Which plancha griddle to choose? Our 2026 comparison of 7 models
By CharlesUpdated on 25/10/2026AnalysedEditor's review7 models compared
For most patios, the plancha to choose is Le Marquier's Petite Française Gas 250: an enamelled cast iron plate and stainless steel burners with a lifetime warranty, 3,600 W, made in France, for 249.00 euros on 25 October 2026. On a tight budget or indoors, the Tefal Malaga XL, a 2,000 W electric model for 6 to 8 guests, costs 59.99 euros on 25 October 2026, but its plate is a non-stick coating, not cast iron.
Our picks at a glance
Our pick
Le Marquier La Petite Française Gaz 250
For: a patio for 2 to 6 people who want French-made enamelled cast iron
Prices and availability may change. The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
Choosing a plancha griddle comes down to three questions: gas or electric, which cooking plate, and how many guests around the table. A gas plancha heats its plate with burners and needs a gas bottle and a regulator; an electric plancha plugs in and is set with a thermostat, which suits a balcony or the kitchen. To grill meat, fish and vegetables on a patio or in the garden, I compared 12 product pages from Le Marquier, Forge Adour, Krampouz, Eno, Campingaz, Somagic, Little Balance and Tefal, checked their Amazon France prices on 25 October 2026 and kept 7 models, each for a profile. Each model's drawback comes before its strengths. For an overview of every type, start with our plancha griddle page.
How we compared
This comparison is based on reading product pages, not on hands-on testing: none of these planchas has been used by our team, hence the "Editor's review" badge. I checked 12 Amazon pages on 25 October 2026, gas and electric, from a 60-euro tabletop model to a 75 cm freestanding plancha, then kept the 7 that cover each profile with an active offer.
For each one, I recorded the price, availability and seller, then cross-checked the power, the size and material of the plate, the number of guests, the weight and the warranty against the manufacturer's own website: Le Marquier, Forge Adour, Krampouz, Eno, Somagic and Tefal. When the seller's page and the manufacturer disagree, the manufacturer wins; a value that is missing or contradictory is marked "n.c." (not communicated). Little Balance's website could not be read on the day we checked, so its data comes from its Amazon page. We do not use customer ratings or rankings from other review sites.
Criterion
What we looked at
Why
Energy
Gas (butane or propane) or electric (socket)
It decides where you can cook
Plate
Enamelled cast iron, stainless steel or non-stick, thickness
Heat retention, cleaning and durability
Power
Watts or kW published by the brand
Heat-up time and searing
Size
Dimensions of the cooking plate
Number of people served at once
Warranty
Plate, burners, frame
A plancha is kept for years
Each model's score out of 5 is an editor's review based on these criteria and on price. The full approach is explained on our method page.
The 7 best planchas in detail
Each plancha is presented with the profile it suits, its drawback first, then what sets it apart.
Le Marquier Petite Française Gas 250: our top pick
Who it's for: a patio for 2 to 6 people who want French-made enamelled cast iron.
What nobody tells you: its maximum temperature is 250 °C according to the manufacturer, when the Eno Initial 50 claims 360 °C: for very fierce searing, it is not the hottest. Neither the manufacturer nor Amazon states how many guests it serves, and the Amazon page gives almost no specifications: our figures come from the manufacturer's website.
What I liked: the brand from the Landes builds this plancha in France and has it certified Origine France Garantie. Its 50 x 35 cm enamelled cast iron plate and its 2 stainless steel burners carry a lifetime warranty, the rest of the plancha 10 years according to the manufacturer. 3,600 W for 14.4 kg and a 53 x 42 cm footprint: it sits on a side table, goes into the garage in winter and comes back out in spring. On the day we checked, it was in stock and sold by the manufacturer itself, at 249.00 euros on 25 October 2026.
Who it's for: enamelled cast iron for a big table under 200 euros.
