Connerton CRB-18 18 In. Countertop Gas Radiant Charbroiler, 3 Burners, 60,000 BTU, Cast Iron Grates, Welded #304 Stainless

The Connerton CRB-18 is an 18 in. wide, 29 in. deep gas countertop radiant charbroiler with three 20,000 BTU stainless steel tubular burners under cast iron radiants and cast iron grates, built for a taqueria, a pub kitchen, or a small diner line that wants a 60,000 BTU broiler in a foot and a half of counter. Three manual brass valves give you three zones across a 22 in. deep grate, so carne asada can sear hard on one side while chicken breasts cook through on a lower flame beside it. Push it through a Saturday lunch of burgers and grilled vegetables and the cast iron radiants hold their heat under the constant turnover. It has no flat top and no oven, so it is for grate cooking over radiant heat, not for eggs, pancakes, or baked items. It runs as a countertop unit or, with the floor model accessory, on its own stainless steel legs, so specify counter or floor when you order. Gas enters at the rear through a 3/4 in. NPT inlet, the pressure regulator ships with the unit and must be installed, and it is rated for non-combustible locations only with 0 in. of clearance at the sides and back.

Three 20,000 BTU Stainless Steel Tubular Burners, One Every 6 In.

The CRB-18 carries 3 stainless steel tubular burners, one under every 6 in. of its 18 in. width, each rated at 20,000 BTU for 60,000 BTU across the top. A tubular burner spreads its flame along the length of the tube under the radiant rather than concentrating it in one spot, and that is what keeps the heat even across the grate. Stainless steel tube stands up to the grease and heat cycling that a broiler sees every service. Each burner has its own valve, so a burner you are not using stays off and the 3 zones never bleed into one another.

Heavy Duty Cast Iron Radiants Over a 14 Gauge Welded Fire Box

Between the burners and the grates sit heavy duty cast iron radiants. The flame heats the radiant, and the radiant glows and throws that heat up at the food, which is the difference between a radiant broiler and cooking over an open flame. Cast iron holds a lot of heat in its mass, so when you drop a tray of cold steaks onto the grate the radiant keeps radiating while the burner catches up, and recovery between drops is shorter. The radiants also catch drippings before they reach the burner, and the fire box under them is 14 gauge #304 stainless steel welded to the body, so the hottest part of the unit is also the heaviest gauge.

Heavy Duty Cast Iron Top Grates With Grease Flow Channels on a 22 In. Deep Surface

The top grates are heavy duty cast iron with grease flow channels cast into them. The channels carry rendered fat along the grate and down toward the drip pan instead of letting it drop straight onto the radiants, so you get fewer flare-ups and less smoke off a fatty ribeye or a rack of sausages. The cooking surface is 22 in. deep across the 18 in. body, which is enough front-to-back room to sear at the front edge and pull items toward the back to finish or hold. Cast iron grates leave the deep char marks a steakhouse plate needs and take a grill brush every night without wearing down.

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 loosen after years of heat cycling, which is why Connerton lists the welded construction under easy cleaning and long life. #304 is the chromium-nickel grade that shrugs off acidic marinade splatter and the degreasers used on a grill line.

Removable 18 Gauge #304 Stainless Steel Front Panel and Drip Pan

The front panel is a removable 18 gauge #304 stainless steel piece, so a technician can reach the valves and burner inlets from the front without pulling the unit off the counter or breaking the gas connection at the back. Under the fire box sits an 18 gauge #304 stainless steel drip pan that collects what the grease flow channels send down. Slide it out at close, empty it, and slide it back, and the grease stays off the counter under the unit.

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

Every burner runs on its own heavy duty brass valve with a knob on the front panel, giving you 3 independent flame settings from off to full. Brass valve bodies resist corrosion at the seat, which keeps a low holding setting from drifting over time. 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 regulator is supplied with the unit and has to be installed.

Rolling Rod Grates, Splash Guards, Plate Shelf, Lava Rock, and Floor Model Options

Five factory options change how the top works. 1/2 in. steel rolling rod grates swap in for the cast iron grates when you want a round-bar surface that lets a spatula roll under delicate fish. A 4 in. removable stainless steel splash guard on the sides and back keeps grease off the wall and the equipment next to it. A stainless steel plate shelf gives you a landing spot for plates and sheet pans at the front. Lava rock is available in place of the cast iron radiants. 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 broiler as a stand-alone floor unit than on a counter.