Coated griddle bottom

1 . An appliance for cooking food comprising:

a base;

a heat source coupled to the base;

a griddle coupled to the base and disposed above the heat source, the griddle comprising a first surface to receive food being heated and a second surface facing the heat source;

a coating coupled to the second surface and configured to improve heat transfer efficiency from the heat source to the griddle.

2 . The appliance of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a high radiation heat absorbing capacity relative to second surface of the griddle.

3 . The appliance of claim 2 wherein the coating comprises a darker color than the second surface of the griddle.

4 . The appliance of claim 3 wherein the coating is gray.

5 . The appliance of claim 3 wherein the coating is black.

6 . The appliance of claim 3 wherein the coating is a paint applied to the second surface.

7 . The appliance of claim 4 wherein the heat source provides infrared heat energy to the second surface of the griddle.

8 . The appliance of claim 1 further comprising an oven disposed below the griddle.

9 . An apparatus for cooking food, comprising:

a base;

an infrared heat source coupled to the base;

a griddle coupled to the base and disposed proximate the infrared heat source, the griddle comprising a first surface for heating food and a second surface with a first heat absorbing capacity;

a coating coupled to the second surface and having a second heat absorbing capacity that is greater than the first heat absorbing capacity of the second surface of the griddle.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coating has a darker color relative to the second surface.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coating is gray or black.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the coating provides a mat surface.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coating provides significantly greater heat absorbing properties relative to the second surface.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus is a range or a cook top.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the infrared heat source comprises a resistive element.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the resistive element is a ceramic tile infrared burner.

17 . A method for manufacturing an apparatus for cooking food, the method comprising:

providing a base, a radiant heat source, a griddle having a cooking surface and a bottom surface;

coupling the radiant heat source to the base;

applying a coating to the bottom surface that has heat absorbing properties greater than heat absorbing properties of the bottom surface; and

coupling the griddle to the base above the radiant heat source.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step of applying the coating comprises one of brushing, spraying, rolling, or powder coating a material on the second surface.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of applying the coating comprises bonding a material to the second surface has a darker color relative to the second surface.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step to applying the coating comprises bonding the coating to the second surface.