10-point checklist for choosing your next Contact Grill

If you would like to know more about any of the grills available from Lockhart, please get in touch with one of our team on 03701 678678 where we will be on-hand to help with any additional queries.

When buying products for your kitchen it can be a minefield knowing exactly which product to buy. With so much equipment on the market and products developing all the time, you just need a straightforward way of measuring up items before you make a decision.

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Above: Shop our exclusive Chefmaster Contact Grills

This month we are putting the spotlight on contact grills as they are a much-valued piece of equipment by many chefs. We're revealing our hints and tips on what you should look for before you invest. One of the key benefits of a contact grill is that you don't need to flip the food halfway through cooking as both sides are grilled at the same time. This means you can focus on other tasks and improve efficiency in your kitchen.

1. Research

If the contact grill you are looking at have lots of functions, make sure you understand how the equipment works and learn what all the different options mean. If you are looking for a basic contact grill this will be cheaper but may not do as much as some of the more expensive options. Learn as much about the product and what it does, as well as how you will use it, before you commit.

2. Type Of Plate

Think about the type of plate that you want to cook on as there are a variety of different materials ranging from cast iron to ceramic to aluminium plates. Each style of plate brings its own benefits. Ceramic is known for the speed it heats up whilst cast iron is better at retaining heat so these plates are more suitable for when the equipment will be on for long periods of time. The Chefmaster Ceramic Plate Contact Grill heats up in just four minutes.

3. Variety

Look at the variety of cooking options the product has as many grills include settings for contact grill, full grill, paninis and half grill/half griddle. What do you need to cook on the grill? Is the one you are looking at most suitable for that type of food?

4. Size

Size is an important factor whenever you are buying a new piece of equipment for your kitchen. Consider both the size of the overall machine as well as the size of the plates as this will help you know how much you can cook on it at once. You usually buy a single or a double grill. The Chefmaster range includes everything from a small grill to double grills to large panini grills.

Above: Shop our exclusive Ceramic Contact Grills

5. Speed

In a busy kitchen you will be looking for an item that works quickly and efficiently. Do your research on which products heat up the quickest if you need a product to be ready quickly, as and when you need it. If your grill will be on most of the time, then this is less of an issue.

6. Cleaning

How simple is the product to clean? This could be a little timesaver in your kitchen as grill plates will need cleaning and it's easier to clean if the plates are easily removed.

7. Top Plate

Some grills need the top plate to be pressed down for cooking to be most effective. However, this can take time away from other little jobs that could be achieved during the cooking time.

8. Flat or ribbed?

Whilst this won't have an impact on the overall taste of the food it can on appearance. A ribbed plate will leave griddle markings on the food, which is ideal for items such as paninis. You can see the difference between a flat contact grill and ribbed version on this website.

Above: Shop our double contact grill with flat bottom

9. Seasoning?

Will you be seasoning the food before you cook it? If you buy a grill with cast iron plates you will need to season not only the food first to stop it sticking, but also the cast iron plates for longetivity.

10. Power

Look at the power of the contact grill as more power is usually more effective at grilling.

If you would like to know more about any of the grills available from Lockhart, please get in touch with one of our team. You can call us on 03701 678678 where one of our team will be on-hand to answer your questions.