Who these appliances suit

Space-limited bacon cooks

If you put the appliance away after breakfast, check its stored dimensions as well as the clear worktop space it needs in use. An upright-storing model can still take considerably more room when opened.

Low-mess breakfast cooks

If dealing with bacon fat is your main concern, look separately at how fat reaches the tray and which parts can be removed for washing. A drip tray does not make fixed cooking plates removable.

One-appliance multi-use cooks

If you also want to make sandwiches or grill other foods, interchangeable plates or a fold-out design may be useful. Check that the extra cooking modes justify the space the appliance needs when opened.

What matters when choosing

Flat electric griddle

Choose it when: You want to lay several bacon rashers flat in one layer and have room for the full plate.

Trade-off: A low-profile griddle can still be too long for a restricted worktop or cupboard.

Fold-out contact grill

Choose it when: You want a closed grill for other meals and a larger, open cooking surface for bacon.

Trade-off: Opening it to 180° increases the space needed during cooking; ridged plates are not the same as a smooth griddle.

Compact grill and sandwich maker

Choose it when: You usually cook smaller portions and also want to make sandwiches.

Trade-off: Its closed cooking area leaves less room to arrange bacon in a single layer than an opened-out surface.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Worktop and storage space Compare the full stored dimensions with the space needed to cook, including the open position of a fold-out grill. If I have little clear worktop, I need the appliance to fit during breakfast and store away afterwards. Around 36% of consumers put space first.
Fat collection and cleaning Check whether the fat tray and plates are removable, and which components the manufacturer says are dishwasher-safe. I want somewhere for bacon fat to collect and parts I can clean without scrubbing a fixed plate. Roughly 29% of consumers make clean-up their primary concern.
Portion size and plate type Check usable cooking dimensions and whether the supplied plate is smooth, ridged or reversible. When cooking several rashers, I want enough usable surface without giving up space needed for other meals. Around 21% of consumers prioritise cooking format and capacity.
Heat control and safe use Look for adjustable heat; if using an extension lead, check its marked rating against the combined connected load. I want to adjust the heat for my bacon and use the appliance without overloading a crowded socket. For about 14% of consumers, control and safe use come first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Assuming compact storage means a compact cooking footprint

    A fold-out grill may store upright yet need substantially more worktop space at 180°. A slim flat griddle can still be long.

    Measure the clear space available during cooking, then compare it with the appliance’s full dimensions in the position you intend to use.

  • Expecting a smooth griddle plate from a grill name

    Grill and griddle models can have ridged, smooth or interchangeable plates, which changes how bacon lies on the cooking surface.

    Check the plates supplied with the exact model and whether a smooth plate is included or offered separately.

  • Treating a drip tray as the whole cleaning solution

    A tray collects fat, but the plates still need cleaning, and not every removable part is dishwasher-safe.

    Check the instructions for the tray and plates separately, and let the appliance cool as directed before cleaning.

  • Adding a cooking appliance to an overloaded extension lead

    Electrical Safety First warns that overloaded sockets create a fire risk.

    Use a suitable wall socket where possible. If you need an extension lead, check its marked rating and the combined load of everything connected to it.

Relevant brands to consider

Tefal

Tefal offers contact grills with different approaches to cooking area and storage.

  • Tefal UK describes the SuperGrill 3in1 as opening to 180°, with vertical and cord storage. It specifies a 600 cm² cooking surface.
  • An opened grill needs more worktop space than its stored form; check the dimensions of the exact model before buying.

Cuisinart

Cuisinart’s GRSM4U combines a contact grill and sandwich maker for smaller, multi-use cooking.

  • Cuisinart UK specifies interchangeable grill and sandwich plates, variable heat, dishwasher-safe removable plates and an integrated fat-collection tray for the GRSM4U.
  • Check whether its plate area fits your usual number of bacon rashers rather than assuming a grill-and-sandwich maker provides a wide flat griddle.

Salter

Salter offers fold-out health grill and panini models that can be opened for tabletop cooking.

  • Salter describes its fold-out models as opening to 180°, with fat drainage into a drip tray.
  • Check the exact model’s plate surface and open dimensions if you need a smooth cooking area or have very little worktop space.

Ninja

The Ninja Sizzle GR101UK is an indoor countertop option for cooks considering interchangeable cooking plates.

  • Ninja UK describes the GR101UK as having interchangeable grill and flat plates.
  • Check its full footprint against your available worktop and storage space before choosing it for a small kitchen.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a flat electric griddle or a contact grill more practical for bacon?

Choose a flat griddle if laying several rashers in one layer matters most and its full footprint fits your kitchen. A compact contact grill suits smaller portions and other meals; a fold-out model provides more area when open but needs extra worktop space.

Which features help with cleaning up after bacon?

Look for a fat-collection tray and check separately whether the plates are removable and dishwasher-safe. For example, Cuisinart UK specifies an integrated tray and removable dishwasher-safe plates on the GRSM4U; follow the cleaning instructions for the exact model you buy.

Can I clean an electric grill as soon as I finish cooking?

Let it cool for the period stated in its instructions before cleaning. Tefal UK advises waiting around 45 minutes for its SuperGrill 3in1 XL; follow your own model’s manual rather than applying that timing to every appliance.

What food-handling checks matter when cooking bacon?

Follow the bacon packaging and appliance instructions, and cook the food thoroughly. UK government food-business guidance also calls for washing hands after handling raw meat and before handling ready-to-eat food.

Can I use an extension lead with an electric griddle?

Use one only if its marked rating accommodates the appliance and the combined load of any other connected equipment. Electrical Safety First warns against overloading sockets and notes that extension leads are generally rated at 13 A, although some older leads are rated at 10 A.