Charbroilers

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Bring that back yard barbecue taste that people love indoors with a commercial charbroiler!

The correct commercial charbroiler can help you add a wide variety of mouthwatering foods to your menu. Charbroilers are durable and versatile pieces of commercial cooking equipment. Commercial charbroilers, also known as commercial grills, are available in a variety of sizes, connection types, and heating types, all of which might affect how you use the equipment in your facility.

With steaks, chicken, and fish, charbroilers let you obtain a smoky, char-grilled flavor. They also produce appetizing grill marks on sandwiches and veggies.


Heating Type

Using gas-fired burners and various heating methods, you can provide your customers with grilled meals that hearken back to family cookouts. There is an ongoing debate between grilling aficionados as to which is the best method to use, gas, charcoal or wood, and no matter which side makes what points, neither party will ever likely budge from their preferred method.

The same can be said of charbroiler heating methods. There are those that prefer standard radiant heat burners because the heat is easier to control, and there are less flare-ups. Lava rock users like the steady even heat the pumice stone provides. Traditionalists prefer wood or charcoal models so they can add the distinctively smoky taste to grilled foods that only come from hot coals.


Sizing

Commercial charbroilers are available in a range of sizes to accommodate any kitchen. While most models can be placed on countertops, there are also large floor model charbroilers. These floor model broilers give users a significantly higher production level thanks to their spacious design. However, the size of these large units may be too much for a simple concession stand or kiosk.

Countertop charbroilers are great from concession stands to catering kitchens. They are available in a wider selection of heating types. Regardless of which heating method you prefer, you will want to consider the overall size of the unit to make sure it will fit on your countertop.


Frequently Asked Questions about Commercial Charbroilers

What sizes of commercial charbroilers are there?

There are countertop models that can be placed on top of other equipment to save space, countertop drop-in models that can cater to unique obstacles, and floor models that come with legs or casters. Widths usually range in 12" increments, with the largest models being around 72". Outdoor models are also available.


Should you buy a gas or an electric charbroiler?

  • Electric charbroilers are available for those operations without a gas utility line and heat food by using elements. Typically electric equipment is easier and quicker to install, and can be used in more diverse locations.
  • Gas charbroilers are far more common, using radiant and lava rock heating to cook food. Available in liquid propane and natural gas configurations, gas charbroilers often include conversion kits so you can switch to the correct utility as needed. Whether you're looking to go green or just save some extra money on your gas bill, an electric charbroiler could be the right choice for your establishment.


Why do BTU's matter with commercial charbroilers?

Knowing the BTUs could possibly help tell you how much propane you might use in an hour. The BTU isn't necessarily how hot the unit will get but instead the power you can expect from every 12 inches of burners per hour. Lower BTUs could save you energy costs while higher BTUs can stand up to a high-demand work environment.


What is the difference between using radiant heat and lava rocks?

Lava rock char-broilers use ceramic stones, these rocks can hold flavors of the food you cook and can transfer it to other foods sometimes yielding better taste. However, lava rock models require more cleaning than their radiant counterpart. Radiant char-broilers use metal or cast iron radiants that evenly distribute heat generated by the burner and can be easier to clean since the radiants angle oil and grease away from the burner.


Additional Burkett Resources

The Burkett Blog has an excellent article on the difference in heating sources: Buying Guide: The Difference between Radiant and Lava Rock Charbroilers

Check out these great "all in one" pages, where you can find all the equipment your specific business type may need: