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Cooking on a griddle is healthy, fun, and delicious! This explains the popularity of this cooking method today. You've decided to follow the trend and buy a griddle. A small problem: you don't know which model to choose? It must be said that there are many different types: stainless steel, steel, electric or gas, small, large, in a pack, professional, built-in... How to do it? Follow the guide!
Which energy source should you choose for your griddle: electric or gas?
Plancha cooking is easy and delicious. Whether you want to showcase southern dishes, more exotic cuisine, or go back to basics and organize a crepe party, this appliance is perfect as long as you choose the one that suits you best. How do you go about choosing the right plancha? What power should you choose for cooking on a plancha? We'll explain everything!
First, think about where you want to place your plancha. Do you want to install it in the garden? Many will tell you that a gas plancha is ideal in this case and that it perfectly complements or replaces your barbecue area. It heats up quickly, allows you to maintain a high temperature for a long time, and offers interesting thermal performance. A real asset for those who want to invite large tables! This model, however, has a huge drawback. It is not allowed everywhere! It is prohibited in co-ownerships, in collective housing, and in places where fires can easily develop. In addition, when cooking on a windy day, this can have consequences for the cooking of the food since the flame flickers and risks going out.
The electric griddle then turns out to be a better choice. Much safer than a gas model, the all-stainless steel electric griddle is sold individually or as a pack, in a large or small model: its cooking surface adapts to all your desires and you can install it wherever you want. Lightweight and practical, it easily finds its place in your garden, in your summer kitchen, and even in your home! Plug it into 220V and enjoy its ideal temperature to cook, sear and bring out all the flavors of the healthy and delicious products that you will offer to your guests or cook every day! Enjoy the sweet life of the Spanish plancha!
Which materials should you choose for your plancha?
Cast iron, steel, stainless steel—plancha models come in several materials, but then, which coatings should you choose? Cast iron may be of interest to you if you're looking for a grill that you'll use very occasionally. However, it has the disadvantage of being very heavy. It's difficult to move and maintain. Also, be careful if you opt for an enameled cast iron plancha; it's likely to stick! In fact, the enamel of the cooking tray tends to deteriorate over time and no longer fulfills its primary function.
The most common models are made of steel. This combination of iron and carbon is a good alternative. It produces a solid plate with real qualities for cooking food, but it oxidizes! This defect often makes its maintenance tricky, especially if you have decided to place your plancha outdoors. It will quickly rust and become unusable.
If you choose to buy a stainless steel electric griddle, like the ones we offer at Planchaelec, you can be sure you won't go wrong because you're opting for a high-end model whose cooking plate is cut from solid wood. It's not without reason that this material has naturally found its place among professionals. They're not mistaken and boast its exceptional cooking quality and its great ease of maintenance and cleaning. You should know that a Made In France stainless steel griddlecreated and shaped in our workshops in Rhône-Alpesis practical, healthy, durable and never rusts!
What size and accessories should you need for your plancha?
The great thing about plancha cooking is that it's just as suitable for a romantic dinner as it is for a huge family gathering or a get-together with friends. Why? The stainless steel electric plancha can be used for all your needs. It can be used every day, in the evening, for family events, and easily fits into your kitchen, on your balcony, or in your garden.
For two, eight, or fifteen people, there are planchas in all sizes: it's up to you to decide which one suits you best! How to do it? Consider how you plan to use it, how much space you can allocate to it, and test your cooking enthusiasm!
When choosing your plancha on trolley, your large professional griddle, or your small kitchen plancha, don't forget to take a look at the various accessories that can go with it and make your life easier.
Spatula, scraper, splashback, lid, cooking hood, grease drip tray: they're all there to help you cook delicious meals, make it easier to maintain your equipment, and prevent you from burning yourself!
For your greatest pleasure, Planchaelec, the stainless steel specialist, offers you accessories with a sleek design and very high quality. They're practical and will convince you to put your plancha in the spotlight every day!
What are the differences between a gas plancha and an electric plancha?
To choose the right griddle, you need to understand the differences between a gas griddle and an electric griddle. Gas griddles are known for heating up more quickly than electric griddles. However, a high-powered electric griddle offers very similar heating characteristics. Furthermore, temperature control during cooking is more precise with an electric griddle than with a gas griddle.
Even though it requires an electrical connection, an electric plancha can be used both indoors and outdoors, in complete safety. Using a gas plancha can be tricky when the wind picks up. This type of plancha is also prohibited in co-ownerships.
Another difference: the electric plancha consumes half as much energy compared to a gas model. Indeed, the latter requires air to circulate so as not to confine the gas and it will then be necessary to burn more gas to maintain the right temperature over time. On the contrary, on the electric plancha, it is precisely necessary to properly insulate the heating elements to limit heat loss.
How to properly use your electric griddle?
Installing an electric griddle is simple. Simply place your griddle on a flat surface near an electrical outlet. Choose your electric griddle according to your usage. Some griddle models are suitable for infrequent, family use, while others are designed for intensive use, with up to 10 to 15 guests.
The cooking plate of your electric griddles can be cleaned hot or cold. Maintenance requires few accessories: a spatula, abrasive pads, and a degreasing product. Planchaelec electric griddles are made of professional-grade, uncoated stainless steel. Stainless steel is the most hygienic material and is easy to clean.
Electric griddles: an alternative to other cooking methods
An electric griddle allows for all types of cooking, unlike a stone grill. With a stone grill, you can only cook thin slices of meat and fish at a low temperature. using a griddle is easier than cooking on a barbecue. Simply turn on your griddle and it quickly heats up. A barbecue fire must be prepared in advance and maintained.
The temperature spreads across the entire cooking plate of stainless steel electric griddles, unlike a stone grill or barbecue. The heat can be adjusted according to the cooking zones (for griddles equipped with 2 or 3 cooking zones). cooking with a griddle is also healthier than with a barbecue. Its steel surface requires no fat, and there are no flames to burn the food.
How to cook effectively with your electric griddle?
Your griddle allows you to cook gently and grill. Meat, fish and seafood, vegetables, and even sweet dishes (crepes) and fruit can be prepared on a griddle. Choose your temperature depending on the food you're cooking. You can cook thin slices of zucchini (gently) or marinated shrimp or a prime rib (grill). You just need to know the temperature and cooking time of the food to cook on a plancha. Then, the cooking time depends on your food and the type of cut. It will also depend on the tastes of the guests (blue meat, rare, medium, etc.).
To learn more about the use and maintenance of our stainless steel electric griddles, check out our FAQ!
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- How to use a stainless steel electric griddle?
- How to clean a stainless steel griddle?