Grills & Griddles
A commercial griddle (flat grill) cooks food directly on a heated flat plate — burgers, bacon, eggs, flatbreads — a mainstay of cafes, pubs, dark kitchens and takeaways running breakfast and grill menus. Gas versus electric and the plate material/finish shape the shortlist, matched to the existing supply and menu type.
Key specifications
Griddles typically range from compact 300mm countertop units up to 1200mm-plus multi-zone floor-standing models, with gas griddles rated 3-9kW per burner zone on natural gas or LPG, and electric griddles typically 2-3.5kW per zone on single or three-phase power depending on size. Look for a chrome, mild steel or 304 stainless steel plate finish (chrome offers easier cleaning and less sticking), individually controlled heat zones, a thermostat range of roughly 50-300°C, a front grease trough and drawer for fat management, and confirm extraction requirements given the grease-laden vapour output typical of griddle cooking.
Grills & Griddles — FAQs
Gas or electric griddle — which is right for you?
Gas griddles heat up faster and give strong, high-volume output favoured for breakfast rushes; electric griddles offer more even, controllable heat and suit sites without gas access.
What size griddle does a busy breakfast café need?
A busy café running a full breakfast service typically needs a 600-900mm griddle with multiple heat zones to cook eggs, bacon and hash browns simultaneously at different temperatures.
Chargrill or flat griddle — which is right for you?
A chargrill uses radiant heat from below (gas-fired lava rock or electric elements) to create char-grill marks and flavour on steaks and burgers; a flat griddle cooks directly on a solid plate, better suited to eggs, bacon and delicate items.
Brands actually stocked in this category run predominantly to Blue Seal, Lincat and Falcon, with Buffalo and Synergy Grill also well represented, suiting cafes, pubs, dark kitchens and takeaways.