The Fat FRED Deluxe+ is the fully equipped version of Burnhard’s biggest FRED of the Series 4. Six main burners sit under a grate of 89.0 x 41.5 cm, an infrared ceramic rear burner sits at the back of the cooking chamber, and the two side tables hold a second infrared ceramic burner and a hob. Burnhard designs the grill for more than 20 people. In the manufacturer’s shop the Black Edition with cast iron grate costs approx. €1,399 in the Burnhard shop (on 21.10.2026: €1,399.00). In our gas grill category, that puts it between the smaller Fat FRED Deluxe and the Broil King Regal 590 on price.
Deluxe or Deluxe+: what the plus adds
The Fat FRED comes in only two equipment levels, Deluxe and Deluxe+, each as a Black Edition and in stainless steel. On the Deluxe, the infrared ceramic burner sits in the cooking chamber, so under part of the main grate, and the side table holds a chopping board with a GN container. The Deluxe+ moves the ceramic burner out into its own side table, puts Longlife cast burners in the cooking chamber and includes the cover, smoker box and kitchen roll holder.
Four article numbers are listed for the Deluxe+ in the shop. The Black Edition with cast iron grate (947154) and stainless steel with cast iron grate (947152) cost the base price, while the two versions with stainless steel grate (947155 and 947153) cost €1,499 each. So the surcharge is determined by the grate alone, not the body. On the Black Edition, the base cabinet and lid are made of cold-rolled steel with a matt powder coating, on the stainless steel version of stainless steel. The side panels on the lid and cooking chamber are die-cast aluminium in both cases. According to Burnhard, the cooking chamber itself is stainless steel on all Series 4 models, including the grease tray and warming rack.
Our assessment: if you would buy the cover and smoker box anyway, you are wrong to measure the gap to the Deluxe by the accessories alone. What matters more is that on the Deluxe+ the whole grate area sits over burners of the same type and the ceramic burner has its place alongside.
What is in the cooking chamber and side tables
According to the technical data on the product page, each of the six main burners has 3.5 kW, 21 kW together. Added to that are the rear burner with 3.2 kW, the ceramic burner in the side table with 3.5 kW and the hob with 3 kW, 30.7 kW in total. Two burner sets are in the box, six Longlife cast burners and six stainless steel tube burners, and Burnhard describes them as interchangeable. According to the manufacturer, cast iron stores heat and spreads it more evenly, while the thinner stainless steel tube of the tube burners tends to release it more locally. Above the burners sit six stainless steel flame tamers in a W shape, called W-Shape Flavor Bars by Burnhard.
The lid is double-walled and has a lid thermometer and an oven band. You ignite each burner individually via the Kickstarter piezo ignition and adjust it infinitely between HI and LO. The rear burner has its own ignition switch on the side of the control panel, and the parts list includes a battery compartment for it. On the product photo of the Black Edition, the control panel has six large knobs and one small one, and each side table has another.
Both side tables fold down and carry up to 20 kg each. They hang on quick-release adapters, so you can mount the hob on the right or left; none of the sources says which side is fitted at the factory. The hob folds away and takes pots up to 30 cm in diameter. According to Burnhard, Series 4 side table modules do not fit any older FRED such as the Series 3. Conversely, the other Series 3 accessories remain usable, with plancha, rotisserie and built-in shelf given as examples on the product page.
Closed, the grill measures 160.4 x 58.4 x 119 cm (width, depth, height), with the lid open 64.5 cm deep and 148.5 cm high. With the side tables folded down, the width shrinks to 117.4 cm. It weighs 66.2 kg and stands on four rubberised casters with locking brakes. The stainless steel warming rack measures 85.6 x 13.5 cm and can be folded down or removed completely. Behind the two doors of the base cabinet there is room for a 5, 8 or 11 kg gas cylinder.
Included besides the burners: the weatherproof cover made of UV-resistant, flame-retardant polyester, the stainless steel smoker box, the kitchen roll holder, two hook rails on the side tables, a magnetic bottle opener, a stainless steel grease drain plate and grease tray, and the gas hose with a 50 mbar pressure regulator. The package does not include a rotisserie; Burnhard sells it separately as the BIG FRED and FAT FRED rotisserie. The manual permits only original accessories at the grill.
In detail: three heat sources with their own rules
Six individually adjustable burners under an 89 cm wide grate mainly mean this: you can divide the surface. Three burners on HI make the direct zone, three switched off the indirect one, and after searing the food moves across and finishes cooking with the lid closed. From Burnhard’s grate dimensions, roughly 3,690 cm² results by calculation. On this area sit 21 kW of main burner output, roughly 5.7 watts per square centimetre. That is a pure calculated figure. How evenly the heat reaches the grate depends on burner design, flame tamers and lid, and none of us has measured that on this grill.
The lid thermometer shows the temperature of the cooking chamber. As the grilling range, the manual gives 250 to 370 °C and points out that it is usually hotter on the grate than displayed.
