Vulcan Griddle Plates: What Are My Options?
Vulcan griddles are mainstays in foodservice operations because they produce quality results and are easy to use. When it comes to purchasing a commercial griddle, however, you'll have more decisions to make than simply size and power source. Although all Vulcan griddles have proven their value in commercial kitchens and foodservice operations over the years, purchasers can now choose between different types of griddle plates when purchasing a Vulcan griddle. Vulcan offers three options for buyers and operators, each with its own set of strengths: steel, composite, and chrome.
Each type of Vulcan griddle plate has its own advantages, restrictions, and ideal uses. Below, we'll go into detail about each one in order for you to decide which option best suits your operation's needs.
Steel: The Traditional Choice
Steel griddle plates have long been considered the industry standard and have a proven record of results and reliability. As the most durable option, steel griddle plates are good for cooking a variety of different foods at different times of the day – perfect for operations with menu options spanning breakfast to dinner.
- Steel griddle plates are the most economical of Vulcan's griddle plate options, are available in all sizes, and are offered on both gas and electric models.
- Controls are available in manual, snap-action, and solid state options, and the cooking surface can be either grooved or smooth. Steel griddle plates do emit the most heat of the three options.
- Steel is also more difficult to clean as it may require a cleaning brick or special detergent. Despite its unmatched durability, steel does lose its luster after the first use and must be seasoned daily after cleaning.
Rapid Recovery Composite: The Hybrid Option
The Vulcan Rapid Recovery™ composite griddle plate combines benefits from its chrome and steel counterparts while adding in several advantages of its own. Exclusive to Vulcan, the Rapid Recovery plate is a composite material featuring an aluminum core and a stainless steel cooking surface. This not only transfers heat five times faster than steel, resulting in faster cook times, but it also delivers the most even heating of the three options across the entire cook surface.
- The stainless steel surface resembles chrome, so it's a solid choice for open-concept kitchens; grooved options are not available.
- It's the easiest option to clean, requiring no special tools or chemicals beyond mild detergent and a non-abrasive pad. Griddle bricks should be avoided, and since these plates cool down five times faster than steel, the cleaning process can get started sooner than with steel or chrome plates.
- The Rapid Recovery plate is available in gas with snap-action and solid state controls, as well as electric options.
- Size-wise, the Rapid Recovery plate is only available in a 24-inch depth on MSA griddles in 24-, 36-, and 48-inch-wide options. It's available with VCCG griddles in 24-, 36-, 48-, and 60-inch-wide sizing.
Chrome: High-End Performance
On the higher end of the spectrum are chrome griddle plates. These are considered the premium of the three options Vulcan offers for several reasons, including the price. Like steel, they come in either grooved or smooth options, gas or electric models, and are available in all sizes.
- Controls are available in snap-action and solid state options. The aesthetics of chrome griddle plates make them a great choice for open kitchens where the cooking line is visible to customers.
- They are also less likely to transfer flavor than other materials, keep light foods from turning darker, and have better nonstick properties than the other options, making them ideal for cooking delicate foods.
- Chrome griddle plates emit the least amount of radiant heat into kitchens, ultimately saving on energy bills.
- Cleaning a chrome plate requires special tools, such as food-safe polish, a special razor-bladed scraper, and a Palmetto brush, but they don’t need as much physical force to clean compared to steel. Like Rapid Recovery composite, a griddle brick should not be used to clean chrome griddle plates.
Which Vulcan Griddle Plate is Best For My Operation?
Steel, Rapid Recovery composite, and chrome griddle plates are all excellent choices for commercial kitchens, but you must determine which choice is best for your kitchen. Steel is best for cooking a large variety of items throughout the day, Rapid Recovery composite works great for high-volume operations cooking lots of burgers and other proteins, and chrome is good for open kitchens and cooking delicate foods. In addition to your menu items, other factors, such as your required cooking surface size, whether your kitchen is open to customer view, and ease of cleanup, are important to consider as well.
