Roy Amritanshu(Rahul)
Last Updated on January 24, 2023 by Roy Amritanshu(Rahul)
If you are seeking ways to upgrade your outdoor kitchen then a good quality outdoor side burner can be your world-class bet. You’ll have limitless options of what and how to cook plus you will keep heat and mess out of your kitchen.
So in this post, we’ll take a look at the best side burners for outdoor kitchens so that you can determine which one is the best according to your preferences and budget.
But first of all, let’s talk about more important stuff that you need to know so that you put your best foot forward while investing your hard-earned money.
Read: The 10 Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Reviews
What is an Outdoor Side Burner?
A side burner is almost similar to a stovetop burner but designed for an outdoor kitchen instead of an indoor kitchen. With a side burner, you can cook anything that you normally cooked on your indoor stovetop.
You can take your favorite recipe outdoors while also keeping the mess and smoke outside, how cool is that!
How will the burners fit in my design?
When you decide to install a side burner in your outdoor kitchen, it’s important that you keep the burner flush with the grill top.
However, when you get a power burner in your outdoor kitchen you’ll have to create a cut-out where you can set the power burner lower than the countertops. And this you have to do for 2 reasons:
- When you set the power burner lower than the countertops, you will be able to cook with things like huge boiling pots without stretching or needing a step tool.
- When you put your power burner in a low cut out the walls surrounding it will provide protection from natural elements like wind, water, etc. that can damage the burner.
Benefits of an Outdoor Side Burner
It keeps everything outside
One of the best reasons for investing in an outdoor kitchen is the ultimate freedom of cooking in the open. With a side burner, you don’t have to use your indoor kitchen stove to prepare a meal. A Side Burner does the job of an indoor cooktop brilliantly.
You get more time to enjoy
What’s better than cracking open a drink and putting your feet up on a hot and sunny afternoon?
By having both cooking elements outdoors, you don’t have to waste time switching between taking care of your indoor cooktop and grilling food outside. Whether you want to cook with a pot, skillet, or wok, a Side Burner can do everything.
Taste Test
Besides your grilled meat, Side Burners are also exceptional in cooking sauces. Just rip off a piece of grilled chicken and smash it into a saucepan of that heavenly BBQ sauce.
Conserve Energy
When you aren’t working hard in your house kitchen over a stove, there’s no need for you to bring down the AC to 65 degrees. You can magically avoid making your home hot by keeping all the heat elements outside.
Read: The 10 Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Reviews
Power is not a Problem anymore
In many parts of the world, storms are known to knock out power for weeks. With the luxury and utility of an outdoor side burner, you get amazing flexibility of a cooktop and that too without electricity.
Now let’s come down to business…
- What is an Outdoor Side Burner?
- How will the burners fit in my design?
- Benefits of an Outdoor Side Burner
- Top Rated Best Side Burners for Outdoor Kitchens Reviews!
- #1.Blaze Grills 12,000 BTU Built-In Stainless Steel LTE Outdoor Double Side Burner
- #2.Bull Outdoor 60009 Single Side Burner, Natural Gas
- #3.Stanbroil Outdoor Single Side Grill Burner
- #4.Kitchen Aid Built-In Side Burner
- #5.RW Flame Side Burner
- #6.Sunstone Single Side Burner
- #7.Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner
- #8.RCS Built-in Double Side Burner
- How to use an Outdoor Kitchen Side Burner
- And what is a Power Burner by the way?
- Which burner is right for my kitchen?
Top Rated Best Side Burners for Outdoor Kitchens Reviews!
#1.Blaze Grills 12,000 BTU Built-In Stainless Steel LTE Outdoor Double Side Burner
Features:
- Double brass burners
- Stainless steel construction
- Push and turn ignition
- Easy clean-up
- Removable stainless steel cover
Outdoor grilling and partying have become easier and more awesome than ever with the Blaze 12,000 BTU Built-In Stainless Steel LTE Double Side Burner. Whether you are doing it for guests or cooking a delicious meal for your special ones, this little and handy addition will let you craft the ultimate treat.
