Infrared grills have come a long way since their humble beginnings in the 70’s when they were first patented and introduced to the BBQ industry. With technological development, different brands and cooking systems took infrared grills to the next level, and it pretty much grew from there. Infrared grills vary from the traditional gas-fueled grill; Regular gas grills work based on convection, where-as infrared grills radiate heat from a plate (usually ceramic, glass, or metal). There is definitely a learning curve when it comes to using an infrared grill. Don’t be afraid to fail and experiment with grilling. Without further delay, let us check out the best options on the market.
Let’s take a look at these best infrared grills and see what they have to offer:
#1. Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Grill
The Char-Broil Patio Bistro Infrared Gas Grill is an ideal solution for convenient, high-quality grilling experience without charcoal, smoke, and all that stuff. Whether it’s chicken or veggies, it’s perfect for great tasting meals.
Unlike other men, it doesn’t take a lot of talking to get me grilling. Yes, I have used this little grill quite a lot. So, here’s my review of the product from top to bottom. Let me start with the product features to get you introduced to this grill.
Features of the Char-Broil Tru-Infrared Patio Grill
The Patio Bistro offers 240 sq. in of cooking space. A top shelf can be added to increase the grilling space to 320 sq. In. One can quickly cook about a dozen burgers at a time. It heats up to 550 degrees. So, much power is hardly seen in an infrared grill.
The TRU-Infrared system cooks food evenly without alarming your immediate neighbors with flare or smoke. The easy to manage control knob makes temperature adjustment a hassle-free affair. The folding side tables provide enough space to keep the preparation tools within your hand’s reach while cooking.
In Use:
Compact and sturdy, this grill comes with an electric ignition. It’s easy to get started with this grill. Ask my wife how fuzzy I am about little things, and you will know why I love this simple start-up process. It’s also easy to move the grill around. Moreover, it doesn’t take a lot of real estate.
The flavor of the food that comes out of the grill is pretty good. It gave me the true barbeque flavor which I missed for all these years. I really couldn’t have asked for more. It gave me a way to experience that great taste anywhere on the go.
The Good:
It saves you from the smoke and flare hassle. My neighbors get alarmed by smoke and fire. I don’t know why, but they always give out an impression that doomsday would start from our neighborhood. Luckily, this one doesn’t emit smoke and fire.
The porcelain-coated cooking grates make them rust-resistant for the most part. Also, it makes it easy to clean the unit. The removable shelf can be used to keep the cooked food warm.
The Bad:
Despite its small size, assembling the unit proved to be a pain in the butt. I have owned grills that had instructions printed on them. However, there was no information printed on this one.
There’s no storage space. I also found the lid to be smaller than the other portable grills that I have used in the past. The preheating time is a bit long too. Other than these minor issues, this small sized-grill is a strong performer.
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#2. Char-Broil Signature 3 Burner Infrared Gas Grill
This grill offers innovative features and wraps them in a stainless steel body. It cooks faster and more conveniently than the traditional gas or charcoal grills out there on the market today. So, is this the high-quality grill that will always deliver outstanding grilling results? Let’s find out. We will begin with the product features.
Features of the Char-Broil Signature 3 Burner Infrared Gas Grill
The TRU Infrared technology sends heat directly to the food, making it more juicer and tastier. It distributes heat evenly on the cooking surface. The one-touch electronic ignition system helps one get started in a snap. The high powered 13,000 BTU side burner lets you expand the cooking area at a moment’s notice.
The Lid-Mounted Temperature Gauge tells you what’s going on under the hood, which makes it easy to monitor the temperature. The wide side shelf provides additional space to help you stay organized while cooking. Depending on your needs, you can either purchase two burners, three burners, or 4 burners cabinet grill. So, you are not stuck with choices. Moreover, the grill can be easily switched from propane to natural gas, making it is an affordable hybrid grill option.
In Use:
It’s a heavy unit. So, I was worried about the cosmetic damage upon arrival. Fortunately, it arrived in good shape under top-notch packaging. Right off the box, I was up for an uphill task of assembling the unit. Having constructed a grill before, I was able to put together this unit in little over an hour.
I enjoy the fact that there is ZERO flare up. Moreover, the food stays juicy. Personally, I don’t enjoy cooking certain meals on a gas or charcoal grill because it dries out the food. With infrared grill by my side, I couldn’t be happier. No matter what I cook, it comes out juicier and tastier.
The radiant heat cooks everything pretty much very fast and perfect at all times. The fact that it gets hotter than a standard grill, I use a grilling glove while cooking food on this unit. Overall, I must admit that the infrared technology works nicely. I got hamburgers done in five minutes, steaks in less than 10-15 minutes. All of this with excellent flavor, no flare up, and little mess to clean.
The Good:
Unlike other grills that I have used in the past, I did not find any hot or cold spots on the grill. Even better, there are no flares, which helped me cook with more confidence.
The product is very durable. It’s thoughtfully constructed and designed for maximum ease of use and productivity. By cleaning it regularly and keeping it covered, one can increase its lifespan. Mine has lasted for years now, and it’s still going strong.
The Bad:
The unit does not come assembled. The only way to receive it in one piece is to pay additional $60 assembly fee. Everything is well-documented. Two people and a little bit of patience are all that you need to get the grill assembled.
Assembling takes time, but it’s not a task from hell. The finished product will weigh over 100 pounds. Assembly would ideally require around 1 hour of your time. Of course, take your own time and don’t rush on assembling the unit.
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#3. Char-Broil Tru-Infrared Portable
Are you thinking of heading out for camping or tailgating trip? Need a grill that can cook anything and is built to travel? Oh, ok! So you want a superstar grill? The Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Portable Grill2Go Gas Grill could fit the bill over here.
Features of the Char-Broil Tru-Infrared Portable
The TRU-Infrared Portable Grill2Go is a rugged and highly portable grill that prevents flare up and puts that perfect flavor to your cooking food. The TRU-Infrared™ grilling technology delivers even heat across the cooking surface. So, you can get the foods cooked right, every single time.
It’s built well, and it comes with a push-button ignition feature to ignite a 9,500 BTU burner, which is powered by a portable 16.4 oz. Disposable LP cylinder. It comes nicely equipped with stainless steel cooking grates and offers 200 sq.in of the total cooking area. The lid-mounted temperature gauge is an excellent add-on to this unit. It helps to control the heat under the hood.
In Use:
I have done a lot of grilling at home and on the road as well with this unit. With little to no direct flames hitting the food, I loved everything that came out of the hood. I liked how it cooked. It made the food more juicer and tender to match my expectations.
Although it looks pretty compact, I manage to cook 8-9 chicken breasts at one shot. It took a lot of bumps on our road trips while resting in our RV, but its sturdy construction ensured no dents or any other malfunction. It helped me carry all the flavors I needed for my tailgating trips.
Cleaning the unit didn’t prove to be a back-breaking experience for me. It comes with a unique tool that helps you clean up all the stuff that could get stuck on the grill.
The Good:
With latched lids to protect the burners, the unit doesn’t mind being tossed around like a toy. It comes with sturdy legs and carrying handles so one can easily maneuver it.
It’s pretty efficient and uses less propane for cooking compared to its competition. The company behind the brand has been in the business for over six decades. So, one can be sure of the brand reputation.
The Bad:
It smokes a little bit more than a standard grill because the grease isn’t coming in contact with the flame but the hot air trapped under the hood. This doesn’t readily burn the food, but it comes at the cost of extra smoke. Not a big deal though!
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#4. Magma Infra Red Gourmet Series
It’s time to introduce you to a portable infrared grill that’s perfect for camping and boating. Before you get grilling, let me highlight some of the internal/ external features of this infrared gas grill.
Features of the Magma Infra Red Gourmet Series
Manufactured in the USA, it’s constructed from mirror polished marine grade stainless steel for superior rust resistance. It has a full-length dynamic handle and a swiveling valve regulator. The front access to the hood is protected with a latch.
The simple design and latch system emphasizes portability. Inside the grill, you get 162 sq.in of grilling space. It has reliable electric ignition for instant startup. It provides up to 11200 BTU output.
In Use:
The lid is perfectly balanced. I have used it outdoors in some rough conditions, but the lid stood its ground. It did not slam shut even when I thought it wouldn’t be able to hold any longer.
To my surprise, this grill provided very intense and high heat. It cooks the food from the inside out. I never had to remove anything from the barbeque half-baked. Better yet, it delivered food with great smoky flavor.
Unlike other grills, this one shines in the cleaning department. The three removable grills and the grease tray make it easy to clean the unit. After it cools down, I merely remove these pieces apart to scrub them.
The Good:
It’s nicely designed. It has beautifully rounded corners that contribute to its aesthetics. It’s very easy to clean, and it won’t blow out when exposed to a lot of breezes. So, it stays lit even on windy days.
It comes with an additional cooking tray that can be easily snapped into the unit for keeping preparation stuff or cooked food on it. It’s pretty compact as well. I simply grab it by the handle to store it in a convenient space.
The Bad:
It’s not smoke-free. It eliminates quite a bit of smoke when the grease hits the sear plates.
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Final thoughts on these Infrared Grills
If you need a grill that offers true barbeque flavor, you can’t go wrong with Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill.
If you need a high-powered grill with several burner cabinet grills, then Char-Broil Signature TRU Infrared 3-Burner Cabinet Gas Grill would prove to be the best bet.
If you need a grill that’s built for travel and fun, go for Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Portable Grill2Go Gas Grill.
Last Updated on January 4, 2020 by Judith Fertig
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