Commercial Griddle Buying Guide UK: Gas or Electric, Steel, Chrome or Ribbed, and What Size

Last updated: November 2026

In 30 seconds:

• Gas griddles give the most heat for the money. The Infernus 100cm puts out 12kW from £679, but it needs a gas supply and a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Electric griddles suit kitchens with no gas. Check the power rating first: the Lincat GS6/T/E is 5.6kW, which is more than one 13A plug can carry.
• Steel plates are the all-rounder, chrome stays cooler and wipes clean faster, cast iron holds heat on small plug-in models, and ribbed plates give grill marks.
• Size the plate for your busiest hour. A 750mm Lincat GS7/P is rated for 190 frozen 4oz burgers an hour.

The question that decides most griddle purchases is not really gas or electric. It is what sits behind the wall where the griddle will go: a gas pipe, a 13 amp socket, or a dedicated circuit.

A commercial griddle is the standard flat-plate cooker for UK cafés, pubs, takeaways and food vans, and steel-plate counter-top models are widely regarded as the safe first choice. This guide covers gas and electric griddles from £429 to £1,499. It explains plate types, sizes and what supply each one needs, so you order the right model first time.

Commercial griddles at a glance

Gas or electric: start with your supply

Choose gas if you want raw heat. Gas griddles carry more power for the price, so the plate recovers fast after a full load. The Infernus 100cm LPG griddle is rated at 12kW, from £679.

The catch is installation. A gas griddle must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The Lincat Silverlink models need a propane supply set to 37mbar and connect through a 1/2″ BSP thread at the back.

Choose electric if there is no gas on site. Electric griddles need no gas pipe, no flue checks and no gas certificate for the griddle itself. They suit cafés in shopping centres, office kitchens, schools and any site where gas is not allowed.

The catch is power. A standard 13A socket on a 230V supply carries roughly 3kW, by our own sum. Anything bigger needs more than one socket or a dedicated circuit fitted by an electrician.

How much power does an electric griddle need?

Read the kW figure before you read anything else. It tells you what kind of supply the griddle needs.

• Lincat Lynx 400 LGR2 (3.0kW): Lincat’s manual lists it at 13.0 amps. It plugs into one standard socket, but that socket is then fully used.
• Infernus INF-E75 (6kW): two independent 3kW zones. It runs from two standard 13A plugs, so you need two sockets, ideally on separate circuits.
• Lincat GS6/T/E (5.6kW): 5.6kW at 230V works out at roughly 24 amps, by our own sum. That is beyond a single 13A plug, so confirm the connection with your electrician before you order.

The Lincat Silverlink 600 GS6/T/E electric griddle is the busy-kitchen choice, from £869. It is 600mm wide, with a 12mm machined steel plate and two separately controlled heat zones. During quiet spells you can run one zone and leave the other off.

Steel, chrome, cast iron or ribbed?

Steel is the standard plate and the safest first choice. It handles eggs, bacon, burgers, onions and pancakes. Thicker plates hold heat better when you load the whole surface. The Lincat GS7/P uses 12mm machined steel, while the Parry PGF800G uses 10mm mild steel.

Chrome plates radiate less heat into the kitchen, so the cooking area stays cooler. Food releases more easily and the plate wipes clean faster. The Infernus INF-E75 comes with a chrome plate option (model INF-E75C) with the same power, size and controls.

Cast iron is common on small plug-in griddles. The Lincat Lynx 400 LGR2 has a one-piece cast iron plate with a built-in splashguard, which holds its heat well.

Ribbed plates give steaks and chicken grill marks and let fat run off. They are poor for eggs and pancakes. A half-ribbed plate, like the Lincat GS7/R/P, gives you both on one griddle.

What size griddle do you need?

Size the plate for your busiest hour, not your average one. A griddle that is too small builds a queue. A griddle that is too big wastes gas or power on empty steel.

• 600mm class: cafés, breakfast counters and kiosks doing steady but modest numbers.
• 750mm to 820mm class: busy cafés, pubs and burger vans. The Lincat GS7/P has a 712 x 405mm cooking area and is rated for 190 frozen 4oz burgers an hour.
• 1,000mm class: takeaways and high-volume vans. The Infernus 100cm has a cooking plate of 99.7 x 40cm.