What nobody tells you: it is sold without hose or regulator, to buy separately for your type of gas, and it is only covered for 2 years, far from the lifetime plate of our top pick. Its Amazon page shows "4.25 Watts" instead of the 4.25 kW announced by Somagic, and dispatch was announced in 2 to 3 days when we checked, with no confirmed stock.
What I liked: 4.25 kW on a 51.5 x 36.5 cm enamelled cast iron plate with curved edges, larger than our top pick's, for up to 10 people according to Somagic. Its 2 stainless steel burners are independent, with piezo ignition, and a grease tray collects the juices. At 13 kg, it is also the lightest gas model in this selection: one person can carry it from the garage to the patio.
Who it's for: a tabletop plancha for 6 to 8, indoors, under 60 euros.
What nobody tells you: this is not a cast iron or stainless steel plate but a non-stick coating: no metal spatula on it, and it wears over time. Its thermostat shows no temperature, its Amazon page states both a 1-year and a 2-year warranty (2 years on the manufacturer's website), and that website only lists the Malaga CB503813: our data on the CB501812 mostly comes from Amazon.
What I liked: 2,000 W on a 51 x 25.5 cm surface for 6 to 8 guests, without added fat. It weighs 3.37 kg, fits in a cupboard and finds its place on the dining table. The manufacturer announces 15 years of repairability. Sold and shipped by Amazon, it is the cheapest way to try plancha cooking before investing in an outdoor model.
What nobody tells you: it is the most expensive model in this selection, only 2 units were left in stock when we checked, and it weighs 39 kg: it stays on a solid side table or trolley. Its Amazon page also presents it for indoor use, a mention that Forge Adour keeps for other sizes in the range.
What I liked: 3 aluminised burners designed by the manufacturer, 6,000 W and a 74.4 x 42 cm enamelled cast iron plate, for 4 to 15 guests according to the Basque manufacturer. The double-walled frame, the 4 adjustable feet and the 2 screws that tilt the plate send grease to a 1-litre tray. The warranty runs up to 15 years and the plancha can be repaired part by part according to the manufacturer.
Little Balance Amplitude 60-40: the outdoor electric plancha
Who it's for: an outdoor electric plancha for 6 to 12.
What nobody tells you: it weighs 23.7 kg according to Amazon, and we could not find its warranty anywhere. The brand's website could not be read on the day we checked: its specifications come from its Amazon page alone. 11 units were left in stock.
What I liked: a single-piece 4 mm stainless steel plate measuring 590 x 400 mm, for 6 to 12 people. Two elements and two independent thermostats keep meat apart from vegetables, with a heat-up to 300 °C in under 15 minutes according to its product page. It is made in France, protected against splashing water (IPX4) and is cleaned with water, a stainless steel scraper and white vinegar. For a patio with a socket but no wish to deal with gas, it is the largest electric model in this selection.
Who it's for: a stainless steel plate on a small patio.
What nobody tells you: 2 burners of 1,500 W, or 3,000 W in total, half the power of the 75 cm models. The offer is held by a third-party seller (EZY Commerce), and the weight differs between the manufacturer (13.5 kg) and Amazon (15.5 kg): we mark it n.c.
What I liked: the frame, plate and burners are all stainless steel, a material from professional kitchens that fears neither thermal shock nor scratches according to the manufacturer. The 2 U-shaped burners, set very close to the 54 x 33 cm plate, create 2 zones adjustable up to 300 °C, for about 6 guests. The plate is guaranteed for 10 years, the plancha is made in France, and it is cleaned while hot with water or ice cubes and a stainless steel spatula; the juice drawer goes in the dishwasher.
Le Marquier Petite Française Electric: for a balcony in a shared building
Who it's for: a balcony in a shared building, without a gas bottle.
What nobody tells you: a single 2,000 W zone for 349.00 euros on 25 October 2026, when the Little Balance offers two zones on a larger plate. Dispatch was announced in 6 to 7 days when we checked, with no confirmed stock, and the number of guests is not stated.