It features two 12000 BTU brass burners that provide the best heat output. The stainless steel ensures durability, style, and safety from external elements.
Pros
- Superior heat output
- Durable
- Removable stainless steel cover
- Quick and easy cleanup
- Push and turn knob ignition system
Cons
- None
Read: 5 Best 2 Burner Gas Grills that will give you tasty and fast Barbeque!
#2.Bull Outdoor 60009 Single Side Burner, Natural Gas
Features:
- Lightweight
- 15000 BTU Power
- Pelizo igniter for long-lasting performance
- Durable & Stainless Steel
Prepare your side dishes while grilling in an ultimate way with the Bull Outdoor 60009 Single Side Burner. This baby is a great addition to your outdoor kitchen area and is made of high-quality and durable stainless steel.
When not in use you can also cover it with a stainless steel lid so that any external element doesn’t damage it.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Made of high-quality steel
- Removable stainless steel lid
- Powerful
Cons
- None
#3.Stanbroil Outdoor Single Side Grill Burner
Features:
- 304 Stainless Steel Construction
- 12,000 BTU’s of cooking power
- Durable Stainless Steel Grates
- Stainless steel cover protects the burner when not in use
Stanbroil Outdoor Single Side Burner is another great option if you are looking for an affordable and high-quality side burner. It’s made of 304 stainless steel and has a whopping 12000 BTUs of cooking power.
The stainless steel cover of Stanbroil Outdoor Single Side Burner protects the burner when not in use and its solid stainless steel grates last for years.
Pros
- Durable
- Great cooking power
- Affordable
Cons
- None
#4.Kitchen Aid Built-In Side Burner
Features:
- 304-Grade Stainless Steel construction
- 12000 BTUs high powered side burner
- Battery-operated electronic continuous ignition system
- Easy to clean surfaces
- Durable
Take your grilling to the next level by installing this out of the world side burner to your outdoor kitchen. The Kitchen Aid Built-In Side Burner is made of high-quality and durable stainless steel with a whopping 12000 BTU Output.
The cooking of side dishes separately has become a thing of the past with this beautiful and enjoyable outdoor cooking tool.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy to clean surfaces
- Powerful
Cons
- None
Read: 5 Best 2 Burner Gas Grills that will give you tasty and fast Barbeque!
#5.RW Flame Side Burner
Features:
- Double Shelf-Design
- High-Quality
- Mobile Kitchen
- Intuitive Device Operation
In short, the more we say about this babe is less. The RW Flame LP Gas Grill is equipped with 3 burners, a bottle opener, a side burner, cart grills, and stainless steel gas BBQ wagon offers you a lively feast in your courtyard or outdoors.
It has a unique double shelf design to let you defrost and preheat foods perfectly. The RW Flame LP Gas Grill is made of stainless steel to give you ultra-long durability and great cooking performance.
Pros
- Great quality
- Easy to operate
- Easy to wash
- Gives fresh taste
- Can work as a small kitchen
Cons
- None
#6.Sunstone Single Side Burner
Features:
- 304 Stainless Steel Cooking Grates
- 304 Stainless Steel hood and body
- Integrated burner skirt
- Up to 15000 BTUs of Power
Sunstone Single Side Burner is the one to go for if you are looking for quality, durability, and power. It has an integrated burner skirt and offers great control and dependability. The cover for the single side burner is unattached and can be used in the barbecue as a sear cover.
Pros
- High-Quality
- Durable
- Powerful
- Affordable
Cons
- None
#7.Char-Broil Classic 280 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner
Features:
- A cooking space of over 280 square inches
- Secondary cooking space for sides and sauces, thanks to a powerful 8000 BTU side burner
- Two stainless steel in-line burners for superior cooking performance
- Weather-resistant
- Extra storage and preparation space
The extremely amazing Char Broil Classic 280 is a powerful and efficient 2 burner gas grill that gives you a massive 20000 BTUs of cooking heat across the 280 square inch surface to give you and your family large and enjoyable meals.