Two heat zones matter more as the plate gets wider. You can sear at one end and hold at the other, or switch half off when it goes quiet.

Who each griddle suits

• Budget-conscious vans and takeaways on propane: the Infernus 100cm. Read the full Infernus LPG griddle review for all four sizes.
• Traders who want a British-built gas griddle: the Parry PGF800G, from £769. Compare all four models in our Parry LPG griddle review.
• Kitchens that want a heavier plate and two zones on gas: the Lincat GS7/P, from £1,499. See the Lincat Silverlink LPG griddle review.
• Cafés with no gas: the Lincat GS6/T/E, or the Infernus INF-E75 if you have two sockets.
• Small counters with one spare socket: the Lincat Lynx 400 LGR2, from £489.

What you need before you order

• For gas: a propane supply and regulator, a Gas Safe registered engineer to install and commission it, and suitable ventilation or extraction.
• For electric: the right sockets or a dedicated circuit for the kW rating, checked by an electrician.
• For both: a level, non-combustible surface and the manufacturer’s clearances. Lincat asks for 750mm clear above its GS4/P and GS7/P gas griddles.
• For a van: if you go electric, a generator large enough to carry the griddle’s full rating alongside everything else you run. Most vans stay on propane, and our best LPG griddle for mobile catering guide compares Infernus, Parry and Lincat for trailers.

The biggest mistake: assuming electric means plug-in

Many buyers pick an electric griddle because it sounds simpler than gas. Then the griddle arrives and the plug does not fit, or the socket trips at the first busy breakfast.

Only small electric griddles, around 3kW, run from one ordinary socket. A 6kW twin-zone model needs two sockets, and bigger units may need a dedicated circuit. Book the electrician before the griddle, not after.

The same rule works in reverse for gas. Budget for the Gas Safe engineer and the extraction as part of the price, not as an extra later.

Frequently asked questions

Is a gas or electric commercial griddle better?

Gas is better for raw heat and value, and electric is better where there is no gas supply. The Infernus 100cm gives 12kW of propane heat from £679. Electric griddles avoid gas installation but need the right sockets or a dedicated circuit.

Can I plug a commercial electric griddle into a normal 13A socket?

Only the smaller ones. The Lincat Lynx 400 LGR2 is 3.0kW and draws 13.0 amps, so it uses one full socket. The Infernus INF-E75 needs two 13A plugs. Larger griddles, like the 5.6kW Lincat GS6/T/E, need an electrician to confirm the connection.

What is the difference between a steel, chrome and cast iron griddle plate?

Steel is the all-rounder and the standard choice. Chrome radiates less heat into the kitchen, releases food more easily and wipes clean faster. Cast iron holds heat well and is common on small plug-in griddles such as the Lincat Lynx 400 LGR2.

When should I choose a ribbed griddle plate?

Choose ribbed if you cook a lot of steaks, chicken or burgers and want grill marks with less fat on the plate. Avoid fully ribbed plates for eggs and pancakes. A half-ribbed plate, like the Lincat GS7/R/P, covers both menus.

What size commercial griddle do I need?

Size it for your busiest hour. A 600mm griddle suits a café or kiosk. A 750mm model like the Lincat GS7/P is rated for 190 frozen 4oz burgers an hour. Takeaways and busy vans often move up to a 1,000mm plate.

Does a gas griddle need to be installed by a Gas Safe engineer?

Yes. A gas griddle must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. On propane, the Lincat Silverlink griddles need a 37mbar supply. The engineer also checks the connection, ventilation and clearances before you cook on it.

Can I use a commercial griddle in a food van?

Yes. Most vans run a propane griddle, because it needs no generator for the cooking heat. An electric griddle in a van needs a generator that can carry its full kW rating as well as your fridges, lights and other kit.

Can I spread the cost of a commercial griddle?

Yes, on larger orders. MobCater offers lease finance on orders over £1,000, so you can buy the griddle and pay over time. A Lincat GS7/P on its own qualifies, and so does a griddle ordered with other kit.