Best LPG Griddle for Mobile Catering UK (2026): Top Picks from £349
Last updated: June 2026
Looking for the best LPG griddle for your food van or trailer? This guide compares the five propane griddles UK mobile caterers buy most, from £349 to £1,499. The Lincat GS7/P Silverlink 600 is widely regarded as the standard choice for a busy burger or breakfast van — 8.0kW of propane power, a 750mm machined steel plate, and two independent heat zones.
In 30 seconds:
- Best overall: Lincat GS7/P Silverlink 600 — 8.0kW propane, 750mm wide, two heat zones, from £1,499.
- Best for small vans: Lincat GS4/P — 450mm wide, 5.5kW, fits a tight bench, from £1,104.
- Best heavy-duty on a budget: Infernus 2 Burner 60cm — 20mm thick plate, from £565.
- Cheapest way in: Infernus 50cm stainless LPG griddle, from £349.
- Every model here runs on propane at 37 mbar. The hose and regulator usually cost extra — budget for them.
Why these five? They’re the LPG griddles we sell to working caterers, with verified manufacturer specs. No domestic planchas, no patio kit — commercial units built for daily trading. See the full range on our LPG griddles category page.
Why propane? Commercial mobile catering runs on propane at 37 mbar. Butane stops vaporising below about 2°C, so it fails on a cold UK morning. Propane works all year.
The biggest mistake? Buying on price per centimetre. A thin plate loses heat the moment frozen burgers land on it. Plate thickness and burner power matter more than width.
Quick comparison: the five griddles side by side
| Model | Width | Plate | Power (propane) | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincat GS7/P | 750mm | 12mm machined steel, 712 × 405mm | 8.0kW | Busy burger / breakfast vans | from £1,499 |
| Lincat GS4/P | 450mm | Machined steel | 5.5kW | Small vans, tight benches | from £1,104 |
| Infernus 2 Burner 60cm | 60cm | 20mm steel | 2 horseshoe burners | High heat retention on a budget | from £565 |
| Infernus 3 Burner 90cm | 90cm | 20mm steel | 3 U-shape burners | Bigger trailers, event volume | from £669 |
| Infernus 50cm stainless | 50cm | Steel | Single zone | First setups, light menus | from £349 |
How we picked these
We sell LPG catering equipment to UK mobile traders every week, and we hear what comes back. Every griddle here passed four tests. It runs on propane at 37 mbar. It has flame-failure protection. Its specs come from the manufacturer’s own documents, not guesswork. And it survives daily trading — not just a summer of weekends.
We also weighed heat recovery. A griddle that reads 200°C empty means nothing. What matters is how fast the plate climbs back after you load it with cold food. That’s where plate thickness, burner power, and thermostatic control earn their money.
1. Lincat GS7/P Silverlink 600 — best overall
Quick specs
- Power: 8.0kW on propane (supply 37 mbar, burner pressure 25 mbar)
- Plate: 12mm machined steel, 712 × 405mm cooking area
- Heat zones: two, separately controlled and thermostatic
- Width: 750mm · Weight: 55kg · Connection: ½” BSP
- Propane use: 0.57 kg per hour flat out
- Price: from £1,499 (half-ribbed GS7/R/P version from £1,587)
Best for: a van or trailer doing serious burger, bacon, or breakfast volume. This is the griddle most operators upgrade to.
What it does well
- Two thermostatic zones — run one side hot for searing, one low for holding.
- The 12mm plate is fully welded into the frame, so no leaks or carbon traps.
- Thermostatic control holds the set temperature. Cheaper griddles drift.
- Turn one zone off in quiet spells and save propane.
Don’t buy it if
- Your bench is under 800mm — it needs its 750mm width plus clearance.
- You trade twice a month. The price only earns its keep with regular volume.
Trade-off: at 55kg it’s a two-person lift. Fit it once and leave it fitted.
2. Lincat GS4/P — best for small vans
Quick specs
- Power: 5.5kW on propane (supply 37 mbar, burner pressure 25 mbar)
- Width: 450mm · Weight: 33kg · Connection: ½” BSP
- Propane use: 0.39 kg per hour flat out
- Same machined steel plate quality as the GS7/P
- Price: from £1,104
Best for: small vans and trailers where every centimetre of bench counts, but you still want Lincat build quality.
What it does well
- Fits a 450mm gap — roughly half the bench space of the GS7/P.
- Light enough (33kg) to move for a deep clean.
- Sips propane at 0.39 kg per hour. A 19kg cylinder lasts days of normal trading.
Don’t buy it if
- You sell 100+ burgers a day. One zone and 450mm of plate will bottleneck you.
Trade-off: single heat zone. You can’t sear and hold at the same time.
3. Infernus 2 Burner Heavy Duty 60cm — best budget heavy-duty
Quick specs
- Plate: 20mm thick steel — the thickest in this guide
- Burners: 2 steel horseshoe burners, separate manual controls
- Ignition: piezo, with thermocouple flame-failure safety valves
- Supplied natural-gas ready with an LPG conversion kit included
- Adjustable legs and a deep oil collection tray
- Price: from £565
Best for: traders who want maximum heat retention per pound. That 20mm plate barely flinches when cold food hits it.
What it does well
- 20mm of steel holds heat through a rush better than thinner premium plates.
- Two separately controlled burners give you a hot side and a cooler side.
- Stainless body wipes down fast at the end of service.
Don’t buy it if
- You want set-and-forget temperatures. Controls are manual, not thermostatic.
Trade-off: it arrives set for natural gas. The included propane conversion should be fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer before you trade. Bigger siblings: a 3-burner 90cm version from £669 and a 4-burner 120cm version from £849 for large trailers.
