What is the difference between a side burner and a power burner?
A side burner is a standard outdoor cooktop burner sized for everyday pots and pans, usually 24,000 to 40,000 BTUs across two burners. A power burner is a single high-output burner built for large cookware, rated 60,000 BTUs on RCS Cutlass and Premier models and 30,000 on the Coyote 24-inch. Power burners frequently add a wok ring for round-bottom pans.
What can you cook on a side burner?
A side burner handles everything that needs a pot or pan while the grill is busy: sauces, side dishes, seafood boils, sauteing and boiling water for corn or pasta. A double side burner gives you two independently controlled burners, so you can hold a sauce at a simmer on one while the other runs hard for a full outdoor meal.
Should I get a single or a double side burner?
A double side burner is the standard choice in this price band and lets you run two pans at once, which is what actually matters when you are plating a full meal outdoors. A single burner such as the Sunstone Ruby 13-inch Companion Pro fits a narrow island section where a double unit will not, and it still adds LED-lit controls.
What BTU output do side burners in the $1,000 to $2,000 range deliver?
Double side burners here run 24,000 to 40,000 BTUs in total. Coyote's 12-inch double is 24,000, American Outdoor Grills T-Series and L-Series are 25,000, American Made Grills doubles are 28,000, Artisan is 30,000 and Alfresco's wind-guard double is 40,000. Power burners jump to 60,000 BTUs on a single ring.
How is a side burner installed?
Side burners in this collection are built-in and drop-in units that mount flush into a custom island or countertop, so the cutout has to be part of the island plan from the start. Each needs a gas supply run to that spot matching its fuel type. Confirm cutout dimensions on the product page before any masonry work begins. Browse all burners for other formats.
Do side burners come in natural gas and propane?
Yes. Side burners in this range are offered in both natural gas and propane configurations. American Outdoor Grills lists separate T-Series and L-Series models for each fuel, while Coyote and American Made Grills burners are specified for natural gas or propane at the time of order. Match the burner to the fuel already feeding your grill.
Which side burner handles large cookware?
Power burners are the ones built for large pots. RCS Cutlass Pro, Premier Pro and Cutlass Elite power burners deliver 60,000 BTUs with a wok ring that supports round-bottom cookware, the TrueFlame built-in power burner matches that output, and Summerset's Pro 15-inch uses a dual-ring burner. These are the units for seafood boils and stock pots.
Which brands make side burners in this price range?
This band includes Alfresco, American Made Grills, Artisan, American Outdoor Grills, Coyote, RCS, Summerset, Sunstone and TrueFlame. All are built-in units in 304 stainless steel, with Summerset's power burner in 443 stainless. For different feature levels, compare side burners under $1,000 and side burners over $2,000.
