From brunches to dinner parties and summer barbecues, I love to cook for a crowd – so I can't believe it's taken me this long to invest in a plancha. It's often compared to a griddle, but this specialist pan is designed for high-temperature, restaurant-grade cooking, and it has totally transformed the way I cook. My top pick? The Staub cast iron plancha, which you can snap up at a $100 discount right now.
If you're looking to invest in some of the best cast iron cookware, a piece like this is a brilliant place to start. It's designed for both indoor and outdoor use, with raised sides that distinguish it from a traditional griddle (and mean that you can easily pour over marinades, whip up sheet pan dinners, and even use your plancha as a serving tray, from stove-to-table).
Taking its name from the Spanish term, which refers to a flat, heated surface, a plancha is used for high-temperature cooking. Yet unlike a griddle, which is designed for evenly-heating ingredients, a plancha provides concentrated heat right to the center of the pan, enabling you to achieve a uniform sear and beautiful crust on everything from seafood to cuts of meat and vegetables.
Naturally, I'm keen to show off my Staub cast iron plancha when the weather warms up enough for alfresco suppers. For now, however, I'm happily experimenting with it on my stovetop to whip up everything from the easiest one-pan brunches to loaded burgers when I have the gang round at the weekend.
We're huge fans of Staub here at Homes & Gardens: the brand is known for producing some of the best non-toxic cookware, from Dutch ovens to ceramic bakeware. The Staub plancha is constructed from cast iron with a black enamel finish, making it both durable and non-toxic. It's compatible with all cooktops – including induction – and it's heat-resistant up to an impressive 500°F.
With a classic, rustic design and such a large surface area, this ingenious piece of kitchenware is a stove-to-table savior – and a real talking point. Snap it up while it's on sale, and your guests will be blown away when you serve up smoky sheet pan dishes and perfectly seared meat at your next get-together.
Shop More Staub Cookware
Looking for the best Dutch oven? Staub is a failsafe choice. This handsome pot is oven-safe, with a rust-resistant interior and a specially-designed lid that help to lock in moisture and flavor.
These stoneware cocottes are ideal for baked eggs, soufflés, and single-serve appetizers. You can pop them in the microwave, oven, dishwasher and even the freezer; plus, they look gorgeous, too.
Cast iron skillets are some of the best non-stick frying pans you can buy, and this deep-sided option is ideal for speedy, flavorsome meals. Whether you're baking, boiling, braising, sauteeing, or frying, it has you covered.
Looking for more picture-perfect cookware? We tried out the Le Creuset Modern Heritage collection – and it's safe to say that it deserves a spot in your kitchen. Not only does it look great, it performs beautifully and will lasts a lifetime.
