Tacos and hotdogs have remained a favorite among food truck lovers — not to mention fajitas and hotdogs. It isn’t easy to thrive as a food truck cook without a reliable grill on your side. Grilling aside, think of all the sautéing, the toasting, the shallow, and the stir-frying made possible by a flat-top grill.
While the importance of a quality grill cannot to a food truck business is not to be disputed, choosing the right one can quickly become a dreadful task. Not to worry, we are here to help. In this article, you will find an enlightening buying guide, as well as a review of our top 5 flat-top grills for food trucks.
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The Top 5 Flat-Top Grills for Food Trucks to Buy on Amazon
Blackstone (1825) 36″ Cooking Station
Very similar in design to the 1517 model but much more capable. It is fair to add that the 1825 cooking station is also heavier and more expensive.
The grill is made from stainless steel, the cooking surface coated with black powder to make it easier to clean after use. The handles are made of heat-resistant plastics that allow you to get a firm grip without risking burns. Heat is supplied by a system of four burners.
Each burner has a control that can be adjusted with a knob to change the temperature. This makes it possible to heat different surfaces to different temperatures on the same grill. The burners will provide a heat output of 60,000 BTUs at peak settings as well — enough to grill any type of meat you lay your hands on.
Four study legs carry the grill, and all four are equipped with caster wheels to support the heavier body better. The wheels can be locked in place for stability when it is not on the move.
It also comes equipped with an ignition start through an electric button, charged by batteries. A cantilever shelf can be extracted from the sides to serve as a cutting board or temporary storage for food pieces. The rear grease management system helps to reduce a messy work surface and eases the cleaning process after use.
Pros:
- Durable build
- High heat output
- Built-in grease management system
- Easy transportation on wheels
- Multiple heating units
- Large surface area
- Ignition start
- Easy clean-up
Cons:
- Heavy construction
Blackstone (1517) Flat-Top Gas Grill Griddle 2-Burner
Blackstone is one of the most popular brand names for modern grills — and for very good reasons. This is another masterpiece from them, a free-standing and propane-fuelled flat-top grill of the highest quality build. The flat top is perfect for making most food truck favorites, from burgers to pancakes. This is further augmented by the burners, each of which can generate up to 60,000 BTUs of heat.
The grill is heated up by two burners that can operate independently of each other. That means you can just keep one-half of the grill warming vegetables while the other half is sizzling steak.
The grill is made from rolled steel with a high heat capacity, corrosion resistance and is easy to clean. It is even easier to keep your food truck sanitary with its in-built rear grease management system. A battery-powered push-button ignites the burners, removing the extra work of using matches and making getting into work smoother.
The grill comes with four legs, two of which bear solid wheels for transporting the grill, a feature that will come in handy for food truck cooks. If you have a set-up where the legs could be a hindrance, you can just as easily detach them or fold them to save space.
Pros:
- High heat capacity
- Built-in grease management system
- Built-in cutting board and garbage holder
- Easy transportation
- Push-button ignition
- Durable construction
Cons:
- Few burners
- Assembly can be difficult
Little Griddle Sizzle-Q Universal Griddle
The little griddle has a simple design without the legs in the Blackstone model. It is a lighter and very versatile grill. While it has no in-built burners, you can use it on multiple heating systems — from electric to gas-powered burners. It is also much cheaper and the perfect option if your food truck already has a heat source.
It is built of high-quality stainless steel, carefully constructed to optimize heating. Its welded cross adds more stability. It has an excellent heating distribution that ensures even heating across the surface. Since it does not have a heating system, the temperature output depends on whatever you are heating it with.
Grill surfaces are notorious for being difficult to clean up properly, but the case is different with Little Griddle. The stainless steel makes it difficult for food to stick, making it possible to clean up right on the grill. It has sidewalls that prevent food or grease from spilling off the grill.
Grease walls contain grease to flow to prevent flare-ups and prevent burns. It has removable handles which have to be attached out-of-the-box — moving the griddle without the handle can be very awkward and can even lead to accidental burns.
Pros:
- Even heat distribution
- Durable build
- Easy to clean
- Versatile usage
- Grease management
Cons:
- No built-in burner
- Heating output cannot be adjusted
Vevor Stainless Steel Griddle
Another well-built griddle without a burner, this time, is from Vevor tools. It is a large griddle that is carved from quality stainless steel. Its design confers a versatility that makes it applicable on multiple grill surfaces.
