🔥 Which plancha to choose in 2025? Complete guide
The plancha has become a must-have for outdoor kitchens. It allows you to cook a wide variety of foods quickly with little or no fat, while keeping the flavours intact. But given the variety of models available in 2025 – Electric, gas, stainless steel, cast iron, different sizes and power ratings – it’s easy to get lost.
Don’t panic: this guide is here to help you make a simple, effective and sustainable choice.
✅ The essential criteria for choosing the right plancha
Before making any purchase, ask yourself the right questions. Your choice will depend on :
🧑🍳 What do you use it for?
- Occasional: for a few meals on occasion
- Regular: several times a week
- Professional: intensive use, need for reliability and performance
🌍 Where are you going to use it?
- Balcony or inside → electric plancha
- Terrace or garden → Gas plancha
👥 For how many people?
| Number of guests |
Recommended size |
|
2 to 4 people |
40 to 50 cm |
|
4 to 6 people |
Around 60 cm |
|
8 people and + |
75 cm or plus |
💸 What’s your budget ?
| Range |
Price (€) |
User Profil |
|
Entry |
80 – 150 € |
Occasional use, small space |
|
Middle |
150 – 300 € |
Regular use |
|
High-end |
300 – 600 € |
Frequent use with quality requirements |
|
Pro |
600 €+ |
Intensive use, outdoor cooking |
🔌 Electric or gas plancha: which to choose?
The type of power is a key criterion. It determines power, mobility and ease of use.
⚡ Electric plancha
Benefits :
- Ideal for indoor use
- Perfect for small spaces
- Easy to install and clean
Disadvantages :
- Less powerful than gas
- Dependent on an electrical socket
🔥 Gas plancha
Benefits :
- Increased power
- Fast, even cooking
- Ideal for outdoor use (garden, terrace)
Disadvantages :
- Requires a gas bottle
- Less suitable for small spaces
💡 Tip: if you have a garden, the gas plancha is the most versatile and powerful.
🧱 Materials, coatings and maintenance
The material of the hob plays a key role in the quality of cooking, durability and ease of cleaning.
|
Material |
Benefits |
Disadvantages |
|
Enamelled cast iron |
Even heat, excellent for meats |
More in-depth maintenance |
|
Stainless steel |
Pro, hygienic, easy to clean |
More expensive |
|
Enamelled steel |
Fast temperature rise, affordable price |
Less sustainable in the long term |
💡 Tip: check the thickness of the plate. A plate between 6 and 8 mm offers better thermal inertia and even baking.
📐 Size, power, burners: what you need to compare
- Electrical power: minimum 2000 W
- Gas power: at least 5 kW for 2 burners
- Sheet thickness: 5 to 8 mm
- Independent burners: more precise cooking
- Adjustable thermostats: for temperature control
🛠️ Essential accessories
A well-equipped griddle is more pleasant to use and more durable:
- Stainless steel spatula
- Grease trap drawer
- Cooking bell / lid
- Trolley on castors with shelf
- Protective cover
- Cleaning kit
- Safety straps (for professional models)
💡 Invest in a stable trolley with built-in storage for added comfort.
🌿 Why choose a plancha for your garden?
Installing a plancha in your garden or on a terrace, you can enjoy fast, healthy and friendly outdoor cooking. It’s a great alternative to a traditional barbecue: less smoke, no flames, easier to clean.
👉 If you regularly host outdoor meals, a sturdy gas plancha with a thick griddle is your best ally.
🍽️ Plancha recipes + technical recommendations
The plancha is incredibly versatile. Here are some recipe ideas, sorted by type of food, accompanied by technical advice on the ideal plancha to use.
