How do you create heat zones with a plancha BBQ?

The big advantage of cooking on a plancha BBQ is that you can create multiple temperature zones with one fire. By handling your wood smartly you create clear heat zones. This way you can cook hard, cook gently and keep warm all at the same time. That's plancha cooking the way it's meant to be. Don't know yet how to light your plancha? Start there first.

Why are heat zones important?

Without heat zones a plancha quickly becomes an all-or-nothing situation. Too hot for fish, too cold for a nice crust on meat. With different zones you get control. You cook steaks at high heat, gently cook vegetables through, and keep dishes warm without overcooking them.

The basics of heat zones on a plancha

With a plancha BBQ, heat zones arise naturally. The fire sits in the middle or on one side of the fire bowl. The closer you cook to the fire, the hotter the cooking ring is. The further out, the calmer the temperature.

So you don't work with dials or sliders, but with distance from the fire and the amount of wood.

Creating heat zones step by step

Step 1: Build the fire centrally or on one side

For clear zones, place the wood and burning embers that form from it mainly in the middle or on one side of the fire bowl. A compact fire gives a hot core and naturally cooler edges. If you spread the fire everywhere, you lose the difference between zones.

Tip, start with the Swiss method, stack 2 blocks crosswise, alternating. And once it's burning, build a sort of tipi-like structure. That way the fire burns better because more air can get in.

Especially with the newer models with the X-Flow system, which lets more air in at the bottom of the plancha bbq!

Step 2: Let a good coal base develop

Wait until you have a stable base of glowing coals. Flames give peak heat, but coals give constant temperature. This makes your zones predictable and easier to control.

Step 3: Use the cooking ring deliberately

The part of the cooking ring directly above or next to the fire is your hot zone. This is where you cook meat, smashburgers and other products that need a firm crust. The outer edge is your medium to low zone, ideal for vegetables, fish, eggs and keeping warm.

Step 4: Add fuel in small amounts

Want more heat in your hot zone? Add a small piece of wood to the fire. Always do this gradually. Too much wood at once heats everything up and creates smoke, blurring your zones.

Practical division of heat zones

• Hot zone: right by the fire for hard cooking and searing
• Medium zone: a bit further from the fire for gentle continued cooking
• Low zone: outer edge for cooking, keeping warm and delicate products

By moving ingredients between these zones you cook in a relaxed way and with much more control.

Common mistakes with heat zones

• Spreading the fire across the whole fire bowl, making everything equally hot
• Adding wood too often and in too large amounts, causing fluctuating temperatures
• Starting to cook before the cooking ring is properly warmed up everywhere
• Not accounting for wind, which can cool one side extra

Calm and repetition are key. The more often you cook with your plancha, the better you learn to feel where each zone is.

Extra tip for more control

Use your poker to shift coals slightly if you notice one zone getting too hot or too cool. Small adjustments make a big difference. That way you steer your plancha without stress.

Can I prepare several dishes at the same time on the plancha?

Yes. With a Tiger Fire plancha you can easily prepare several dishes at once. Thanks to the generous cooking surface and the natural heat zones, you grill meat, fish, vegetables and even desserts at the same time, without the flavours mixing.

Use the zones deliberately: put whatever needs a firm crust near the fire and place delicate items on the calmer outer edge. That also lets you keep dishes warm while you carry on cooking.

Want even more options? These accessories extend your cooking capacity:

• Honey Grate: a raised grill grate that adds an extra grilling level above the fire. Handy for larger quantities or for keeping dishes warm, and you can add wood without interrupting the cooking. Suitable for models 88 and 112.
• Wok set: stir-fry directly over the wood fire, for example noodles, mussels or stews. Suitable for models 70, 88 and 112.
• Salmon plank: prepare salmon the Finnish way over an open fire, ideal for slow cooking. Compatible with models 88 and 112.

Can I also cook vegetarian or vegan food on a plancha?

Absolutely. A Tiger Fire plancha is very well suited to vegetarian and vegan dishes. The large, flat cooking surface and even heat distribution make it easy to prepare vegetables, meat substitutes, tofu, tempeh and even fruit.

Think of grilled courgette, peppers, aubergine, corn on the cob or a juicy veggie burger. The high temperature gives lovely caramelisation and keeps flavour and texture. With the heat zones from this article you cook a burger on the hot zone and gently finish the vegetables on the outer edge.

Want to avoid animal products? Then reserve a separate zone of the plancha for vegetarian dishes. This prevents cross-contamination, which is useful for conscious cooks and for professional kitchens. Decide in advance which part of the cooking ring is for what, so you already know how to build the fire when you light it.