| All stainless steel burners are not created equal. | | | | A tube burner is better than sheet metal, but is still |
| When comparing burner systems, there are a few | | | | very thin compared to cast. The tube burner is a |
| key points to look for. Most manufacturers use | | | | great place for high end grill manufactures to cut |
| stainless steel sheet metal to make their burner | | | | costs. They are not even as thick as a quarter. As |
| systems. The downside of sheet metal burners is | | | | far as I know, all tube burners do not cover burn |
| that they are prone to a process called burn-through. | | | | through. |
| The manufacturer's warranty covers sheet metal | | | | Cast Stainless Steel is the best. Look at the burner |
| burners against rust-through, but does not cover | | | | pictures and you will see that the cast is 1/4 inch |
| against burn-through. To combat burn-through, select | | | | thick. |
| manufacturers use CAST stainless steel burners. The | | | | Warranty covers burn through! |
| warranty on these burners does cover burn-through | | | | * Cast Iron: Cast-iron conducts heat better which |
| as well as rust-through, twisting, warping and any | | | | makes it the preferred cooking surface for many |
| other problems. | | | | cooks. To protect against the natural rusting process, |
| Compared side by side it is plain to see by our | | | | cast-iron cooking grids have a porcelain finish which |
| photos at Gas Grills Now, that where a sheet metal | | | | requires special maintenance. |
| burner is not as thick as a U.S. quarter, a cast | | | | * Porcelain: Porcelain enamel is essentially a highly |
| stainless steel burner is a full ¼ INCH thick. | | | | durable glass which, with coloring oxides and other |
| Along with being thicker, note the placement of the | | | | inorganic materials, is fused to metal at extremely |
| burner ports on the side of the burner. On the sheet | | | | high temperatures. Most grids are made of steel |
| metal burners, the ports are exposed to grease | | | | rods; some are coated with porcelain to make them |
| drippings, and food particles, which can clog the ports | | | | rust resistant and easier to clean. |
| and speed up the burn-through process. The cast | | | | * Chrome: Chromium is a silver-gray, lustrous, brittle, |
| burner is designed with a protective ridge, so that | | | | hard metal that can be highly polished. It does Not |
| drippings cannot contact the ports. | | | | tarnish in air, but burns when heated, forming the |
| There are several choices offered to the consumer: | | | | green chromic oxide. It is used in plating other metals |
| Cast stainless steel, Tube stainless steel, Sheet | | | | because of its hardness and non-tarnishing properties. |
| stainless steel, porcelain, cast iron and chrome | | | | In alloys with other metals it contributes hardness, |
| burners. | | | | strength, and heat resistance. This is quicker to burn |
| * Stainless Steel: Sheet Metal burners are the least | | | | through. It takes about 1 to 2 years. |
| expensive. They are mainly used on grills under $800. | | | | |