Making a meal for your family can be tiresome unless you have efficient kitchen appliances and their accessories. One of the things you should never overlook is the grill. With so many grills in the market, settling for one is not easy. However, when looking for the best grills with a side burner, you can narrow your list down depending on the BBQ grill specifications. It is worth taking time to compare various grills and choose the one with factors that will allow you to explore grill recipes just the way you wish to.
How Can You Use The Grill On Side Burner?
Grills with a side burner are powered by gas and hybrid charcoal-gas charcoal grill. They are designed to work like other grills but come with an extra place to cook more food. The side burner is smaller than your regular stovetop, but can efficiently cook side dishes. This limits the amount of food you can make using the side burner. However, the side burner comes in handy in making side items such as sauce as you use the primary grate for cooking the main course.
Types of Grills with side burner
When shopping for the best grills with a side burner, the only grills with th9is option are hybrid charcoal gas and gas grills. But this doesn’t mean the wood pellet and gas grills are not available and equally efficient for grilling activities. What you need to do is consider how often the grill will be used, available space in your home, and the type of food you like grilling. Your favorite flavors, amount of time you have, and availability to give the food attention are also key factors when buying a grill with or without a side burner. Read on to more each grill:
• Gas Grill
A gas grill is common and preferred by most people. It allows you total control when cooking since the burner comes with knobs for easy temperature adjustment. Gas grills with side burners are only powered by gas or hybrid charcoal-gas, so it is possible to get a gas grill with this additional advantage. The best thing about these grills is that they light up with a single button push and heat up immediately. They are also easy to clean and the best option when looking for no-fuss griller. You can plan to have your barbecue any time of the day as long as you have sufficient gas.
• Charcoal grills
Charcoal grills use lump or briquettes charcoal to ignite. They are quite involved, especially in the lighting stage. They take some time to heat up but are the best if you are looking for that delicious barbecue flavor. You can only have a charcoal grill with a side burner if you go for a hybrid charcoal-gas grill.
• Electric Grill
Nothing can beat the ease and convenience that comes with an electric grill. You can use indoors, especially if you live in an apartment where outdoor grills are not allowed. However, they are also not available in models that have the side burner. Besides, they cannot be used outdoors.
• Pellet Grills
Pellet grills use hardwood to ignite and roast your food. They make your meat delicious and add an authentic flavor that you can find in food grilled using wood pellets. However, they do not come with a side burner, and it is not easy to control their heat.
How Important is the BTU of side burners?
BTU or British Thermal Unit is a measurement used to determine how much heat a grill produces. It is highly recommended that you check the BTU of a grill before you buy it. But, a grill that can offer between 80 and 100 BTUs per square inch is sufficient. Just because your grill has a side burner doesn’t mean it should have more BTUs. It is efficient just the way it is; the only difference is that aside burner increases the rate at which the grill consumes fuel.
Can You Add More Burners On Your Grill?
Some companies make grills that are customizable. This allows you to add a side burner though it’s not recommended because it can void your warranty. Besides, since the grill is not made to accommodate an extra side burner, adding one can pose a safety risk. So, it would be a good idea to contact the manufacturer to see if they supply or sanction side burner add-ons. If they don’t, avoid it. However, it is possible to find grills with two side burners.
Simple Factors to Consider When Buying a Grill with a Side Burner
• Grill size
You will find grills in various sizes with the number of burners ranging from one to four. These are the common ones to use at home; however, they can have up to eight burners for commercial use. Home grills come with grill space between 0 and 26 inches, and commercial ones can be over 43 inches. So you simply choose a size that suits your grilling needs.
• Cooking Style
Before you decide which grill with a side burner to buy, consider your cooking styles. Here are ideas that will help you settle for the best grills with a side burner based on how you plan to use it.
• If your cooking style is slow or low, you should buy a grill with a smokebox. Besides, a grill with the ability to incorporate charcoal will come in handy.
• If you love making thick cuts with sear marks that retain moisture despite being cooked with strong heat, get a gas grill.
• Storage Capacity
A grill with storage capacity is ideal for people who grill throughout the year. The storage space is located under the grilling area in most grills. However, big grills come with shelves on the side, and all your accessories are within your reach as you cook.
• Burner Types
Gas grills are made of different materials. Knowing what each material all about helps you choose a grill with burners that meet your cooking needs. Here are four types of burners you are likely to encounter when shopping for a grill with a side burner.
• Cast iron: Burners made of cast iron are strong, but tend to rust as they age.
• Infrared burners: If you like your meat with crispy edges, this is the burner to buy. It also eases the process of caramelizing and other meat spicing processes on your grilled food.
• Stainless burners: This type of burner produces a clean blue flame. It is long-lasting and made on a perforated tube that allows consistent and high heat.
• Tin burners: These are simple burners and are no up for heavy grilling activities. They are also likely to rust at some point.
Why Buy a Grill with a Side Burner?
Most people are unaware of the side burner on a grill. It is something you should consider having if you enjoy grilling. The side burner changes your outdoor or indoor grilling experience by transforming how you cook. You can prepare some side dishes to enhance the nutritional value of your grilled food. Since the side burner is attached to the grill, you can make all your meals simultaneously. Here are some reasons to buy the best grills with a side burner.
- Allows Separate Control Of Heat
The most obvious benefit of a side burner is making food on a separate cooking surface. It is powered separately, and you can control its heat without affecting the main grill. This means you can cook your food at the ideal temperature while making foods such as steak, chicken, ribs, and others at a high temperature on the grates. A side burner is best for foods that can quickly burn when cooked on high heat, such as vegetables. However, aside burner has a knob to control heat, making it ideal for food items with high-temperature sensitivity.
