What is a Griddle?
A griddle, commonly called a plancha or flat grill, is one of the most widespread machines in the professional kitchen. With a large open metal cooking plate across the top, these allow you to cook mixed batches of food all at the same time, whilst also giving you the convenience of being able to easily monitor the cooking process.
There are three "P’s" when buying a griddle - Power, Plate and Positioning. It's important to consider all three of these options as each one can make a big difference to how efficient and effective the griddle could be in your kitchen.
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Power - Gas or Electric Griddle?
Both gas and electric griddles work in a similar way – heating the cooking plate by powerful elements or burners directly under the surface. Some electric griddles might have the heating elements embedded directly into the plate, meaning a faster heat-up.
Gas griddles tend to heat up faster than their electric counterparts. If used constantly, gas is often considered to be more economical in the long term.
Electric griddles can be a bit more flexible than gas. Although large, powerful electric griddles are available, you can also get smaller versions which can simply be plugged in (great for mobile catering). Electric griddles can also be useful for sites where a gas connection simply isn’t an option.
Article: Note that any gas griddle installed in a commercial kitchen will need professional installation. See the Gas Installations Guide for more info.
If you're installing an electric griddle, the Electricity Power Guide explains the difference between single and three phase connections.
Griddle Plates
The griddle plate is the primary cooking area and can make a big difference in the cooking results. As such, it’s important you make the right choice here. There are three aspects to consider when choosing a plate. The cooking area, the material of the plate and the plate surface.
Cooking Area
The larger the plate, the more food you can cook simultaneously. However, large plates can take up a lot of space, so big griddles might not be suitable for smaller kitchens. Also note that the bigger the plate, the more energy will be needed to keep it at the right cooking temperature. Some larger griddles have multiple heat zones so you can save energy by only heating areas which you’re using.
Plate Material
Griddle plates are available in cast iron, steel, chromed or ceramic glass surfaces.
Cast Iron is a very popular cooking surface as it’s highly durable and retains heat well – perfect if you’re constantly cooking. However, it needs occasional seasoning to prevent food from sticking. In addition, cast iron can be very heavy, so may not be suitable if you need to regularly move the griddle between different locations.
Article: The how to season your cookware guide provides step-by-step instructions for seasoning a cast iron griddle.
Steel is possibly the most common plate material, mainly due to its fast heat up and easy-clean non-stick surface. It’s worth checking the thickness of the plate though, as thin steel plates don’t retain heat as well as cast iron griddles.
Chromed griddle plates are essentially a more premium steel plate. By having a chromed finish, the surface is highly effective at transferring heat to the food and emits less heat into the kitchen. In addition, the polished effect means it’s particularly useful for preventing delicate foods sticking to the plate.
Ceramic glass is a relatively new technology to griddles. Glass plates are highly efficient, as more energy is channelled directly into the food instead of the plate. The glass finish is also much easier to clean, although you’ll need a scraper specifically designed for glass to prevent scratching.
Plate Surface
In addition to the standard flat griddles, plates can also be manufactured with small grooves. These are called ribbed plates. Similar to domestic grills, these channel fat and grease away, whilst also adding attractive chargrill-style sear marks into the food.
Whilst this is great for meats and chunky vegetables, it’s not suitable for everything. If you’re cooking eggs and pancakes, a flat griddle would deliver more consistent results. Some larger griddles have a combination of flat and ribbed plates, making them a great compromise if you need both cooking styles.
Griddle Positioning
It seems fairly straightforward to decide whether you need a countertop or freestanding griddle. Full height models are usually positioned on sturdy stands with undershelves, making them suitable for traditional kitchen use. Likewise, countertop models can be positioned where they are needed most, helping you to make an effective and efficient kitchen line. Just remember you may need to position the griddle under an extraction canopy.
If space is limited, there are other options available to help you make the best use of every inch of your kitchen. How about an oven with griddle top? There are even griddles with fridge bases available too. If you’re really pushed for room, this type of unit could really help you optimise your kitchen line.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean a griddle?
Not all griddles are the same, so it’s important to read the user manual carefully before cleaning for the first time. Whether you’ve got a flat or ribbed griddle, we’ve got the ideal griddle cleaning tools available right here.
View all Griddle ScrapersWhat can you cook on a griddle?
Pretty much anything that you can cook in an iron skillet can be cooked on a griddle. From fish, steaks, burgers and vegetables, to eggs, pancakes and even flatbreads – the options are limitless.
What does recovery time mean?
Every griddle takes time to reach the right cooking temperature. Models with particularly thick plates could take around 15-20 minutes before they are ready to cook. Likewise, if you've filled the entire plate with chicken breasts straight from the fridge, the plate can quickly lose temperature. Models with a fast recovery time quickly return to the cooking temperature you've set.
Which is the best griddle?
As always, the best griddle is the one which best suits your needs. Don’t just look at the price or the brand name - weigh up which features you need and how much space you’ve got.
Why is the coating coming off my cast iron griddle plate?
It’s not. Cast iron griddle plates are made from just that - a solid block of cast iron. Black flakes coming off a griddle surface are almost always burnt-on food residue. A deep scrape and clean of the griddle should solve this.
What is an induction griddle?
Induction griddles work in much the same way as a traditional induction hob. These channel energy in a much more efficient way, meaning incredibly fast heat-up and recovery times.
What's the difference between a contact grill and a griddle?
A contact grill is very similar to a griddle in that both machines use heated plates to cook food. The main difference is that contact grills also have an upper plate, allowing you to cook food from the top and bottom - great for reducing cooking times.
What is an anti-griddle?
Whereas a standard griddle uses heat to cook, an anti-griddle uses powerful refrigeration to flash-freeze food against the plate. It’s not a cooking machine, but it’s great for making the most delicate - and Instagrammable - desserts.
What other accessories do I need with a griddle?
The main tools you’ll need will depend on what you’re cooking. Most tasks can be carried out with a simple spatula
or set of catering tongs.
More specialist foods might need something a bit different. For example, if you’re cooking steak, you may want to pick up a steak weight
. These help to speed up cooking and produce a fantastic chargrill-style sear. There’s a large selection of other specialised meat prep tools available on this site, including skewers and meat tenderisers.