The number one must-have tool for cooking on a griddle is a griddle spatula… but with so many different options on the market, how do you know what spatula to buy for the flat top grill or Blackstone griddle? Well, you’re in luck! I tested 15 different griddle spatulas to find the best options!
When you buy a new outdoor griddle, you might as well go ahead and add two griddle spatulas to your shopping cart also. You can’t cook on a gas griddle without at least one spatula (or “turner”).
In fact, if I had to list the top 3 griddle tools that you absolutely MUST have before you start using your new Blackstone griddle or other flat top grill, I would say that you need:
- 2 spatulas
- 1 scraper
- 1 squeeze bottle
Of course there are a ton of other accessories, like taco holders and burger presses, but those aren’t 100% necessary. But spatulas for flat top grill cooking are a MUST. So which one (or two) should you buy?
I tried 15 different spatulas for the griddle to determine which were best, and which were just overkill. Here’s what I found:
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What to Look for When Choosing a Griddle Spatula?
The best griddle spatula for you is going to be based on your personal preferences, like how the spatula feels in your hand, whether you like a steeper angle from the handle to the blade or a flatter model, and what type of handle material you like best.
Just like the best outdoor griddle for you, there are a ton of different factors to consider.
But as a frequent griddle user, I know what I like and what I don’t like… and having the right spatula for your flat top grill can make all of the difference in how comfortable it feels actually cooking on your griddle.
Here are some things to think about when picking out which griddle spatula to buy:
Shape of the Spatula Blade
The first thing to decide, and probably the most important, is whether you want a spatula with a square blade or a rounded blade. Now, this is different than the actual edges of the spatula, which we’ll talk about next.
I personally prefer a rounded blade spatula, because it’s less likely to damage the seasoning on the griddle surface. Often times, especially when making scrambled eggs on the flat top grill, I’ll use the end corner of my spatula to “stir” the eggs. If I were to do that with a squared-off spatula blade, I would be more likely to scratch into the griddle’s seasoning.
Also, some spatulas have rounded corners but are more straight across on the tip… here’s an example:
I can’t think of a single scenario that would require you to use a squared-off griddle spatula, so the rounded blade is best in my book.
Sharp Beveled Edge vs. Rounded Edge
This refers to the thin side edges of the spatula blade, and you have two main choices – a sharper, beveled edge or a rounded, smoother edge.
You can tell very quickly if a flat top grill spatula has a beveled edge, because there will be a sharp, almost knife-looking edge about 1/8″ to 1/4″ wide all the way around the blade where the edge of the metal is shaved down to a point on the sides. In contrast, the smoother edge spatulas have one continuous piece of metal that is smooth all the way to the edge.
Here’s a picture of a beveled edge Blackstone griddle spatula:
I personally prefer the rounded smooth edge because I feel like it’s less likely to do damage to my flat top grill surface, but you may decide that the sharper edge is best for you.
Handle Material, Shape, and Length
The handle of the spatula is important because it’s what you’ll actually be holding on to for the duration of your cook… so you want the handle to be comfortable in your hand.
I personally prefer a slight curve in the end of the handle (closest to the blade) because I find that it acts as a “stop” to keep my hand from sliding down towards the hot metal. When I use spatulas with a perfectly straight handle, my hand just naturally wants to grip the spatula farther down, which means my thumb is often resting on the hot metal blade like this:
You also need to think about whether you want a wooden handle or a plastic handle.
Many of the wooden handle spatulas actually have round metal rivets in the handle design. When I was testing this type of handle, I found that the metal pieces in the wood handle actually got hot after they had been resting on the side of the griddle, so I don’t personally like those.
Another thing to think about with the handle is the length. Do you want a longer handle or a shorter handle? Maybe compare handle lengths on some of your other indoor cooking utensils to help determine which you like best. As you can see here, there can be quite a large difference depending on which flat top grill spatula you choose:
Angle of the Griddle Spatula
Just like choosing the right chef’s knives, this is another factor that’s all about personal preference. You may like a spatula that has a steeper angle because the handle is farther away from the griddle surface so your hand is more protected from the heat. Or you may find that a steep angled spatula feels awkward to cook with.
For me, a spatula with a steeper angle makes me feel as though I have to lift my shoulder and arm more to get under the food as I’m cooking, so I prefer a flatter angle from the end of the blade to the beginning of the handle piece. And while that may not seem like a big deal, even a slight change in angle can feel awkward… kind of like when your wife drives your car and adjusts the power seat and you can never get it back to the perfect spot.
Here’s a photo to illustrate a few different angle options for griddle spatulas:
Weight of the Spatula
Most people equate “heavy” with heavy duty or well-built and sturdy… But when it comes to the best griddle spatula, heavy isn’t necessarily better. After all, you’re only flipping pancakes, not jacking up your pick up truck.
If you’re going to be cooking a giant batch of pancakes, a dozen eggs, and a pound of bacon, you may not want spatulas that are super heavy and burdensome. After preparing all of that food, your arm would need a break from the weight of the spatula!
And with hundreds of griddle cooks under my belt, I’ve never felt the need to have a super heavy duty spatula. You can use other weighted items, like a burger press or a heavy cast iron skillet, if you need to smash or press down certain foods on the griddle. So I prefer my all-purpose spatulas, which weigh only 5.6 ounces.
If you DO want to purchase some heavy duty spatulas, then these Blackstone griddle spatulas definitely fit the bill, weighing in at 14.4 oz… but don’t be surprised if you reach for them much less frequently than you do your lighter, more all-purpose griddle spatulas.