- Makes it possible to cook different foods
Having some side dishes such as vegetables always come in handy instead of eating meat only. This ensures you can enjoy delicious grilled meat combined with other varieties that your main course is even tastier. For example, you can make; vegetable fajitas, veggies stir fry, veggies, rice, and pasta salads. The list is endless; get yourself a recipe book and explore them using the side burner and your grill. In short, you can use a grill side burner just like a stove burner.
- Sauces and Glazes
A grilled steak combined with sauces and glazes makes an irresistible meal. You can simply add the sauce and glaze ingredients on a pan and cook on the side burner. They cook better at low temperatures, and the side burner has its heat control knobs perfect for such meals. Besides, the side burner keeps the sauces warm and within a hand’s reach for drizzling, basting, or glazing as the main course cooks.
- Saves you time
A side burner allows you to multitask. You can grill your meat and make side dishes at the same time. Being able to cook simultaneously is an advantage because you will not spend long hours in the kitchen. Side burners can save you time whether you are looking forward to outdoor or indoor grilling. You will not be rushing back and forth between your grill and kitchen stove, all your food will be cooked on the grill.
- Saves Energy
When using a grill with a side burner, you save the cook’s energy and power consumption. You do not have to make use of the kitchen stovetop; one cooking appliance is enough. If the weather allows, you can do your BBQ outside, which means no air conditioners or fans will run in the house.
Having to cook more than one meal on your grill, you do not have to run from one corner to another. You can make all meals at the same time and less tiresome, making your grilling time worthwhile.
- Exciting full outdoor grilling
Sometimes grilling becomes boring, especially when you want to share tasks with other people. But with a side burner, you can all grill and cook the extras together while talking and having fun. As long as no large meal needs to be prepared, a grill with a side burner will make outdoor grilling exciting.
- Allows easy outdoor grilling
While indoor grilling is also great, especially when the weather is bad, it messes and causes unpleasant smells in the house. This happens mostly with foods that come with strong odors such as fish. With a grill with a side burner, you can do all your cooking outside. This leaves your indoor free of smells. What’s more, when you are done grilling, you will only have one kitchen appliance to clean, unlike when you have to use the stovetop.
- Back-up space for cooking
Nothing can ruin your barbecue time, like finding your grill is not working. With a side burner, you can still grill. This side burner allows you total control of heat and is a perfect back up when your main grill is not working.
However, aside burner will not be as convenient as the main grill. It limits the amount of food you can make and you also cannot use it to grill your meat. The only advantage is that you can make smaller amounts of food instead of postponing your grilling session entirely.
5 Best Grills with Side Burner 2021
- Weber, Black 65014001 Genesis II LX E-240 Gas Grill, Two-Burner
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This two-side burner Weber Genesis Gas Grill uses natural gas making efficient and easy to operate. The two side burners can be used simultaneously with a constant temperature. It is made of stainless steel, including the grates, which ensure durability. Besides, it also comes with a 114 square–inch warming rack to keep your main course warm as you wait for other foods to cook. The grill’s cooking area measures 380 square inches giving you ample space to cook meals for small and large families.
- Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Gas Grill with a single side burner
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The Char-Broil Liquid Propane Gas Grill is made of stainless grills, ensuring that the grates maintain even heating. It hardly burns your food, thanks to its ability to offer stable temperature, and the single side burner helps you cook your side dishes as you grill. It has shelves for grilling accessories storage and a firebox with a porcelain-coated lid that protects the grill when left outside. The porcelain provides a steadier temperature as you cook outdoors.
- Napoleon RSE425RSIBNSS-1 Rogue SE 425 RSIB Gas Grill
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The Napoleon Natural Gas Grill makes it possible for you to cook different foods with various styles, including rotisserie and roasting. It makes your kitchen time easy because you do not have to stick to specific grilling recipes; this grill allows you to serve your family or guests a variety of foods. This gas grill gives you total control overheat on both the grill and the side burner.
- Weber 61012001 Genesis II E-330 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Black
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The Weber 330 gas grill offers a combination of efficiency. This grill comes with three side burners, and its BTU output is 9,000. It cooks on all three side burners while grilling your main course. Also, it has a searing station to put those sear marks on your steaks.
The grill’s grates hold heat evenly thanks to the cast-iron made grills. Besides, the grate comes with enamel that makes it strong and durable. When done cooking, cleaning the grill, especially the grates are easy due to the porcelain enamel.
- Napoleon PRO500RSIBNSS-3 Gas Grill
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The Napoleon Gas Grill uses infrared technology, which ensures consistent cooking on both the side burners and the grates. The lid comes with a roll-up style that makes it easy to open and close it. You can use outdoors or indoors, thanks to the 120 inches long hose. If cooking at night, you will have no problem checking on your foods as it has LED lights that light it up.
Conclusion
A grill with a side burner is efficient, whether you are making dinner for your family or a group of friends. You can make your side dish and keep the lid down without interfering with the grill’s main food cooking. For example, you can deep fry, boil, or cook any extra food without moving away from the grill. It saves you time and enhances your safety as you won’t have to leave any of the two meals cooking on the single grill. What’s more, the best grills with side burner can be used outdoors, and so you will not miss your kitchen stovetop when enjoying your time away from indoors.