The rear burner is intended for the rotisserie. With the lid closed, according to the product page it distributes heat evenly, and Burnhard mentions pizza stone and Dutch oven for it. Three warnings from the manual apply to it. It should not run at the same time as the main burners, because otherwise overheating and damage threaten. In strong wind it stays off. And it is not used while greasy food is on the warming rack. The product page extends the first warning: it includes the infrared ceramic burner in the grill chamber and names warping or heavy discolouration as the consequence. In practice this means roasts on the spit and steaks on the main grate are made one after the other. No temperature is stated for the rear burner.
The 900 °C that Burnhard advertises apply to the external infrared ceramic burner in the side table, which delivers direct heat from below. The manufacturer advises always heating it up fully and preparing delicate food over the normal burners instead. According to the product page, the grates above it do not need a long preheating time.
How long does an 11 kg cylinder last?
With all six main burners on HI, by calculation a good seven hours. The figure follows from the connection values in the manual, not from a consumption measurement. With throttled burners the cylinder lasts longer, with side table modules running as well, shorter.
The manual gives 255 g/h per main burner and 233 g/h for the rear burner, 1,763 g/h together. The side table manual adds 255 g/h for the ceramic burner and 218 g/h for the hob. Six main burners at full power therefore draw 1,530 g/h, and 11,000 g divided by this value gives roughly 7.2 hours. An 8 kg cylinder would come to roughly 5.2, a 5 kg cylinder to roughly 3.3 hours. If the ceramic burner and hob run as well, demand rises to 2,003 g/h, and the 11 kg still last roughly 5.5 hours.
One inconsistency belongs here. The manual describes the supplied pressure regulator as fixed and CE-approved according to DIN EN 16129 and DIN EN 16436-1 (standards that apply in Germany and the EU), with 50 mbar operating pressure and at most 1.5 kg/h. The six main burners alone are already just above that. Burnhard does not explain anywhere what this means in operation; we only place the figures side by side.
According to the manual, cylinders of 5 kg (420 mm high, 230 mm diameter), 8 kg (505 mm, 300 mm) and 11 kg (600 mm, 300 mm) fit in the compartment. The cylinder stands in the middle on the struts so it does not tip over, and before every use you check whether it has slipped. Composite plastic cylinders are not permitted in the grill; if you use one, the gas hose must be routed outside through the rear panel. The pre-fitted hose is a CE-approved line of at most 1.5 m. If it or the pressure regulator has to be replaced, the manual requires the gas hose incl. gas pressure regulator with article number 947107, at the latest after 10 years even without visible damage.
On storage, the sources contradict each other. The product page says you store the cylinder directly in the grill. The manual, by contrast, says that the cylinder must be disconnected when the appliance is not in operation and stored outside the grill base cabinet. We would follow the manual. More on choosing a cylinder is in our guide gas bottle for the grill.
What else comes into question
| Model | The difference | Price | Our rating | Choose this if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BURNHARD Fat FRED Deluxe+ (this one) | Cast burners under the whole grate, ceramic burner and hob in the side tables, cover and smoker box included | approx. €1,399 | 8.6 | you need the full area for big gatherings and want to sear separately |
| BURNHARD Fat FRED Deluxe | same grate, but ceramic burner in the cooking chamber, without cover and smoker box | approx. €919 | 7.8 | you want the same area and prefer to buy accessories individually |
| BURNHARD Big EARL | four burners, grate 79.0 x 43.0 cm, ceramic side burner with 4.5 kW | approx. €1,499 | 8.7 | your gatherings are mostly smaller and the premium series matters more to you than area |
| Broil King Regal 590 | grate 80 x 48.8 cm, rotisserie set with electric motor included | approx. €1,649 | 9.4 | you often grill with the spit and want the set from the factory |
The prices come from our price box and the Burnhard shop (Fat FRED Deluxe+ and Big EARL at the Burnhard shop, Fat FRED Deluxe at Amazon, Regal 590 at Santos Grills) and change constantly. The rating is our editorial assessment based on manufacturer data, not a measurement result.
Deluxe+, Deluxe, Big EARL or Regal 590: what fits when
Start with the number of people. If you mostly grill for six or eight people, you rarely need the area of a Fat FRED, and an appliance of this width then stands oversized on the terrace most of the time. In that case we would look at the Big EARL: smaller grate, four burners, but at approx. €1,499 in our price box (the Deluxe+ at approx. €1,399) not cheaper and so not a budget model.
Then the location. With the clearances from the manual (below, under setup), the grill with the side tables extended needs roughly 3.60 m of free width and free space above. Burnhard says nothing about balconies in any source. Whether a gas grill is allowed there is governed by your tenancy agreement and house rules; check above all the free space above.
