Char Grill or Griddle? How to Choose the Right Commercial Grill
A char grill and a griddle can look similar on a cooking line, but they cook in very different ways. Pick the right one and your menu comes out better and faster. Pick the wrong one and you'll be fighting your equipment every service. This guide explains the difference, what each one does best and how to choose the right size for your kitchen.
The quick difference
Char grill
Cooks on: open grill bars over gas burners
Gives you: char marks and a smoky, flame-grilled flavour
Best for: steaks, burgers, chicken, seafood, vegetables
Fat: drips away through the bars into a drip tray
Griddle (hotplate)
Cooks on: a flat, solid steel plate heated from below
Gives you: an even, all-over sear and crust
Best for: eggs, bacon, pancakes, smashed burgers, toasties
Fat: stays on the plate and is scraped into a drip tray
Char grills: flame-grilled flavour
A char grill cooks food on heavy grill bars sitting over gas burners. Fat and juices drip down onto the hot surfaces below and flare up into smoke, which gives chargrilled food its flavour and those classic stripes. It's the go-to for steakhouses, pubs, burger bars and any menu that sells "grilled" as a feature.
Our Gasmax QR char grills come in four widths, from the compact 2 burner QR-14E (354mm) up to the 8 burner QR-48E (1218mm). Every burner has its own control, so you can run a hot zone for searing next to a cooler zone for finishing or resting.
Keep in mind: small or delicate items like eggs, pancakes or loose toppings will fall through the bars, and the flare-ups that create the flavour need watching.
Choose a char grill if:
- Steaks, burgers, chicken or skewers are a big part of your menu
- You want visible grill marks and a smoky flavour
- You'd like fat to drain away from the food
Griddles: the all-rounder for breakfast and burgers
A griddle, also called a hotplate or flat top, is a solid steel plate with burners underneath. Food sits in full contact with the plate, so it browns evenly all over. Because nothing falls through, you can cook almost anything on it, from eggs and bacon to pancakes, onions, smashed burgers and toasted sandwiches.
Our Gasmax RGT griddles all use a thick 20mm steel plate, which holds its heat when you load it up with cold food. They come in four widths, from the compact single burner RGT-16E (404mm) up to the 4 burner RGT-48E (1216mm).
Keep in mind: a griddle won't give you char marks or a smoky flavour, and the plate needs scraping and cleaning through the day.
Choose a griddle if:
- You serve breakfast, or lots of eggs, bacon and pancakes
- You cook smashed burgers, onions or toasted sandwiches
- You want one surface that handles a wide range of food
Should you get both?
Many cafés, pubs and burger shops run a griddle and a char grill side by side: the griddle for breakfast, onions and buns, the char grill for steaks and chicken. Gasmax QR char grills and RGT griddles come in matching widths and share the same stands, so they line up neatly on one cooking line.
What size do you need?
About 400mm
Kiosks, small cafés and bars adding a simple food menu, or as a back-up next to a bigger unit.
About 600mm
The most popular size for cafés and takeaways. Lines up with a standard 600mm range or fryer.
About 900mm
Busy restaurants, pubs and burger shops that need several heat zones at once.
About 1200mm
Steakhouses, clubs and function kitchens running a high-volume grill or breakfast section.
A good rule of thumb is to size for your busiest 30 minutes, not your average. If the grill or plate is full at peak time and orders are waiting, you need the next size up.
Before you buy
- Gas type: every model comes in natural gas (E) or LPG (ELPG). Check which supply your site has, as they aren't interchangeable.
- Installation: gas appliances must be installed by a licensed gas fitter to AS/NZS 5601.1.
- Bench or stand: make sure your bench can take the weight (from 56kg up to 174kg) or add a matching Gasmax stand with an undershelf.
- Ventilation: check with your local council and a ventilation specialist whether you need an exhaust canopy. Char grills in particular produce smoke.
- Space: measure your bench, and allow room around the unit for safe access and cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
Is a griddle the same as a hotplate?
Yes. In Australia "hotplate", "griddle" and "flat top" all mean a flat steel cooking plate heated from below.
Can I cook steak on a griddle?
Yes. A griddle gives steak an even, all-over crust. You won't get grill marks or a smoky chargrilled flavour, which is why steak-focused menus usually use a char grill.
Which is easier to clean?
A griddle is usually quicker day to day: scrape the plate into the drip tray during service and clean it at close. Char grill bars and the area underneath collect more grease and need a more thorough clean.
Do Gasmax char grills and griddles use the same stands?
Yes for the 600mm, 900mm and 1200mm sizes, which share the QR-24-SEN, QR-36-SEN and QR-48-SEN stands. The compact sizes have their own stands: QR-14-SEN for the 2 burner char grill and RGT-16-SEN for the single burner griddle.
Find the right grill for your kitchen
Browse our commercial char grills and commercial griddles, with delivery Australia-wide. Not sure which suits you? Email us at sales@supplymykitchen.com.au with your menu, gas type and space, and we'll help you choose.