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Iron or Steel: Which LPG Griddle Should I Buy for My Catering Van?

by Mandi
(Burnham on Sea, Somerset, UK)

Mustard single-axle burger trailer with a side serving hatch serving a seaside promenade queue in Somerset

Mustard single-axle burger trailer with a side serving hatch serving a seaside promenade queue in Somerset

Hi, Great site :-)
I am just about to upgrade my lpg griddle as one of the knobs was found to be leaking on the last gas test. It's very old!!
Does anyone have an opinion on make / model - Iron v's Steel?
The one I have at the moment came with my van, no idea of make but it's steel, 2 burner 800mm.
There are so many choices out there!!
I have a budget of max £1000.00
Thanks in advance :-)

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Nov 10, 2026
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by: MobCater

Mandi, you've done the right thing taking the old griddle out of service. A leaking control knob is not something to nurse along for another season, and on a griddle that old a replacement makes more sense than a repair. Until the new one is in, I'd leave the old one disconnected.

On iron versus steel, the honest answer is that both cook a good burger, they just behave differently. A steel plate, which is what most UK mobile griddles use, heats up quickly and recovers fast when you drop a row of cold burgers on it. It's also lighter, and in a van that matters more than people think, because every kilo counts against your payload. Cast iron holds its heat beautifully and gives a lovely even sear, but it's heavy, slower to come up to temperature, and it can crack if cold water ever hits a hot plate. For a busy burger van I'd lean towards steel. Look for a thick plate, around 10mm or more, because a thin plate develops hot spots right over the burners. You'll also see chrome plated griddles. They're easier to clean and great for eggs and fish, but they usually sit above your budget.

£1,000 is a sensible budget for a new two burner, 800mm commercial griddle. Stick with an established commercial catering brand rather than a cheap import, because spares matter. When a thermocouple or a knob goes in a couple of years, you want to order the part and have your engineer fit it the same week. Before you buy, check that it's set up for propane, not natural gas, or comes with the LPG jets. Make sure every burner has a flame failure device, which cuts the gas if the flame goes out. It should be UKCA or CE marked as a commercial appliance. Then measure the space you have, including room to pull the fat drawer out. We stock commercial LPG griddles at mobcater.com if you want a starting point.

I'm fussy about flame failure devices for a reason. Years ago a faulty one on a griddle caused a nasty flash burn, and I've never looked at a griddle the same way since. New ones should all work, but have them tested when it goes in.

When it arrives, get your Gas Safe registered engineer to connect it and test the whole system, then update your gas safety certificate. Season the plate before your first trading day: oil it, heat it until it smokes, let it cool and repeat a couple of times. Look after it like that and it will serve you well for years.

Best wishes

David

Disclaimer: Gas installation and maintenance must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Never attempt gas work yourself. Check gassaferegister.co.uk for qualified engineers in your area.

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