What I liked: it has the same 50 x 35 cm enamelled cast iron plate as the gas version, with a lifetime warranty, heated by a 2 kW radiant element set by a thermostat from 50 to 250 °C. Its Amazon page states that this heating meets shared-building rules, a point in its favour in buildings where gas bottles are banned on balconies. It weighs 16 kg, is certified Origine France Garantie and can be used indoors or outdoors according to its product page.
A non-stick coating rather than a cast iron or stainless steel plate, a thermostat with no temperature shown, and an Amazon page that states both a 1-year and a 2-year warranty.
Sold without hose or regulator, only a 2-year warranty, and an Amazon page that shows "4.25 Watts" instead of Somagic's 4.25 kW, with dispatch in 2 to 3 days when we checked.
A maximum temperature of 250 °C according to the manufacturer, when the Eno Initial 50 claims 360 °C, and neither the brand nor Amazon states how many guests it serves.
A single 2,000 W zone for 349 euros, and dispatch announced in 6 to 7 days when we checked, with no confirmed stock.
3,000 W, half the power of the 75 cm models, an offer held by a third-party seller (EZY Commerce), and a weight that differs between Krampouz (13.5 kg) and Amazon (15.5 kg).
23.7 kg according to Amazon, a warranty we could not find anywhere, and specifications we could not cross-check on the brand's website on the day we checked.
The most expensive model in this selection, 39 kg that need a solid stand, and only 2 units left in stock when we checked.
Prices and availability may change. The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
How to choose a plancha?
How do you choose your plancha? Start from where you will cook, then the number of guests, then the plate material: that is the order in which the options narrow down.
Gas or electric plancha?
A gas plancha is the most powerful and the freest outdoors; an electric plancha is the simplest, and the only option in many flats. Gas needs a bottle (butane or propane), a hose and a regulator; several brands reserve their gas models for outdoor use. Electric needs a socket, sometimes an extension lead, and a thermostat sets the temperature.
Energy
Power of the models kept
Where to use it
What to plan for
Gas
3,000 to 6,000 W
Patio, garden, outdoors
Gas bottle, regulator, hose
Electric
2,000 to 3,000 W
Balcony, indoors, patio with a socket
Nearby socket, suitable extension lead
For safety, check whether a gas model's page mentions a thermocouple, which cuts the gas supply when the flame goes out, and piezo ignition. Our gas griddle page compares 12 bottled-gas models, and our electric griddle page covers plug-in models, tabletop and outdoor.
Enamelled cast iron, stainless steel, steel or hard chrome?
The best plate depends on how you cook: enamelled cast iron holds heat, stainless steel takes anything, steel heats up fast. Enamelled cast iron has high thermal inertia and spreads heat well; it is easy to clean, and Le Marquier guarantees it for life. Food-grade stainless steel accepts a spatula and deglazing with ice cubes without fear of scratches according to Krampouz, but food sticks more until it is hot. Rolled or ground steel heats up quickly but rusts without care, and hard chrome, kept for high-end models, resists oxidation. The non-stick coatings of tabletop models, such as the Malaga XL, cost less but wear out.
How much power for which plate size?
The bigger the plate, the more power it takes to heat it evenly: count around 3,000 W for a 50 cm plate and 6,000 W for 75 cm. Forge Adour's Modern gas range goes from 3,200 W in size 45 to 5,300 W in size 60 and 6,000 W in size 75. Lower power means a longer heat-up and less fierce searing in the middle of the plate. Two independent burners or elements create two zones: a very hot one for meat, a gentler one for vegetables.
How many guests for which size?
The size of the cooking plate sets how many people you can serve at once. Here is what the manufacturers of the models kept announce:
Plate size
Model
Guests announced
51 x 25.5 cm
Malaga XL
6 to 8
54 x 33 cm
Samba gas
About 6
51.5 x 36.5 cm
Somagic Solia 200
Up to 10
59 x 40 cm
Little Balance Amplitude 60-40
6 to 12
74.4 x 42 cm
Modern Gas 75
4 to 15
These figures cannot be compared from one brand to another: the Malaga XL counts 6 to 8 settings on a smaller plate than the Samba, announced for about 6. Go by plate size rather than by number of guests.
