The middle one of the three FRED three-burner models
Burnhard builds the Series 4 FRED as a three-burner grill in three specifications. The Base starts at €599, the Deluxe at €799, the Deluxe+ at €929, according to the starting prices in the manufacturer’s shop. This text covers the Deluxe, which Burnhard sells directly for approx. €799 (as of 21.10.2026, variant with cast iron grates). At Amazon it is currently cheaper: approx. €719 for the variant with the stainless steel grate (Amazon page on 20.10.2026: €719.20).
What separates the Deluxe from the Base is stated by Burnhard itself: a rear burner, an infrared ceramic burner in the firebox, a side burner and a cutting board with a GN food container. The firebox and grate size are the same on both. That makes the Deluxe a garden grill cart that combines in one appliance three things you would otherwise buy accessories for: a high-temperature zone for searing, a burner for the rotisserie and a cooking point for pots. Where it sits among the other gas grills is shown in the overview of gas grills.
The product photo shows the construction clearly: a firebox with a domed lid and thermometer, below it a closed cabinet with two doors, on the left a side table with a wooden surface (which fits the acacia wood cutting board from the list of items supplied), on the right a side table with its own control knob for the burner.
Burners and output: 11.25, 14.45 or 17.45 kW
Three figures are in circulation for the same grill, and all three are correct; they just count different things.
In the main cooking area under the grate sit two stainless steel tube burners at 3.75 kW each and an infrared ceramic burner, also 3.75 kW. Together that is 11.25 kW, and only this total is in our data sheet so far. In its technical table, the manual adds the infrared ceramic rear burner at 3.2 kW and arrives at 14.45 kW. Burnhard’s product page additionally counts the 3 kW side burner and gives 17.45 kW in total.
For the reader, the first figure matters most, because only these three burners heat the grate. The rear burner radiates from behind onto a rotisserie, and the side burner sits outside the firebox and takes pots up to 30 cm in diameter.
There is one inconsistency on the product page itself: the technical data list two stainless steel tube burners, while the list of items supplied on the same page says “stainless steel tube burners (3x)”. We assume two tube burners plus an infrared ceramic burner, which is also how the shop data record and the Amazon listing have it.
The grill runs on butane (G30) or propane (G31); according to the manual, natural gas is excluded. The supplied pressure regulator is fixed at 50 mbar, and the appliance class is I3B/P(50). The main burners have 0.83 mm nozzles, the rear burner 0.79 mm, and the side burner 0.75 mm according to its own manual. Each tube burner is lit by its own kickstarter piezo ignition and can be adjusted continuously. The rear burner has a separate ignition switch on the side of the control panel, and a battery compartment appears in the parts list for it.
In detail: tube burners, infrared ceramic and rear burner
A tube burner is a pipe with a row of small gas outlet openings. Its flames primarily heat the air and the flame tamers above; on the FRED these are three W-shaped stainless steel plates that Burnhard calls “W-Shape Flavor Bars”. The heat reaches the grate as a mix of hot air and radiation from the plate. That can be dosed finely, and if you switch on only one tube burner and place the food over the other, you get an indirect zone.
An infrared ceramic burner works differently. The gas burns on the surface of a ceramic plate with many fine channels; the plate glows and gives off most of its energy as thermal radiation directly upwards. For this burner Burnhard states up to 900 °C of direct heat from below. Technically, that is why such zones are used for searing: radiation hits the surface of the food without the detour via the air, and browns it faster there. The manufacturer sees the limit itself and recommends preparing delicate foods over the normal burners.
The rear burner sits on the back wall of the firebox and is also an infrared ceramic burner, at 3.2 kW. It is intended for the rotisserie; Burnhard mentions chicken and rolled roasts. You need to know three restrictions from the manual. First, Burnhard recommends not running it at the same time as the main burners, otherwise overheating and damage are possible. Second, it should not run in strong wind. Third, it stays off while greasy food lies on the warming rack. It is also permanently installed: if you start with the Base, you can retrofit a lot with an upgrade set, but not the rear burner.
The manual gives a useful note on the lid thermometer. It shows the temperature in the cooking chamber; at the grate it is usually hotter. Burnhard gives 250 to 370 °C on this display as the best grilling range.
