Grill marks. Crispy skin. Perfect doneness. There’s a reason charbroilers are trusted to cook some of the most premium proteins on the menu. From steaks to vegetables, a high-performance charbroiler delivers the flavor, texture, and consistency chefs rely on every service.
Choosing the right charbroiler is about more than heat—it’s about performance, efficiency, durability, and how well it fits your kitchen’s workflow. Here’s what to know before you buy.
What is a charbroiler?
A charbroiler is a commercial cooking appliance designed to grill food over high, direct heat. Using either radiant heat or infrared burners, charbroilers create intense temperatures that produce signature grill marks, caramelization, and smoky flavor.
Unlike flat griddles, charbroilers allow fats and oils to drip away from food. They’re a staple in professional kitchens and consist of:
- Grates: The top of the charbroiler where the product is placed.
- Radiants: Radiants sit over the burner and hold and redistribute heat for even cooking.
- Burners: The burner sits below the radiant and provides the heat source.
- Deflector: The deflector sits below the burner and keeps heat from migrating down, forcing the heat up towards the grates.
Whether you’re searing proteins or adding visual appeal to plated dishes, charbroilers deliver high-impact results with speed and precision.
Why choose a Vulcan Charbroiler?
Vulcan Charbroilers are built for real kitchens because they are easy to clean and designed for high-volume performance. With a wide range of sizes and grate styles, Vulcan offers solutions for everything from fast-casual concepts to high-end steakhouses.
Key features across Vulcan Charbroilers include:
- Durable construction for demanding environments
- Multiple grate options to match your menu
- Heat deflector panels for better heat control
- Patented grate designs for even cooking
- Infrared technology options for superior efficiency
The result: high productivity, consistent cooking, and lower operating costs.
Vulcan Charbroiler Options
VTEC Series: Energy Savings & Efficiency
Best for: Lean chicken, fish, seafood, and vegetables
The VTEC series features Vulcan’s patented IRX™ infrared burner technology, delivering intense, even heat while using significantly less gas than traditional charbroilers. Cooking with true infrared eliminates convective heat transfer, creating a cooking environment best for optimal juiciness, yield, and taste.
Why chefs choose it:
- Uses up to 50% less gas without sacrificing performance, resulting in crucial energy savings
- The emitter panel eliminates air movement, allowing food to retain up to 30% more moisture, meaning more flavor and product yield
- Patented infrared burner delivers consistent heat across the entire grate
- Virtually no flare-ups due to a grate design that keeps grease away from the open flame
Perfect for operations looking to maximize efficiency while maintaining exceptional cooking results.
VACB Series (Achiever): High-Volume Workhorse
Best for: Burgers, steaks, chicken, skewers, and heavily marinated items
With the best temperature profile of any charbroiler in its class, the VACB charbroilers offer more usable heat (600-700ºF) into the grate area for maximum performance, high production, and reliability.
Why chefs choose it:
- Best temperature profile in its class
- SuperCharger plates result in even heat distribution
- Under-burner deflector creates a cool zone to protect refrigerated bases
- Heavy-duty cast iron radiants are built to withstand heavy use
- 17,000 BTU burners deliver powerful performance
This is the go-to charbroiler for high-volume operations that demand reliability shift after shift.
VCCB Series: Low Profile, High Performance
Best for: Burgers, steaks, chicken, and skewers
A versatile option for kitchens of all sizes, the VCCB series delivers dependable grilling performance in a low-profile footprint.
Why chefs choose it:
- When a low working height with high volume capability is needed
A strong all-around performer for restaurants that want flexibility without sacrificing output.
VCRB Series: Compact & Medium Duty
Best for: Burgers, steaks, chicken, skewers
The VCRB series is ideal for operations with limited space or countertop cooking needs.
Why chefs choose it:
- Lower working height for ergonomic countertop use
- Compact footprint for tight kitchens
- Perfect for entry level users who only need a medium duty option
Perfect for cafes, bars, and compact kitchens looking for professional grilling power in a smaller package.
LEVEL UP YOUR CHARBROILER
Level Up with Smoker Base Accessories
If you choose a VACB or VCCB charbroiler, you can take your menu even further with Vulcan’s optional smoker base accessory. Designed to infuse rich, smoky flavor into fish, meats, poultry, and more, the smoker base is a field-installed accessory that adds serious versatility to your charbroiler setup.
Choose the Right Grates for Your Menu
Every Vulcan charbroiler ships standard with grates, but additional options allow you to fine-tune performance for your menu:
• Round rod grates
• Waffle grates
• Straight grates
• Fish grates (VTEC)
• Diamond grates
Different grate styles affect heat transfer, grill marking, and food release, helping you achieve the exact results your menu demands.
Ready to choose?
The right charbroiler is one that aligns with your menu, volume, kitchen layout, and energy goals. Whether you need maximum output, superior efficiency, or compact design, Vulcan offers a solution engineered for professional kitchens.
When you're ready to choose your charbroiler, your local Vulcan Sales Rep can help you get started.