A single-burner plancha built for the cartridge
Weber calls the appliance “SLATE GP 43 cm Premium Plancha”, item number 1500231. The same number appears in the Amazon catalogue as the model number, there under the title “Weber Slate GP Portable Premium Gas Griddle”. The user manual gives the designation GP43. On Amazon, the appliance has been listed since 1 October 2024.
A plancha is a gas grill without a grate. The food lies on a closed plate heated from below, so fat and juices do not drip into the flame but run into a channel. On the Slate GP 43 cm, this plate is porcelain-enamelled cast iron, with a single stainless steel burner working beneath it. It gets its gas from a disposable cartridge. That sets it apart from almost all appliances in our gas grills category, and this point gets its own section further down.
In our price box it stands at approx. €319 (Amazon page on 20 October 2026: €319). In the Weber online shop it cost €399.00 on 21 October 2026.
The catalogue photo shows a flat, rectangular body with rounded corners and a closed hinged lid. On the far right hangs a wire basket for the cartridge, in front of it sit the control knob and a red button, and at the bottom front a flat drawer with a red handle, which according to Weber’s description is the grease removal accessible from the front. No stand is visible in the photo. We have not handled the plancha and have not cooked anything on it. What is written here comes from the Weber product page, from the manual and assembly instructions, and from the Amazon catalogue.
Burner, plate and dimensions: what Weber states
For the main burner, the product page gives 3.7 kW. The consumption table in the manual arrives at a different value: injector 1.01 mm, 4.2 kW on butane, 300 g/h butane. Neither source offers an explanation for the difference, so we give both figures with their origin.
Weber states the cooking area as 1754 cm² and the grill chamber as 43 cm wide, 41.5 cm deep and 5.6 cm high. The Amazon text says the surface is safe for metal utensils and that the “rustproof cooking box” stores heat for even cooking.
With the lid closed, the plancha measures 25 x 71.5 x 57.5 cm (H x W x D), with the lid open 72.5 x 71.5 x 60.5 cm. The photo explains why the overall width is so much more than the plate’s 43 cm: the cartridge basket and control knob protrude at the side. Weber gives the weight as 19.5 kg. The Amazon catalogue lists around 16.8 kg and approx. 58 x 76 x 25 cm. Which value is correct cannot be settled from the sources, so we stick with the manufacturer.
Under the body sit four adjustable feet, which let you level the plancha on uneven ground. Ignition is by spark: you press the red ignition button several times until it clicks each time. The manual shows the control knob with the positions OFF, START/HIGH, MEDIUM and LOW, while the Amazon text speaks of “infinitely variable heat settings”. That need not be a contradiction, since markings on a rotary knob do not rule out intermediate positions.
According to the assembly instructions, the box contains the grill body with hinged lid, the griddle plate, a bracket part, the cartridge holder, the grease tray with disposable drip tray, the control knob, and screws and washers. A stand with side tables is not shown there. Yet that is exactly what the Amazon text describes (“The expandable stand raises the plate, can be folded down”). Weber itself only mentions the option of adding a folding grill table. We therefore assume the plancha comes without a frame, and we would ask the seller if the stand matters to you.
The following points are stated neither on the Weber page nor in the manual:
- the thickness of the griddle plate
- the material of the grill chamber and lid; for the exterior, the manual says only that it “may” consist of stainless steel, porcelain enamel and plastic
- an exact maximum temperature (the figure given is “above 260 °C”) and the time the plate takes to reach it
- a number of people it serves
- country of origin and place of production
- how long spare parts remain available
- price and data of the optional folding grill table with item number 3400154
In detail: cast iron, enamel and a single burner
Cast iron is heavy and stores a lot of heat. For a plancha, that is exactly the intention. When you put cold patties on, they draw heat out of the plate, and a solid cast plate sags less than thin sheet steel. The price for this is the warm-up time: Weber recommends preheating the plate on the highest setting for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on air temperature and wind.
Cast iron tolerates rapid temperature swings poorly. The manual warns that large amounts of cold water over the whole plate at once can warp it, and the same applies to a large amount of cold or frozen food on the hot surface. We would therefore put a bag of frozen prawns on in several portions rather than all at once.
