Electric Chargrills: Can They Really Match Gas?
Gas has long been the default for chargrilling. High heat, a proper sear and that unmistakable chargrilled finish – it’s what most chefs grew up cooking on.
So can an electric chargrill really match gas? For many kitchens, the answer is yes, and Lincat’s Opus Ignite is one of the most interesting reasons why. Here’s what to weigh up when comparing an electric vs gas chargrill.
- ✓ Electric chargrill with Lincat’s “real flame technology”
- ✓ Heavy-duty segmented cast-iron grids for bold branding marks
- ✓ Two independently controlled heat zones
- ✓ 7.2kW, 600mm wide countertop model
- ✓ Uses 41% less energy than Lincat’s previous Direct Cook chargrill
- ✓ Removable grids, with lifting tool and cleaning rake included
- ✓ Fast Free UK Mainland Delivery
Will an Electric Chargrill Get Hot Enough?
Electric chargrills used to be seen as the compromise: handy where there’s no gas, but not the first choice for serious grilling. That’s changing. The Ignite OE8415 puts 7.2kW into a 600mm countertop unit.
What Happens When Service Gets Busy?
Every steak, burger or chicken breast you put on the grill pulls heat out of it. If the grill can’t recover quickly, cooking slows down.
That’s where the Ignite’s cast-iron grids help. They’re designed to retain heat and distribute it evenly across the cooking surface.
Can Electric Produce a Proper Sear and Flavour?
It sounds like a contradiction, but the Opus Ignite is electrically powered and uses what Lincat calls “real flame technology”, designed to recreate the smoky flavour and charred aroma of cooking over an open fire. Its segmented grids add the bold branding marks you’d expect from a gas chargrill.
Lincat reports that in blind taste tests, diners preferred food cooked on Ignite over food from traditional gas chargrills.
Alongside the 600mm OE8415, Lincat also makes 850mm and 1100mm versions.
Will It Cost More to Run?
Running costs are always worth thinking about, especially as electricity generally costs more per unit than gas. That’s where control comes in.
On the Ignite OE8415, one of the two zones can be switched off during quieter periods, so you’re only heating what you need. Lincat also says Ignite uses 41% less energy than its previous Direct Cook electric chargrill.
Is Electric Easier to Install?
Not necessarily. The Ignite OE8415 can run on a single or three-phase supply, but it needs hardwiring and professional installation. Check your electrical supply can handle it before ordering, or give us a call and we’ll talk it through.
Going electric doesn’t remove the need for ventilation, either. Chargrilling still produces heat, grease and cooking vapours, so extraction needs assessing for the appliance and your kitchen.
What About Cleaning?
Cleaning a chargrill is one of the messiest jobs in the kitchen, whatever powers it. The Ignite is designed to make it quicker.
The grids lift out, and a grid lifting tool and cleaning rake come as standard. Beneath the grids, an enamelled base plate makes wiping down easier. Lincat says cleaning is three times faster than on its previous Direct Cook chargrill.
Electric vs Gas Chargrill – Which Suits Your Kitchen?
Electric could suit you if:
- ✓ You don’t have a gas supply, or your site is going all-electric
- ✓ You have the electrical capacity to run it
- ✓ Your demand varies and you’d make use of zone control
- ✓ You want real-flame flavour without a gas supply
Gas could still be the better choice if:
- ✓ You already have a suitable gas supply
- ✓ Your current gas chargrill copes well with a busy service
- ✓ Running costs are your main concern
So, Can an Electric Chargrill Match Gas?
For many kitchens, yes. The questions are the same whatever the power source: does it get hot enough, does it hold that heat when service gets busy, and does it give you the sear and flavour you want? Today’s electric chargrills are giving much more convincing answers.
Gas certainly isn’t finished, but electric is becoming much harder to dismiss.
Weighing up your options? Tell us about your menu, your covers and your power supply, and we’ll help you compare. The Lincat Opus Ignite comes with Fast Free UK Mainland Delivery and a 2-year parts and labour warranty.
