Is the BALMUDA The Teppanyaki Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Feb 2026). How we score
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Why
The most expensive griddle in America's Test Kitchen's lineup was rated Recommended with reservations, with 2 of 3 in every category. Its uncoated clad plate sears well: "The chicken and steak seared beautifully." But "it offered the smallest cooking area of all models evaluated and had no walls," grease "collected in a small and flimsy tray," and only four temperature settings forced compromises. ATK's Best Buy, the Presto Cool-Touch, matched its performance score with about half again as much cooking surface for a fraction of the price, and the Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler scored higher for ease of use with the largest surface ATK tested.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the BALMUDA Teppanyaki
Cool-Touch Electric Griddle and Warmer Plus
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy electric griddle, with the same performance score as the BALMUDA (2 of 3) and higher marks for cleanup. Its plate isn't removable, but "the griddle is dishwasher-safe and can be fully submerged once the heat control unit is removed." It has a ceramic nonstick surface and a grease tray, with 210 square inches of cooking space against the BALMUDA's 142.5. ATK noted "some hot spots, particularly near the power connection, but that didn’t affect our cooking results." ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | BALMUDA Teppanyaki | Presto |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Cleanup | 2/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Electric Griddles (updated Feb. 25, 2026)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Electric Griddles (updated Feb. 25, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Gourmet Sizzler Electric Griddle
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
Rated Recommended by America's Test Kitchen, with the same performance score as the BALMUDA and full marks for ease of use. "We loved the size of this model’s cooking surface, which was the largest in our lineup": 237.5 square inches, with walls slightly over an inch tall and a removable plate. "pancakes cooked evenly and emerged fluffy and golden brown from edge to edge." It has no grease tray, and its nonstick coating contains PFAS. ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | BALMUDA Teppanyaki | Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup | 2/3 | 2/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Electric Griddles (updated Feb. 25, 2026)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Electric Griddles (updated Feb. 25, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the BALMUDA Teppanyaki worth it?
Not according to America's Test Kitchen, which rated it Recommended with reservations: it sears well, but it had the smallest cooking area ATK tested, no walls and a flimsy grease tray. ATK's Best Buy, the Presto Cool-Touch griddle, matched its performance score for a fraction of the price.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Electric Griddles (updated Feb. 25, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
