Guide
to Buying an Infrared Grill
Relatively new to the scene, the infrared grill is a term you’ll see plastered all over the local grill shop. Infrared burners are often costlier than your average grill; they claim to have perfectly even heat distribution, incredibly high temperature, and fast searing you’ve only dreamed of before.
What is an
Infrared Grill?
An infrared grill essentially uses infrared heat to cook the food at a level that beats the standard grill by miles. The naked eye cannot see infrared energy. Our planet absorbs infrared energy from the sun—we typically see it in the form of heat.
To cook the food
Standard grills work by
Heating the air
Infrared grills use
Actual heat waves
These heat waves are electromagnetic waves of energy that are emitted from a heated surface, usually metallic or ceramic. These waves travel at the speed of light, in any direction, making them highly efficient.
This is often a better way to prevent the food from losing moisture as there is less air movement that draws the heat out.
Some worry about the health impacts of using electromagnetic waves. Yet, infrared radiation is created by fire and coals and is, therefore, a perfectly natural heat transfer process.
It only needs three to five minutes to heat up enough to cook your food. The temperatures climbed in the short period of time are high enough to kill bacteria.
Grill might require ten minutes of preheating, a charcoal grill can take up to twenty minutes.
As with any type of grill, there are so many kinds and variants of infrared grills. Follow our guide to learn everything you need to know about the pros and cons of an infrared grill, whether you want a built-in, freestanding, or portable grill, and what you should look out for when buying an infrared grill.
Benefits of an
Infrared Grill
Cons of an
Infrared Grill
Infrared grills are sounding pretty good, right? Well, unfortunately, as with everything, it does have its pitfalls. Before you rush out to buy your infrared grill, let’s dive into what it lacks.
Expensive
If you want the full range, you’ll be spending well over a thousand (if not several thousand for the top-of-the-range grills).
While you might think it worth every penny, it’s a lot of money to spend on something that cooks steaks.
The higher heat does limit its versatility (which we’ll consider in more detail later), meaning that it can be pretty hard to justify spending that sort of money on a steak-cooking machine.
On the other hand, you can get a freestanding gas grill for as little as $399. Comparatively, are infrared grills worth the money?
Risk of burning food
Many of us aren’t used to the intense heat that the infrared grill emits. With a steak cooking in a matter of minutes, timing is everything.
The chef has to be ready to take the meat off the grill at the exact right moment. Those new to grilling on infrared grills report burning or overcooking.
It might require practice and careful monitoring to control the temperatures properly, or you risk burning your food.
Sturdier meats work better
If you’re dreaming of a hamburger or a chicken breast, then purchasing an infrared grill isn’t the right decision for you.
However, the one thing the infrared does well, steaks; it does really well. You might also be able to cook other sturdier meats, like a rack of pork ribs.
Not that versatile
Unfortunately, while we’ve boasted the infrared grills’ extremely high temperatures, searing talents, and fast cooking, this limits what it is suitable for. As mentioned, you’ll be pushed to find a better steak than one fresh off the infrared grill. However, if you fancy something other than a steak, you’ll need to find a regular gas grill that can manage the lower temperatures.
Plus, you lose the option to go for the low and slow cooking method. Smokers and some grills offer the ability to cook meat, vegetables, and fish for more extended periods of time (up to eight hours) and add a smokey, woody, authentic flavor to the food that you’d struggle to achieve with an infrared grill.
This means that you might have to pay for two grills to meet all your cooking needs. We’ve already seen how expensive the infrared grill is-can you afford that plus another grill?
However, it’s all about personal preference. If you’re not fussed about versatility, love a steak, and don’t have the patience for the low and slow method anyway, there’s nothing to stop you from achieving your infrared grilling dreams. Plus, there are some more affordable options, which we’ll look at next. Also, consider whether the hybrid option might be something that would suit you.
Types of Infrared Systems
The most common system, the ceramic plate, or grid, sits between the gas flame and the food. It usually has holes that help to intensify the hot temperature further.
It tends to be used for fast and hot cooking and might be prone to flare-ups.
A slightly cheaper system, however, they do not get to temperatures quite as high as other infrared systems.
The heat is generated from stainless steel tube burners and transferred to the food through a metal heat emitting panel.
TEC is the name of an infrared cooking specialist company. Their systems include:
Stainless Steel IR Burner & Radiant Glass Panel
Temperatures can get up to around 850 degrees Fahrenheit and tend to produce even heat across the surface.
TEC Stainless Steel Conversion Burner & Radiant Glass Panel
Temperatures tend to range between 200 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is a bit more robust.
Infrared Gas Hybrid Grills— Best of Both worlds
If you’re put off by the idea that you lose the versatile options of other grills by opting for an infrared system, then the hybrid infrared gas grill might be more attractive.
There are many gas grills available on the market that have the option to have one infrared burner, while the rest are normal gas grills.
The benefits of a hybrid grill allow you to use different temperatures for different foods. You can sear your steak on one burner while your burgers and chicken can cook at slightly lower temperatures on your other burners.