Enamel is a fused glass layer. It separates the iron from air and moisture, and Weber describes the surface as a non-stick cooking surface that is ready to use straight away. Before first use, the manual provides for washing the new pan insert by hand with mild washing-up liquid and drying it. As a general rule for enamel: it is hard but brittle, and a strong blow can make it chip.
One burner means one setting for the whole plate. If you want to sear a steak and slowly cook onions next to it, you can only control that through position on the surface, not through a second control. Weber promises even heat across the whole surface, and the Amazon text even says “without hot or cold zones”. Both are manufacturer statements.
If you divide the 3.7 kW from the product page by the 1754 cm², that comes to roughly 2.1 watts per square centimetre by calculation, or roughly 2.4 with the 4.2 kW from the manual. On its own this figure says little about the result on the plate, but it is useful for comparison within the same design.
Does a normal gas cylinder fit the Slate GP 43 cm?
No. The manual allows only disposable cartridges of butane or propane with 430 to 460 g of contents, namely WEBER Q gas cartridges or other cartridges approved to DIN EN 417 (a standard that applies in Germany) and marked 80% butane/20% propane. Connecting other gas containers “can be dangerous”.
So the 5 kg or 11 kg cylinder from the large gas grill stays in the cupboard here. According to the manual, the appliance is also not suitable for a mains gas supply. A pressure regulator is built in, and the cartridge is screwed directly into it. For Great Britain, the manual specifies a regulator to BS 3016 at 37 mbar; a mbar figure for Germany is missing.
To insert it, you set the control knob to OFF, close the regulator’s gas control valve, push the cartridge into the regulator, turn it clockwise until tight and place it in the cartridge holder. Hand-tight only, Weber writes, because excessive force can damage the regulator coupling and cartridge valve. Every time you reconnect a cartridge, a leak check is due at the junction between regulator and cartridge. Before first use, this applies to all connections, even if the dealer has assembled the plancha.
How long a cartridge lasts, we calculate ourselves from the manual’s figures. At 300 g/h, a 430 g cartridge lasts just under an hour and a half at full output, and a 460 g one a little over an hour and a half. The recommended preheating time uses up to a sixth of that. On MEDIUM or LOW, consumption drops, but by how much is stated nowhere. For a longer grilling evening, we would have a second cartridge ready. As a general rule, butane also boils at around 0 °C, evaporates less well in cold weather, and the pressure in the cartridge falls. Which cartridge types exist and how they differ is covered in our guide Buying a camping grill.
These three alternatives are worth a look
| Model | The difference | Price | Our score | Choose this one if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Slate GP 43 cm (this one) | 1 burner, disposable cartridge | approx. €319 | 8.4 | you grill for small groups on a solid, non-combustible table |
| Weber Slate GP 56 cm | 2 burners, gas cylinder instead of cartridge | approx. €460 | 8.4 | you need two temperature zones and already have a gas cylinder |
| Enders AMARO 3 | 3 stainless steel burners, 3,140 cm² according to the Amazon catalogue | approx. €329 | 8.3 | you stay put in the garden and cook for many guests at once |
| Cozze G-400 | 2 burners, 4.4 kW, regulator for 50 mbar | approx. €177 | 8.1 | your budget is tight and you want to grill from a gas cylinder |
The prices are guide values from our price box and change; the score is our editorial assessment and not a measured result. The table says nothing about the weight and dimensions of the alternatives.
When the 43 cm fits and when another appliance does
The first question is the surface. The manual prohibits placing the grill on a glass surface or a combustible surface. That rules out the wooden table on the patio just as much as the garden table with a glass top. That leaves a stone table, a worktop made of non-combustible material or Weber’s optional grill table. If you have none of these, factor the base into your budget.
Then the gas question. If you already have a cylinder with a 50 mbar regulator, the Cozze G-400 fits better: in our price box it costs approx. €177 instead of approx. €319, has two burners and, according to the Amazon title, comes with the regulator for the cylinder.
