The griddle is probably the most important and most used piece of equipment in your catering trailer, and it is vital to the success of your business. It is also wonderfully flexible: toast, eggs, burgers, sausages, bacon, chicken pieces and plenty more all come off the same hot plate. If one appliance makes you your money, it is this one.
How to cook on a griddle
Heat the plate until it is properly hot, then apply a thin layer of oil to the surface. Once the oil is up to temperature, your burgers and sausages go straight on. The food cooks quicker and cleaner this way; without oil, some food will stick. The textbook advice is to oil the food rather than the plate, but in practice, imagine oiling every individual item before you start cooking in a lunchtime rush. The thin layer on the plate works.
Cleaning and daily care
Scrape away excess food and oil after each cooking session. At the end of every day, clean the plate with soapy water and a sponge. This appliance works harder than anything else in the van, so it needs the most looking after, and a clean plate is the first thing an EHO looks at.
What size griddle?
Griddles come in one to four burner sizes. When I started I had what felt like the smallest griddle in the world, a single burner that came with the van, and I still managed local football matches and summer fetes with it. If you have anything bigger than a one burner, you are off to a better start than me. If you have the choice, go bigger. You will never regret the extra space in a rush.
Buying a griddle
I bought my three burner second-hand and it served me well, but check any used griddle has the CE/UKCA mark and is genuinely commercial grade. If you would rather buy new with a warranty, see the commercial griddle range at mobcater.com. A griddle makes your business a lot of money, so invest in something decent you can grow into.
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Frequently asked questions
What can you cook on an LPG griddle?
Far more than burgers: toast, eggs, sausages, bacon, chicken pieces, onions and most short order food. It is the most flexible appliance in the trailer.
What size griddle does a catering van need?
A single burner can get you trading, I know because I did it, but choose the biggest your space and budget allow. A two or three burner makes busy service far easier.
Should I oil the griddle plate or the food?
In a commercial rush, a thin layer of oil on the hot plate is the practical answer. It cooks quicker and cleaner and stops food sticking.