Zojirushi EP-PFC20HA, Gourmet d’Expert® Electric Skillet for Yin Yang Hot Pot & EA-DCC10 Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle,Stainless Brown Extra Large

Why it's worth it

This Zojirushi bundle pairs the EA-DCC10 Gourmet Sizzler griddle with the EP-PFC20HA electric skillet. The griddle gives you a 19 by 12.5-inch surface with heat settings from 176°F up to 425°F, and the skillet adds a divided hot pot pan.

If you make crêpes, Japanese soufflé pancakes, or Swedish plättar, temperature precision stops being a nicety. Thin, delicate batters set correctly or turn rubbery based on a difference of ten degrees. Zojirushi's griddle runs from a 176°F keep-warm up to 425°F, with a control plug that clicks when it's seated right — a small design detail that prevents the wandering temperatures a loose probe causes.

Heavy cast construction is the real reason to spend here. A thick base stores heat and spreads it, so the plate doesn't develop a scorching zone right above the element and a cool ring at the rim. That's the flaw owners flag on nearly every griddle in this category, and mass is the only honest fix for it. It also means the surface recovers steadily as you keep pouring batter.

From our review of 9 electric griddles for pancakes and breakfast, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +If you make crêpes, Japanese soufflé pancakes, or Swedish plättar, temperature precision stops being a nicety
• +Heavy cast construction is the real reason to spend here
• +The bundle is genuinely two appliances

What to know

• –This is the most expensive setup here by a wide margin, and a good chunk of what you're paying for is hot pot capability
• –It's also two full-sized appliances to store, not one