The Seasoned Pan

Best Cast Iron Griddles

Flat and reversible cast iron griddles for pancakes, tortillas, bacon and grill marks — and how to pick between a single-burner plate and a two-burner monster.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

A cast iron griddle is a flat, low-lipped plate that gives you a big, even cooking surface for the things a skillet’s high walls get in the way of: pancakes, tortillas, grilled cheese, smash burgers, bacon by the row. It holds heat like all cast iron, so it stays hot as cold batter or a pile of pancakes hits it — the reason diners cook on iron.

The choice comes down to size and shape. A single-burner round or square plate is the everyday breakfast tool; a two-burner reversible griddle (flat one side, grill ridges the other) is the crowd-feeder; a comal with a long handle is built for charring tortillas and chiles. We compare all four so you buy the one that fits your stove and your cooking. Prices are checked live.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on materials, size, finish and buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not hands-on tested these pans — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Lodge Pro-Grid Reversible Grill/Griddle (20")

Lodge Pro-Grid Reversible Grill/Griddle (20")

The most versatile cast iron griddle: one side flat for pancakes and smash burgers, the other ridged for grill marks, spanning two burners so you can cook for a crowd. If you buy one griddle, buy this.

Best overall
$49.90 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 19, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Lodge Round Cast Iron Griddle (10.5")

Lodge Round Cast Iron Griddle (10.5")

A flat, low-lipped round plate that's ideal for pancakes, tortillas, quesadillas and flatbreads — anything you need to flip and slide off easily. The single-burner companion to the big reversible griddle.

Best for pancakes
$24.90 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 19, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Lodge Cast Iron Square Griddle (11")

Lodge Cast Iron Square Griddle (11")

A compact square griddle that fits more food than a round one of the same width and stores easily. The everyday choice for bacon, eggs and a couple of pancakes on a single burner.

Best compact
$24.97 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 19, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Victoria Cast Iron Comal Griddle (10.5")

Victoria Cast Iron Comal Griddle (10.5")

A traditional comal with a proper long handle — built for charring tortillas, toasting chiles and dry-roasting, and flaxseed-seasoned out of the box. The budget griddle with the most comfortable grip.

Best comal / long handle
$24.99 · View on Amazon

$26.997% off

Price as of July 19, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan (10.5")

Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan (10.5")

Raised ridges give you grill marks and let fat drain away from the food — indoors, on the stovetop, year-round. The honest trade-off of every grill pan: great marks, but you don't get the all-over sear a flat skillet delivers.

Best for grill marks
$24.90 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 19, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall

Lodge Pro-Grid Reversible Grill/Griddle (20")

The most versatile cast iron griddle: one side flat for pancakes and smash burgers, the other ridged for grill marks, spanning two burners so you can cook for a crowd. If you buy one griddle, buy this.

Strengths

  • Reversible: flat griddle on one face, grill ridges on the other
  • Spans two burners for a big cooking surface
  • American-made and pre-seasoned

Trade-offs

  • Big and heavy to store and wash
  • Two-burner heating can be uneven on some stoves
TypeBare cast iron
Size20 x 10.5 in
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forFeeding a crowd — pancakes one side, grill marks the other

The details. Double-burner reversible plate: flat side for pancakes and burgers, ridged side for grilling. Pre-seasoned bare cast iron; store dry and re-oil after washing.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2Best for pancakes

Lodge Round Cast Iron Griddle (10.5")

A flat, low-lipped round plate that's ideal for pancakes, tortillas, quesadillas and flatbreads — anything you need to flip and slide off easily. The single-burner companion to the big reversible griddle.

Strengths

  • Flat with barely any lip, so a spatula slides right under
  • Right size for a single burner
  • American-made, pre-seasoned, inexpensive

Trade-offs

  • Low edges mean runny batter can escape
  • Round shape wastes a little space versus square
TypeBare cast iron
Size10.5 in round
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forPancakes, tortillas and flatbreads on one burner

The details. Flat round griddle with a minimal lip for easy flipping. Pre-seasoned American-made cast iron; standard wash-dry-oil care.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#3Best compact

Lodge Cast Iron Square Griddle (11")

A compact square griddle that fits more food than a round one of the same width and stores easily. The everyday choice for bacon, eggs and a couple of pancakes on a single burner.