Grate, housing and dimensions
The main grate measures 59.0 x 41.5 cm, split into three grate sections; above it hangs a fold-down stainless steel warming rack measuring 54.6 x 13.5 cm. Burnhard states the area is for up to 10 people. The manufacturer itself gives no area figure in square centimetres.
The grates come in two versions. Cast iron is included in the base price and is enamelled according to the manual; stainless steel costs extra in the Burnhard shop but is the variant offered at Amazon, and according to Burnhard it may go in the dishwasher. Our assessment: enamelled cast iron stores more heat and gives stronger grill marks, but needs a roof over its head in winter (more on that under care). Stainless steel is the easier-care choice.
The firebox is stainless steel on all editions. The lid and firebox have die-cast aluminium side panels that store heat, according to Burnhard. On the Black Edition, the lid and cabinet are cold-rolled steel with a matt powder coating, and the lid is double-walled with an oven strap. The Stainless Steel Edition has a stainless steel body.
With the lid closed, the FRED Deluxe measures 130.4 x 58.4 x 119 cm, with the lid open 130.4 x 64.5 x 148.5 cm. If you fold down both side tables, 87.4 cm of width remains. The side tables each carry up to 20 kg and can be swapped via a quick-release adapter. The appliance weighs 41 kg and stands on four rubberised casters with a locking brake. The items supplied also include a magnetic bottle opener, two hook rails, a stainless steel grease drain tray and grease collection tray, and the gas hose with pressure regulator.
What Burnhard leaves open about this grill, we summarise in one place: the temperature at the grate above the tube burners, a heat-up time to a given temperature, whether the table values for the main burners (273 g/h per burner) also apply to the internal infrared ceramic burner (the manual covers all 3-burner models and does not distinguish this), the steel grade and thickness of the grates, the material of the side tables and side burner, the country of production, the assembly time and the availability of individual spare parts other than the gas hose with regulator (item no. 947107) and the replaceable tube burners. There is also a formal gap: the manual that Burnhard links for the Deluxe lists article numbers 946715 to 946718 in its imprint instead of the shop numbers.
What else is worth considering?
| Model | The difference | Price | Our rating | Choose this one if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BURNHARD FRED Deluxe (this one) | Infrared ceramic burner in the main cooking area, rear burner, side burner | approx. €719 | 8.3 | you want to sear, grill on the rotisserie and cook side dishes in a pot |
| BURNHARD FRED Base | same firebox and grate size, tube burners only | approx. €519 | 8.3 | you grill almost only directly over tube burners |
| Enders Monroe Pro 3 SIK Turbo Shadow | similar package of high-temperature zone, rear burner and side burner | approx. €599 | 8.8 | you want this equipment for less money and do not need a retrofit system |
| Broil King Regal 590 | 5 main burners, rotisserie set included | approx. €1,649 | 9.4 | you often grill for well over ten people |
The prices are guide values from our price box and change; the rating is our editorial assessment of the data and not a measured result.
The Base costs approx. €519 at Amazon, the Deluxe approx. €719, with the same rating of 8.3. The number does not say that both can do the same; it says that we weighed the added value of the Deluxe against its extra cost. The Enders Monroe Pro 3 SIK Turbo Shadow leads in our comparison with 8.8 and costs approx. €599. The Broil King Regal 590 plays in a different size class and costs approx. €1,649.
Base, Deluxe or Deluxe+: when which FRED fits
The first question is space. 130.4 cm of width is one thing; the manual additionally requires 100 cm clearance to the rear, 100 cm to the side and 200 cm above, plus 1.5 m to all combustible materials and 7.5 m to flammable liquids. A balcony appears in the manual neither as permitted nor as forbidden; it says “outdoors only” and gives these clearances. On most balconies they cannot be met, and then the FRED is not an option there, whatever the specification.
If the space is there, the way you grill decides. Do you grill sausages, vegetables and chicken legs, that is, almost everything directly over medium heat? Then the Base carries the same firebox and the same grate size. Do you want to sear steaks hard and occasionally turn a rolled roast on the spit? That is the case for the Deluxe, because only the rear burner cannot be retrofitted later. You do have to buy the rotisserie separately, though.
