What Is a Clamshell Grill?
A clamshell grill is a type of commercial grill that cooks food from both sides simultaneously using an upper and lower platen. This double sided cooking design eliminates the need to flip items, ensuring consistent results with less labor and faster cook times.
The upper platen applies controlled heat and pressure, delivering even searing and precise cooking while reducing hot spots. Combined with the lower platen, it allows operators to select specific sear levels and achieve consistent internal temperatures across proteins, sandwiches, and other menu items, all without constant monitoring or adjustments.
This precision, speed, and reliability make clamshell grills particularly valuable for high-volume kitchens that demand efficiency, consistency, and repeatable quality.
What Makes the Taylor Clamshell Grill the Best Commercial Grill?
When it comes to choosing the best commercial grill for a fast‑paced kitchen, Taylor’s clamshell grills stand out for their automation, precision, and operational efficiency.
1. Automated, One‑Touch Cooking
Taylor clamshell grills (like the L812 and Crown Series models) feature programmable controls and one‑touch recipe selection that automatically set the correct cook time, temperature, and platen gap for each menu item. Once a profile is saved, an operator simply presses a button and the grill executes it consistently every time.
This automation:
- Greatly reduces training time
- Minimizes human error
- Ensures consistent quality across shifts and staff skill levels
2. Designed for Even, Fast, High‑Volume Cooking
Taylor clamshell grills use multiple heating elements in both the lower surface and upper platens, combined with independently‑controlled cooking zones. This means each portion of the grill cooks evenly and recovers heat quickly, which is critical for maintaining throughput during peak service times.
With side‑to‑side release materials protecting the platens, cleaning is faster and safer, and routine maintenance becomes less disruptive to service flow.
3. Saves Time, Space, and Labor
Compared with a traditional flat top grill, a Taylor clamshell grill can:
- Cook food faster, often reaching optimal internal temperatures more quickly.
- Reduce labor, thanks to automation and fewer manual adjustments.
- Maximize kitchen space, as clamshell units deliver high output from a relatively compact footprint.
Taylor’s lineup includes both electric and gas configurations, giving operators flexibility to match their kitchen setup and utility constraints.
For restaurants looking to optimize operations, a Taylor clamshell grill delivers the three most critical performance pillars: speed, consistency, and ease of use.
Is a Taylor Clamshell Grill Right for Your Operations?
Taylor clamshell grills aren’t just a fun thought, they’re field‑tested solutions trusted by high‑volume kitchens across the country. From national quick‑service brands to local bars and stadium venues, these grills power busy operations where performance is essential.
Proven Reliability in the Real World
Operations like Dairy Queen and McDonald’s rely on Taylor clamshell grills to deliver speed, dependability, and consistency across thousands of locations nationwide.
The story of MC’s Garage highlights this performance in action. Their Taylor L819 grill enabled the kitchen to produce more than 900 burgers every weekend while freeing staff from constant grill monitoring. The restaurant owner emphasized that the grill’s reliability gave his team the confidence to focus on other aspects of service and quality, not just cooking.
How to Know if a Clamshell Grill Fits Your Kitchen
A Taylor clamshell grill may be the right choice for your operation if you:
- Serve high guest volumes or face frequent peak rush times
- Want to standardize food quality across shifts or locations
- Need to reduce cook times and labor demands
- Are looking to optimize kitchen efficiency and space utilization
- Are replacing or upgrading from a traditional flat top grill
For kitchens facing these operational realities, a Taylor clamshell grill offers a proven path to improved performance.
In The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Commercial Grill for High‑Volume Kitchens, Taylor Company lays out key considerations for operators evaluating their next grill. Whether its a prioritization of efficiency and durability, or a focus on reliable maintenance and staff training, this article lays out everything you need to consider before buying your next grill.
Ready to see how a Taylor Clamshell Grill can transform your kitchen?
Discover the speed, consistency, and efficiency that top operators rely on. Contact our team today to schedule a demo or learn which Taylor model is the perfect fit for your operation.
