Side burners enhance grilling experience by providing additional cooking space.
Some grill manufacturers include them in their starter packages, while others include them as part of wider range. Some models also have separate single-top burners that can be used for single-serving recipes.
So, do I need a side burner on my gas grill? A side burner can help you prepare food on your gas grill.
However, you don’t need a side burner if you don’t have much experience grilling or for cooking large meals. If you do have experience cooking or grilling, a side burner can help you cook food more quickly.
For example, if you’re cooking a steak, you can place it directly on the flame to heat it up. You can then add vegetables to the grill and cook them while the steak cooks.
You can also boil water quickly to prepare noodles or rice for the meal. Overall, a side burner can be a great way to prepare a meal quickly if you have experience grilling or cooking.
However, if you don’t cook often, you probably don’t need one.
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Do I Need a Side Burner On My Gas Grill?
It depends on the kind of grille you have and the kind of cook you are.
The side burner increases the versatility of your gas grill allowing you to use it for a wider range of foods – not just steaks and burgers – but also soups, stews, and pasta dishes without crowding the main area with the added heat of the stove.
As a result, you should consider adding a sideburner to your gas grill if it’s lacking one, especially if you enjoy preparing a variety of foods.
If you primarily use your gas BBQ to cook one or two types of meat on high heat with quick cooking times (burgers and steaks) then you may not need a sideburner.
A side burner on a gas grill will help you speed -up your food preparation time by letting you add vegetables to the grill while the meat is cooking and let you boil water to make pasta sides while the steak is resting before slicing and serving it.
For example, you can cook chicken or beef on the barbecue and then throw in some potatoes.
Why Do I Need A Side Burner On A Grill?
If you’re planning on grilling outdoors, you’ll want a side burner on your grill.
Side burners allow you to cook multiple dishes at the same time. This saves you time and makes cooking more enjoyable.
Furthermore, side burners are extremely convenient because they allow you to keep food warm without overcooking it. Finally, side burners are very practical if you’re cooking for large groups of people.
If you’re using a gas grill, the side burner allows you to cook food at different temperatures at the same time.
For example, you can keep meat cooking at a lower temperature while preparing vegetables for a higher temperature.
What To Cook On Grill Side Burner
Grilling is a preferred way to cook for a lot of people. It allows you to enjoy delicious and delicious food while spending quality time with your loved ones.
But there are times when the grill gets too hot and the food gets burnt, especially when cooking on the open flame.
This usually happens when the burner is on max, making it hard for you to cook anything.
But did you know that grill side burners can help you cook your food at the same time?
They are designed to use gas or propane, and they help heat the grill as well as the burner on the side at the same time for cooking.
The side burner is mounted on a structure on the grill, making it easy for you to cook your food.
Here are some things you can try cooking using the grill side burner:
- Grilled veggie burger – To cook veggie burgers, all you need to do is season the veggie patties, cook them on a hot grill, then put them on a toasted bun and enjoy!
- Grilled pizza – To grill pizza, all you need to do is prepare your dough, drizzle olive oil on it, add the toppings, then cook them on a hot grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Grilled cheese – To make grilled cheese, all you have to do is prepare two slices of bread, add a slice of cheese and a slice of meat between them, then cook them on a hot grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Grilled chicken – To cook chicken, all you need to do is season it, then cook them on a hot grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Grilled steak – To cook steak, all you need to do is season it, then cook them on a hot grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side.
- Curry – To make curry, all you have to do is prepare it with vegetables of your choice and chicken and prepare it on the hot grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Pasta – To make pasta, all you need to do is prepare it with vegetables of your choice and chicken and prepare it on the hot grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Side Burner vs Sear Burner
Side Burner
A side burner is a kitchen appliance designed to warm or cook food away from the heat source, usually on a lower shelf. It’s essentially a stove burner without a built-in oven.
Side burners come in various sizes, based on how many burners they offer as well as their size.
Side burners can be gas or electric, and both types come with unique features.
Side burners are a must-have for cooks who want to get the most out of their stovetop.
Sear Burner
A sear burner is a stovetop appliance designed to rapidly bring food to high temperatures to seal in juices and add flavor.
Sear burners have burners of varying sizes that allow for cooking at different temperatures. They are also designed to heat faster than standard burners, so they are perfect for browning meats or searing vegetables.
Sear burners are also versatile and come with features that allow users to cook multiple dishes at once.
Benefits of Side Burner
Today’s kitchens have sophisticated appliances like ovens and stoves, but they’re not designed to cook multiple dishes at the same time. And it’s not always convenient to keep turning on and turning off these appliances to cook different dishes. While cooking isn’t exactly rocket science, there are ways to greatly improve your cooking efficiency by maximizing your time.
- Use side burners – Side burners are portable appliances that heat up quickly, ideal for cooking sauces or reheating foods. Side burners take up very little space, so you can easily use one when cooking for one or two people. Plus, they make it easy to cook side dishes while the main meal is in the oven.
- Use slow cookers – Slow cookers cook food slowly at low temperatures, so they don’t heat up the kitchen as much. Slow cooking helps preserve nutrients in food, plus it frees up your cooktop and oven so you can cook other things at the same time.
- Use pressure cooking – Pressure cookers use steam to cook food in a fraction of the time compared to conventional cooking. They save energy because they don’t heat up your kitchen and save you lots of time in the kitchen.
- Prep food ahead of time – Make a big batch of soup or stews on the weekend, then freeze them in individual portions. You can reheat them in the microwave when needed during the week. Or make a huge pot of chili on a Sunday, then freeze it in individual portions. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop when needed during the week.
- Use a variety of appliances – Use your oven to cook your main dish, then use your stovetop or microwave to cook the side dishes. Or use your microwave to cook the side dishes, then use your stovetop or oven to cook the main dish. Using different appliances at the same time allows you to multitask and cook more efficiently.
Reasons of a Side Burner Not Igniting
There are a number of reasons that a stovetop burner may not light.
It could be that the burner is dirty and needs to be cleaned. In this case, you may just need to use a damp cloth to clean it.
However, if the burner is clean, it may mean that your stovetop’s electrical wiring is faulty or has burnt out. In this case, you’ll need to call an electrician to fix your stovetop.
Finally, it’s possible that your stove’s ignition coil has burnt out or broken. In this case, you’ll need to replace your stovetop’s ignition coil.
Also Read: What Should a Gas Grill Flame Look Like?
Final Words
In conclusion, side burners aren’t essential on gas grills.
However, they do provide a number of benefits that outweigh the costs.
They’re great for preparing multiple items at the same time and for making sauces and soups.
They’re also convenient for grilling vegetables or fish without contaminating the meat.
Finally, side burners allow you to keep your grill clean by keeping the raw meat off the main grate. Overall, side burners are a useful addition to any gas grill.
