<P> A charbroiler ( also referred to as a chargrill , char - broiler or simply broiler ) is a commonly used cooking device consisting of a series of grates or ribs that can be heated using a variety of means , and is used in both residential and commercial applications for a variety of cooking operations . The heat source is almost always beneath the cooking surface -- for gas - fired applications this is referred to as an under - fired broiler . Most commonly the charbroiler is a series of long evenly spaced metal ribs over a large combustion chamber filled with an array of burners that may have a deflector , briquettes or radiant between the burner and the cooking surface . </P>
where does the heat come from when broiling
The heat source is almost always beneath the cooking surface