Strengths

  • Square surface fits more strips of bacon than a round plate
  • Compact and easy to store
  • American-made and inexpensive

Trade-offs

  • Single-burner size limits batch cooking
  • Low sides, so mind runny batter
TypeBare cast iron
Size11 in square
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forEveryday breakfast on a single burner

The details. Flat square griddle for a single burner; the square shape uses burner space better than round. Pre-seasoned bare cast iron, standard care.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#4Best comal / long handle

Victoria Cast Iron Comal Griddle (10.5")

A traditional comal with a proper long handle — built for charring tortillas, toasting chiles and dry-roasting, and flaxseed-seasoned out of the box. The budget griddle with the most comfortable grip.

Strengths

  • Long handle makes a hot griddle easier and safer to move
  • Pre-seasoned with flaxseed oil
  • Inexpensive and made in Colombia

Trade-offs

  • Handle adds length for storage
  • As-cast surface, like most budget pans
TypeBare cast iron
Size10.5 in round
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inColombia
Best forTortillas, charring and dry-roasting, with a long handle

The details. A comal-style flat griddle with a long handle, cast in Colombia and flaxseed-seasoned. Best for tortillas, flatbreads and dry-toasting. Bare cast iron care applies.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#5Best for grill marks

Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan (10.5")

Raised ridges give you grill marks and let fat drain away from the food — indoors, on the stovetop, year-round. The honest trade-off of every grill pan: great marks, but you don't get the all-over sear a flat skillet delivers.

Strengths

  • Ridges deliver real grill marks and drain fat off the food
  • American-made and pre-seasoned
  • Square shape fits more than a round pan of the same width

Trade-offs

  • Ridges are a pain to scrub between
  • Only the ridge tops touch food, so no full-contact browning
TypeBare cast iron
Size10.5 in square
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forIndoor grill marks on steak, chicken and vegetables

The details. Ridged square grill pan for stovetop use; the ridges mark food and channel fat away. Getting between the ridges is the cleaning chore — a stiff brush and hot water do it. Bare cast iron care otherwise.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

How to choose a cast iron griddle

Match it to your burner and your household. If you cook breakfast for one or two, a single-burner round or square plateis all you need — the square fits more bacon, the round is classic for pancakes and tortillas. If you feed a crowd, the two-burner reversible griddle doubles your surface and gives you grill ridges on the flip side. For tortillas and dry-charring specifically, a comal with a long handle is the traditional (and safest to move) choice.

Griddle vs grill pan

A flat griddle gives you all-over contact for browning; a ridged grill pan gives you grill marks and drains fat away, but only the ridge tops touch the food. They do different jobs — get a flat griddle for pancakes and searing surface area, a grill pan for indoor grill marks on steak and vegetables. Many kitchens want both, and the reversible griddle is one way to get them in a single pan.

Care is the same as any cast iron

Season it, keep it dry, wipe with oil after washing. The ridges of a grill pan are the only fiddly part to clean — a stiff brush and hot water handle it. See the cleaning guide.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a cast iron griddle and a grill pan?

A griddle is flat, so the whole surface touches the food — ideal for pancakes, tortillas, bacon and smash burgers. A grill pan has raised ridges that create grill marks and let fat drain away, but only the ridge tops contact the food, so you don't get all-over browning.

Do I need a reversible griddle or a single plate?

A single-burner round or square plate is plenty for one or two people's breakfast. A two-burner reversible griddle gives you far more surface and adds grill ridges on the flip side — worth it if you regularly cook for a crowd or want both flat and grill in one pan.

Can you use a cast iron griddle on any stove?

Yes — cast iron works on gas, electric, induction and over a campfire. Just note that a big two-burner griddle spans two burners and can heat unevenly on some stoves, so give it time to come up to an even temperature.

Sources

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