Connerton CG-60-T 60 In. Gas Countertop Thermostatic Griddle, 5 Thermostats, 150,000 BTU, 1 In. Polished Steel Plate

The Connerton CG-60-T is a 60 in. wide, 32 in. deep gas countertop thermostatic griddle with five 30,000 BTU burners under a 1 in. thick polished steel plate, sized for a hotel banquet kitchen, a casino buffet line, or a large diner that cooks breakfast and burgers on one long surface. Five thermostats each hold a 12 in. section of the plate, so five cooks or one cook with five jobs can run eggs, pancakes, sausage, onions, and burgers at five different settings on the same plate. Over a Sunday brunch service of 400 covers the 150,000 BTU under the plate pulls every zone back to temperature as full hotel pans of cold product land on it. It is a smooth flat-top only as shipped, with no open burners and no grooves, so it is for griddle work rather than pot and pan cooking. It is ordered as a counter unit or a floor model, connects at the rear through a 3/4 in. NPT inlet, ships with the gas pressure regulator that must be installed, and needs 8 in. of side and back clearance from combustible surfaces or 0 in. on non-combustible ones.

Five 30,000 BTU U-Type Tubular Burners, Each on Its Own Thermostat

Each burner on the CG-60-T is a 30,000 BTU U-type tubular burner, for 150,000 BTU under the plate. A U-shaped tube burner throws flame along two parallel legs instead of one point, which spreads heat across the width of its section of plate rather than making a hot spot in the middle. The 5 burners divide the 60 in. plate into 5 sections of about 12 in. each, and each burner sits under its own thermostat. A thermostat senses the plate above its burner and cycles the gas to hold the dial setting, so the zone you set for eggs stays there while the zone next to it runs hotter for searing. That is the difference from a hand-adjusted valve: the griddle corrects for a cold load by itself, and a cook does not have to notice the plate cooling and turn a knob.

1 In. Highly Polished Steel Plate With Seam Welds Top and Bottom

The griddle plate is 1 in. thick, highly polished steel, and it runs 24 in. front to back. A full inch of steel holds a lot of heat, so when a dozen frozen patties land at once the plate gives up stored heat instead of dropping to the temperature of the meat, and Connerton names the polished finish as the reason recovery is fast. The polish also matters at the spatula: a smooth plate releases eggs and pancakes without tearing and scrapes clean with less effort at close. The plate is seam welded to the body on top and on the bottom, so there is no gap along the plate edge for grease to creep under and carbonize where you cannot reach it.

Integrated Fire Box and Flue With an Enclosed Back

Under the plate is a fire box of 16 gauge #304 stainless steel welded to the body, with the flue built into it and the back closed off. An open-backed griddle lets combustion heat spill out the rear and warm the wall; the enclosed fire box instead reflects that heat up into the underside of the plate, so more of the 30,000 BTU from each burner ends up in the steel and less in the room. The result is a plate that comes back to temperature sooner after a cold load and a line that runs a little cooler behind the unit.

16 Gauge #304 Stainless Steel Body, Fully Welded

The body is 16 gauge #304 stainless steel, fully welded rather than screwed or riveted together. A welded seam has no gap for grease to wick into and no fastener head to work loose after years of heat cycling, which is why Connerton lists it under easy cleaning and long life. #304 is the chromium-nickel grade that shrugs off the acid in tomato and vinegar splatter and the degreasers used on a line, and 16 gauge is heavy enough that the body does not oil-can under a full load of steel plate and cast burners.

14 Gauge Gutter, 3 In. Splash, and Removable 18 Gauge Front Panel and Drip Pan

Grease leaves the plate through a 14 gauge #304 stainless steel gutter that takes the scrape of a bench knife all day without denting. Behind and beside the plate a 14 gauge #304 stainless steel splash rises 3 in. to catch spatter and keep it off the wall and the station next door. Below, an 18 gauge #304 stainless steel drip pan collects what the gutter sends down and lifts out for emptying. The front panel is a removable 18 gauge #304 stainless steel piece, so a technician can reach the thermostats, valves, and burners from the front without pulling the unit off the counter or breaking the gas connection at the back.

Heavy Duty Brass Valves With a 3/4 In. NPT Rear Gas Inlet

The gas train runs on heavy duty brass valves, one per burner section, with the thermostat dials on the front panel. Brass resists corrosion at the valve seat, which keeps the low end of the range from drifting after years of service. Gas enters at the rear through a 3/4 in. NPT inlet. The unit runs on 5.0 in. W.C. natural gas or 10 in. W.C. propane, so specify the gas type when you order, and note the altitude if the kitchen sits above 2,000 ft so the orifices are sized correctly. The pressure regulator is supplied in the carton and has to be installed.

Grooved Plate, Chromed Plate, 30 In. Deep Surface, Tall Splash, and Floor Model Options

Five factory options change what the top does. A grooved griddle plate puts sear marks on chicken and steak sandwiches. A chromed griddle plate reflects heat back into the food and wipes down faster between tortillas and fish. A 30 in. deep cooking surface adds 6 in. of plate front to back for more staging rows. A tall splash raises the guard to 12 in. high for a station where spatter reaches the wall. The floor model accessory adds #304 stainless steel tubing legs with a stainless steel undershelf and adjustable feet or castors, so you can run the griddle as a stand-alone floor unit rather than on a counter. Specify counter or floor model when you order.