4. Infernus 50cm stainless — cheapest way in
Quick specs
- Width: 50cm · stainless steel build
- LPG (propane) operation
- Price: from £349
Best for: first setups testing a menu, or a second griddle for onions and halloumi while the main plate does meat.
Don’t buy it if it’s going to be the only griddle in a high-volume van. You’ll outgrow it in a season.
Trade-off: it’s the entry point, not the destination. But at from £349 it gets you trading.
How to choose: match the griddle to your menu
- Full English breakfasts: you need zones. GS7/P — bacon and sausages hot, eggs gentle.
- Burgers at volume: plate thickness wins. GS7/P or the Infernus 60cm.
- Light menu, small van: GS4/P for quality, Infernus 50cm for budget.
- Festivals and events: Infernus 90cm or 120cm — width handles the queue.
Costs to plan beyond the griddle
| Item | Typical cost | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial LPG hose + regulator | from £50 | Usually not included with the griddle |
| Gas Safe installation / conversion | varies by engineer | Connection and any propane conversion should be done professionally |
| Annual gas safety certificate (CP44) | from £120 | Commonly expected by event organisers and insurers |
| Propane cylinder (19kg) | refill cost varies by supplier | Your fuel — see run times below |
For the hose and regulator standards (BS EN 16436 hose, 37 mbar regulator), read our LPG hose and regulator UK guide.
How long does a propane cylinder last on a griddle?
Lincat publishes propane consumption for both models, so the maths is simple. Flat out, the GS7/P burns 0.57 kg per hour — a 19kg cylinder gives roughly 33 hours. The GS4/P burns 0.39 kg per hour — roughly 48 hours per 19kg cylinder. Real trading uses less, because you won’t run every burner on full all day.
Not sure which cylinder size to carry? Our LPG cylinder sizes guide covers 19kg vs 47kg for mobile catering.
Six griddle-buying mistakes to avoid
- Buying wider than your bench. Measure first. A 750mm griddle needs over 800mm of clear, level bench plus side clearance.
- Buying a domestic plancha. Patio and camping griddles aren’t rated for commercial propane setups, and event organisers can turn you away.
- Forgetting the hose and regulator. Most commercial griddles ship without them. Order them with the griddle so you can trade on day one.
- Ignoring the conversion. Some units arrive set for natural gas. The propane conversion kit should be fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer, not at the pitch on opening morning.
- Choosing thin steel to save money. A thin plate drops temperature the moment frozen food lands. You’ll serve pale, steamed burgers through every rush.
- No spare cylinder. Running out of propane mid-service costs more in lost sales than a spare 19kg cylinder ever will.
Gas safety basics for griddles
- Propane only, at 37 mbar supply. Every model in this guide is rated for it.
- All five have flame-failure protection — the propane shuts off if the flame dies.
- Use a current-standard commercial hose with crimped fittings. No Jubilee clips.
- A Gas Safe registered engineer should connect the appliance and certify the setup annually (CP44).
Frying chips as well? Pair your griddle with one of our picks in the best LPG fryer for mobile catering guide.
FAQs: LPG griddles for mobile catering
What size LPG griddle do I need for a food van?
Most solo food vans work well with a 450-600mm griddle; busy two-person vans suit 750mm. Measure your bench first and leave clearance on both sides. A 750mm Lincat GS7/P needs over 800mm of bench, while a 450mm GS4/P fits tighter spaces.
Can I run a commercial griddle on butane?
No — use propane only. Butane stops vaporising below about 2°C, so it fails on cold UK mornings exactly when breakfast trade peaks. Commercial mobile catering griddles are rated for propane at 37 mbar, and propane works outdoors all year round.
How much propane does an LPG griddle use?
The Lincat GS7/P uses 0.57 kg of propane per hour at full power; the smaller GS4/P uses 0.39 kg per hour. Real-world use is lower because burners rarely run flat out all day. Track your first few trading days to learn your true usage.
How long will a 19kg propane cylinder last on a griddle?
Roughly 33 hours on a Lincat GS7/P at full power, or about 48 hours on a GS4/P. Normal trading stretches that further, since you’ll turn zones down between rushes. Carry a spare cylinder so a changeover never stops service mid-rush.
Do LPG griddles come with a hose and regulator?
Usually not — most commercial griddles ship without them. Budget from £50 for a current-standard commercial LPG hose and a 37 mbar propane regulator. Buy commercial-grade parts with crimped fittings, and have a Gas Safe registered engineer make the connection.
Is a 20mm griddle plate better than a 12mm plate?
Thicker plates hold more heat, so a 20mm plate recovers faster when cold food lands on it. But thermostatic control matters too: the Lincat GS7/P’s 12mm machined plate with two thermostatic zones gives more precision than a thick plate on manual control.
Do I need a Gas Safe engineer to install a griddle in my van?
Yes — a Gas Safe registered engineer should connect any LPG appliance in a catering vehicle. They’ll fit the hose and regulator, leak-test the system, and issue your gas safety certificate (CP44), which event organisers and insurers commonly expect to see.
Should I choose a smooth or half-ribbed griddle plate?
Smooth plates suit eggs, pancakes, onions, and general breakfast work. Half-ribbed plates, like the Lincat GS7/R/P from £1,587, add char lines for steaks and chicken on one section. Pick smooth unless grill marks are part of your menu’s selling point.
Ready to choose? See live stock and prices on the Lincat GS7/P product page, or browse the full LPG griddle range. Not sure your setup is right? We help traders get it right first time — that’s the job.