Plus, you can make a quick transition from searing to grilling to get really creative with how you BBQ your meat.
Types of
Infrared Grills
Of course, as no grill is the same, not every infrared grill is the same, either. With so many available on the market and manufacturers seeking new innovations all the time, we can’t make blanket claims about the pros and cons.
With many variances between the built-in grill and the freestanding or portable infrared grills, no two are alike. Let’s dive a little deeper into what your infrared grilling options are and whether there is the perfect one out there for you.
Built-in Infrared Grills
The built-in infrared grill is designed to sit in your outside kitchen worktop. Built-in grills tend to be bigger than the stand-alone or portable variants. They sometimes include extra counter space that is useful for food preparation or storing utensils, chopping boards, or other grilling equipment within close proximity. Food prep can be a more social activity as you don’t have to head inside.
Plus, there are often more options for protection. As it is built into a unit, you can create a whole outdoor kitchen area in one space, separating the cooking from the rest of your backyard.
This reduces the chances of incidents and might be worth considering if you have children. Plus, they are better protected from the elements as it is attached to the wall.
Built-in grills also tend to last longer than other kinds of infrared grills. They are designed to be robust, efficient, and longer-lasting as they are more permanent fixtures. In addition, they are made to survive harsh weather as they are made to stay outside in all climates.
Finally, as they are more robust, they require lower maintenance. They rarely need replacing (which is good when you remember the cost of an infrared grill) and can end up being more cost-effective than other grill types.
If you’re interested in a built-in infrared grill, they can range from around $1,000 to over $9,000.
At the more affordable end of the spectrum is the Blaze 32-Inch 4-Burner. Using natural gas and coming with an additional rotisserie burner, the grill’s primary cooking area is 552 square inches and a secondary cooking area of 186 square inches.
Price Range:
Primary Cooking area:
Secondary Cooking area:
It can also come with an additional smoker box for more variance. Made with stainless steel and highly durable, this infrared grill is designed to be an affordable, quality option for everyone.
At the top of the range of built-in infrared grills, the Fire Magic Echelon Diamond nears $10,000 but does not skimp on quality.
There are many gas grills available on the market that have the option to have one infrared burner, while the rest are normal gas grills.
Price Range:
Total Cooking area:
Freestanding Infrared Grills
Freestanding infrared grills come with their own set of benefits. Firstly, they are considerably more flexible than built-in grills. If you lack the space in your backyard for an outdoor kitchen, or you just fancy a movable grill to store in your garage, the freestanding infrared grill is the best option. Most of them aren’t too difficult to move around, either.
Secondly, the freestanding infrared grill tends to be smaller and less powerful than built-in grills. Therefore, its energy efficiency uses even less fuel, saving you money. Although, this often means that the cooking surface area isn’t quite so large so that less food can be cooked at once.
Lastly, a stand-alone grill can set a great, calming ambiance in your outside space. The sound and smell of meat sizzling on the BBQ are unbeatable on a summer evening.
You can move your grill wherever you want in your garden—rather than bringing the guests to your kitchen, you can take the kitchen to your guests.
The most affordable freestanding infrared grill option is the Broil King Regal S490 Pro.
This infrared grill boasts a 695-square-inch grilling surface with four burners, perfect for any cookout. You can wheel this grill anywhere in your backyard with ease.
Grilling surface with four burners:
A more mid-range option is the Blaze Professional 44-Inch.
A high-quality, accessible infrared grill, the Blaze grill features four burners and a total of 1,050 square inches of grilling space. The grill also comes with two drawers at the bottom and a storage cabinet to keep all your grilling equipment within reach.
Grilling surface with four burners:
The Fire Magic Echelon Diamond E1060s is, again, the more pricey of your infrared grilling options.
Helping everyone become the master griller and cook steaks to a level of perfection unknown before, this infrared grill is over $15,000 for a reason. With 1440 square inches of grilling space, this grill is designed to cook for everyone.
Price Range:
Grilling space
Portable Infrared Grills
If you’re looking for an even more flexible option, the portable infrared grill is likely what you want. Perhaps the biggest draw of the portage grill is its compact size. Easy to fit into your car for a summer road trip, or cart around the backyard at home, it is designed for any use. Plus, it tends to weigh less than other infrared grills, making it easy to carry around—or even to take to the beach.
In addition, the portable infrared grill is quick and easy to assemble. With a few components, mainly the base, legs, grate, and lid, anyone can put it together for a quick cookout. That said, the built-in and freestanding infrared grills don’t require any assembling.
Perfect for small gatherings and holidays, the portable grill uses very little fuel and can be brought out for all occasions. However, because of its smaller dimensions, it may not be ideal if you’re used to cooking for large numbers of people.
What to Look for When Buying an Infrared Grill
So, you’re convinced that an infrared grill is the right choice for you. You like the sound of fast-cooking steaks and juicy, tender meat. You’ve even decided whether you want a built-in, freestanding, or portable grill.
