How to Choose Brasero Plancha

History, Function and Structure

A Brasero Plancha is an outdoor cooking appliance featuring a large, flat metal cooking surface that allows food to be cooked directly on a hot plate. Unlike a traditional BBQ grill, there is no open grate, making it ideal for cooking meat, seafood, vegetables, burgers, sausages and other small or delicate ingredients.

The word “Plancha” comes from Spanish and refers to a flat metal cooking plate. Originating from Spanish and Mediterranean cooking traditions, Plancha cooking is based on a simple principle:

A hot metal surface + fresh ingredients + high-temperature cooking.

Over time, this traditional cooking method became popular across Europe, particularly in France, and evolved into a modern outdoor cooking experience.

Today, Plancha is widely used in gardens, patios, terraces and outdoor kitchens. Modern designs combine a large cooking surface with efficient heat sources, grease drainage systems and practical structures, making Plancha not only a versatile cooking appliance but also a popular way to cook, share and socialize outdoors.

Materials

The cooking plate is made from food-contact-grade Q235 carbon steel, which provides excellent heat conductivity and is suitable for direct cooking. With proper seasoning and maintenance, it can develop a natural protective layer over time.

The fire bowl and base are typically available in two finishes:

• Black high-temperature powder-coated carbon steel – Modern and clean-looking, suitable for most normal outdoor environments. However, it is not recommended for highly humid or coastal areas, where salt air and moisture can increase the risk of corrosion.
• Corten steel – Develops a natural rust-like protective patina, providing excellent weather resistance and a distinctive outdoor appearance.

For seaside or high-humidity environments, we recommend Corten steel for better long-term outdoor durability.

How to Choose the Right Size?

Choosing the right Plancha is not simply about choosing the largest cooking plate. Bigger is not always better. The ideal size depends on the number of people you usually cook for, your cooking style, and the space available.

Your Cooking Style Also Matters

The size of the Cooking Plate should also match what you usually cook:

• Simple cooking – If you mainly cook steaks, burgers or sausages, a smaller Plancha may be enough.
• Multiple foods – If you like to cook meat, seafood and vegetables at the same time, a larger cooking surface will give you more flexibility.
• Outdoor entertaining – If you often host family and friends, a larger Plancha such as 80–100 cm can provide enough space to cook different foods simultaneously.

Size Guide

Knock-Down Design: Easier Packaging and More Efficient Shipping

One of the key advantages of our Brasero Plancha is its knock-down design. Our knock-down design is not only convenient for end users, but also helps our customers reduce packaging and logistics costs.

The product can be separated into three main components: Cooking Plate, Fire Bowl, Base

For most of our Plancha models, the base is also designed as a KD structure, allowing us to significantly reduce the overall packaging volume.

This brings several advantages:

• Smaller package size
• Lower transportation costs
• Easier handling and storage
• Higher container loading efficiency
• More products can be loaded into one container

For larger models, we can also customize the packing method according to your requirements. For example, the Fire Bowls and Cooking Plates can be stacked into a wooden crate, helping maximize container space while providing additional protection during transportation.

Choosing the Right Plancha for Your Location

When choosing a Brasero Plancha, we recommend first referring to the size selection table above and selecting the Cooking Plate size based on the number of users, cooking habits and available space.

You should also consider the local climate:

Coastal / High-Humidity Areas — For seaside locations or areas with high humidity and salty air, we strongly recommend Corten Steel for the Fire Bowl and Base. Its natural protective patina provides better resistance to demanding outdoor environments.

Rainy Areas – UK / Northern Europe — For regions with frequent rain, we strongly recommend using a waterproof protective cover when the Plancha is not in use. This helps protect the product from rain and moisture and reduces the risk of corrosion.

Outdoor Cooking Tips & Care Guide

Get the most out of your Brasero Plancha with a few simple tips. Choosing the right firewood, managing different cooking temperatures, and caring for the cooking plate properly will help you enjoy better outdoor cooking and keep your plancha in good condition.

First Use – Seasoning the Cooking Plate

Before using the Brasero Plancha for the first time, we recommend heating the cooking plate gradually rather than exposing it to high heat immediately.

1. Start with a small fire and allow the cooking plate to warm up slowly.
2. Once the plate is fully heated, apply a thin, even layer of cooking oil over the entire cooking surface.
3. Let the oil heat until it begins to smoke lightly. This helps the oil penetrate and form a protective, seasoned layer on the cooking plate.
4. Allow the plate to cool slightly, then wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth.
5. Repeat the oiling process 2–3 times during the first few uses to build up a good protective cooking surface.

What kind of firewood should I use?

We recommend using clean, dry hardwood with a moisture level below 20%. Dry wood is easier to light, burns more efficiently, and produces less smoke during cooking.

Hardwoods such as beech and ash are good choices because they burn steadily and provide long-lasting heat. Softer woods burn faster and may require more frequent refueling.

Avoid using fresh/green wood, treated wood, painted wood, or wood containing chemicals, as these can produce excessive smoke and may affect food safety.

Very dense hardwoods can generate extremely high temperatures. Avoid using excessive amounts of these woods, as extreme heat may cause the cooking plate to deform.

What oil should I use?

Vegetable oils can generally be used for cooking on the plancha.

For the first few uses, we recommend applying a small amount of vegetable oil or olive oil to the cooking plate. This helps build up a natural protective cooking surface and gradually develops a darker, seasoned finish.

After the cooking surface has been properly seasoned, you can use other vegetable oils according to your preference.

Tip: Avoid using too much oil. A thin, even layer is sufficient.

How can I control different cooking temperatures?

Once the firewood has burned down and produced a good amount of hot embers, you can control the cooking temperature by moving the embers underneath the cooking plate.

• More embers = higher temperature
• Fewer embers = lower temperature
• Move the embers toward the center for stronger heat
• Move them toward the outer area for gentler cooking

This allows you to create different temperature zones on the same cooking plate—for example, a hotter area for searing meat and a cooler area for keeping food warm.

How should I clean the cooking plate?

During cooking, use a spatula to regularly remove food residue and push it toward the center so it can burn away.

After cooking, while the plate is still warm, scrape off any remaining food and grease. Then wipe the surface with a clean cloth lightly coated with cooking oil.

We recommend cleaning the plate regularly rather than allowing a thick layer of residue to accumulate.

If stubborn residue has built up, heat the cooking plate first and then add a small amount of ice or cold water to the affected area. The sudden temperature change can help loosen the residue. Scrape the surface carefully and wipe it clean afterward.

Finally, apply a thin layer of cooking oil to protect the surface before the next use.

Important: Never leave the cooking plate wet after cleaning. Always dry it thoroughly and apply a light layer of oil to help protect it from rust.