When you're outfitting commercial cooking equipment, the range is the centerpiece. Choosing between two different six-burner models can feel like a high-stakes call. You need enough burners for multiple dishes, the right fuel for your building, a footprint that fits your cookline, and a price that leaves room for the rest of your setup.
This head-to-head puts the Southbend S361D 36-inch natural gas range against the Commercial Kitchen 60-inch liquid propane range with a 24-inch griddle and two standard ovens. One is a compact, natural-gas workhorse at a lower price; the other is a larger propane-powered station with griddle space and double-oven capacity.
Quick verdict
The Southbend S361D is the pick for kitchens that want a durable six-burner range without stretching the budget. The Commercial Kitchen 60-inch range is the pick for kitchens that need flat-top cooking and extra oven capacity, and it asks for a larger investment.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Southbend S361D | Commercial Kitchen 60" Range |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $1,974.50 | $3,226.94 |
| Width | 36 inches | 60 inches |
| Fuel type | Natural gas | Liquid propane |
| Burners | 6 | 6 |
| Extra cooking surface | Six-burner top with individual controls | Six burners plus a 24-inch griddle/broiler |
Where each range wins
- Southbend S361D: Wins for kitchens with a tighter budget and a smaller equipment bay.
- Commercial Kitchen 60" range: Wins for operations that need more cook surface in a single station.
Product notes
Southbend S361D 36-Inch Natural Gas Range
The Southbend S361D is a 36-inch natural gas range with six burners and individual controls, so you can run different pans at different temperatures simultaneously. Heavy-duty stainless steel construction handles busy service, and the generous top surface accommodates large pots and sheet pans. This is the lower-priced option of the two, which gives budget-conscious kitchens room for other equipment, such as a hood or cookware. That lowered entry point makes it an especially practical fit for restaurants, catering operations, and institutional kitchens that already have natural gas service. The trade-off is that this unit is configured for natural gas, so a liquid propane kitchen would need to look elsewhere, and the narrower footprint limits side-by-side pan capacity compared to the wider model.
Commercial Kitchen 60-Inch Liquid Propane Range with 24-Inch Griddle
The Commercial Kitchen 60-inch range brings serious capacity to a cookline. Its six 30,000 BTU open burners sit under cast iron lift-off grates, and right beside them is a 24-inch manual steel griddle/broiler. That means you can cook eggs and bacon on the flat top while stockpots simmer on the burners, without juggling pans between stations. Two standard ovens provide baking and holding space, and the 9 1/2-inch back shelf and 4 1/2-inch plate rail give you a spot for pans and utensils. Construction includes a stainless steel front, aluminum sides, and a porcelainized oven bottom for easier cleanup. At $3,226.94, it is the higher-priced option, and it also requires a liquid propane connection and a substantial amount of floor space. That investment makes sense for kitchens that rely on both open burners and a griddle daily.
Final choice by use case
If you need a six-burner range for a compact cookline and want to keep initial cost down, choose the Southbend S361D. If your menu demands cooking flexibility beyond open burners, choose the Commercial Kitchen 60-inch range.