Yet, before rushing to the store and picking out the first infrared grill you see, it’s worth considering what you should look for when buying an infrared grill. Here are some essential factors to think about that you might not have thought of.
Price
As we’ve discussed, infrared grills sit at higher prices than the average gas grill. However, with so many types and manufacturers, you can expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 and $15,000 for a built-in or freestanding infrared grill. You might expect that the higher-priced grills are the best. And, yes, their quality is often unmatched by those at the lower end of the spectrum.
However, do you need all the cooking space and additional features that it comes with, like smokers, LED lighting, or rotisseries?
Another consideration is the ongoing fuel costs. A smaller grill uses far less energy than one of the larger ones. If you’re only going to be cooking for yourself and your immediate family most nights, is it worth using a big grill that requires far more fuel?
Also, as we mentioned earlier, as the infrared grill specializes in steaks (and only steaks), are you thinking of purchasing a second gas grill that can tend to your other BBQ needs? Think about the combined cost and whether it is something you can reasonably afford.
Fuel
Another factor to take into account when choosing your infrared grill is the fuel type. All infrared grills run off either natural gas or propane. While the end result is the same (your BBQ will taste amazing), no matter what gas type you opt for.
Let’s look at the difference between propane and natural gas a little more closely.
propane |
Natural Gas |
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy Efficiency | Propane actually contains more energy and, therefore, heats up the grill far more quickly with its additional power. | Natural Gas contains a bit less energy compare to Propane.While this might not be much worry with infrared grills that get to temperature amazingly quickly anyway, it’s worth taking into account as it makes the grill even more efficient. Natural gas is often considered less popular than using propane to fire up your grill. |
| Cost | Propane is typically more expensive than natural gas. Although, it is always available at most supermarkets so you’ll rarely run out. | Choosing to buy an infrared grill that plugs into the natural gas in your house might be a cost-saving option in the long-term, as you won’t need to continually buy propane; however, it comes with a markup installation charge upfront for some freestanding grills. |
If you don’t have a natural gas outlet in your backyard, you’ll need to invest in installing one. This definitely ups the upfront costs.
They might also take longer to set up, especially if your gas line does not reach your patio. Natural gas is just as environmentally friendly as its propane counterpart.
Fuel options might not seem like they should be at the top of your priority list; however, it is definitely a factor to think about when buying an infrared grill.
Warranty and Support
Most grill companies and manufacturers offer a warranty when you buy your infrared grill with them. While grills rarely break, it is a good idea to purchase a grill with a warranty should it fail. This is especially true of infrared grills as they are so costly. You don’t want to spend over $5,000 on a grill for it to break without a warranty.
Most warranties will last between one to ten years, depending on the grill type and manufacturer.
With Grillio, all the brands of grills offer solid warranty plans to give you peace of mind with your purchase.
You can rest assured that we have thoroughly vetted each manufacturers’ grill’s quality and durability. However, if you would feel more comfortable with a warranty plan, we have partnered with one of the best warranty companies in the country.
The extended warranty plans are available for two, three, or five years—your choice. It covers most structural issues. The pricing structure depends on the type of grill you purchase.
Whether you opt for a warranty at all is your choice; however, if you do, we’re happy to talk you through our options to ease the buying process.
Grill Construction
Finally, you need to think about how the grill is constructed.
Are you considering a portable grill? While they’re easy and quick to set up, do you think it might become a hassle? The same is true of the freestanding grill; are you prepared to wheel it out of the garage every time? They are moveable on wheels; however, they can also weigh a fair amount.
The benefit of a built-in grill is that it is always there, ready to go at the slightest moment’s notice. There is no setting up or construction required. Yet, it is also not something you can put away when not in use.
You should also consider how the grill will arrive when you first purchase it.
While some infrared grills come fully assembled, there are others that require some construction on your part. A built-in grill needs an outside kitchen. If you don’t already have an outdoor cooking area, think about the cost and effort of building one.
Purchasing an infrared grill can end up more complicated than it seems at first glance. With such a costly investment, it’s crucial you take the time to think through all the different options.
Conclusion
The infrared barbecue grill is an innovative, ground-breaking invention. All the hype surrounding it is not undeserving. With its amazing abilities to sear steaks and get to ridiculously high temperatures, it’s definitely a grill worth considering. Plus, its energy efficiency and easy-to-clean nature make it an attractive option for prospective buyers.
However, we should remember that it is not without its limitations. It’s not for versatile chefs or those prone to burning their BBQs.
Remember, if you want the best of both worlds, there is always the hybrid infrared gas grill to consider.
Whatever grill type you choose, we’re here to help you make the decision.
Key Questions
- What is an infrared grill?
- How do infrared grills work?
- What are the benefits of an infrared grill?
- What are the cons of an infrared grill?
- What are the types of infrared grill systems?
- How does ceramic grill heating work?
- Are there infrared hybrid grills?
- What are the benefits of a hybrid grill?
- What are the types of infrared grills?
- What should you look for when buying an infrared grill?
- What fuel considerations should you make when buying an infrared grill?
- What are the benefits of different grill constructions?