Gas Grill Burners

Burners are the heartbeat of your grill. They are configured in various shapes, manufactured from several kinds of metals and are designed in seemingly endless sizes.

If you are replacing the burners in your gas grill, you will need your brand and model number. If you do not have these, remove the burners out of your barbecue and measure them (from end to end – including any spider guards or tabs, and measure width as well). Match your measurements to the product on our site with matching measurements and you’re all set. Feel free to call us or ask for help via Live Chat if you have any doubt before placing an order.

Gas grill burners serve a very specific purpose; allow gas (natural or propane) to enter at one end and then allowing it to escape. Typically burners are lined with tiny pin-size holes along an edge which is where the gas “escapes”. Burners are always place underneath cooking grids as they supply the heat for cooking.

Burners, quite literally “Bring the Heat”. Regardless of what material your burners are made from, odds are they will eventually wear down, and need replacing. Proper care and routine maintenance will add years of life to your gas grill burners.At least once a year, you should remove your burners and brush them.

Burners are manufactured in a variety of materials. Most burners are made of cast iron or stainless steel. When buying replacement barbecue parts, you need burners made from the same material as the original manufacturer parts that came with the grill unless the exact aftermarket part may be available or another material is offered by the manufacturer.

Stainless Steel Burners

Stainless steel burners are easy to clean and maintain compared with other materials such as cast iron. Although food may be less likely to stick to a stainless steel burner, build up will eventually accumulate requiring them to be thoroughly cleaned.

Stainless steel burners have a surface that is easy to clean. However, once the “surface” gunk is off, you will have to clear out debris from each of those tiny holes on the burner. This should be done ONLY be done with the grill turned off and when it is cool. Many high end manufactures(Lynx, DCS, Alfresco, Viking, etc) use stainless steel burners in their grills for the longevity.

Cast Iron Burners

Cast iron burners are much more fragile than you might think. Dropping them on any hard surface will usually cause them to break or at the very least crack. Be mindful when opening your new cast iron burners when they arrive at your door. We understand your excitement about being able to grill again but caring for cast iron grids starts the minute you take them out of the box.

Cast iron burners are not typically “seasoned” the way grids (or a skillet) might be prior to use.

Cast iron is used to manufacture burners because it is a near perfect heat conductor and retains heat so effectively. This allows for cooking at lower temperatures rather than extremely high heat used in grills with stainless burners, for example.

There will always be a debate about which type of burner is best. Stainless steel burners tend to be preferred by grillers who employ very high heat/temperatures for cooking. Cast iron retains heat better and for more time than probably any other substance which is what allows cooking at lower temperatures.

Maintenance

No matter what material your burners are made from, proper maintenance is your path to success. Proper maintenance of your cast iron burners will ensure they remain effective as long as possible so that you will never sacrifice the quality of a meal.

Some people (myself included) feel that burners should be cleaned after every second or third use. Stainless steel burners are, obviously, the easiest to clean. You want the least amount of grease and food debris to accumulate on your burners.

Burners should never be cleaned while hot

People have asked and we are often shocked by the question. Never ever attempt to handle hot burners. Always make sure they are cool before attempting to touch or grab them.

Clean burners are ideal and whole hardheartedly suggested. Thankfully, it usually only takes a grill brush to get your burners ready for your next cook out. We also recommend taking a small drill bit or paperclip to clean any debris that may be clogging the burner holes. These holes need to be free and clear to allow the flow of gas through. When they are clogged, more pressure is placed on the remaining holes eventually causing the holes to break and lose their uniformity.

ProTip: Rubbing some cooking oil on your cast iron burners will help keep them from drying out? When the cast iron gets dry, it will flake and eventually cause a big hole in the burner.

One advantage stainless steel burners have over cast iron is how much less they weigh. Additionally, stainless steel is much more resilient if hitting a hard surface. Think burners falling onto the patio floor by accident. A drop like that (even if a short distance) will most likely render cast iron useless, but stainless steel practically bounces by comparison. It doesn’t actually bounce, incidentally. That was simply a metaphor; please do not attempt to bounce any stainless steel burners at home (or anywhere else for that matter).

Burners are a vital component of any barbecue grill. They are the piece which is responsible for getting heat to the cooking surface of your grill. Take care of them and they will take care of you.

Be careful about the brushes you use to clean your burners. Brushes with wire bristles can often tear away at any protective coating and scratch some stainless steel. Brass bristles are the best. Most important thing to remember is to wait for burners to cool down before you start cleaning them. Depending on the cleaning brush you use, fibers might scorch and melt right onto the surface of the burner.

Proper burner maintenance is essential for them to function properly. Cleaning them after each use will accomplish several things: it will prevent the build of food particles sticking to them, it will keep away any bugs/critters that are savaging for snacks, and will be ensure they are ready for your next grill cook out.

Cleaning burners after each use will do way more than simply improve how your grill looks. Food particles often stick to grill surfaces (including burners), and after repeated use (or depending on which foods you tend to grill) these particles will build up creating a very real fire hazard. Grease fires can happen outdoors as well so keep that in mind the next time you want to skip cleaning them.

Help prevent grease fires or flash fires by cleaning your burners after each and every use. It may seem like an unnecessary chore to add to your list but it’s much easier to wipe clean a few burners than it is to clean up damages created by a fire.

Meats high in fat (ground beef, marbled steaks etc.) will undoubtedly drip grease all over your burners (and beyond…). When grease pools there is just as much risk for fire as there would be if you were cooking on your stovetop. Remember to NEVER attempt to extinguish a grease fire with water. Doing so will cause the fire to spread.

Replacement

Replacing the burners in your gas grill is much easier than you might think. Always measure your original parts to find the correct replacement parts according to size. If you have any trouble, we are here to help with any questions or concerns.

Would you use a dirty stove with old pooled grease or bits of charred food stuck to the cooking surface for making your next stack of pancakes? Probably not. The same is true for the burners in your grill.

Thank you for reading our article on Burners. Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions.