The built-in side burner is one of the most underused appliances in outdoor kitchens. Many homeowners add a side burner during the build because it’s part of the appliance package — then rarely use it beyond boiling corn or steaming vegetables. That’s a missed opportunity. A well-specified high-BTU side burner dramatically expands what’s possible in an outdoor kitchen, especially for the style of outdoor cooking common in Oklahoma.
What Makes a Good Outdoor Kitchen Side Burner
Side burners vary widely in output. Low-BTU side burners (10,000–15,000 BTU) are suited for warming and gentle cooking. A serious side burner for outdoor cooking should output 30,000–60,000 BTU — high enough to heat a cast iron wok to stir-fry temperatures, maintain a full boil in a large stock pot, or run a 30-quart turkey fryer efficiently. Specify burner output when selecting your outdoor kitchen appliance package, not just the burner’s footprint size.
Oklahoma Outdoor Cooking Uses for a High-BTU Side Burner
- Turkey frying: Oklahoma homeowners love outdoor turkey fryers, and a built-in high-BTU side burner with a propane line is ideal for Thanksgiving and holiday frying. No propane tank to set up and knock over — the burner is integrated, stable, and properly sized.
- Boils and low-country style cooking: Crab boils, shrimp boils, crawfish boils, and Cajun-style seafood are beloved in Oklahoma’s outdoor entertaining culture. A 30-60,000 BTU burner brings a 30+ quart pot to a full boil in minutes and maintains it efficiently.
- Cast iron cooking: High heat is essential for cast iron searing, proper skillet cornbread, and wok-style cooking. A high-output side burner delivers heat levels that grill burners with their limited output and open-top design can’t sustain for cookware.
- Sauce and side dish preparation: BBQ sauce, queso, beans, and complex sides all benefit from the control of a burner rather than the uneven indirect heat of grill zones. The side burner lets you cook accompaniments while the main protein finishes on the grill.
- Mulled cider and hot drinks: Oklahoma fall and early winter outdoor entertaining includes hot drinks — mulled wine, apple cider, and hot cocoa for groups. A side burner keeps a large pot warm throughout the evening without requiring multiple trips inside.
- Flambé and high-heat finishing: Professional-level cooking techniques that require sustained high heat — flambéing, proper sauté with sufficient heat for quick cooking — are possible outdoors with a high-BTU side burner in a way they aren’t on a standard grill burner.
Side Burner vs Infrared Side Burner
Some outdoor kitchen appliance packages offer infrared side burners rather than standard open-flame burners. Infrared side burners heat up faster and maintain very high surface temperatures — excellent for searing meat directly on the burner surface (like an outdoor salamander). However, they’re less versatile for pot cooking because the intense radiant heat is concentrated directly on the pot bottom. For Oklahoma outdoor kitchen use, a standard high-BTU burner is more versatile; add an infrared searing section to the grill if high-heat searing is a priority.
Add a Serious Side Burner to Your Outdoor Kitchen
VistaScapes Design & Build specifies outdoor kitchen appliance packages that match how Oklahoma homeowners actually cook outdoors. Don’t settle for an underpowered side burner in an otherwise premium kitchen. Call 918-779-1317 to discuss your outdoor kitchen appliance plan during a free consultation in Broken Arrow or the Tulsa metro.
