Outdoor Kitchen Side Burner Types and BTU Comparison — Oklahoma Homeowner’s Guide

The built-in grill gets most of the attention in outdoor kitchen planning, but the side burner is what separates a great outdoor kitchen from a complete outdoor cooking station. A quality side burner lets you simmer sauces, boil vegetables, warm tortillas, sauté, deep fry, or wok cook — without running back inside to the stovetop. Here’s what you need to know about types and BTU ratings before choosing.

Understanding BTU Output for Side Burners

BTU (British Thermal Unit) measures heat output. For outdoor cooking, more BTUs means faster heat and higher maximum temperatures. But raw BTU numbers can be misleading — the burner design matters as much as the number.

Common side burner BTU ranges:

• 10,000–15,000 BTU: Adequate for gentle simmering and warming. Underpowered for boiling large volumes or high-heat sautéing.
• 15,000–20,000 BTU: The practical standard for most outdoor kitchen side burners. Handles the majority of cooking tasks effectively.
• 20,000–30,000 BTU: High-output burners. Excellent for boiling, wok cooking, and reducing sauces quickly. Also more responsive to wind than lower-output burners, so wind guards matter here.
• 30,000+ BTU: Commercial territory. Found in wok-specific burners and commercial side burner setups. Extremely powerful — produces significant heat radiation to surrounding structure if not positioned correctly.

Types of Outdoor Kitchen Side Burners

1. Standard Two-Burner Side Units

The most versatile option for most homeowners. A two-burner unit gives you simultaneous multi-dish capability — simmer a sauce on one burner while boiling pasta on another. Look for individual burner controls and hinged lids that close when not in use to protect burner ports from debris.

Best for: Households that cook full meals outdoors regularly, families who want the flexibility of multiple simultaneous heat sources.

BTU range: Typically 30,000–40,000 total (15,000–20,000 per burner)

2. Single Power Burner

A single high-output burner — typically 30,000 BTU or more — designed for high-heat tasks that a standard grill side burner can’t match. Ideal for boiling crawfish, deep frying turkeys, cooking large-volume chili or stew, or any task requiring maximum sustained heat.

Best for: Oklahoma homeowners who do large-group cooking, turkey frying, crawfish boils, or large-batch cooking.

BTU range: 30,000–60,000+ BTU

3. Infrared Side Burner

Infrared burners use a ceramic or metal radiating surface that glows red-hot, producing radiant heat rather than convective heat. The key advantage: infrared cooking is much less affected by wind. In Oklahoma, where afternoon thunderstorm winds can kill a conventional burner flame, an infrared side burner maintains cooking performance in conditions that would frustrate standard burners.

Best for: Oklahoma homeowners who cook outdoors year-round, exposed patio areas without windbreak protection.

BTU range: 14,000–18,000 BTU (but heat delivery is more efficient than conventional burners at the same BTU)

4. Wok Burner

A wok burner produces extreme concentrated heat — typically 60,000–100,000+ BTU — in a shape designed to cradle a round-bottom wok. If you cook Asian cuisine and want the same wok hei (the high-heat smokiness of restaurant wok cooking) at home, this is the burner for it. However, the heat output and the specialized cooking style mean it’s not a general-purpose burner.

Best for: Homeowners who specifically want high-heat wok cooking as part of their outdoor kitchen.

Note: Wok burners require positioning consideration — at 60,000–100,000 BTU, surrounding countertop materials must be rated for proximity to that heat level.

5. Smoker/Infrared Searing Station

Some outdoor kitchen configurations integrate an infrared searing station or a dedicated smoker box as the “side burner” position. These aren’t traditional burners but serve the function of a supplemental cooking element alongside the primary grill.

Wind Protection for Side Burners in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s wind is a legitimate design consideration for side burners. A 20-MPH gust can extinguish conventional burner flames or create uneven combustion. Solutions:

• Infrared burner selection: As noted above, infrared burners are largely wind-immune
• Strategic orientation: Position side burners on the lee side of the outdoor kitchen structure
• Wind screen accessories: Some double burner units include fold-up wind screens on three sides
• Covered patio integration: A pergola or patio cover significantly reduces wind impact on all outdoor cooking equipment

Frequently Asked Questions — Outdoor Kitchen Side Burners

VistaScapes Design helps Broken Arrow and Tulsa homeowners select the right combination of appliances for how they actually cook. Call (918) 779-1317 to discuss side burner options as part of your custom outdoor kitchen design.