🥩 For red and white meats
Receipts :
- Beef sirloin marinated in soy sauce
- Duck breast with honey and rosemary
- Chicken skewers with smoked paprika
Recommended plancha :
- Enamelled cast iron plate → excellent heat restitution, meat marking
- Gas with at least 2 burners to create cooking zones
- Minimum output : 5 kW
- Thickness: 6 to 8 mm to prevent heat loss
🐟 For fish and seafood
Receipts :
- Teriyaki salmon steak
- Cuttlefish à la plancha
- Prawns with garlic and Espelette pepper
Recommended plancha :
- Stainless steel plate → non-stick, easy to deglaze
- Adjustable thermostats to prevent fish from drying out
- Mild to medium power recommended
🥦 For vegetables
Receipts :
- Grilled courgettes and aubergines with thyme
- Crisp pan-fried vegetables with olive oil
- Mushrooms with garlic and parsley
Recommended plancha :
- Enamelled steel or stainless steel → heats up quickly, easy to clean
- Electric or gas plancha depending on space available
- Use a stainless steel spatula to mix the vegetables thoroughly
🍑 For fruit and desserts
Receipts :
- Roasted peaches with honey and rosemary
- Grilled pineapple with dark rum
- Bananas caramelised with brown sugar
Recommended plancha :
- Stainless steel or smooth cast iron plate
- Moderate temperature to avoid burning the sugar
- We recommend using a cooking bell for thick fruit
🏷️ The best brands of planchas in 2025
| Brand |
Benefits |
Average price |
| Eno |
Professional quality, made in France |
€€€ |
| Forge Adour | Design, performance, robustesse | €€€ |
| Brazier |
Good value for money, Longtime label |
€€ |
| Krampouz |
Very good thermal distribution, professional use |
€€€€ |
| Campingaz |
Reliable, affordable, perfect for entry-level customers |
€ – €€ |
💡 The Longtime label from Brasero by Favex guarantees a repairable, reliable and durable product.
💶 Price/use comparison
| Range |
Prices |
Who’s it for? |
Examples |
| Entry-level |
80 – 150 € |
Occasional use, small space |
Lidl, Campingaz Basic |
| Mid-range |
150 – 300 € |
Regular use |
Brazier, Forge Adour Start |
| Top of the range |
300 – 600 € |
Frequent use, performance |
Eno, Forge Adour Premium |
| Professional |
600 €+ |
Intensive use |
Krampouz, Eno Pro |
❓ FAQ – Answers to the most frequently asked questions
🔸 Which plancha should you choose for a balcony?
Opt for a compact electric plancha (less than 50 cm) with a grease trap and a minimum power rating of 2000 W.It must be easy to clean and safe for a small space.
🔸 Which plancha to use in a garden?
A gas plancha on a trolley with wheelsis ideal. Choose a model powerful (5 to 7 kW) with independent burners, for cooking for several people outdoors.
🔸 What's the difference between enamelled cast iron, stainless steel and enamelled steel?
- Enamelled cast iron: perfect for meat, retains heat well.
- Stainless steel: very professional, ideal for fish and quick maintenance.
- Enamelled steel: heats up quickly, cheap, but less durable.
🔸 How do you maintain your plancha?
- Clean the hotplate using water and a spatula.
- For stainless steel, use a microfibre cloth.
- Once clean, apply a little vegetable oil to the plate (cast iron/stainless steel).
- Protect your griddle with a cover when it is stored outside.
🔸 Which accessories are really essential?
- Wide stainless steel spatula
- Grease trap drawer
- Lid / cooking bell
- Protective cover
- Service trolley
- Cleaning kit (scraper + special plancha product)
🔸 Can you replace a barbecue with a plancha?
Yes, totally. With a plancha, you can sear meats, fish, vegetables and more. flameless or excessive smoke. It is healthier, quicker and much easier to clean than a conventional barbecue.
🔸 When to buy a plancha at the best price?
- Spring: launch of new products
- Summer sales: good deals guaranteed
- End of season (August-September): destocking
🏁 To sum up: our advice on how not to make a mistake
✔ Clearly define your use and your budget
✔ Choose between gas or electric depending on your space
✔ Check the technical specifications: size, burners, power, thickness
✔ Choose quality materials: enamelled cast iron, stainless steel, etc.
✔ Think of useful accessories for easy cooking and maintenance
✔ Choose reliable, long-lasting brands