Venancio R72CT-72B 72 In. Restaurant Series Countertop Gas Hotplate, 12 Non-Clog Burners, Standing Pilots, 384,000 BTU

The Venancio R72CT-72B is a 72 inch wide Restaurant Series countertop gas hotplate that lines up twelve cast iron burners in two rows of six across a stainless steel top. It belongs on an equipment stand or a refrigerated base in a high-volume line, a banquet kitchen, or a ghost kitchen that needs a full range top without paying for ovens underneath. Each burner is rated 32,000 BTU on natural gas or 30,000 BTU on propane, for a total of 384,000 BTU on natural gas, so a dozen saute pans can run at once during a Friday rush and a 40 quart stock pot on the back row still reaches a rolling boil. This is a burner-only unit, so if your menu leans on roasting or baking you will still need a separate oven, and the 34 inch depth with the 7 inch belly rail means it needs a stand or counter at least that deep. It connects through a 3/4 inch NPT rear gas fitting, needs no electrical supply, and ships with an installation kit that includes the pressure regulating valve plus a propane conversion kit.

Twelve Cast Iron Burners at 32,000 BTU Each

Venancio builds the burner as a cast iron head with one standing pilot per burner, and each burner has its own pilot light so a cook can see at a glance which ones are ready. The 32,000 BTU rating on natural gas is the same figure the Restaurant Series ranges carry, so a pan moves from this hotplate to a range station without changing your timing. Unlike a lightweight sheet-metal burner that warps and throws an uneven flame after a season of boilovers, the cast iron head keeps its shape and its flame pattern. The two-row layout gives you six burners in front for active saute work and six in back for stock, sauces, and pasta water.

Heavy Duty 12 by 12 Inch Removable Cast Iron Grates

Each burner sits under a 12 x 12 inch cast iron grate that lifts straight off for cleaning or for dropping a wok ring into place. The grates are heavy enough to take a full stock pot without rocking, and the flat 12 inch grid holds a 10 inch saute pan or a rondeau squarely over the flame. The front and sides are stainless steel, and the sides carry double wall insulation, so the unit can sit beside a fryer or a refrigerated base without transferring as much heat to its neighbor.

14 Gauge Fully Welded Interlocking Frame

The chassis is a 14 gauge fully welded interlocking frame rather than a bolted-together box, so the unit stays square when it gets dragged forward on a stand for cleaning behind the line. A 7 inch stainless steel belly rail runs across the front to give cooks a place to rest a spoon or stage a plate, and it keeps knuckles away from the knobs during a reach. The knobs are chrome-plated injected aluminum, which shrug off heat better than plastic and do not crack when a pan handle knocks them. The adjustable 4 inch chrome-plated legs level the top on a stand or countertop that is slightly out of true.

Gas Supply and Installation

Gas enters at the rear through a 3/4 inch NPT connection, and the included pressure regulator handles either natural gas at 4 inch W.C. manifold pressure or propane at 10 inch W.C. Total input is 384,000 BTU on natural gas or 360,000 BTU on propane. The gas line feeding the unit must be 3/4 inch or larger, and if you use a flexible connector its inside diameter must also be 3/4 inch. Specify natural gas or propane when ordering, and check the altitude specifications for a kitchen above 2,000 feet. A stainless steel stand with or without an undershelf tray and a condiment rail with cutting board are available as options.