Connerton CG-72-M 72 In. Gas Countertop Manual Griddle, 6 Burners, 180,000 BTU, 1 In. Polished Steel Plate

The Connerton CG-72-M is a 72 in. wide gas countertop manual griddle with six 30,000 BTU U-type tubular burners under a 1 in. thick polished steel plate, built for a high-volume diner, a stadium concession kitchen, or a university dining hall that wants a full 72 in. by 24 in. flat top with six independent heat zones. Six heavy duty brass valves give each 12 in. section of plate its own knob, so three cooks can run patties, eggs, and pancakes at three different heats without crowding each other. Through a Saturday game-day rush of hundreds of burgers the 1 in. plate and 180,000 BTU under it keep every zone at searing heat. It has no thermostat, so it is for a crew that works the plate by knob and eye, not for holding one fixed temperature unattended. It sits on a counter, connects at the rear through a 3/4 in. NPT inlet, ships with the pressure regulator that must be installed, and needs 8 in. of side and back clearance from combustible surfaces or 0 in. from non-combustible surfaces.

Six 30,000 BTU U-Type Tubular Long Burners With Manual Brass Valves

Six 30,000 BTU U-type tubular long burners run under the 72 in. by 24 in. cooking surface, for 180,000 BTU across the plate. Each U-shaped tube sends its flame out and back in two parallel legs, so heat spreads along the length of its section instead of piling up in one spot. Every burner has its own heavy duty brass valve and front knob, giving you six heat zones across the plate: run one section at full for searing and the next at a crack for eggs or holding. Brass resists corrosion at the valve seat, so a low setting stays where you left it season after season.

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

The griddle plate is 1 in. thick highly polished steel, and Connerton welds the seams on both the top and the bottom of the plate. A full inch of steel is a heat reservoir: when a tray of frozen patties or a ladle of cold batter hits the surface, the plate gives up stored heat instead of dropping in temperature, and that is what Connerton means by fast recovery. The top and bottom seam welds close the joint between plate and body, so grease and water have no crack to seep into and the plate stays flat. The highly polished finish seasons quickly and takes a scraper without gouging.

Integrated Fire Box and Flue With an Enclosed Back

The fire box is 16 gauge #304 stainless steel welded directly to the body, with an integrated flue and an enclosed back. The enclosure matters because an open-backed burner box lets heat escape out the rear; here the closed back reflects that heat up into the underside of the plate, so more of each burner's 30,000 BTU ends up in the cooking surface. The flue carries combustion products up and out behind the splash instead of across the cook's face.

16 Gauge #304 Stainless Steel Body, Fully Welded

The body is 16 gauge #304 stainless steel, fully welded rather than fastened. A welded seam has no gap for grease to wick into and no screw head to work loose after a few years of expansion and contraction, which is the reason Connerton lists it under easy cleaning and long life. #304 is the chromium-nickel grade that stands up to acidic drippings, salt, and the degreasers a line uses at close.

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

Across the front runs a 14 gauge #304 stainless steel gutter that catches what the scraper pushes forward and drops it into an 18 gauge #304 stainless steel drip pan below. A 14 gauge #304 stainless steel splash rises 3 in. behind and beside the plate, tall enough to stop grease from an onion press or a bacon flip without walling off the cook's view. The front panel is a removable 18 gauge #304 stainless steel piece, so a technician can reach the valves and burners from the front without pulling the unit off the counter or breaking the gas connection.

3/4 In. NPT Rear Gas Inlet With Regulator Supplied

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 for it. The gas pressure regulator ships with the griddle and must be installed. Give it 8 in. of clearance at the sides and back from combustible material; against non-combustible surfaces it can sit at 0 in. on both sides and the back.

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

Five factory options change what the plate does. A grooved griddle plate puts sear marks on chicken and steak. A chromed griddle plate holds less flavor carryover and wipes clean with less scraping. A 30 in. deep cooking surface adds 6 in. of front-to-back working room over the standard 24 in. A tall splash raises the guard to 12 in. high for heavy splatter. The floor model accessory adds #304 stainless steel tubing legs with a stainless steel undershelf and adjustable feet or casters if you would rather run the griddle as a stand-alone floor unit than on a counter.