What to cook on a plancha grill?

Planchas are a fantastic addition to any kitchen. These flat cooking surfaces are ideal for searing meats and browning vegetables, and they are a surprisingly healthy alternative to the traditional frying pan or skillet.

We asked our chefs for inspiration, and they responded with their favorite recipes and dishes suitable for the plancha. From burgers, sausages, and seafood to pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Here are some great ideas for cooking on a cast iron plancha so you'll never have to ask "What can I cook on a plancha?" again!

1) How to cook on a plancha?

Preparing food on a plancha is an excellent way to cook a wide variety of meats, vegetables, and even seafood.

Ideal for eggs and bacon in the morning when you're preparing your brunch, you can use it for juicy burgers and sumptuous sausages—basically, anything you want.

Whatever the food and type of pan you are grilling your food on, there are a few essential rules to follow when preparing your food!

Pre-seasoning: All grill pans must be pre-seasoned before you start grilling food on them. To do this, add a thin layer of oil to the pan and heat it gently. This creates a non-stick surface that will prevent your food from burning or sticking to the plancha. Seasoning is also important in the long term, as it helps protect your plancha from rust.

Start cooking: To start cooking on a plancha, simply place your meat or vegetables once the pan is hot enough. Food doesn't take long to cook on a plancha, and you only need to flip the food once or twice to ensure everything is cooked through!

Clean your plancha: Right after cooking, you should clean your plancha. Scrape off any burnt food or black residue, wash it under hot water, and dry it with a towel.

Season your griddle: After cleaning, you should re-season your plancha so it's in top condition for next time you cook. Take some oil, cover the bottom of the griddle, and heat it up. This helps protect the plancha from rust when not in use.

2) Foods to cook on a griddle

Many delicious foods can be cooked on griddles. You can prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a griddle, if you want!

Red meats are perfect for plancha cooking, as are most vegetables such as bell peppers or grilled onions. Anything you put on a barbecue, you can grill. Here are some of our favorite foods to start cooking on your griddle!

Pancakes: Start the day with delicious pancakes. Mix your pancake batter, then turn on the griddle. You can even set up specially designed pancake molds if you're worried about the batter spreading everywhere.

Eggs: Griddles are absolutely perfect for cooking eggs. Simply crack your eggs onto the pan and watch them fry in the oil. You can also make an omelet on a griddle, but scrambled eggs don't work as well.

Hash browns: Why not make some hash browns to go with your fried eggs for breakfast?

Sausages: While we're at it, any other breakfast food pairs well with griddles! Sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, take your pick! Or for lunch in bread! It's up to you!

Grilled cheese: If you only want a quick meal or a light snack, you can use griddles to make the perfect grilled cheese. Place cheese between slices of bread and let it melt on the griddle.

Burgers: Griddles are the ideal machines for cooking burgers! We love cooking burgers on griddles, and you'll quickly understand why when you bite into a juicy burger.

3) Cooking on a plancha - FAQ

A) Can you cook steak on a plancha?

Yes! You can prepare the best steaks using a plancha. And they can be just as juicy and sumptuous as if you were frying them in a pan or on a barbecue.

Cooking only takes a few minutes. Let it rest a little before enjoying it to ensure it's grilled to perfection. 

B) Can you cook chicken on a griddle?

Yes, you can. Chicken is perfect for cooking on a griddle. You need to make sure the chicken is cooked through and there are no pink parts in the middle.

To do this, it's best to cook the chicken at a lower temperature, if possible, than if you were searing meat or vegetables.

We recommend wrapping chicken thighs or drumsticks in aluminum foil; this way, you can prepare them with a delicious marinade to get that delicious barbecue flavor in your kitchen. 

C) Cooking fish on a griddle

You might be wondering what you can't cook in cast iron? There are many things to avoid near a cast iron frying pan. Spaghetti, creamy dishes, or anything that requires a sauce cannot be cooked in a griddle pan. You may have heard that fish is also to be avoided.

While it's never recommended to fry fish in a cast iron pan (it just makes the pan very smelly!), preparing fish on a griddle is a whole different story. In fact, we recommend it. Your plancha can make very good seafood!

Because the griddle cooks the fish rather than frying it, it works very well. If you want to add flavor, you can marinate the fish of your choice in lemon juice, or add some herbs or spices, then wrap it in aluminum foil.

Leave your small packet of fish in aluminum foil on the griddle and let it cook over high heat in the juices and spices. This is the same way to cook fish on a barbecue.

Our chefs always recommend preparing salmon or shrimp on a plancha. For salmon, you can wrap it in aluminum foil with lemon juice. For shrimp, you can brown them directly on the griddle or marinate them in a garlic butter sauce for an extra kick. 

D) Is it healthy to prepare food on a griddle?

Preparing food on a plancha is surprisingly healthy. While you might think plancha cooking falls into the same category as frying, it's actually very different. To get good plancha cooking, you don't need a lot of oil, so there's very little fat.

Choosing healthier oils, such as olive oil or avocado oil, can help reduce the amount of saturated fats that go into your food when cooking on a plancha. Instead of frying food, the plancha cooks it on the surface of the pan using oils, which isn't so unhealthy!

Of course, it all depends on what you're cooking, but what's a plancha for if it's not used to serve delicious stacked pancakes or a three-layer burger once in a while? 

E) Plancha cooking: The final word

What to cook on a plancha? There are so many fantastic things to cook on a plancha. You can grill your food in different ways and try all sorts of delicious new recipes.

And it's healthier than you think! From burgers and sausages to pancakes and grilled cheese sandwiches!

Once you've feasted, rest but afterwards you have to clean the griddle, and above all protect it until the next use.

It is very important to protect it to extend its lifespan and for its proper use.

Different models and different features, I present to you the plancha cover collection, ideal for optimal protection!