Whether you’ve heard of infrared grills and are trying to decide what’s best for you or if it’s a brand-new term to you, we’ve got you covered here at Angry BBQ. We’ll give you our list of the best infrared grills and answer some important questions:
- What is an infrared grill?
- How does an infrared grill work?
- What are the disadvantages of an infrared grill?
- And even how to clean an infrared grill.
If you’re on a budget, the prospect of an infrared grill might scare you, but the Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared 3-burner Cabinet Style Gas Grill is our favorite budget infrared grill.
Read on to help understand how these special grills work and why you should consider them if you’re a big fan of high-heat searing.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Top PickTop PickChar-Broil Performance Tru Infrared |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Best High-EndBest High-EndSaber Elite Infrared Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Salamander StyleSalamander StyleGASPRO Infrared Broiler |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Best Freestanding Best Freestanding Napoleon Prestige 500 |
| CHECK PRICE |
 | Apartment FriendlyApartment FriendlyChar-Broil Patio Bistro Electric |
| CHECK PRICE |
What Is An Infrared Grill?
An infrared grill is a version of a gas grill capable of reaching higher temperatures. That makes it ideal for grilling steaks or other cuts of meat where you want well-defined grill marks and a seared crust.
So what sets infrared grills apart from traditional gas grills? They both use gas, so how different can they be?
Infrared Technology Explained
While infrared grills use gas to heat like a normal gas grill, how that heat is conducted to the meat is entirely different. With your standard gas grill, the burners provide some direct heat but mostly heat the entire air in the cooking chamber. Infrared grills use radiant heat (aka thermal radiation) conducted through a ceramic or glass element. The cooking grates sit right above the element, so the radiant heat is directly cooking the meat.
Infrared grills do not suffer from hot or cold spots due to the radiant heat provided by the heating elements that spread across the entire cooking surface of the grill.
The process of cooking with an infrared grill is faster and more efficient. The grill isn’t attempting to heat the entire cooking chamber, so it uses less fuel and comes up to temperature much more quickly.
Speaking of temperatures, infrared grills are well-known for how high of a temperature they can reach. If you love steaks from a steakhouse, an infrared grill is the best option for you to reproduce that beautiful crust and flavor that steak houses usually provide. Some of our favorite infrared grills can hit temps of 1500F which is very high.
Those high temperatures also prevent grease flare-ups that gas grills can suffer from. Rather than drippings catching fire, the high heat of the infrared grill’s ceramic or glass element instantly vaporizes the drippings.
The combination of radiant heat and high temperature also helps keep moisture locked into the food because the cooking process is faster. Meat cooked over infrared heat typically will be juicier than a standard gas grill trying to deliver on the same temperatures.
What Are The Disadvantages Of An Infrared Grill?
High-heat searing capable of producing steakhouse-quality steaks sounds fantastic. Yet they aren’t as widely used as a normal gas grill. So what is it about infrared grills that they are such a great searing option yet aren’t as prevalent as a regular gas grill?
One of the biggest drawbacks of an infrared grill is that they are typically more expensive than a similar-sized gas grill. The technology is different than a traditional gas grill and costs more to produce.
However, there are some drawbacks to the infrared grill when it comes to grilling as well. Ceramic-based infrared grills can struggle to stay at lower temperatures which can lead to burning food that requires a lower temperature.
The other major disadvantage to radiant heat, the method that infrared grills use, is that you can’t set up two-zone or multi-zone cooking easily. If you like to slowly bring the temperature up on a larger cut of meat and then finish it over high heat, like a tri-tip or a tomahawk steak, an infrared grill might not be the best option for you.
If you’re convinced that an infrared grill would be a great option for your backyard grilling arsenal, read on for our list of the best infrared grills!
What To Consider When Purchasing An Infrared Grill?
Now you’re armed with some knowledge of the differences between an infrared and a traditional gas grill as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Next we’ll take a look at different qualities you’ll want to make sure your potential infrared grill has.
Durability
Every grill we purchase, we want to ensure that we get our money’s worth out of it. We understand that cheaper grills won’t last as long, and typically we’re okay with that. When you’re evaluating an infrared grill that carries a hefty price tag, you don’t want shoddy construction that will fall apart in a year or two and leave you with an expensive pile of junk.