Tabletop, on a trolley or built-in?
The tabletop plancha is the most common: it sits on an outdoor table, a side table or a worktop, and is stored in winter. A trolley model adds shelves, space for the gas bottle and wheels; Forge Adour offers a trolley that fits its tabletop models, sold separately. A built-in model goes into a masonry summer kitchen. Measure the footprint and the weight: from 13 kg for the Solia 200 to 39 kg for the Modern Gas 75.
A French-made plancha?
Four of the seven models kept are made in France, and two carry the Origine France Garantie certification. Le Marquier (Landes), Forge Adour (Basque Country), Krampouz (Brittany) and Eno (Niort) are the French brands cited by the guides we read; Little Balance also announces French manufacturing. French-made does not mean a long warranty: compare what the manufacturer covers on the plate and burners, from 2 years at Somagic to life for the Petite Française.
Models we did not keep
Five frequently cited planchas stayed out of the selection, each for a factual reason found on 25 October 2026.
Eno Initial 50 (308.96 euros on 25 October 2026): its manufacturer page is one of the most complete, with a 7 mm cast iron plate and a setting from 200 to 360 °C, but the Amazon offer came from a third-party seller with dispatch in 4 to 5 days and a page reduced to three lines.
Le Marquier Original Gas 260 Duo (296.77 euros on 25 October 2026): a 60 x 40 cm plate for 6 to 10 settings according to the manufacturer, but its Amazon page describes an electric plancha with heating elements, no power is published and dispatch is announced in 6 to 7 days.
Campingaz Blue Flame L (223.25 euros on 25 October 2026): its plate is enamelled steel, not cast iron, its Amazon page shows two power ratings (6,000 and 7,500 W), and it cost more than the cast iron Solia 200.
Forge Adour Modern Electric 60 (672.05 euros on 25 October 2026): the most expensive plancha we checked, an Amazon title that mentions gas for an electric model, and an unidentified seller.
Krampouz Samba electric: no offer and no price on Amazon on 25 October 2026.
The price shown on Amazon when you buy is the one that applies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best plancha to buy?
The best plancha for most patios is Le Marquier's Petite Française Gas 250: an enamelled cast iron plate and burners with a lifetime warranty, 3,600 W, made in France. For a big table, the Modern Gas 75 offers a 74.4 x 42 cm plate; for indoor use on a small budget, the Malaga XL is enough.
What is the best plancha brand?
Le Marquier, Forge Adour, Krampouz and Eno are the reference brands: all make their planchas in France and give long warranties on their plates, for life at Le Marquier and Eno, up to 15 years at Forge Adour, 10 years for Krampouz's stainless steel plate. Campingaz, Somagic and Tefal aim at tighter budgets, with 2-year warranties.
Should you choose a gas or an electric plancha?
Choose gas to cook outdoors with plenty of power, electric for a balcony, a flat or a patio with a socket. The gas models kept range from 3,000 to 6,000 W but need a gas bottle and a regulator; the electric ones range from 2,000 to 3,000 W and are set with a thermostat.
What are the drawbacks of a stainless steel plancha?
Stainless steel lets food stick more until the plate is properly hot, and it holds heat less well than thick cast iron. In return, it fears neither thermal shock nor scratches according to the maker of the Samba, accepts a spatula and deglazing, and is cleaned with water while the plate is still hot.
Cast iron or stainless steel: which plancha should you choose?
Choose enamelled cast iron for steady heat and simple care, stainless steel for a hard-wearing plate that takes metal utensils. The Petite Française's enamelled cast iron has a lifetime warranty; the Samba's stainless steel is guaranteed for 10 years and the Little Balance's is 4 mm thick.