The budget deserves an honest calculation. The cover costs €59.90 extra in the manufacturer’s shop, so Deluxe and cover together come to €858.90. The Deluxe+ at €929 in the manufacturer’s shop already includes the cover and adds a smoker box, a kitchen roll holder and Longlife Premium cast burners; the infrared ceramic burner and the side burner sit in the side tables there. At Amazon the Deluxe alone is approx. €719, and the cover then comes separately. We would therefore at least work out the numbers for the Deluxe+ before buying a Deluxe without a cover.
Finally, the grate question. If you leave the grill outside in winter and do not want to carry cast iron grates into the house, take stainless steel and pay the extra. If you want grill marks and can live with the care, stay with cast iron.
Gas cylinder, setup and safety according to the manual
The manual devotes several pages to safety. Here we reproduce the points with figures and the rules for the gas system, not the complete list; that is on pages 4 to 8 of the manual, and you should read it before the first connection.
In use, the cylinder stands in the cabinet. The product page does speak of storing it “directly in the grill”, but the manual requires storage outside the cabinet: below 50 °C in a well-ventilated, shaded place, protected from the weather, never in the house and never below ground level, because escaping liquefied gas is heavier than air and sinks to the floor. According to the manual, you store spare cylinders and cylinders that are not connected neither under the grill nor near it. When the grill is out of use, the cylinder is disconnected.
The pre-assembled hose is at most 1.5 m long; according to the manual, the pressure regulator meets DIN EN 16129 and DIN EN 16436-1 (standards that apply in Germany and the EU) and is rated for a maximum of 1.5 kg/h. You replace both after 10 years at the latest, even without visible damage. The gas system should be inspected at least once a year; repairs to it are reserved for authorised specialists.
Before use and after every cylinder change comes the leak test: spray all sealing points with leak detection spray or brush them with soapy water at a ratio of 1 part soap to 3 parts water, open the cylinder valve, watch for bubbles, close the valve. If bubbles keep rising, the valve stays closed and you go to a specialist dealer.
Two operating rules that may surprise you: the lid must be open when lighting, and before every use you secure the grill with the locking brakes. If a grease fire breaks out, you try to switch off the burners and close the lid until the fire is out. According to the manual, water is taboo here. Where your grill may stand and which cylinder you buy is explained in our guide to the gas bottle for the grill.
Cleaning and care
After every use the grill should be cleaned, without flammable cleaning agents, with the gas cylinder removed and only after it has cooled. For burning off, the manual sets the main burners to HI and has them run for 15 to 30 minutes with the lid closed.
Different rules apply to the parts. Stainless steel grates and the flame tamers may go in the dishwasher; steel wool is forbidden on the stainless steel grate because remaining particles cause surface rust. On stainless steel surfaces, no microfibre cloth should be used, as it can scratch. For the aluminium components, ordinary grill cleaners are only conditionally suitable according to the manual. Aluminium foil or aluminium trays on the grease drain tray and grease collection tray are not allowed, and the tray must be empty before every grilling session so that no grease fire occurs.
Every 3 to 4 months, or after a long period of disuse, the manual provides for a thorough clean. In this you check the venturi tubes at the end of the main burners, which have an insect and spider guard. You clean blocked nozzle openings with the supplied needles in 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9 mm. For winter, Burnhard wants the grill in a frost-protected, dry room; the cast iron grates come into the house over the season to prevent surface rust. Further advice for all gas grills is collected in our guide to cleaning a gas grill.
Who is it for?
For garden owners with a fixed spot who want to sear, grill on the spit and heat a pot on the side on one appliance, and who are willing to buy the cover and rotisserie as extras.
The FRED Deluxe is the wrong choice for two groups. Anyone who grills commercially, for example at events or in catering, is outside the intended use according to Burnhard. And anyone who wants to push the grill across a property fairly often should know that the gas cylinder must be unscrewed and removed before every change of position, because otherwise it can tip over; during operation the appliance must not be moved at all.
If you order directly from the manufacturer, Burnhard states 2 to 4 working days of shipping with no shipping costs and a 30-day right of return. The manufacturer is Burnhard GmbH in Düsseldorf.
