Current Backyard Model G Review: Dual-Zone Grill, Griddle, and Verdict

The Model G Electric Griddle is for people who want a real flat-top cooking surface with no propane, no charcoal, and no open flame. It plugs into a standard 110V outlet, which makes it a good fit for balconies, patios, and anywhere tanks are a hassle. If you cook bacon, eggs, pancakes, and smash burgers for a household, it suits you well.

It is not for shoppers on a tight budget. It is a premium buy, costing roughly twice what a good tabletop electric griddle does, and you are paying for the app, the cart-style frame, and the outdoor build. If you only want a portable surface, one of the electric griddles and skillets we cover will do.

We also want to be plain about one thing. The official product page calls the Model G griddle "dual zone" in its prose, yet its own comparison table treats the griddle as one surface. The griddle is one continuous flat top, and that is how we describe it here.

Current sells two products under the Model G name, and search results mix them constantly. The griddle has a flat seasoned-steel top. The grill has grates and, in the official specs, two independently controlled zones. Most reviews online cover the grill.

The Model G+ grill costs more again, and the Model G2 adds removable elements and a built-in drawer. For grill marks, look at the grill family; for a flat top, buy the griddle.

The design is straightforward: a seasoned-steel griddle top, a painted-steel lid and side shelf, and a rolling frame about 49 inches wide and 24 inches deep.

Cooking Surface and Zones

The surface is about 330 square inches, which is plenty for a full breakfast or six smash burgers in one go. Because there are no grates, nothing falls through, and that is the whole case for choosing a griddle over a grill.

Treat the griddle as one continuous surface. Do not expect the high-heat and warm-hold split the grill offers; you build a cooler side by moving food around the steel.

Assembly and Setup

Assembly runs about an hour to 90 minutes. The app-based instructions are awkward on a phone, so a second pair of hands and a narrow-handled screwdriver both help.

Build quality is solid, with one caveat. The frame feels a little wobbly when you roll it, and a plastic side-panel clip can loosen after about a month. The side panels also do not block wind-blown dirt or rain, so a cover is worth buying.

Power setup matters more than anything else here. The griddle wants a standard 15A breaker, a 120V outlet, and no other appliances on the same circuit. Sharing a circuit with a space heater blew a fuse, so give it its own outlet. The 12 ft cord is short, so plan on an outdoor-rated 14 AWG extension cord if the outlet is far away.

On the controls side, the griddle runs from 200F to 600F. That is enough for searing a burger crust and holding pancakes warm, though it tops out below the grill's 700F.

The CURRENT app connects over Wi-Fi and gives you temperature monitoring, preheat notifications, and remote adjustment. The preheat alert is useful, but the app is sparse and the iPhone login repeats. The unit runs fine from its dial and display, so treat the app as a bonus.

One cooking probe is included. It is handy for thick steaks and chops.

Electric flat tops trade the raw power of propane for steadiness. The Model G does not roar, but it holds a setting.

Preheat and Heat Recovery

Preheat is the weak spot. We could not find an independently measured preheat time for the griddle; the reported 15 to 20 minutes to reach 700F applies to the grill, exceeding Current's 10-minute claim and taking noticeably longer than a typical gas grill. Expect the griddle to need patience too.

Current says added food or an opened lid temporarily lowers the surface temperature and the unit works back toward the set point, but it publishes no recovery time, and we have no timed readings to add.

Once at temperature, the elements hold it steadily. Dropping a lot of cold meat causes a short dip before it recovers, so cook in batches rather than crowding the surface. Some units also run uneven or take a long time to hit full heat, so evenness can vary from one griddle to the next.

Smash Burgers and Breakfast

Bacon came out crisp and evenly cooked here. The patty makes full contact with hot steel, which grates cannot do.

Searing and Mixed-Zone Cooking

For true sear marks you want the grill, not the griddle. A flat top gives you a crust, not grill lines. On the grill version the surface heats fairly evenly, with the back-left corner running slightly hotter, and its two independent zones let you sear on one side while the other stays gentler.

A heavy griddle placed on top of the grill's cook surface adds more mass than the grill handles well, so the dedicated griddle is the better flat-top option. If you want both, buy both products.

Against propane, you lose some peak heat and speed, and you gain no tank swaps and a unit you can run where gas is not allowed.

After a cook, scrape the surface while it is still warm, steam off stuck bits with a little water, wipe it down, and finish with a thin coat of oil to prevent rust.

The rear grease tray is the part that needs finesse. It is shallow, so empty it often, and check it midway through long cooks.

Store the unit protected through winter and use a cover. Heating elements and sensors are costly to replace outside warranty, so keeping it dry protects your investment.

All of that comes at a premium price, so check the current price before you buy. For comparison, the Model G Dual Zone Electric Grill costs more.

Registered within 60 days, the griddle carries a limited 10-year warranty. Without registration it falls to 5 years, and accessories are excluded. Component-level terms differ by model year, so register your unit.

If the price feels steep, the closest rival is the Blackstone E-Series 22-inch electric griddle. It has a 358 sq in ceramic titanium nonstick surface with two independent zones on two dials, plus a dishwasher-safe rear grease cup. It costs about half as much. It cleans easily with the grease cup, but the temperature drops on smash burgers and the handle gets very hot. Read our full Blackstone E-Series 22-inch electric griddle review.

Other options worth a look:

• The Beautiful XL electric griddle review covers a larger countertop model.
• The Presto 22-inch electric griddle review is a plain, budget-friendly pick.
• The Char-Broil Bistro Pro grill and griddle mixes both surfaces in one unit.

Beyond the Quick Verdict, a few situations should change your pick.

• Choose the Blackstone E-Series 22-inch if you cook occasionally, have counter space instead of a patio, or want two dial-controlled zones for about half the price.
• Choose the Model G Dual Zone Electric Grill if you want sear marks, a 700F top end, and two independent zones, and you accept the higher price.
• Stay with the griddle only if you can dedicate an outlet and tolerate a long preheat.