You’ll want to make sure that your infrared grill is made from good-quality stainless steel. It will help your grill hold up to the rigors of outdoor grilling for years. While you’ll still want to invest in a good grill cover to protect your grill, starting with a stainless steel grill will ensure more summers spent enjoying the grill.
Portability
When you think of big outdoor grills, portability likely isn’t the first (or even fifth) word that comes to mind. However, you do want to think about how easy you can move your grill around your backyard patio, deck, or even to store in bad weather. Weight definitely plays a factor in how easy a grill is to move, but it’s not the only thing you need to consider.
When you evaluate an infrared grill for portability, take a look at how it sits on the ground. Does it have legs, wheels that go in a straight line, casters, or some combination of those? Legs with no wheels will keep your grill stable but you won’t be moving it easily around. Inline wheels can be durable and help navigate uneven terrain, but they can hinder making small adjustments. Casters are the best for when you’re tucking your grill into that perfect spot on the patio or storing it in the shed or garage during bad weather.
When you’re looking at an infrared grill, make sure you’ve got an idea of where you want to use it, how you need to get it there, and if you’re going to cover and store it there or need to move it to a better location for when bad weather is coming. That will inform how you look at the grill’s portability.
1. Best Budget Infrared Grill – Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Gas Grill Review
Char-Broil is a recognizable name in the realm of budget gas grills. We’ve profiled them on a number of occasions here at Angry BBQ, and the Performance TRU-Infrared line is another good entry for Char-Broil.
The 3-burner TRU-Infrared grill uses emitter plates that run the entire width of the grill as the radiant heat source powered by three gas burners putting out a total of 24,000 BTUs. That heats a 450 square inches of cooking space with a 150 sq in warming rack. The grill even includes a 10,000 BTU side burner for warming sauces or cooking side dishes as well.
The entire grill is made from stainless steel to help keep this grill going for a long time. The side burner can be used as a prep station if needed, but there’s a side table on the other side of the grill as well. For cleaning purposes, there’s a drip cup that can be easily accessed from behind the grill.
Char-Broil put this cooking space atop a cabinet cart with two doors that holds the propane tank as well as extra storage for tools. The cart rides on four swivel casters for easy movement. Two of the casters lock to help keep the grill steady while cooking.
What We Like…
- The price point is not a barrier if you’re looking for an infrared grill on a budget
- The emitter plates ensure an even heat across the cooking area
- The side burner is great for boiling water for corn on the cob or other sides
What Makes Us Angry…
- No back on the storage cart means critters and other things can get in if you don’t cover it well
- Some customers have reported issues with the cart being on the flimsy side or needing to tighten screws often
- The emitter plates can be a little difficult to clean
2. Best Premium Infrared Grill – Saber Grills Elite 3-Burner Grill Review
If money is of no consequence for you and you want a high-quality and versatile infrared grill, look no further than this entry from Saber Grills. Not only are you getting 500 square inches of cooking space plus 175 sq in of warming rack space, but Saber Grills also threw in a rotisserie kit for roasting chickens or whatever roast you want.
The cooking area is fueled by three burners pumping out a total of 24,000 BTUs. The infrared system helps distribute that heat efficiently and evenly so each individual burner doesn’t need to put out a high amount of BTUs. It also comes with a side burner with two burners capable of putting out a total of 18,000 BTUs, plenty of heat for preparing side dishes. Saber utilizes a full electronic ignition system for all burners as well.
This grill sits on a cabinet-style cart for storage and keeping the propane tank. The tank itself sits on a slide-out tray making pulling the tank for refueling easy. The cart sits on casters with two locking to hold the grill in place.
Saber Grills also added some convenience touches for when you want to grill even when the lighting is less than ideal. There are LED lights above each grill knob so you can see clearly what you’re doing. There are also halogen lights in the cooking chamber ensuring you don’t have to shine a light to see how those grill marks look.
The grill also has temperature gauges right above each grill knob to measure the temperature at the grill grates, ideal for when you’re searing steaks at a high temperature. A very nice touch that exemplifies the luxury this grill offers.
