How to Choose a Griddle for Your Commercial Kitchen?

One of the world’s most ubiquitous cooking appliances, griddles are an indispensable tool in professional kitchens everywhere.

Griddles are the backbone of countless commercial kitchens in restaurants around the world. These versatile cooking tools make it easy to prepare a variety of foods with some restaurants using them to cook nearly everything they make, while others use them only for a few specialty items.

Choosing the right griddle presents itself with myriad options, even the name, as griddles are sometimes referred to as griddle plates (such as a flat top grill) commercial hot plates, and hot plate griddles.

With many options (and names) it can be difficult to decide which is the right commercial griddle for your business, so we’ve put together a guide to help you find the right fit for your business.

Commercial Griddle Options

Countertop or Free Standing Griddles

Depending on your available space and menu requirements, there are typically two different griddle types: Countertop and Free-standing griddles.

Countertop models are great for small and large operations as they are easily placed on a well-supported flat surface and offer the flexibility of being used in an array of locations provided there is the available electricity or gas and the required ventilation needed.

For higher volume operations there are stand-alone flat plates with much larger cooking surfaces and often feature additional cabinet or shelf storage space below.

Cooking Area Size

With widths ranging from 300mm to as high as 1200mm, and depths of anywhere from around 450mm to 800mm, there are a variety of sizes available to fit your needs.

Keep in mind that with a larger cooking area, more energy is required to keep the griddle surface at the proper temperature. So choose a size that will meet your requirements to avoid putting a bigger dent in your utility bill than you need to.

Some large area griddles have multiple heat zones that operate independently to save energy by only heating the areas that you are using to cook.

Griddle Surface

After figuring out the best flat plate size, next up is choosing the right metal surface to meet your commercial kitchen needs.

Griddles are typically made with stainless steel, but some models feature a top layer of chrome. The benefit of chrome is that it is less likely to transfer flavours between different foods because the material is non-porous. Chrome is also non-stick and does not require oil to season the cooking surface.

In addition to the standard flat griddles, some are built with small grooves covering a portion of the surface. Similar to a chargrill surface, these “ribbed plates” channel fat and grease away, while searing in the characteristic grill marks that add to the food’s visual appeal.

Plate Thickness

The thickness of the griddle plate determines its durability and ease of use. Thicker plates can withstand repeatedly being heated up and cooled down without warping. They also distribute heat more evenly and retain heat longer. This makes them ideal for heavy-duty operations that frequently cook with a griddle.

For restaurants with only light use, a thinner plate may suffice. Less expensive, thinner plates are more responsive, making temperature adjustments and heat-ups much quicker than their thicker plate counterparts.

A potential downside is that thinner plates can warp more easily and sometimes distribute heat less evenly causing cold spots on the flat top grill surface.

Electric or Gas Griddle?

Another key consideration is whether to invest in a gas or an electric griddle, with each having its advantages and disadvantages.

Gas griddles are often viewed as being more heavy-duty and more responsive to temperature control. However, unlike the often smaller and more flexible, plug-and-play electric griddles, gas griddles require direct access to a gas line and must be installed by a professional. 

Pro Tip

No matter which griddle you choose, proper maintenance is critical to giving it a long life. 

One of the more important tasks is regularly cleaning your griddle surface. Whether you’re cooking burgers, eggs, or pancakes,  it’s important to clean and scrape your commercial griddle regularly to clear any excess debris and keep all of your food tasting exactly as it should.

Which are the best Commercial Griddles for your kitchen?

Hopefully, this guide to Commercial Griddles will help you choose the right fit for your restaurant or business.

If you have questions about flat tops in general or specific models and features, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Caterlink’s commercial kitchen experts who are ready to assist you.