Let’s set the scene.
It’s Sunday morning. You’ve got a hungry crowd, two spatulas, and one pan that’s already given up on life. Bacon’s curling in slow motion, pancakes are burning around the edges, and somehow the eggs are still raw. Sound familiar?
That’s the chaos the Presto 07061 22-Inch Electric Griddle was built to end. It’s big. It heats fast. And it promises to turn your next breakfast rush into something resembling… peace?
Let’s get into it.
First Look: Big Surface, Bigger Promise
Pull this thing out of the box and you know you’re not messing with a toy. It’s wide—22 inches of cooking space. That’s about six full-sized pancakes, or four burgers with enough room left over for grilled onions. The cooking surface clocks in around 250 square inches. If you're used to juggling small pans, this will feel like going from a matchbox to a runway.
The design is simple, but not lazy. The cooking surface is nonstick, textured just enough to stop food from sliding all over the place. The handles snap on and off with a quick-release latch, so it stores flat in most cabinets. And the drip tray slides in underneath like a drawer. No guesswork.
If you’ve ever played a round of “where do I store this thing,” the detachable handles will feel like a small win.
Specs at a Glance (and Why They Matter)
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Surface Area: ~22" x 11.5"
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Material: Cast aluminum
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Nonstick Coating: PTFE (not ceramic)
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Power: 1500 watts
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Weight: Just under 6 pounds
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Temperature Range: Up to 400°F
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Cleaning: Plate is dishwasher safe (once handles come off)
It’s not high-tech. No app. No voice control. But none of that would flip your bacon any faster anyway.
Cooking Test: Pancakes, Bacon, and the French Toast Gauntlet
I threw breakfast at it.
Six pancakes down in one go. All golden. No burned edges, no cold zones. I even tested with French toast—thick slices. It held heat well and cooked evenly across the plate. A few Reddit users mentioned edge spots being slightly cooler. I saw a tiny dip, but nothing that ruined the meal.
Next up: bacon.
It crisped without curling like ribbon. Grease flowed neatly to the drip tray. One thing, though—make sure the tray is pushed in all the way. A tiny bump and it slides out, especially if you move the griddle mid-cook. That could mean a mess you don’t want on a Sunday.
Day-to-Day Use: The Little Things That Matter
This isn’t a flashy gadget. It’s a workhorse. It heats fast—usually ready in under 8 minutes. The Control Master dial stays accurate, clicking on and off to maintain the temp without any drama.
Cleaning is easy. The whole surface detaches from the handles and legs. Drop it in the dishwasher or wipe it clean while warm. I prefer the quick wipe with a damp cloth. Less water, less effort.
One heads-up: this griddle has a slight texture. Some folks like it. I noticed it leaves a pattern on pancakes if you’re not using enough batter. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Pros and Cons
✅Pros
Feeds a crowd without cycling batches
Heats evenly and stays consistent
Simple to store (snap-off handles)
Wipes clean or dishwasher safe
❌Cons
Grease tray can be slippery when not clicked in fully
Outer edges slightly cooler than center
Pancake finish not smooth if batter’s thin
What People Say (And What’s Worth Noting)
Some folks on Reddit have used this same model for over a decade. That’s not typical for budget appliances. Most issues pop up from misuse—scraping it with metal tools or letting oil build up.
A few Amazon reviews mention the drip tray being easy to knock loose. They're not wrong. One fix is to press it in until you feel it lock. Otherwise, gravity will win.
As for durability, this isn't a tank. Treat it like a cast iron pan and it won’t last. But if you’re cooking smart—medium heat, no sharp tools, wipe it down—you’re looking at years of reliable breakfast sessions.
How It Compares
Vs Bella XL Ceramic Griddle
Bella looks sleeker, but runs hotter and tends to warp over time. The Presto keeps its shape and handles abuse better.
Vs Black+Decker Family-Sized Griddle
Presto wins on build quality. Black+Decker offers digital controls but lags on even heat.
Vs Presto Tilt ‘n Drain Model
The Tilt model lets grease flow better but sacrifices stability and storage. If you’re cooking bacon every day, it’s a maybe. Otherwise, 07061 is more versatile.
Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of It
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Preheat 5 minutes before dropping food.
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Use silicone or wooden tools. No forks, no knives.
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Lightly oil if you're doing eggs—nonstick helps but isn’t magic.
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Rinse the drip tray immediately after cooking. Hardened bacon grease is no one’s friend.
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Store the handles in a drawer with the dial. All-in-one place = no hunting.
Who’s This For?
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Families cooking multiple meals at once.
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Meal preppers needing a flat, big surface.
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Breakfast lovers who don’t want to batch-cook.
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Anyone sick of cramming bacon into a frying pan.
If you're tight on counter space or just need to fry an egg every once in a while, this might feel like overkill. But if pancakes are a weekend tradition—or you're feeding more than two—this griddle earns its keep.
Final Thoughts
The Presto 07061 Electric Griddle isn’t fancy. It doesn’t talk to your phone. But it does exactly what it’s supposed to do—feed a group, fast, without making you babysit a stove.
It heats evenly. It stores easily. And it handles breakfast like a champ.