What We Like…
- Large cooking area heated evenly by Saber Grills’ infrared system
- Well-lit cooking chamber and knobs for less-than-ideal lighting situations
- Well-placed temperature gauges for monitoring how hot the grill grate area is rather than the top of the cooking chamber
- Included rotisserie kit to increase the versatility
What Makes Us Angry…
- Not much. It’s quite pricy, but that’s what happens when you look at high-end grills.
3. Best Salamander-Style Infrared Grill – GASPRO 1500°F Infrared Steak Grill Review
If you’ve had a steakhouse-style steak before, you may be familiar with the term “salamander broiler.” It’s an infrared grill but the heating element is above the food. The GASPRO Infrared Steak Grill is capable of producing temperatures of up to 1500°F from its infrared heating element. You can have a steak cooked as if at a high-end steakhouse in a matter of only a few minutes.
This grill also has six different levels for the grill tray allowing you to determine how close your steak (or whatever you’re searing) is to the heat. You can also change the temperature with the infinite control valve from 200-1500°F. The grill is perfect for one or two people as you can really only cook one steak at a time. They recently came out with a larger format that cook more than one steak at a time as well.
At just under 20 pounds, you can take this stainless steel grill on the go for the best possible steak even at a campground. Just be aware that if you want to use a standard propane tank, you will need to get a different propane hose as the grill is designed to be used with travel-size one-pound propane bottles.
What We Like…
- Capable of reaching temperatures of 1500°F to ensure you get that steakhouse crust on your steaks
- You can adjust the level of the cooking grates and the heat to cook your steaks exactly how you want them
- Lightweight so you can have steakhouse-quality steaks wherever you go
What Makes Us Angry…
- You need a AA battery for the electronic ignition
- Requires a separate hose if you want to use a standard propane tank like your gas grill
- It doesn’t make us angry, but it does take some getting used to how to control the heat and the distance
4. Best Infrared Gas Grill with Side Burner – Napoleon Prestige 500 Review
If you like the idea of having an infrared system but aren’t sure that you want your entire grill to be infrared, getting a gas grill with an infrared side burner can be a great compromise. The Napoleon Prestige 500 can grill like a standard gas grill while also providing that high heat in an efficient way with its infrared side burner putting out 18,000 BTUs and capable of reaching 1800°F.
The main cooking area features 500 sq in along with a 260 sq in warming rack. You can meet all your summer cookout needs as Napoleon says this can cook 30 burger patties at once. If you’re big on rotisserie chicken or other roasts, this grill even has an 18,000 BTU rear infrared burner and an included rotisserie kit.
If you enjoy cooking late into the night, the Prestige 500 has light-up control knobs so you can see your settings to help keep your temperatures right. The knobs glow red when the stainless steel burners are lit so you won’t forget to ensure your grill is off, either.
Napoleon built this grill out of stainless steel from the cart to the burners and everything in between. Even the folding side shelves with tool hooks are stainless steel. The grill sits on a cabinet cart with plenty of storage for your grill tools alongside the propane tank. The cart rolls on four locking casters, ensuring you can move the grill with ease and keep it locked in place when grilling.
As with most Napoleon grills, you can get them in liquid propane or natural gas format.
What We Like…
- This grill is versatile with the ability to grill normally, cook on the included rotisserie, or achieve that steakhouse-level sear with the infrared side burner
- Large cooking area that is perfect for hosting a cookout
- The cabinet cart has plenty of storage and the four locking casters give you plenty of control when moving the grill or keeping it still
What Makes Us Angry…
- Some customers dealt with issues around the cabinet doors not lining up properly. Plus the handles are plastic which is a drawback, for such a high end grill
5. Best Electric Infrared Grill For Apartments – Char-Broil Patio Bistro Grill review
If you live in an apartment, you know the frustrations around grilling. Almost exclusively, you’re not allowed to use propane or charcoal grills on your balcony or even your patio. So you have to make the best of a tough situation.
Char-Broil took the TRU-Infrared system from our favorite budget infrared grill and made it electric-powered rather than propane-powered. This allows people who live in an apartment or can’t use charcoal or propane for various reasons to experience cooking on an infrared grill.
The Patio Bistro electric grill has a main cooking area of 240 sq in along with a removable warming rack that adds 120 sq in. The grates are porcelain-coated making for an easy clean while also preventing rust. Speaking of easy cleaning, the grill also has a removable grease tray to help prevent grease buildup.