It includes a powerful 8000 BTU side burner which is ideal for sides and sauces. The cooking surface of Char Broil Classic 280 features porcelain-coated grates which don’t let the food stick and is also super easy to clean.
It measures 20 inches wide and 14 inches deep which delivers superior cooking performance.
Pros
- Budgetary
- Small but Powerful
- Ideal for the space savers/ city grillers
Cons
- Low-quality burners
- May not last more than a few seasons
- Cheap construction
#8.RCS Built-in Double Side Burner
Features:
- ‘2’ 12000 BTU Burners
- Easy start ignition
- Built-in design
- 304 stainless steel construction
Take your outdoor grilling experience to a whole new level with the RCS Built-in Double Side Burner. This propane gas double side burner adds to your outdoor cooking options with ‘2’ 12000 BTU burners in your outdoor kitchen.
The RCS Built-in Double Side Burner is also equipped with an easy-start ignitor and its clean-burning propane gas gets your cooking started super quickly.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Compact
- Comes at an economical price
- Easy to use
- Easy to ignite
Cons
- Comes with two burners
- Limited cooking area
Conclusion
The extremely amazing Char Broil Classic 280 is our top pick. It’s powerful, efficient, and gives you and your family an unforgettable treat.
So which outdoor kitchen side burner are you going for and why?
Share your comments below and also make sure to check out the best outdoor pizza ovens to add to the awesomeness of your treat.
How to use an Outdoor Kitchen Side Burner
Wok Cooking
Cooking veggies and other side dishes in a wok is an amazing benefit of a side burner. If your grill is already full of meat and you have forgotten to leave room for the grilled veggies through your side burner, a wok comes to the rescue.
If you think that your side burner has great power to cook on a wok, maybe you’re mistaken. Instead of using a low-quality and inexpensive wok, you should invest in a good-quality cast iron wok.
After seasoning the wok perfectly, you will get years of outdoor cooking perfection. The cast iron wok conducts the heat and keeps the wok scorching hot so that you can fry your vegetables.
Frying
If your taste buds crave fried food but hate the residual odors that come along with frying food indoors then use your side burner. Because no matter how great the ventilation system in your kitchen is, it’s almost impossible to eliminate all the odors that come from frying foods.
Hushpuppies, catfish, French fries, or anything else that goes well with outdoor cooking is an amazing use for your side burner and a good quality cast iron skillet.
There is absolutely no need to fill your house with smoke when you’ve got a side burner.
Simmering Soups and Boiled Dinners
Cooking your beans and boiling your corn are great uses for your side burner no doubt but there’s no point in limiting yourself to corn when it comes to boiling stuff. Cooking a bit of greens to go with your barbeque is another superb use for your side burner.
And as you’ve got the stockpot a good boiled dinner of potatoes, corn, shrimp and sausage is the ultimate use for your side burner.
And what is a Power Burner by the way?
A power burner is similar to a high-pressure burner and is great for steam pots and smaller boiling. As the name suggests, you get more heat and power with a power burner than you will with a side burner. A power burner has up to 60000 BTUs while a single side burner has only 12000 BTUs.
Power burners are also good for cooking with a wok – you can remove the central part of the burner to fit your wok perfectly.
Which burner is right for my kitchen?
There is no hard and fast rule to this – it all depends on what and how you plan to cook. What you want to accomplish will determine which one is better for you. Both have their functions and are used differently.
Although I would say that if you are looking for a complete outdoor kitchen then go for both. There is certain stuff that you can cook on a side burner brilliantly and not on a power burner and vice-versa.
By getting a side and power burner both you can wreak havoc through the creativity of your cooking.
