Balmuda The Teppanyaki Grill Plate

This steel-clad, temperature-controlled grill plate brings tableside teppanyaki to your own home. What is teppanyaki? It’s one of Japan’s most popular styles of cuisine, which translates to “grilling on a metal plate.” The Teppanyaki’s griddle is made of a 6.6-millimeter stainless steel plate (complete with an aluminum core) that can hold precise, high-heat temperatures for long periods of time. Its 18-inch surface has ample room for evenly cooking, searing, cutting and serving just about anything—like hibachi-style steaks, seafood, noodles and veggies—right at the table. And unlike standard electric griddles that fluctuate in temperature, the grill plate 1) evenly distributes heat at four adjustable settings from 320°F to 430°F and 2) quickly evaporates excess moisture, resulting in evenly cooked foods with crispy exteriors. (It also reduces smoke in the kitchen, as the plate stays under the smoke point at all times.)

It’s not just for teppanyaki-style foods: You can use it as a grill and char up onions, eggplant, corn and peppers or griddle quesadillas and burgers. Or cook breakfast items (pancakes, crêpes, bacon, eggs any way, white bread—you name it) for a small group. We also enjoy the built-in grease tray, which catches accumulated meat juices, unwanted moisture and burnt bits with a simple scrape. Speaking of scraping, the plate’s heavy-duty material stands up to all metal utensils, from the included griddle spatula to steak knives. Plus, The Teppanyaki is equipped with an auto-off function, which powers down the system after two hours of continuous use.