most outdoor griddle grills are powered by gas. This makes them easier to set up because you don’t need to place them near an outlet. Keep in mind, however, that you can never use an outdoor gas griddle inside because the gas fuel requires outside ventilation.

Depending on your outdoor arrangement, you may want a freestanding flat top grill or a portable outdoor griddle, which is particularly useful for camping or grilling in the park. You could also incorporate a built-in outdoor griddle into an outdoor kitchen. The best outdoor griddle for you offers both versatility and convenience.

To take care of your griddle grill, it’s good to invest in griddle-specific grilling tools, like a griddle scraper. As long as you use the right tools and keep your griddle surface clean and seasoned, you can count on it lasting for years to come.