Stock Pot Ranges & Burners
Some restaurants need to cook, warm, and hold a lot of liquid ingredients and dishes throughout the day, and this requires a lot of burner space. If you're cooking a lot of soups and sauces or boiling a lot of water, you may find yourself running out of room on your range cooktop to fit all the various stock pots and sauce pans it takes to feed your customers during the busiest times of the day. This is when one a stock pot range will come in handy. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of these ranges, the different options to consider, and to find out if one will be useful in your kitchen.
The stock pot range is similar to its smaller cousin, the hot plate, but is designed to hold much larger cookware and have higher heating power. You can get one with single or double burners. All of the units have 18 inch burner grates, so they're bigger than the burners on standard gas ranges. These are especially rugged, because the items they support can be very heavy - a full 100-quart stock pot can weigh up to 200 pounds. Heavy-gauge steel legs are designed to support the weight. If you're not going to be heating large stock pots, or you need an electrically-powered option, one of these is probably overkill.
Grates
The grate is the part of the range that the pot sits on, and all of the ones you'll find here are cast iron. Cast iron is valued for its durability; it is resistant to breaking, scratching and chipping, and can handle lots of repeated use and abuse. Also, cast iron retains heat better than other common materials like steel, so when you put a pot on, it'll stay hot even as heat is absorbed into the cookware. This means you can cook faster. Another perk is that the grates are fully removable, so when it's time to clean your equipment, you can do so quickly and thoroughly.
Burners
You'll notice that many stock pot ranges have two knobs to control the heat, even if they just have one burner. That's because the burner is made up of two rings, one inside the other, and each can be operated independently. This means that one ring can be left off if you need low temperatures, for holding dishes at serving temperature, for example. For simmering or bringing food to a full boil, both rings can be turned on. Dual controls give you more precision control than one alone and they're also more energy-efficient.
BTU stands for British thermal unit, a measurement commonly used for heat output. Paying attention to the BTU of a stock pot burner can be a good way to compare the power of each unit when you're shopping. The most common amount is 90,000 BTUs, or three times the power of an ordinary gas burner. Many stock pot ranges offer more than 100,000 BTUs and some even top 200,000.
Handy Storage
A lot of these have compartments underneath the burner that you can use for storage. Since the equipment is designed to be at a comfortable working height, these compartments are designed to utilize the space beneath the cooktop of a stock pot range so you can keep items you'll want on hand when you're cooking. You can easily store pots, pans, and spices.
Common Questions About Stock Pot Ranges & Burners
What makes stock pot ranges different from standard gas ranges?
Stock pot ranges are specifically designed with larger grates and higher BTU outputs to accommodate oversized cookware like stockpots, making them ideal for high-volume cooking and heavy-duty tasks.
Why are cast iron grates used on stock pot ranges?
Cast iron grates offer exceptional heat retention, ensuring even heat distribution across the cookware for consistent results. This durability is especially beneficial for large-batch cooking over long periods.
Are stock pot ranges energy-efficient?
Yes. Many stock pot ranges feature dual-ring burners for precise heat control, minimizing energy waste by targeting specific cooking areas without unnecessary heat dispersion.
Advantages of Stock Pot Ranges & Burners
Exceptional Power: Over 100,000 BTUs provide fast, efficient heating for even the largest stockpots.
Durable Design: Cast iron grates are built to withstand heavy use and retain heat effectively, making them perfect for commercial kitchens.
Enhanced Precision: Dual-ring burners offer independent heat control, ensuring the perfect temperature for each dish.
Convenient Storage: Many models come with integrated storage space beneath the cooktop so you can store kitchen essentials like pots, pans, and spices for easy access.