Which is better cast iron grill or stainless steel griddle?
Many restaurant & commercial kitchen owner or chefs usually hesitate to make decision over choosing suitable griddles,thinking of if a cast iron grill is also needed.Here we are going to look into it in a practical manner-cast iron grill or stainless steel griddle
Which one should we give priority？
When choosing cooking tools, a griddle is a recommended choice. Both griddle and cast iron grill or which is also called teppanyaki cook ingredients by heating an iron plate. But stainless steel griddle is more convenient in practical applications. It is particularly suitable for cooking a variety of ingredients such as chicken wings, beef, cabbage, and stir fried noodles.Which is why very practical for those who operate commercial kitchens (Western restaurants, and even some Chinese restaurants). In addition, the cooking panel of the griddle is made of food grade stainless steel, which is easy to clean and maintain. On the contrary, cast iron plates are much less corrosion-resistant and need to be coated with oil after cleaning.This can explain why most chefs prefer stainless steel grills.
Insight-analysis stainless steel & cast iron grill
General comparison
- Compared with teppanyaki, the heating method of a griddle is more direct, which can quickly increase the temperature of the ingredients and ensure the taste and flavor of the food. Moreover, the operation of the grill is simpler, simply placing ingredients on a heated stainless steel plate for cooking. Without the need for complex cooking techniques. This is undoubtedly a better choice for businesses that want to simplify the cooking process & improve work efficiency. But cast iron plate baking is not without its advantages. Cast iron has excellent thermal conductivity & can quickly & evenly transfer heat to food. Resulting in a better baking effect for sure. Therefore, it is superior in terms of heat retention and heating uniformity. Even if the heat source is turned off, it can still retain heat for a longer period of time.
Application perspective
- In terms of application scenarios, teppanyaki/cast iron grill places more emphasis on the high-end nature of ingredients.Like what? such as lobster and abalone, and is also used in some Japanese teppanyaki restaurants. Cast iron grill is usually found in high-end restaurants or specialty restaurants, and is often used for live cooking performances. It is usually used for grilling because its rough surface helps to create better contact between the food and the pot bottom.Moreover creating a tempting burnt aroma on the surface of the food and enhancing the dining experience.
Energy sector
- According to energy classification, commercial griddles are mainly divided into electric type and gas type. Electric griddle converts electrical energy into heat energy, with fast heating speed and easy temperature control.This serves well for fine cooking & maintaining the original flavor of ingredients. Gas griddle uses the heat generated by the combustion of natural gas or LPG for heating.What’s the benefit of it ? For quickly cooking large chunks of meat with a strong cooking effect. Whether it is an electric or a gas griddle, they can meet diverse food requirements & improve work efficiency, making them ideal cooking tools for general commercial kitchens.
Functional point
- According to the surface shape & functional characteristics, it can be classified into flat & grooved. According to different designs, the flat griddle is suitable for uniform heating.The secret here is that grooved griddle can create a unique burnt aroma effect to meet different cooking needs.
Usage feature
- According to their usage characteristics, commercial griddles can be divided into tabletop and freestanding type.Table top griddles are usually designed to be compact, easy to move and place. Suitable for home use or small commercial kitchens. Freestanding griddles are usually larger in size, good stability, are suitable for large commercial kitchens. They can provide a larger cooking area and meet the needs of batch cooking.
