Grilling season is back! Choice of model and material:our selection will help you find THE plancha up to the occasion.
It's an almost universal tradition:when the good weather arrives, it's time for grills home with friends and family. If you haven't already, now is the time to equip yourself with a plancha. To enter the meat and your fish with this little grilled taste but also to cook vegetables and bring a touch of green to your meal, nothing better than a plancha. This device is super easy to use. The hardest part is choosing the right model for you.
The main dilemma is to decide between a gas or electric plancha. We also recommend that you pay attention to the material and size of the plate. In short, follow this buying guide so you don't go wrong.
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is necessary to break down the anatomy of the plancha. The most important part of your appliance is its cooking plate , without which no food can cook. It is generally delimited by a rim and is slightly tilted, so that the fats evacuate more quickly towards the drip tray , which must be easily removable for cleaning. buttons to adjust the temperature are present at the front, while a chassis holds the whole thing together.
Some planchas are supplied with a trolley in order to move them effortlessly (for example from the garage to the dining table), and some models are equipped with a lid or a protective cover which serve to protect the plate from dust and bad weather. When a lid is present on your plancha, it must remain open during cooking.
Do you want to impress your friends with "3-star" grilled meats? The gas plancha is then the best option because the intensity of the heat varies at different places on the plate. Intended for outdoor use, it works by being connected to a bottle of butane or propane gas . To avoid finding yourself in a carafe with a breakdown in the middle of cooking, make sure you always have a spare bottle on hand.
The use of gas cylinders requires special attention in terms of safety, but the game is worth the effort. More practical, gas planchas work even when it's cold and can be stored outside. However, we advise you to use propane gas, because it is usable in all seasons . Butane gas cannot be used at a temperature below -0.5°C.
Once connected to the plancha, and after taking care to avoid any gas leaks, ignition is done in two modes :either in piezo-mechanics (on the model 1 pulse =1 spark), or in piezo-electronics (which generates a train of sparks). The latter is more practical. In general, gas plancha models take between 15 and 20 minutes to reach a temperature of 250°C .
Gas griddles can sear meat as well as charcoal barbecues while emitting less smoke. And for even more comfort, the planchas can be placed on trolleys. Yes, it's more cumbersome. But in return, they offer more storage space and a raised work surface. Take a look at these three planchas, they will please you.
The electric planchas are designed to bring the pleasures of a barbecue evening without the need for outdoor space. Some models can be used outdoors, but electric planchas have their place in your kitchen, and even on your table for the most compact. Electric planchas are distinguished by their ease of use. All it takes is one plug to make them work. If you are not a fine cordon-bleu, opt for one of the models of electric planchas that we have selected. Because cooking is much easier to master than on a gas griddle.
For those who sometimes hesitate between the barbecue and the plancha, no need to decide. It is possible to have both in one and the same device. Some high-end models are real mobile kitchens! If you don't have the budget, you can also add a griddle plate to your barbecue and thus have all the advantages of both cooking methods. .
Less expensive than gas models, charcoal planchas come in the form of plates designed to fit on classic barbecues. In this configuration, the fat from the cooked food is evacuated directly into the barbecue bowl. Modular, these cooking accessories can be installed on electric or gas barbecues, allowing better management of the temperature at which meat or vegetables cook.
The material of the hob is a determining factor that should guide you in your purchasing process, especially for food hygiene reasons. Plancha manufacturers generally offer two materials on which to cook your food, with very different properties:cast iron and stainless steel .
The first advantage of the stainless steel plate , is that it is very easy to maintain and does not oxidize (it is stainless steel, after all). Smooth and thin (between 3 and 6 mm), it is easy to clean with clear water and resistant well to extreme temperatures . The low inertia it presents means that it adapts well to different cooking methods. After your first meals, it is possible that a brown seasoning appears, without affecting the cooking performance. To prevent the protective layer that covers the surface plate from being damaged, prefer solid stainless steel models.
The crude iron planchas are generally reserved for entry-level models and are designed for occasional use. As cast iron is a relatively heavy alloy, it can be complicated to transport your plancha without a trolley. Subject to oxidation and deterioration of their cooking surface, poor maintenance can cause food to stick to the plate. To overcome this defect, there are enamelled cast iron planchas which are more resistant. In both cases, you will need to take care of your device carefully.
Praised by professionals, the hard chrome plates have the particularity of being very thick (from 16 to 20 mm). This thickness provides a heat reserve capable of adapting to all cooking conditions. The thermal inertia of the plate prevents it from dropping in temperature when positioning the food. As a result, it retains heat perfectly . We're close to perfection with an easy-to-clean griddle that doesn't oxidize and cooks the meat just right. Quite expensive, they are a good investment for those who make intensive use of them.
The rolled or rectified steel plates are among the strongest. Its scratch resistance allows you to cut your meat directly on it. Steel being an excellent conductor of heat, food cooks in record time . Laminated steel griddles offer a particularly attractive price/quality ratio. Those in rectified steel have the particularity of being thicker and smoother.
We briefly touched on the subject earlier, but your cooking appliance either sits on a cart or on a frame. The latter is usually made of painted steel impact-resistant or stainless steel , which is easier to maintain and does not erode. It is also a very poor conductor of heat, which limits the risk of burns.
If your plancha rests on a trolley, it takes up more space but gains height. On the sides of the trolley, there are accesses that allow you to put kitchen utensils (spatulas, skewers, etc.). As it is larger, it also allows you to put your food on it while you wait for it to be cooked.
The heating of the device differs according to the versions. On the gas planchas, the burners in the form of ramps in stainless steel allow the flames to better cover the cooking plate, in addition to lasting longer than steel models. The circular burners especially heat the center of the plate.
Some high-end planchas are equipped with a thermocouple system which cuts off the gas supply if the flame goes out, following a gust of wind for example. Other appliances are equipped with thermostatic regulation which controls the flow to maintain a stable temperature after starting cooking with large flames. This action saves energy.
On electric planchas, the optimization of heat transmission involves the integration of resistances to the cooking plate.
The maintenance of its plate begins as soon as the cooking is finished. After turning off the plancha and eliminating the most visible residues, just pour water and clean the surface with a sponge. If the condition of the plate is particularly dirty, play it safe by scraping the surface with a spatula in order to direct all the deposit towards the grease trap.
You can also add a pinch of white vinegar to eliminate odors and limit the transfer of flavors when alternating land-sea or sweet-salty cooking. After having received all the residues, remember to wash the grease trap. Once the plate has cooled, wipe it with a sponge or microfiber cloth to restore its shine .
Plancha models in raw cast iron or laminated carbon steel will require the addition of a thin layer of oil over their entire surface to protect them against oxidation. If you have a gas griddle, the condition of the gas pipe should be checked from time to time. As part of your inspection, do not forget to remove any clogs formed by insects during excessive storage. For other tips, you can refer to our dedicated article.
The size of your plancha depends on the use you want to make of it and the number of people you want to treat with your dishes. There is no point in aiming too big if you have a limited number of guests to invite. In general, we recommend the following distribution:
Note that the number of gas burners or electric fireplaces increases in proportion to the size of the plancha. The price is also impacted by the size.
Now it's up to you to make your choice to enjoy sunny days with a competition plancha. You can already launch the invitations!
