How Healthy Is Cooking On A Flat Top Grill?

Flat top grills have gained a lot of popularity in recent years because they make it easy to cook anything from eggs, to fried rice, to pancakes, none of which you can cook over a traditional grill. You get ample cooking space, don't have to worry about flare-ups or hard-to-clean grates, and it can offer a healthier way to cook your favorite foods.

Tasting Table asked Samar Kullab, a Chicago-based registered dietitian nutritionist, what the potential health benefits of cooking on a flat top grill were. "You get an even heat distribution with less charring because it's not in direct flame contact," she said. "The blackened bits on meat has been associated with HCAs and PAHs, so less charring is a plus!" 

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds that form when beef, poultry, pork, or fish is cooked at high temperature, and may increase your risk of cancer. An open flame isn't the only way these compounds can form, but high flames and char are prominent sources. 

You also don't have to use as much oil on a flat top grill, so that cuts down on added fats if that's a concern. Fat from the food you cook can also be rendered out and scraped away. On a traditional grill it can drip down, splattering on the coals and smoking, which can create more potentially unhealthy compounds. But if you still want that flame-grilled flavor, there are ways to get a flame-grilled taste without the flame.

The potential health advantages of cooking on a flat top grill depend on what you're cooking. We asked Samar Kullab if it might be healthier to cook meat on a grill so the fats drip away while vegetables might be healthier on a flat top where they aren't exposed to direct flame and charring. She agreed that could be the case, but added that foods like chicken breast or fish would do fine either way.

Whether you're using a well-known option like a Blackstone or another popular flat-top grill, the design can present a potential health issue. "The main concern would be cross contact since foods are cooked on a shared surface," Kullab said. Cooking multiple items at the same time on a flat top is part of the appeal, so you need to be vigilant about cook times and cross-contamination from the cooking surface, utensils, and serving trays or plates. Even if you are careful to keep food separate while you cook, dripped or splattered juices can still create problems.

Ultimately, what you cook is the biggest factor in how healthy your meal will be, but compared to a traditional grill, a flat top can help make some dishes a little healthier. There are plenty of great uses for your griddle beyond burgers and eggs, many of which can be made with nutritious ingredients without sacrificing flavor.