Burners may be the powerhouse of a gas grill, but not all gas grill burners are made alike. Burners can be made from a variety of materials and can also come in a number of shapes depending on your specific grill. So how do you know what type of gas grill burner you have?
Besides your cooking grates, burners are one of the most important components of a gas grill. They provide the heat that cooks your food, and they are what makes it possible for your barbecue to reach temperatures high enough to achieve that delicious crusty sear and those perfect grill marks.
There are several different types of gas grill burners, but unless you’re in the process of purchasing a new grill or you’re replacing your existing burners, you probably haven’t spent much time thinking about what type of gas grill burner you have or want.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at different types of gas grill burners, including:
- Gas grill burner materials
- Gas grill burner shapes
Let’s get cooking.
Gas Grill Burner Materials
Gas grill burners can be made from a variety of different materials. Some are sturdier and longer-lasting than others with better heat distribution, while others may be less durable but are more affordable.
Let’s take a closer look at six common types of gas grill burner materials, including:
- Cast stainless steel or brass gas grill burners
- Stainless tube gas grill burners
- Stamped stainless steel gas grill burners
- Infrared burners gas grill burners
- Cast iron grill burners
- Ceramic gas grill burners
1. Cast stainless steel or brass gas grill burners
Cast stainless steel or brass burners are among the most durable types of gas grill burners. They are resistant (but not impervious) to rust, and are typically made of solid pieces of metal (vs. welding or stamping stainless steel together to form a tube). They are also generally thicker than standard stainless steel burners, which makes them better at absorbing and evenly distributing heat. These are typically only found on very high-end gas grills.
2. Stainless tube gas grill burners
Stainless tube gas grill burners are also resistant to rust, and are among the most durable types of gas grill burners. Stainless tube burners are often straight tubes and are usually thinner than cast stainless steel burners, which means they may not be as effective at evenly distributing heat. However, they can also be bent into U-shapes to increase the surface area and distribute heat more evenly.
GRILL SPOT TIP: 304 stainless steel is the most durable grade of stainless steel. If you’re looking for a new grill or stainless tube replacement burners, opt for 304 stainless steel burners.
3. Stamped stainless steel gas grill burners
Stamped stainless steel gas grill burners are often made from two pieces of lightweight stainless steel that are stamped together, typically in an H-shape. They are among the most affordable types of gas grill burner, and are commonly used in lower- or mid-range grills.
Stamped stainless steel burners that are made with lower-quality materials and don’t utilize solid single-piece construction are among the least durable burner styles, and are among the most commonly replaced types of gas grill burners. However, when manufactured from higher grade, thicker stainless steel, stamped stainless steel burners can last just as long as other types.
4. Infrared gas grill burners
Infrared burners are typically made from a combination of materials—usually stainless steel burner tubes topped with a ceramic tile surface. Other manufacturers use radiant glass panels or metal heat emitters instead of ceramic.
Most types of gas grill burners employ a convection cooking system, including cast stainless, stainless tube, and stamped stainless steel gas grill burners. Unlike these burner types, infrared gas grill burners use a unique radiant heat cooking system that allows them to reach higher temperatures faster than other burner materials, making them great for searing food. It’s now more common for mid to high-end grills to feature one infrared sear burner either as a side-burner, or in the grill box itself, specifically for this purpose.
5. Cast iron grill burners
Cast iron grill burners are the oldest burner style available. Cast iron burners take longer to heat up than other grill materials, but they are excellent at reaching high temperatures, retaining heat, and distributing it evenly once your preferred temperature is reached. Without proper care, cast iron grill burners are more susceptible to rust than other grill materials, but they can last years longer than stainless steel models if you clean and care for them properly. Some cast iron grill burners are porcelain coated to protect against moisture and rust.
6. Cast ceramic gas grill burners
Ceramic gas grill burners aren’t made of metal, which means they are impervious to rust and are more efficient at holding and radiating heat; however, ceramic materials are more fragile and breakable in general. They are not widely available, but you will find them in some very high end gas grills.
Types of Gas Grill Burner Material Comparison Chart
Gas Grill Burner Shapes
In addition to different materials, gas grill burners are also available in different shapes. Burner shape varies by grill model and primarily impacts how heat is distributed over your grilling surface.
There are 3 main types of gas grill burner shapes:
U-shaped BBQ burners
U-shaped BBQ burners produce a cone of heat that is perfect for searing.
H-shaped gas grill burners
H-shaped burners are an older type of gas grill burner that is typically found on older grills or lower end models. This shape is typically not as efficient at heating your grill as U-shaped or straight tube burners.
Straight tube gas grill burners
Straight tube gas grill burners produce a line of intense heat. Gas grills with straight tube burners typically have 2+ burners to help spread out the heat, and each burner is covered by a heat plate to help distribute heat evenly and protect the burners from drippings.
GRILL SPOT TIP: When you replace gas grill burners, you can replace them with a different material—as long as they are the correct size and shape. For example, if you have straight tube burners made of cast iron, they must be replaced with correctly sized straight tube burners—not U- or H-shaped burners—but you can replace them with a different material if you prefer stainless tube or cast stainless steel.
Wrapping Up
Without burners, there is no gas grill. Different gas grill burners are made from different materials and they can also come in a variety of shapes, each with advantages and drawbacks to consider when purchasing a new grill or replacement burners.
If your existing burners are rusted or you just want to upgrade to a stronger material, most types of gas grill burners can be replaced in a few minutes. Just make sure you select the correct size and burner shape when purchasing.