The temperature control is a single knob on the front of the grill for easy adjustments. There is a temperature gauge on the top of the grill, but as this is an infrared grill, you’re concerned with the temperature of the cooking surface, not the air temperature. A number of customers have complained about how long it takes for the gauge to rise and how quickly the grill loses temperature.
As we said earlier, an infrared grill does not behave like a traditional gas or charcoal grill. It’s designed to have the heat close to the cooking surface and not heat the meat through convection. As long as the cooking grate is hot, don’t worry about the temperature gauge.
The grill sits on its own cart with two rear wheels for mobility and a solid front bar with feet on the end to keep the grill steady when cooking. It also has a wire shelf where you can set tools down. The front handle also can double as a hook for a towel or tools as well.
What We Like…
- An infrared grill that will be compatible with the regulations and rules of apartment buildings
- A small footprint that still offers 240 sq in of cooking space
- The front handle doubles as a towel bar
What Makes Us Angry…
- The temperature gauge is unnecessary and can fool you into thinking that the grill isn’t heating up properly. An infrared grill is concerned with the temperature at the cooking surface, not the top of the lid
- The electrical cord is a bit short. Make sure you have an extension cord handy.
Is An Infrared Grill Right For You?
Now that we’ve covered what infrared grills are and some of the best on the market, you’re now faced with a question. Are infrared grills right for you? If you want to do a ton of searing, like with steaks, then an infrared grill is one of the best options on the market.
If you like the idea of searing steaks but you like doing multi-zone cooking, you might want to consider a grill with an infrared side burner like the Napoleon Prestige 500. Adding a small infrared grill like the GASPRO Infrared Steak Grill can also help meet that need without needing to switch out an entire grill.
A full-size infrared grill can be expensive as well, so that can hamper your desire to do that. That’s why we love the Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared 3-Burner grill. It makes entering the infrared grill market easier on the pocketbook while you still know the name and quality of Char-Broil.
How To Clean An Infrared Grill
Now that we’ve talked about the different materials that infrared grills use, you might wonder how to clean an infrared grill. We’re used to using a grill brush to clean grill grates, but how many of us have contemplated cleaning a ceramic element or an emitter plate?
The first step is essentially universal regardless of the type of element that emits the infrared heat. Once all the food is removed and you’ve cleaned the grill grates, crank the heat to high and let it run for about 10 minutes. This will burn off any remaining debris.
If you’ve looked at the Napoleon Prestige 500 with the infrared side burner, it uses a ceramic block to serve as the heating element. The temperatures that it reaches ensure that most of the food debris that falls is vaporized on contact. With any ceramic-based infrared grill, you’ll want to use a brush with soft bristles and simply brush any remaining food debris. The Prestige also has a grease tray under the side burner that you’ll want to clean out every few uses as well.
Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared system uses stainless steel emitter plates. Thankfully, the company includes a specific cleaning tool designed to clean stuck-on food from the valleys in the plates. Then brushing the emitter plates like the grill grates will clear off any of the regular food debris. If there are any particular stubborn food bits, you can even wash it in warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly before returning it to the grill. The video below demonstrates this.
Wrapping It Up
The price point can be a barrier to enjoying the benefits of an infrared grill, which is why we love the Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Grill. It’s simple to use, the TRU-Infrared emitter plates heat the entire cooking surface evenly, and the grill has a large cooking area for hosting friends and family.
If you want the best of both the traditional gas grill and infrared grills, then Napoleon’s Prestige 500 is a great choice as well.
While we’ve talked extensively about infrared grills and the great options out there, don’t forget that no backyard cooking arsenal is complete without a smoker. If you’re interested in adding the ability to smoke barbecue without breaking the bank or having to tend a fire, check out our roundup of the best pellet grills for under $1000.
Have you used an infrared grill before? Are you considering it? Let us know in the comments!
| IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top PickTop PickChar-Broil Performance Tru Infrared |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Best High-EndBest High-EndSaber Elite Infrared Grill |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Salamander StyleSalamander StyleGASPRO Infrared Broiler |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Best Freestanding Best Freestanding Napoleon Prestige 500 |
| CHECK PRICE |
| Apartment FriendlyApartment FriendlyChar-Broil Patio Bistro Electric |
| CHECK PRICE |
