FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 • COOK’S COUNTRY 3Illu
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KITCHEN
SHORTCUTSELECTRIC GRIDDLES HAVE a
reputation for being, well, retro. But
with a good one, you can evenly cook
big batches of
food without
using the stove.
All the models
we previously recommended, including
our winner by BroilKing, have been
discontinued or redesigned, so it was
time to retest. We selected six nonstick
models, including the updated versionof our previous winner, priced from
$29.99 to $99.00. We made pancakes,
French toast, and hamburgers on each.
Many of the griddles heated un-
evenly: Some batches of pancakes were
both raw and overcooked. We ran a few
tests and found that on some griddles,
the temperature varied by 80 degrees or
more across the cooking surface. The
best models’ temperatures varied by
less than 10 degrees. Why the incon-
sistency? Our winner had the thickest
cooktop of the bunch at about ½ inch.
“Something that thick is going to take
longer to heat up, and because of this
the mass of material is going to stay
hot,” explained Bridget Smyser, me-
chanical engineer and associate teaching
professor at Northeastern University.
We also preferred griddles that were
spacious and easy to clean. In the end,
we found two models we liked. Our
Best Buy, from Presto, has the roomiest
cooking surface. Our new favorite, from
BroilKing, is the updated version of
our old winner. We loved its removable
splash guard and even heating. Web
subscribers can read the full testing at
CooksCountry.com/mar19.No Springform, No Problem!
–Maria Sheahan, Biddeford, MaineCheesecake recipes often call for a springform pan,
but I found an easy way to make cheesecake using
a regular cake pan that is the same diameter as the
springform pan called for in the recipe. Once the
cheesecake is baked, I let it cool to room tem-
perature in the pan and then run the tip of a sharp
paring knife between the cake and the sides of the
pan. I then cover the pan with plastic wrap and
freeze it. As it freezes, the cake pulls away from the
pan sides, so I can just bang the pan on the counter
and the cake will pop out easily and cleanly. As
a bonus, I have a make-ahead dessert ready for
impromptu dinner parties. I just thaw the cake at
room temperature a few hours before serving.Pepperware
–Ted Bergeron, Aliquippa, Pa.If you ever fi nd yourself with too many bell pep-
pers, remember this trick. Cut off the tops, remove
the seeds and ribs, wrap the peppers individually
in foil, and freeze them. The next time you have
leftovers—my favorites are beans and rice, maca-
roni and cheese, and mashed potatoes—stuff them
into the peppers, rewrap them, and put them back
in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat the peppers,
simply microwave them for 5 to 10 minutes (or bake
them for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees). The
steam from the peppers keeps the fi llings moist,
and as a bonus, you can eat the container. (Web
subscribers can fi nd Cook’s Country stuff ed pepper
recipes at CooksCountry.com/stuff edpeppers.)French Vanilla French Toast
–Jade French, Cody, Wyo.Sunday mornings mean French toast in our
house. Recently, I sliced the bread and opened
the refrigerator to grab the milk and eggs only to
fi nd we were out of both. Searching for a solution,
I grabbed some vanilla ice cream from the freezer,
melted a few scoops in the microwave, and used it
as a soaking medium. To my delight, it made such
delicious French toast that I may never go back to
plain old milk and eggs.EQUIPMENT
REVIEWCompiled by Matthew FairmanWhich Electric Griddle Is Best?
by Riddley Gemperlein-SchirmOur favorite model has a roomy surface.Hamilton Beach
Reversible Durathon
Ceramic Griddle
Price: $39.Oster Titanium Infused
DuraCeramic Griddle with
Warming Tray
Price: $29.Elechomes
900W Electric Grill Griddle
with LED Touch Control
Price: $73.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CRITERIABroilKing Professional Griddle
with Backsplash
Model: PCG-10 Price: $99.
Usable Surface Area: 19.75 x 11.88 in (234.63 sq in)
Thickness of Cooking Surface: 0.44 in
Maximum Temperature Setting: 400°FHeating
Capacity
Ease of Use
Cleanup+++
+++
+++
+++RECOMMENDEDPresto 19-Inch Electric
Tilt-n-Fold Griddle
Model: 07073 Price: $43.
Usable Surface Area: 17.75 x 14.25 in (252.94 sq in)
Thickness of Cooking Surface: 0.10 in
Maximum Temperature Setting: 400°FHeating
Capacity
Ease of Use
Cleanup++
+++
++
+++RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS
Black+Decker Family-Sized
Electric Griddle
Model: GD2051B Price: $29.
Usable Surface Area: 19.75 x 9.63 in (190.19 sq in)
Thickness of Cooking Surface: 0.09 in
Maximum Temperature Setting: 400°FHeating
Capacity
Ease of Use
Cleanup++
++
++
+NOT RECOMMENDEDComments: Even heating, a roomy
cooking surface, and a removable
splash guard set this griddle apart.Comments: Pros: a huge cooking
surface and intuitive controls.
Con: a cold spot right in the center.Comments: This is a decent griddle,
but its cooking surface is too small
and it was a bit too hard to clean.KEY Good +++ Fair ++ Poor +Best BuyWinner