Heavy-duty construction gives it a durability that can be relied on to resist deformation. It has a high heat conductivity while still distributing heat evenly across its surface. Vervor stainless steel griddle will grill fajitas, steaks, tacos, burgers, and everything in-between. The stainless steel surface is easy to clean, thanks to its non-stick attributes and dependable construction.
The griddle comes packed with two rectangular handles that match its silver color. The handles can be detached, depending on your needs. The handles make it convenient to transport the griddle for storage.
In addition, the ample cooking space has a very practical design with raised edges that eliminate mess and make it easy to flip and turn food while grilling. A grease groove is carved along the edges to catch grease residue and keep your cooking environment clean. The groove drains through a hold that can be fitted with containers or bags to contain the messy oil.
Pros:
- Large cooking surface
- Heavy-duty construction
- Convenient to clean
- Grease management system
- Even heat distribution
Cons:
- Lacks burners
- Heating output cannot be adjusted
Blackstone 28″ Adventure Ready 2-Burner Griddle
The adventure-ready griddle from Blackstone offers something in-between for food trucks. It does not have the incredible heating output as the other models mentioned, but it still retains the defining features.
The frame is made from rolled steel, with its surface coated with non-stick paint to prevent a messy cooking surface. It has two burners that run on propane gas.
The burners have a maximum heat output of 35,000 BTUs, which is not as impressive as the almost double capacity of the 1825 model. This means that it can only be used for grilling a selected list of food. To be clear, this is still a powerful grill; it just does not offer the same confidence or reach as the other models.
It features a grease management system that prevents oil spills through its rear. A cantilever is provided to be used as a cutting board or tray.
The burners can be adjusted to different temperatures individually. A similar battery-powered button ignition is provided. Foldable and detachable legs with wheels are provided for easy transport. It is a lighter, cheaper, all-around grill that is easy to assemble.
Pros:
- Easy assembly
- Portable design
- Durable build
- Grease management system
- Adjustable heat output
- Button ignition
Cons:
- Smaller grilling surface
- Low heat output
Buying Guide for Flat-Top Grills for Food Trucks
To choose the suitable flat-top grills for you, there are some crucial factors you need to take care of; they include:
Grill Size
A food truck serves a lot of customers, with several cooks working together in a cramped space. The grill that is to serve as the basis for these cookings has to be of optimal size. It has to be large enough to work on multiple ingredients at once. Since there are often numerous cooks on it, it should also be well-spaced. 30″ is a good benchmark for the optimal surface area of a food truck grill.
Portability
A grill in a food truck will have to be moved around frequently – it could be for storage, cleaning, or simply to make room for other utensils. Grills are hardly light equipment and require a well-designed system if you hope to move them around.
Therefore, it is important to choose a grill that will be easy to transport. A well-constructed wheel is a must, but it is not enough. The wheel or legs should be easily detachable or foldable to make space once the grill is in the truck. For standalone griddles, a strong, heat-resistant handle should work, as long as it is detachable.
Material
The material the grill is made of contributes immensely to its value. The material used for the grill surface, in particular, determines how easy it will be to clean. To maximize heat conduction of grills, the surface material is usually limited to cast iron or stainless steel.
While cast iron is a better heat conductor, it is challenging to clean and prone to rust. The cleaning problem is easily solved if it is coated with non-stick materials. On the other hand, stainless steel still offers excellent heat conduction and is naturally easy to scrape off stains on it.
Weak metals, alloys, or poorly constructed stainless steel can easily deform under intense heat supplied by the grill. By far, rolled, commercial-grade stainless steel is the most efficient material found in food truck grills.
Heating
Heat conduction is a vital element of any grill. It has to pass off enough heat to get your ingredients to the desired form in the estimated time. The grill must also distribute the heat evenly so that every part of the surface can participate in cooking. Heat distribution is majorly affected by heating elements or burners.
Since there are different designs among manufacturers, it is difficult to recommend a specific type. Still, a larger grill should have more burners to ensure optimal heat distribution. The grill should also have an easy and effective control for adjusting the temperature to switch easily between different cooking modes.
How to Cook Breakfast on the Flat Top Grill
Conclusion
Quality grills are a product of several factors, which primarily depend on what you need them for. These top 5 flat-top grills have been selected because of peculiar features that make them especially useful in a food truck. Still, they vary widely in their price, so we leave you to make your choice based on your budget.
The grills reviewed were trimmed to bring you the best value for money. However, the value won’t last very long if they are not adequately cared for — that is, you should clean and oil them after every workday.
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