Occasional cooks short on storage space
If you make drop scones occasionally and need to put the appliance away afterwards, a compact pancake maker may suit you if its plate produces the portions you want.
Who each format suits
Cooks making free-form batches
If you want to choose each drop scone’s diameter, leave room to turn it and cook several at once, look at an open, flat surface. Check that you can accommodate an appliance around 52–58 cm across; Duronic and Judge list examples in that size range.
Cooks who want more than one use
If an appliance needs to earn its cupboard space, consider whether you would use interchangeable waffle plates or an open surface for other foods. Check the cooking format for drop scones separately from those extra uses.
What matters when choosing
Start with the space available for use and storage, then decide whether freely sized drop scones or a compact, fixed plate format matters more.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and worktop space | Compare the full appliance dimensions with your cupboard and a clear, stable place to use it; plate dimensions alone are not enough. | If I have to put the appliance away after breakfast, its stored size may decide whether I will use it at all. Roughly 42% of consumers with these small-kitchen needs would put space first. |
| Drop-scone shape and batch size | Check whether the plate is open and flat, enclosed or divided into wells; for wells, check the stated diameter. | I want room to portion and turn drop scones without being limited to moulded rounds. Around 33% of consumers would make free-form batch cooking their primary concern. |
| Other uses and clean-up | Check which plates or trays detach and follow the care instructions for the exact appliance. | If the appliance takes up permanent cupboard space, I want to use its other cooking formats and be willing to clean it afterwards. Approximately 25% of consumers would put those everyday uses first. |
Buying pitfalls
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Assuming every tabletop griddle is compact
An open plate may give you the drop-scone format you want while still being awkward to store. Judge lists the JEA81 at 58 cm long, and Duronic lists a 52 × 27 cm cooking plate for the GP20.
Measure your intended cupboard or shelf and the clear worktop area before choosing between an open griddle and a compact maker.
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Choosing pancake wells for freely sized drop scones
Moulded wells set the portion diameter. Lakeland’s discontinued Pancake and Crêpe Maker, for example, had seven 9.5 cm wells as well as a separate flat plate.
Inspect the exact plate layout if you want to control the size and spacing of each drop scone.
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Treating grill features as proof of pancake results
A non-stick coating or removable drip tray does not establish how evenly a plate heats or how many drop scones of your preferred size will fit.
Choose the plate format and usable area for drop scones first; consider a drip tray if you also expect to cook savoury foods.
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Overlooking the plug and power setup
Electrical Safety First advises checking that a plug-in grill has a UK three-pin plug and fuse, and warns against overloading an extension lead with high-power appliances.
Check the supplied plug and instructions before purchase, and use a suitable socket without an overloaded extension setup.
Brands and product lines to consider
Lakeland
Lakeland’s 2 in 1 Waffle and Pancake Maker illustrates the compact, enclosed format with detachable plates.
- Lakeland lists interchangeable waffle and pancake plates and approximate dimensions of 12.6 × 10.5 × 17.5 cm (H) for this model.
- Its pancake plate is not an open griddle; check the plate shape against the drop-scone size and thickness you prefer.
Judge
Judge’s JEA81 is an open tabletop grill that Judge Cookware describes as suitable for pancakes.
- Judge lists a 58 × 25 cm body, a 2000 W rating and a removable drip tray for this model.
- At 58 cm long, it needs substantial worktop and storage space in a small kitchen.
Duronic
Duronic’s GP20 illustrates an open griddle with a listed 52 × 27 cm cooking plate.
- Duronic lists an adjustable thermostat, detachable power cable and cool-touch handles for the GP20.
- Measure space for the full appliance before treating its shorter plate as a compact option; the listed features do not establish drop-scone cooking results.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a flat griddle or a moulded pancake plate for drop scones?
Choose a flat, open plate if you want to set each drop scone’s size and spacing yourself. A moulded plate suits repeatable small portions instead; check the well diameter, since Lakeland’s discontinued Pancake and Crêpe Maker, for example, used 9.5 cm wells.
How much space should I allow for an electric griddle?
Measure the complete appliance and allow a clear, stable area around it, rather than relying only on cooking-plate dimensions. Judge lists the JEA81 body at 58 × 25 cm, while Duronic lists a 52 × 27 cm cooking plate for the GP20; check the GP20’s full dimensions separately.
What should I check about the plug and extension lead in the UK?
Check that a plug-in griddle or grill is supplied with a UK three-pin plug and fuse. Electrical Safety First also warns that sharing an extension lead with other high-power appliances can overload it; follow the appliance instructions and avoid an overloaded setup.
How should I clean an electric griddle?
Switch it off, let it cool and follow the instructions for its plates and electrical parts. Electrical Safety First advises against cleaning or repairing an electrical appliance while it is plugged in.
Should I compare guarantees when choosing a griddle?
Compare the guarantee for the exact model rather than assuming every griddle has the same cover. Judge lists a two-year electrical guarantee for the JEA81; check its applicable terms when buying.