What Grills Does Wendy's Use to Cook Burgers?
With more than 6,000 locations across North America, Wendy's is among the world's leading burger chains and is known for its never-frozen square burger patties, fresh fries, and Frosty® dairy desserts. The brand maintains quality and consistency by cooking burgers from both sides with XPress electric clamshell griddles from Garland, specifically the XPE36 Electric griddle.
How Wendy's Grills Work
Garland clamshell griddles cook both the bottoms and tops of product by using a griddle base and auto-lift platen top. Available with one to three heated lanes, these grills offer up to 36 inches of cooking surface width. Operators can program each lane with individual recipes that adjust temperature, cooking time, and platen height, allowing workers to simultaneously cook different products or batches. After grilling burgers, vegetables, or other foods, employees can use the included cleaning tools to scrape debris and grease into the side collection bins.
Garland Clamshell Grill Benefits
- Programmable Controls: Each grilling lane is controlled by an EasyTouch™ touch screen that can adjust platen lifting and lowering, cooking gap (up to two inches), time, and temperature. Custom recipes can be programmed with up to 10 steps and may be transferred to machines via a USB drive.
- Precise Temperatures: Griddles are equipped with five independently controlled heat zones per lane—three on the plate and two on the platen. Advanced thermostatic controls help maintain consistent temperatures, and individual lanes can be turned off when not in use.
- Ease of Cleaning: Garland XPress griddles are made with stainless steel fronts, tops, and sides. The tall splash guards and dual grease trays simplify cleanup, while an IPX4 water-resistant rating and hatchless cowl protect the unit during cleaning.
- Energy Efficiency: Clamshell griddles trap heat between plates and reduce energy usage by about 24 percent. Additionally, lanes can be turned off when not in use, saving energy during downtime.
- Ease of Service: The touchscreen user interface offers diagnostics data and error logging. Angled backsplashes and single-shaft platen lift assemblies simplify access for cleaning and service.
How Garland Clamshell Griddles Can Improve Your Commercial Kitchen
Clamshell griddles help operations like Wendy's lower labor and training costs. Garland XPress griddles can reduce cooking time by up to 50 percent. Employees simply place burgers on the cooking surface and run the proper cooking program. When the program finishes, the platen rises and workers transfer the patty to a fresh bun. Platen surfaces can also be fitted with replaceable Teflon sheets for light browning or cheese melting.
Garland clamshell units are designed to handle high-volume environments. They feature durable stainless steel construction, a 3/4-inch-thick carbon steel cooking plate, and rapid-recovery elements. Standardized cooking times and temperatures ensure consistent results during every cooking cycle. Units are equipped with locking casters for ease of installation and can be placed adjacent to noncombustible surfaces, maximizing valuable kitchen space.
Garland Clamshell Griddles vs. Open Griddles: Which Is Better?
The main difference between clamshell and open griddles is the amount of labor required. With open griddles, employees must press and flip each patty by hand. Clamshell griddles eliminate this process with dual-sided cooking capabilities. They also tend to retain more moisture, producing burgers with a more uniform finish than standard griddles. Open griddles offer greater adaptability and are better suited for stir-fries, shredded meat, scrambled eggs, and recipes that require frequent turning.
Find Griddles & Accessories at KaTom
KaTom offers commercial Garland clamshell griddles in a variety of sizes. Choose from compact 15-inch models with a single platen to larger 36-inch models with three platens. Combination models that pair clamshell platens with open griddle space are also available for versatile cooking needs. Learn more about commercial griddles or contact a foodservice equipment specialist to determine the best option for your operation's needs.