Third, group size. A plate of this size with a single control sets limits as soon as meat and sides need different heat at the same time. For two separate zones, the Slate GP 56 cm is the obvious choice within the family, at approx. €460 in our price box. If you regularly cook for a large group, you should look at the Enders AMARO 3, which sits at approx. €329 in our price box and, according to the Amazon catalogue, has three stainless steel burners.
And the balcony? Weber names picnics, the garden and setting up on a table as places of use. Whether you may grill with gas on your balcony is governed by your tenancy agreement and house rules; our guide Grilling on a balcony summarises what is usual. For covered areas, the siting rule from the next section applies in any case.
The cover is part of the budget. On the Weber product page, the Premium plancha cover is €49.99; together with our price box value, that comes to €368.99 by calculation, without cartridges and without a base.
Cleaning, care and safety according to the manual
Weber writes: use the grill only outdoors in a well-ventilated area, not in garages, buildings, covered walkways, tents, other enclosed areas or under combustible structures. You keep combustible materials at least 61 cm from the back panel and side panels, and nothing combustible may lie within 60 cm, explicitly including (treated) wood of a patio or veranda. For flammable liquids, the manual gives a distance of 7.50 m. Flammable gases and liquids such as petrol or alcohol have no place in the grilling area.
During preheating and grilling, you never leave the plancha unattended, and the entire grill chamber heats up in the process. You must not move the appliance during operation, and you do not adjust the feet while it is running or still hot. For handling, Weber requires heat-resistant grill gloves with contact heat resistance level 2 or higher to DIN EN 407 (a standard that applies in Germany and the EU).
If you smell gas, the manual says to cut off the gas supply, extinguish all open flames and open the lid. If the smell persists, you move away from the appliance and call the gas supplier or the fire brigade. You never put out an oil or grease fire with water.
The fat runs into a disposable drip tray that sits in the grease tray. Lining with aluminium foil is prohibited, for the tray as well as for the grill chamber. Before each use, you check the tub and tray for grease residues; when removing it, the fat may still be hot.
The griddle plate is cleaned after each use. After cooling for about five minutes, you scrape the residues into the drain hole, wash the plate by hand with mild washing-up liquid, rinse it and dry it. For stubborn residues, a small amount of room-temperature water helps when scraping. In capital letters, the manual says: “DO NOT USE LARGE AMOUNTS OF COLD WATER WHEN CLEANING THE GRIDDLE PLATE.” The plate is not dishwasher safe and must not be immersed in water. You may only remove it once the grill is switched off and has cooled down completely.
For a thorough clean, you mix three parts baking powder with one part water, let the paste work for a few hours or overnight and follow up with a non-abrasive brush, with vinegar if needed. Weber names abrasive stainless steel polishes or paints, acidic cleaning agents, white spirit or xylenes, oven cleaner and scouring pads as unsuitable. Acid rain, swimming pool chemicals and salt water can promote rust; in such surroundings, Weber advises cleaning more often.
Accessories, hose and spare parts
On the product page, alongside the cover, Weber lists a plancha accessory set for €74.99 and a melting dome for €49.99. Anyone who buys the grill in the Weber shop gets 10% off the matching cover there. According to the manual, you must not put it on while the grill is in operation or still hot. The disposable drip trays are consumables, and we have not looked up their price.
Charcoal, briquettes and lava stones are not intended for this plancha. You check the regulator hose regularly for cracks, porous spots and cuts; if it is damaged, the grill stays off, and it is replaced only with a hose authorised by Weber. It may be at most 1.50 m long and must not be kinked. It is replaced at the intervals set by national regulations, and Weber recommends every five years. Replacement hoses, regulators and valve units go through customer service, other spare parts through the local dealer or weber.com.
Who is it suitable for?
The Slate GP 43 cm suits a small household with a stone patio that wants to do without a gas cylinder and accepts the cartridge as fuel. For the trip to a picnic, with the weight above, it is rather heavy but portable.
It is wrong for holiday-flat landlords and for the shared grill in a multi-family building, at least if the manufacturer warranty matters to you: Weber grants it only for use by individual private households, and commercial use, multi-occupancy buildings and rental properties are excluded. And anyone who wants to order cheaply through a foreign marketplace should know that, according to the manual, the appliance only has a use certificate for one specific country. Which one is shown as the country code on the outside of the box.
