Presto Tilt 'n Drain Review

The Presto Tilt 'n' Drain is an electric countertop griddle that boasts a whopping 285 square inches of cooking space. It has a ceramic non-stick surface, and the griddle body is made from durable cast aluminum. The primary feature (aside from its massive size) is its easy draining capabilities, making turning out a pack of crispy bacon a breeze. You can simply tilt the griddle forward for quick and efficient draining, or keep it tilted while cooking. For its size, we also found that the heat distribution is fairly consistent with minimal hot spots, and the surface is easy to clean. The outside remains cool to the touch for easy manipulation of the tilt function while cooking. It's a great option if overall capacity is your highest priority.

Non-Stick Properties

We appreciated the smooth, easy-to-use, and durable coating of this extra-large griddle. Like many options in the lineup, the Presto Tilt 'n' Drain features ceramic non-stick coating, made without forever chemicals like PFAS or Teflon. For frying and scrambling eggs, the Tilt 'n' Drain releases easily, and we never had issues with any egg residue left behind. We've had one on hand for testing for a couple of years now, and it's still holding up well.

We don't have anything negative to say about the non-stick surface on this griddle. Since it's black in color, you can't see any staining, even from cooking items on high heat. With all ceramic surfaces, it's best to pre-heat the griddle before jumping to searing at 400 degrees. The coating is relatively thin and needs to be handled with care to maximize durability, so silicone utensils are best.

Heat Distribution

For a very big surface, the Tilt 'n' Drain is no slouch when it comes to consistent heat distribution. We did not note any super-significant hot or cold spots during testing. However, if you want five-star heat consistency at this size, you'll have to go for a higher-priced device.

Around the edges and at the very center, if you're really maximizing the space of this very large griddle, it can be a bit cooler than more compact options. We did notice that items like bacon and pancakes cook more quickly over the heating element. It obviously can't compete with small, single-burner stovetop options, but for breakfast foods, we were able to cook a whole spread with ease, generally without burning or undercooking anything.

Grease Management

As the name suggests, the Tilt 'n' Drain has some tricks up its sleeve for managing excess grease. It's simple to pull out the handles and tilt the cooking surface forward at an angle. You can even continue to cook at an angle for fatty meats like sausage and bacon, so that it continues to steadily drain grease as you cook.

Even with the gravity to assist the grease draining, sometimes you do still have to direct the grease to the trap. For how large the griddle is, the grease channel and opening into the trap is fairly small. Be sure to not use the tilt function for draining while your eggs are still liquid, as you could unintentionally direct them into the grease trap. While we didn't experience this during testing, some users noted that the grease trap can easily crack if you're not careful.

Cooking Versatility

The versatility of the Tilt 'n' Drain is not particularly notable, aside from the sheer space available for cooking. It can certainly whip up grilled cheese or quesadillas in a pinch, especially for many people at once. But the regular flat-top surface isn't our top choice for cuts of meat, and can smoke quite a bit for higher heat cooking indoors. The “keep warm” feature is helpful for when you're cooking for a large group and want to maximize your serving timing, keeping everything hot and appetizing up until the moment you're ready to serve.

While this griddle can do everything you'd expect from a flattop, it's a bit cumbersome for cooking smaller meals. There are no particular features that maximize the versatility for different foods, and it performs the highest when it's performing its intended use: breakfast. This can be a bit of a downfall for such a large appliance that places demands on storage capacity but is generally used for just breakfast foods. However, for a large family, you may find its convenience valuable enough to warrant its place in the cabinet or on your countertop.

Cleanup

Cleaning the Tilt 'n' Drain can be a bit of a chore. If you're using this large of a griddle, breakfast is likely often a slightly chaotic affair, and food residue like pancake batter overflow can easily get into the frame of the griddle. The smooth nonstick surface makes the griddle top itself quite easy to clean.

Once again, the Tilt 'n' Drain's strength also becomes its weakness here, with its large size rendering it a bit of a hassle to clean. The griddle surface is removable, but it's tough to clean the gap between the frame and tilt mechanism, and grime can occasionally accumulate here. However, the grease cup is easy to take out and clean in either the sink or dishwasher.

Should You Buy the Presto Tilt 'n' Drain?

If you consistently find yourself making very large breakfasts or feeding a crowd, it's tough to beat the expansive cooking space, grease draining, and intuitive use of the Presto Tilt 'n' Drain. It also comes with a fair price tag, making it an excellent value. The non-stick coating is durable and works incredibly well, and for an extra-large cooking surface, it comes with laudable temperature consistency as well.

What Other Griddles Should You Consider?

For many, the Presto Tilt 'n' Drain might be overkill, considering its massive cooking space and storage footprint, as well as its slight lack of versatility. You get nearly as much space with the Presto Ceramic 22-Inch Electric, which has removable handles for more compact storage. We also liked the GreenLife Healthy Griddle XL, which features a large cooktop but less efficient grease-draining capabilities. For a large cook space that doubles as a baking pan, we also liked the Our Place Griddle Pan, which can double as a stylish serving tray for large groups. But for turning out dozens of perfectly cooked pancakes at lightning speed and keeping your bacon crispy, it's tough to one-up the Tilt 'n' Drain.