Griddle and Charbroiler Add-On Options For Restaurant Ranges

Every restaurant serves a variety of foods, and not everything can be prepared on the burners. A griddle or charbroiler add-on is a great way to turn your gas range into a cooking machine that can handle anything you throw on it.

Griddles are ideal for cooking multiple foods at once. The large, flat metal plate that makes up the griddle distributes heat evenly over the entire surface. Heat can be controlled either manually or thermostatically. A grease trough allows for easy cleaning.

Charbroilers allow you to broil poultry, seafood, and meat quickly and effectively. These heavy duty units are designed to handle a high volume and use either radiant or lava rock heat transfers, depending on the manufacturer. Charbroilers generate an tremendous amount of heat, which makes them ideal for cooking proteins, but also means they use a lot of energy and require some very good ventilation.

Restaurant Ranges

Necessary Accessories

Casters allow you to move your commercial gas range quickly and easily for cleaning or rearranging. Caster kits are available for most common restaurant range models out there. If you’re going to buy a caster kit, however, avoid the one the range manufacturer offers. Most restaurant supply stores have caster kits that are identical in specification and performance for a fraction of the price.

Equipment Casters

Gas hose kits allow you to connect your new restaurant range to your kitchen’s gas source, whether it’s natural or LP gas. A quick disconnect kit allows you to quickly and easily disconnect the gas hookup on your range for convenient mobility. Check the diameter of your range’s connection before ordering.

Gas Hoses & Connectors

Finally, a good ventilation system is a must for any restaurant range. More than likely your line already has a hood and ventilation, but if you’re remodeling or building out new, make sure you consult with an HVAC professional and the local codes in your area for specifications.

Don't Forget Your Altitude

If your commercial kitchen or restaurant is above 2,000 feet in elevation, you may need to have the gas valves on your new range adjusted. This is because the thinner air at higher altitudes require a larger orifice to let more gas flow to reach the same BTU heat on the burners. Be sure to inform the company you are purchasing your range from that you are in a high altitude location and so they can outfit your range with the right burner valves.