Answer five quick questions and we'll match you to a home setup: skillet, griddle, grill skewers or a vertical shawarma oven, plus the gear and a recipe to start with.
Pick your setup from the four below, or turn on JavaScript to take the 1-minute quiz.
The cheapest way to get charred, crispy edges. Best for small batches and occasional cooks. Stovetop method.
A big flat surface for searing large batches of thin-sliced meat indoors, fast. Griddle method.
Smoky, charred, kebab-style shawarma for people who cook outdoors. Skewers recipe.
The shop-style stacked cone, carved as it cooks. Best for frequent cooks with counter space. Is it worth it?
Compare them side by side in our shawarma machine buying guide.
A quick comparison if you'd rather pick without the quiz. Costs are relative; check current prices on each listing.
| Cast iron skillet | Electric griddle | Grill + skewers | Vertical oven | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to start | Lowest (free if you own one) | Moderate | Low if you already have a grill | Highest |
| Where it cooks | Stovetop or oven | Countertop | Outdoors | Countertop |
| Batch size | Small batches | Large batches | Medium to large | One stacked cone |
| Space needed | A cupboard shelf | Counter while cooking | A drawer, plus a grill | Dedicated counter space |
| Best for | Charred edges on a budget | Fast weeknight batches | Smoky, kebab-style char | The shop-style spit |
| How to | Stovetop method | Griddle method | Grilling guide | Is it worth it? |
No. Most of shawarma's flavor comes from the marinade, high heat and thin slicing. A hot skillet, griddle, oven or grill gets you most of the way. A vertical oven mainly adds the shop-style experience of carving from a stacked cone.
A cast iron skillet, if you don't already own one, plus a good marinade. You may already have everything you need.
An electric griddle or a vertical oven, because both cook larger batches at once. A grill with skewers also works well for outdoor parties.
Each answer adds points to one or more of the four setups, based on batch size, how often you cook, where you like to cook, your space and what matters most to you. The setup with the most points is your match. Product picks are based on specs and listings, not hands-on testing.
One email a week. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.