Burners on a residential gas range or cooktop will have somewhere from 500 BTUs all the way up to 18,000 BTUs. On a newer 4-burner range, expect one high BTU burner, one low and two mid-range BTU burners. Often, the higher BTU burners are in the front. On older ranges, there may be less variation, with all four burners being around 10,000 BTUs, enough for your average home cook.
Low: 500–2,000 BTUs. These are often called simmer burners and are good for low-heat cooking like simmering and braising. Because the BTU range is smaller, these burners also offer better control to help you avoid burning ingredients by managing the heat.
Middle: 2,000–10,000 BTUs. Mid-range BTUs are good for everyday cooking like sauteing and frying.
High: 12,000–18,000 BTUs. These high BTU burners are meant for high heat cooking like searing and stir-frying. Some commercial or professional-style ranges may go up to 25,000 BTUs, but you'll need to ensure your home has proper ventilation for these powerful burners. Check out the Power Burner by Maytag, which cranks out 18,000 BTUs of intense heat.
Flexible: 1,000–15,000 BTUs. Some stoves have a burner with an extra-wide range of BTUs or even stacked burners with two different BTUs for added flexibility, like the Power Simmer Dual Stack Burner by Maytag. Use these types of burners when switching quickly between high and low heat, like when you need to bring soup or stew to a boil then reduce to a simmer.