Check out some of the best commercial-grade gas & charcoal BBQ's for large outdoor events
Choosing the right type of commercial BBQ grills is one of the most important tasks for anyone looking to cater to large outdoor events.
It has to have a large enough cooking area to keep up with demand from all those hungry people and it needs to be mobile so it can be transported from A to B.
And if you are unfamiliar with commercial BBQs it also worth knowing about the two main types of grills and the drawbacks that come with each of them.
So to help you choose the right commercial bbq grill's for your needs I have put together 5 of the best commercial-grade BBQs for 2020.
Buyers guide
There are two main types of BBQs, gas and charcoal, and it is worth considering the positives and negatives of each one before making a purchase.
LPG BBQ grills
Pros
Greater temperature control
Easy to clean
Easy to ignite
Cons
Generally more expensive than charcoal
Less of an authentic BBQ flavour
Gas models can be harder to store
Need additional gas canisters
Charcoal BBQ grills
Pros
Produces a chargrilled flavour
Generally, cheaper than gas
Reaches higher temperatures
Doesn't need additional gas canisters
Cons
Harder to clean when using coal
No temperature control
Takes longer to reach cooking temp.
Produces more smoke
Dancook 7500 - Large Barbecue Box Grill
Brand: Dancook
Power Source: Charcoal
Cooking dimensions: 62cm x 25cm
Weight: 12.3 kgs
Features:
4 heat control levels
2 large wheels
2 side tables
Box design
Extra-thick 6mm chrome-plated grid
Pros:
Lightweight and mobile
Has wheels for transportation
Side tables for storage
Box design helps with wind resistance
Higher maximum temp. than gas
No need for additional gas canister
Cons:
Relatively small surface space
No under counter storage
Takes longer to reach cooking temperature than gas
Less control over temperature.
This commercial charcoal grill is good for anyone on a budget but still needs a commercial model.
At 12.3kg Its very lightweight and on wheels making it easy to transport between locations.
Its box design helps to keep the temperature at a maintained level especially in windy conditions.
It also has two handy side tables for putting sauces and condiments on.
However, as this commercial bbq grill is on the lower end of the budget it has a relatively small cooking space, which may be an issue for larger events over a few hundred people.
Buffalo Charcoal Barbecue
Brand: Buffalo
Power source: Charcoal
Cooking dimensions: 2x 42 x 28 cm
Weight: 16.5 kgs
Features:
2 x independent cooking zones
Stainless steel body & legs
Pros:
lightweight design
Has two separate grilling areas
Large cooking area
Higher maximum temp. than gas
No need for additional gas canister
Cons:
No wheels for transportation
Takes longer to reach cooking temperature than gas
Less control over temperature.
The Buffalo charcoal barbeque offers around a quarter more cooking space than the previous model making it more suitable for serving larger crowds.
Its relatively lightweight, considering the increase in cooking space and has two separate cooking grills. This is a good feature to keep meat and vegetables separate.
However, the one major downside with this charcoal model is that it doesn't have wheels for easy transportation.
It also doesn't have carry handles which mean it needs to cool down before being safely moved.
Buffalo Folding Propane Gas Barbecue
Brand: Buffalo
Weight: 28.5kg
Power source: LPG (liquid propane gas)
Cooking dimensions: 87 x 29 cm
Features:
Temperature control
Push-button ignition
2 x wheels
Foldable
Pros:
Has a large cooking area
On wheels for greater mobility
Greater control of cooking temperature
Is foldable
Cons:
Heavier than previous models
Requires additional gas canisters
No under counter storage
The Buffalo commercial gas grill is a good mid-range model with handy practical features.
It has wheels for greater mobility and a temperate control feature (a feature lacking charcoal models) so you can grill meat and vegetable according to your own taste.
It is that also foldable, which you don't see with many gas BBQs, making it very easy to store.
The only real negative I can say about this product is that it has no under counter storage and its nearly twice the weight than the previous models.
Buffalo 6 Burner Combi BBQ Grill and Griddle
Brand: Buffalo
Power source: Gas
Cooking dimensions: Grill: 52 x 46 cm Griddle: 53 x 46 cm
Weight: 55kg
Features:
Control panel
Foldable side shelves
Under counter shelving
Lockable castors
Porcelain enamelled cooking grill
Steel plate cooking griddle
Pros:
locking castor wheels
Undercounter & side storage
Grill & griddle combo
Large cooking space
Can control the temperature of the cooking
Cons:
Relatively heavy
Bulkier and more difficult store
Requires additional gas canisters
The Buffalo 6 burner combi bbq and grill is a serious bit of commercial-grade bbq equipment.
Its main feature is that it has two separate grill and griddle sections.
This is good for cooking things like burgers and hotdogs on the grill and eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches on the griddle.
This model also has quite a generous amount of side and under-counter storage for condiments and stock and locking caster wheels for mobility and safety.
However, the Buffalo Combi bbq grill is on the heavy side at 55kg and is bulkier which may be an issue if storage is limited.
Crown Verity Traditional Charcoal Barbecue
Brand: Crown Verity
Power source: Charcoal
Cooking dimensions: 152 x 61 cm
Weight: 57.6kg
Features:
Adjustable griddle
Mounted on castors
Removable pans to catch drips
Heavy-duty steel enamel
Pros:
Very large cooking area
Has castor wheels for safety & mobility
Higher maximum temperatures
No need for additional gas canister
Cons:
Relatively heavy
Takes longer to reach cooking temperature than gas
Less control over temperature.
Last but not least is the Crown Verity charcoal bbq grill which offers the largest surface space at 152 x 61 cm on the list making it great for large events.
Like the previous Buffalo model, it has castor wheels for greater mobility and safety and has removable drip pans to catch any fats thus minimising flare-ups.
It also has really useful quick release legs which make for easy storage despite its larger size.
However, this model doesn't offer any additional side or under counter storage and a doesn't have temperature control.
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Key takeaways
All of the commercial gas and charcoal BBQs on the list are suitable for catering to large events but they both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Gas BBQ grills don't offer that authentic smoky chargrilled taste and can be more expensive but you do get greater control of cooking temperatures.
Commercial charcoal BBQs, on the other hand, do offer that chargrilled meat taste and are a cheaper option.
However, they don't offer temperature control and take longer to reach cooking temperature.
I personally like charcoal BBQs grills better as the smoke adds to the taste of the meat and adds to the overall atmosphere of having an outdoor bbq.
They are also cheaper, require less equipment to run (no gas canister) and are generally easier to store, which is good if you are moving around between different events.
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