Balance
This is last on my list of things to consider when choosing a griddle spatula to buy, because I find that it’s the least important factor. But if you’re in the habit of resting your spatulas flat on your griddle surface while you’re cooking, then you may want them to be properly balanced.
What do I mean by that?
When you set the spatula down on a flat surface, the blade should stay flat against that surface, and your spatula shouldn’t rock backwards and rest on the handle. Here’s what I mean:
See the difference? That may not be a big determining factor for you on what griddle spatula to buy, but it’s worth mentioning.
Different Spatulas Have Different Uses
When you’re choosing the best griddle spatula, it’s important to remember that certain spatulas may be better suited for specific cooking methods or dishes, while others are more “all purpose” style utensils.
A giant spatula with a wide and heavy blade may be better just for making smash burgers, because you can use the weight to press down and “smash” your patties, but you may not want to use the same spatula to make scrambled eggs. Or a very wide spatula may be handy only for flipping pancakes, but then you’ll have to switch utensils to turn your sausage patties.
For that reason, I like to stick to more of an all-purpose style spatula for the griddle… not too large, not too heavy, and not one that’s made only for one specific cooking purpose. Plus, after a little practice, you’ll be smashing burgers and flipping pancakes like a pro, no matter what type of spatula you’re using!
My #1 Favorite Griddle Spatula
So which griddle spatula do I recommend above all others? Which is my favorite after trying 15 different spatulas for the flat top grill?
This New Star Foodservice spatula. Here’s why I like it:
- Rounded corners at the end of the spatula blade
- Smooth, rounded edge around the side of the blade
- Plastic, durable handle material
- Handle has a lip at the end that naturally stops my hand from sliding down towards the blade as I’m cooking
- Slight angle that’s comfortable to use
- Well balanced – It doesn’t fall backwards when I set it on the griddle surface.
- Great all-purpose spatula – Can be used for a wide variety of cooks… Not specifically made for only smash burgers, etc.
- Durable – I’ve had these griddle spatulas for two years now, and they still look great!
- Comfortable in my hands – When I grab the spatulas, they fit well in my hands and I don’t feel like I have to adjust my grip. My thumb doesn’t naturally want to sit on the metal, and I can hold it on the actual handle comfortably.
If the single white handled spatula is sold out online, then here are two other great options also made by New Star Foodservice:
- Black handle New Star Foodservice spatula – The same one as my favorite white one with just a different color handle.
- 3 piece spatula set – Includes 2 spatulas and one bench scraper
Can I Use a Metal Spatula on the Pit Boss Ultimate Griddle?
If you have the Pit Boss Ultimate Griddle, then you know that it has a ceramic coated, non-stick surface… so you may want to choose a non-metal griddle spatula to prolong the life of the griddle.
And if you’ve watched me cook on the Pit Boss griddle on my YouTube channel, then you know that I actually do use my favorite griddle spatulas (which are metal) on the ceramic coated surface of this griddle… I get a TON of questions about that, so here’s my official response:
You have to use metal utensils AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The actual Pit Boss Ultimate griddle manual says “non-metallic utensils”. I know of a handful of Ultimate griddle owners that have been using metal utensils on their griddles for a while and they’ve said that there hasn’t been any damage… but like I said, you have to use at your own risk – I’m sure that Pit Boss probably won’t replace your griddle top for you if you damage it with metal utensils.
Also, there’s a difference in the types of metal spatulas… my preferred spatula has rounded edges and does NOT have the sharp beveled edges all around. That’s the spatula that I like for my other griddles as well. I would never use a square ended, beveled edge spatula on mine. Also, you’ll notice that I still use a wooden scraper/spatula to actually scrape down the griddle surface (NOT a metal bench scraper like I use on my other griddles).
So the short answer is use metal at your own risk, and if you decide to use metal on yours, be careful about which metal utensils you’re using and how you use them on the surface.
Other Griddle Spatulas to Try
Want some other options for spatulas for the griddle? Here are some of my other favorites for traditional rolled steel griddles… All of these are solid choices in my book:
Blackstone Griddle Spatulas
If you like to have all of your accessories match your griddle and you have a Blackstone, then this 5 piece Blackstone griddle spatula set is a great buy. The griddle spatulas that are included in this Blackstone set are very similar to my favorite New Star Foodservice spatula… They have the rounded, non-beveled blade and the comfortable plastic handle. The angle is definitely steeper than my New Star spatulas, but if you’ve never used a different spatula, then you may not even recognize the difference.
Dexter Griddle Spatula
If you’re looking for the best griddle spatula that is made in the USA, then this Dexter spatula is for you! The angle is steeper, but the handle is comfortable and has a nice textured grip. This turner also has a rounded, non-beveled edge which is great for all-purpose griddle cooking.
I hope this post helps you to pick out the best griddle spatula for your preferences and needs. Or if you’re a long-time griddle user, maybe you have a different favorite spatula for the griddle… If so, let me know in the comments and help out some fellow flat top grillers!
And be sure to check out some of my other flat top grill and griddle review posts:
- My Favorite Cooking Tools – An epic list of my favorite griddle and cooking tools – everything from my favorite spices to my burger press.
- 6 Flat Top Grill Accessories You Must Have for Your Outdoor Griddle
- The Best Outdoor Griddle – Blackstone vs. Camp Chef vs. Pit Boss
More of a visual learner? You can see my full griddle spatula reviews and get a view of a bunch of different spatula turner options in this YouTube video:
Congrats on the 100K subscribers
I have the sharp edge spatulas from Blackstone, but I think I like my generic round edged with drain holes better.
Hi Neal,
Congratulations on 100,000 viewers. What a great channel!