On money, a close look at the smaller sibling pays off. The Fat FRED Deluxe costs approx. €919 at Amazon in our price box, the Deluxe+ approx. €1,399 in the Burnhard shop. In the Burnhard shop itself, the Deluxe has a list price of €1,099. For the surcharge you get the cast burners, the ceramic burner in its own side table, cover, smoker box and kitchen roll holder; the cover alone costs €79.90 for the Deluxe in the manufacturer’s shop. Our assessment: against the Amazon price of the Deluxe (approx. €919), the extra cost for accessories and burner choice weighs heavily, as long as the ceramic burner in the main grate does not bother you. Against Burnhard’s own list price (€1,099), the Deluxe+ is easier to justify.
The Broil King Regal 590 is at approx. €1,649 in our price box (the Deluxe+ at approx. €1,399) and has a rotisserie set with electric motor from the factory. Burnhard lists the spit for the Fat FRED at a list price of €109; with the spit the Deluxe+ comes to approx. €1,508 and stays below the Regal 590. A gas cylinder is not part of the Deluxe+ delivery, so it adds to the budget. Whether Black Edition or stainless steel, you decide by material and looks; on price they do not differ.
Setting up, seasoning, cleaning: what the manual says
According to the manual, the gas grill may be used outdoors only; never operate it in a building, a garage or any other enclosed area. You keep at least 1.5 m from all combustible materials and 7.5 m from flammable liquids. Because the grill radiates heat, you never place it directly against glass fronts, walls or plants: 100 cm must be kept free to the back, 100 cm to the side, 200 cm above. It stands on a level, stable and fireproof surface, sheltered from wind, and before every use you secure it with the caster brakes. For the side table modules, their own manual repeats the clearances and likewise requires a spot sheltered from wind.
Before first use, the main burners burn in for 20 minutes without food to remove preservation residues; the ceramic burner and hob in the side tables likewise for 20 minutes each. The cast iron grates are enamelled, but Burnhard recommends seasoning anyway: insert the grates, main burners on HI, 45 minutes with the lid closed. You never use olive oil or whey products for this. Ignite only with the lid open and only via the piezo ignition, never with an open flame; the same applies to the lid of the side table modules. You never fold down a side table while its burner is running, only once the module and cooking chamber have cooled.
Clean after every use, only after cooling down and without a connected gas cylinder, and flammable cleaning agents are off limits. To burn off, you set the main burners to HI and let them run for 15 to 30 minutes with the lid closed until no more smoke rises. The flame tamers may go in the dishwasher; no water may get into the gas nozzles. According to the manual, common grill cleaners are only conditionally suitable for the aluminium parts, and microfibre is forbidden for stainless steel surfaces because it can scratch the material. Neither aluminium foil nor an aluminium tray belongs on the grease drain plate and grease tray, and you empty the tray regularly to prevent a grease fire.
If a grease fire does break out, you try to switch off the burners and close the lid until the fire is out. You never extinguish oil and grease fires with water, but with a grease fire extinguisher or fire blanket.
A rule of its own applies to the ceramic stone in the side table. According to the side table manual, it cannot and must not be cleaned and must under no circumstances be treated with water and/or cleaning agents; you burn off residues for approx. 10 to 15 minutes at full heat. Only unmarinated and unoiled food goes on the stone, because acidic and salty marinades as well as pepper can damage it. The rear burner cover can be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher. The cover goes on the grill only when it has cooled down completely.
What Burnhard leaves open and where the sources contradict each other
None of the three sources (product page, main manual, side table manual) contains:
- a gas consumption per grilling evening, only the connection values of the individual burners
- a heat-up time to a specific temperature and a maximum temperature in the cooking chamber
- the cooking area in square centimetres and the size of the area above the ceramic burner in the side table
- material thicknesses of lid, cooking chamber and grates, the weight of the cast iron grates and a separate weight for the stainless steel version
- the country of manufacture
- spare part prices and delivery times
There are also contradictions. According to the highlight text of the product page, the cast burners have 3.75 kW each, while the technical data on the same page say 3.5 kW, and only the smaller value adds up with the additional burners to the stated total output. The main manual lists 24.2 kW for the Fat FRED, that is, main burners and rear burner without side tables, and only stainless steel tube burners as equipment. Its dimension of 924 x 600 x 1190 cm is obviously a unit error; we use the dimensions from the product page. On preheating, the main manual says approx. 15 minutes once, in the energy saving tip 20 minutes, in the side table manual 10 to 15 minutes, each with the lid closed.
Who is it suitable for?
The Fat FRED Deluxe+ is built for private users with a permanent garden spot and regular large gatherings. According to the manual, this gas grill is expressly not intended for commercial use. Anyone who wants to grill with it as a caterer or at a sales stand needs a different appliance.
If you often move your grill, you should also know the rules. Before every change of location, you switch it off, turn the cylinder valve closed and unscrew the cylinder from the hose; the grill is moved only without the cylinder in the base cabinet, because it can otherwise tip over, and not at all during operation. Anyone who faces this routine twice a week because the grill has to go into the shed after the meal is better served by a lighter model. On children, the manual is clear: they must not play with the grill, and use by children is forbidden.
We would buy the Deluxe+ if you often grill for more than a dozen people, can keep the space behind and beside the grill free, and prefer the ceramic burner beside rather than under the main grate.
