Benchstar Max~Electric Griddle GH-400E

The Benchstar MAX GH-400E is the compact 400 mm griddle in this range, with the same 12 mm polished mild steel plate as its larger siblings over a 396 x 400 mm cooking surface. The thicker plate holds heat under load and recovers quickly between batches, with an adjustable thermostat across 50-300C, a 2 mm splash guard and a removable stainless steel oil collector at the front. Separate blue power and yellow heating indicators show whether it is live and whether it is still coming up to temperature.

Why operators choose the GH-400E

• 12 mm polished mild steel plate — the same plate thickness as the 610 mm and 760 mm models — heat retention is not sacrificed for the smaller footprint
• 396 x 400 mm cooking surface — a near-square griddle area in a 400 mm cabinet, so almost none of the width is wasted
• Smallest footprint in the MAX range — fits a bench run where the 550, 610 and 760 mm models will not
• Adjustable thermostat, 50-300C — gentle holding through to searing on one control
• Separate power and heating indicators — the blue lamp shows the unit is live and the yellow shows it is still heating, so nobody starts cooking on a cold plate
• Removable front oil collector — pulls out for emptying without moving the griddle off the bench
• 2 mm splash guard and deep-drawn drainage hole — contains spatter and channels fat off the plate instead of pooling
• Durable stainless steel heating elements — quick heating and fast recovery through a sustained service

Specifications

Venue suitability

The GH-400E suits cafes, sandwich bars, food trucks and small pub kitchens wanting a genuine 12 mm-plate griddle without a wide bench run. The deciding factor is the supply — at 3 kW it needs more than a standard power point, so settle that before ordering.

Compare the full range of benchtop electric griddles or see more from Benchstar.

Installation & delivery

Its supply needs checking before installation. At 3 kW it draws about 12.5 A, which is more than a standard 10 A outlet provides, and the rating recorded in our supplier data (13 A) is a British figure rather than an Australian one — AU circuits are rated 10, 15, 20 or 32 A. Have a licensed electrician confirm the circuit rather than assuming a normal power point will carry it. Allow 400 mm of heat-tolerant bench, clearance behind the splash guard, and front access to withdraw the oil collector. At 27.5 kg it is the lightest griddle in the range but still a solid two-person lift. Dispatched from our Sydney HQ with partner warehouses in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for faster delivery Australia-wide. Backed by a 12-month return-to-base warranty — the unit is returned for service rather than attended on site. See our warranty information page for full terms.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can the GH-400E run from a standard power point? A: Not reliably. At 3kW it draws about 12.5A, which is more than a standard 10A outlet provides, and the rating recorded in our supplier data (13A) is a British figure rather than an Australian one — AU circuits are rated 10, 15, 20 or 32A. Have a licensed electrician confirm the circuit before installation.

Q: Is the plate thinner than on the bigger models? A: No. It uses the same 12mm polished mild steel plate as the 610mm and 760mm models, so heat retention and recovery are not compromised by the smaller size.

Q: How big is the cooking surface? A: 396 x 400mm — almost the full width of the 400mm cabinet.

Q: How is the oil collected and emptied? A: A removable stainless steel oil collector sits at the front and pulls out, so the griddle does not have to be moved to clean it.

Q: What other sizes are in the MAX griddle range? A: 400mm, 550mm, 610mm and 760mm. The 610mm needs a 25A circuit and the 760mm needs 415V three-phase power, so the supply requirement rises steeply with size.

Q: What warranty applies? A: Twelve months, return to base. The unit is returned for service rather than a technician attending on site — reasonable on a benchtop appliance you can transport, but worth factoring into downtime planning.