When it comes to grilling, choosing the right equipment for your restaurant is essential. While gas charbroilers, charcoal grills, and wood fire grills all share the same primary purpose—cooking delicious food—they each have pros and cons that make them more fitting for different uses.
This guide will explore the key differences between these grill types to help you determine which one is best for your restaurant’s needs, style, and workflow.
What’s the Difference?
Let’s go over the basics of each kind of grilling equipment to give you an idea of the differences between each one.
Gas Charbroiler
Gas charbroilers operate using a gas flame to heat a heating element that radiates to the grill grate where the food cooks. They’re open above the cooking surface and are generally larger than grills.
They don’t generate as much smoke as grills, so they can usually be kept inside, but they still need proper ventilation to control the large amounts of gas they burn. Charbroilers are most commonly used commercially.
Charcoal Grill
In simple terms, a charcoal grill has three fundamental parts: the cooking surface, the charcoal container, and the grill support. The cooking surface usually consists of a grate which is heated directly from the charcoal container below. The hot charcoal heats the grate and cooks the food through a naked flame.
Instead of a traditional hood, commercial charcoal grills require an additional, separate dedicated exhaust vent hood and fire suppression system, resulting in a large grill project investment.
Wood Fire Grill
A wood fire grill typically consists of a firebox, a cooking grate, and an adjustable ventilation system. The firebox holds the burning wood, which acts as the heat source, while the cooking grate is positioned above it to hold the food. This heating process tends to take longer than other grill options.
Similar to a charcoal grill, wood fire grills use a separate exhaust vent hood and fire suppression system to redirect the smoke and regulate the temperature. This allows you to still use the grill in a professional kitchen.
A Look at the Pros and Cons
Each kind of charbroiler and grill has features that make it better for different cooking situations and restaurant needs.
Gas Charbroiler
Pros
Gas charbroilers are highly convenient. They heat up quickly, offer precise temperature control, and provide consistent, even heat. Their speed, ability to cook large quantities, and simpler ventilation requirements make them ideal for meeting high demand, especially in restaurants where outdoor cooking isn’t an option.
Cons
Charbroilers are energy-intensive, often using between 15,000 and 30,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) of gas per burner, per hour, which could present challenges if gas availability or cost is an issue. They also don’t provide the same smoky flavor as charcoal and wood fire grills, which could be a drawback for some dishes.
Charcoal Grill
Pros
Charcoal grills are known for their ability to produce that signature smoky flavor in foods. With the high level of heat, they can also sear meats and give them a delicious charred crust. Charcoal grills also have lower operational costs because they’re powered by charcoal, which is typically less expensive than gas.
Cons
Grills take longer to heat up and cook food compared to charbroilers, and they’re generally smaller, so they may not be the best choice for quick service restaurants. The technique for controlling the heat and cooking the food just right is also more difficult. As mentioned before, the separate exhaust vent hood and fire suppression system required to operate makes the commercial charbroiler a more expensive investment.
Wood Fire Grill
Pros
Like their charcoal counterpart, wood fire grills create a unique, smoky flavor and can handle a wide variety of cooking styles, from grilling to roasting. Cooking over wood also creates a rustic and authentic experience that enhances the overall dining atmosphere, making them perfect if you’re designing a specific ambiance for your restaurant.
Cons
Wood fire grills are among the most expensive grilling appliances to operate. They take longer to heat and cook, require trained cooks to master, and need frequent replenishment of firebricks and solid fuels. Ventilation and storage rules must be followed, and customers may prefer pricier menu items like hickory or mesquite.
Want the Best of Both Worlds?
At Champion Tuff Grills, you can get both the convenience and speed of a charbroiler and the flavor versatility of a grill all at once. Our Tuff Charbroilers use an energy-efficient burner system, high quality materials, and, best of all, an exclusive wood chip, pellet, or wood chunk drawer so you can add that crowd-favorite smoky flavor to your dishes while still keeping up with demand.
Making the Right Choice for Your Restaurant
Now that you’re armed with the basic ins and outs of each type of grill, it’s time to decide which will be best for your restaurant. If you’re in the position to get both, having both a charbroiler and a grill can be highly advantageous because it gives you the opportunity to serve a larger variety of food options and flavors.
However, if you’re choosing between the two, the most important factor is suitability. Depending on the style of the restaurant and the type of food you produce, one might be much more suited than the other. Here’s a few key factors to consider as you make your decision:
- What is your typical demand like? How much food do you need to have ready at any given moment?
- What is the style of your restaurant? Are you all about offering a quick meal option or a fine dining experience where you can take your time to curate each dish?
- What types of food do you serve? How many options do you offer?
- How much space do you have in your kitchen or outdoor area? Do you have enough room to properly ventilate different types of grills and meet storage regulations?
Study the differences between your options, align the characteristics with your restaurant goals and answers to these questions, and choose what’s best for your services. Check out our brochures for more details about the different grill types we offer at Champion Tuff to find out which will be best for your restaurant.
A Quick Note About Warranties
Before purchasing any type of grill, be sure to review the warranty thoroughly. Warranties usually only cover manufacturing defects that make a part deteriorate or become unusable, and they do not cover any damage due to improper cleaning and maintenance, accidents, misuse, or incorrect installation. Different parts of the grill may also include different time limits on their warranties.
Basically, every manufacturer will have different requirements, conditions, etc., included in their warranty, so be sure you understand everything it covers and confirm that it aligns with your needs.
Find the Right Grill at Champion Tuff Grills
Whatever grill you choose for your restaurant, you can find the highest quality and best performance at Champion Tuff Grills. With heavy-duty construction, premium materials, innovative design, and unique features to improve your cooking process, our grills have everything you need to create the perfect dining experience for your customers.
For questions about our models or help purchasing your first Champion Tuff grill, just send us a message!
Commercial Char-broilers Commercial Wood Fire Grills