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Le Griddle FAQ
What is Le Griddle?
Le Griddle is a brand of stainless steel flat-top griddles built for outdoor kitchens, carts and countertops. The design originated with a French chef's dual-plate griddle, which is why the model codes read in metric and why the cooking style is closer to a French plancha than to a diner flat-top. The cooking surface is 304 stainless steel attached to a cast iron plate — the stainless gives you a corrosion-resistant, easy-to-clean cooking face, and the cast iron underneath gives you the thermal mass that keeps the surface from crashing when you drop cold food on it. See everything we carry in the Le Griddle collection.
Where is Le Griddle made?
In the USA. Since 2023 Le Griddle has been manufactured in Texas, and the manufacturer's current wording is "Designed & manufactured in the USA." This is a common point of confusion because of the French name and the French design heritage — a "Made in France" claim is no longer accurate for current production. NorthwoodsGrills is a family-owned retailer in Charleston, South Carolina and an authorized dealer; we do not manufacture anything we sell.
Why are the model numbers 40, 75, 105 and 160?
Because they are centimetres, not inches. The number in a Le Griddle model code is the width of the cooking surface in centimetres, a holdover from the brand's French origin. That is the single most useful thing to know when shopping the line, because it explains why the US inch sizes look irregular:
- 40 cm ≈ 16 inches
- 75 cm ≈ 30 inches
- 105 cm ≈ 41 inches
- 160 cm = two separate 29⅜-inch cooking surfaces
Once you know that, the rest of the code is straightforward: GFE means gas, GEE means electric, a CK suffix means it comes with a freestanding cart, and an LK suffix means it comes with a lid.
What are the real Classic Series models?
The Classic Series has four models, each named as well as numbered:
- The Wee — GFE40 gas or GEE40 electric, 16 inches. The Wee Griddle in single-burner electric is the plug-in version; the 16-inch electric griddle with lid (GEE40) bundles the lid.
- The Ranch Hand — GFE75 gas or GEE75 electric, 30 inches. See the Ranch Hand 2-burner electric griddle.
- The Big Texan — GFE105, 41 inches, three burners. This is a real production model, despite how the name reads.
- The Grand Texan — GFE160, four burners across two separate cooking surfaces.
Our current Classic Series listings are the electric models. For the gas Classic models — GFE40, GFE75, GFE105 and GFE160 — call us at 843-212-7209 and we will confirm current availability rather than have you order from a stale page.
What is the difference between the Classic, Pro and Commercial Series?
Classic is the residential line. Above it sit two heavier tiers, and the code tells you which plate you are getting: P3 or C3 means a 3 mm plate, P6 or C6 means a 6 mm plate.
- Pro Series — residential-plus build with interior lights. Available in Pro Series 40, one burner, 3 mm plate; Pro Series 75, two burners, 3 mm or 6 mm; and Pro Series 105, three burners, 3 mm or 6 mm.
- Commercial Series — the heaviest tier, offered in Commercial 75 with a 3 mm plate or 6 mm plate, and Commercial 105 with a 3 mm plate or 6 mm plate.
3 mm or 6 mm plate — which should I choose?
This is the most useful buying decision on the whole line, and it is a genuine tradeoff rather than a good-better upsell.
- Choose 3 mm if you want the griddle hot faster and you cook things that do not steal much heat: eggs, pancakes, vegetables, fish, quesadillas. A thinner plate preheats quicker and responds faster when you turn the burners down.
- Choose 6 mm if you cook in volume or cook cold, wet food: smash burgers, a full load of bacon, fajita meat straight from the refrigerator. The extra mass holds temperature when the surface is loaded, which is exactly when a thin plate struggles. It takes longer to preheat.
For most home cooks feeding a family, the 3 mm plate is the better everyday choice. For anyone who regularly cooks for ten or more, or who wants smash burgers with a real crust, the 6 mm plate is worth the wait.
Gas or electric?
Gas models put out more heat and suit built-in kitchens where a line already runs to the island. Electric models — the GEE codes — need only a receptacle, which makes them the practical choice for balconies, covered porches and condos. If you have gas at the island, take the gas; if you do not, the electric models are not a consolation prize, and they are why the smaller sizes sell so well.
What sizes should I buy for how I cook?
- 16 inches (40 cm) — breakfast for two to four, or a secondary station beside a grill.
- 30 inches (75 cm) — the size most outdoor kitchens should default to; two independently controlled burners let you run a hot zone and a warm zone at once.
- 41 inches (105 cm) — three burners, for entertaining and for anyone cooking whole meals on the griddle.
- 160 cm — two separate surfaces and four burners, for the largest kitchens.
Compare against the rest of the field in built-in griddles and the broader griddles collection, or narrow to the brand with Le Griddle built-in griddles.
What accessories do I need?
Three accessories matter, and the right one depends on how the griddle is installed:
- Lid — protects the plate and lets you steam or melt cheese. Choose by model: lid for GEE40 / GFE40, lid for GEE75 / GFE75, or lid for GFE105.
- Cart — turns a built-in griddle into a freestanding unit: cart for the 40 series, cart for the 75 series, or cart for the 105 series.
- Insulating liner — required when dropping a gas griddle into a combustible enclosure: liner for the 16-inch Wee, liner for GFE75, or liner for GFE105. See our insulating grill liners FAQ before you frame the island.
For a flush finish in a countertop cutout, add the matching trim kit — 40 series, 75 series or 105 series. Pro Series griddles can also be finished with a matte black front panel if you want a darker face than brushed stainless.
How do I season and clean the plate?
Before first use, wipe on a very thin coat of high-smoke-point oil and heat the surface until it darkens; repeat two or three times. After cooking, scrape residue off while the plate is still warm, wipe it down, then leave a light film of oil on it. Avoid detergents and abrasive pads, which strip the seasoning, and never shock a hot plate with cold water.
What is the Le Griddle warranty?
Le Griddle warranty terms vary by model and by fuel type, and we are not going to publish a single duration here — the coverage published across the manufacturer's own pages and its distributor is not consistent, and we would rather give you nothing than give you a number that turns out to be wrong when you need it. Check the warranty statement on the specific product page and in the documentation that ships with the unit, or call us at 843-212-7209 and we will confirm the current terms for the exact model you are considering before you buy.
How much should I budget, and what should I cross-shop?
The smaller electric Classic models fall into the lower price tier of built-in griddles; the larger gas Pro and Commercial models sit in the upper tier. Worth comparing: Coyote and TrueFlame built-in griddles, and Blackstone if you want a much lower price point and are willing to trade stainless construction for it. If you only want griddle capability occasionally, a drop-in griddle plate for a grill you already own is the cheaper answer. Shipping is free on our orders and we do not charge credit card fees.
How do I get help choosing?
Call NorthwoodsGrills at 843-212-7209. Tell us the cutout width you have, whether you have gas or only power at that spot, and how many people you usually cook for, and we will match you to the right size, plate thickness and liner.
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