Grilling is one of the best methods of cooking and it’s also a fairly old style of cooking that dates back quite far.
Grilling may have changed a lot with the advent of barbecues and gas-powered grills, but the search for ever more efficient, ever more effective methods of cooking have led to further improvements to grilling, with one of the best being the infrared grill.
It can be quite difficult to cook using a grill, particularly for large groups of people, and managing a lot of food and grilling it all in a timely manner is challenging and can often lead to a staggered and mistimed meal where foods are not served efficiently and are cooked poorly.
The infrared grill helps to solve this by using a much faster and more efficient method of cooking than traditional grills over open flame or gas.
Infrared grills work by using heat radiation to grill your food, providing swift and consistent results for every meal.
While it sounds very high-tech, it’s actually a fairly simple system that differs from traditional grilling methods by using various specially selected and designed materials to form the grill surface on which your food cooks.
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Comparison Table
These plates/grills absorb heat and output it highly effective, which cooks your food faster and more consistently.
But finding an infrared grill that has everything you need can be challenging, especially if you’ve never even heard of this type of cooking before.
Knowing what size is right, what materials to look for, and what features you need can make finding the right product very confusing and difficult.
There are many infrared grills to choose from, which is great as it means there’s an option out there for everyone, but finding the right one is the key.
Bestsellers
To help you find the right infrared grill for you we’ve collated a list of some of the best grills available, in various different formats and used various materials to give you plenty of options depending on the space you have available or your intended use for the grill.
We’re also including buyers guide below with some helpful tips and features to look out for to help you make an informed decision about which product is best for you, as well as an FAQ below that to answer some common questions about infrared grilling and to get you started on the right track.
Now let’s get cooking and take a look at the grills themselves.
Best Infrared Grills
1. Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared
Char-Broil is one of the biggest names in the grilling world and this Performance grill here is one of the best medium-sized IR grills available with a host of excellent features.
The grill space is wide and there is ample cooking space within the main grill and in the side panels for large cuts of meat and big gatherings.
The finish is superb and there are some nice additional features including integrated fuel storage, wheels for easy portability, precise controls, lid-mounted temperature gauge, and additional peripheral cooking spaces for sauces and side dishes allowing for maximum control and efficiency for any barbeque, no matter how hectic.
There's also an electronic ignition for easy start-up, so no more fumbling with matches or a lighter and singing yourself as you contort to light the grill up.
Pros
- Large cooking space
- Integrated fuel storage
- Wheels for portability
- Simple reliable controls
- 24000 BTUs and a 10000 BTU side burner
Cons
- A little large and good for grilling on the go
- Exclusive stainless steel finish for increased style and durability
- TRU-Infrared cooking technology prevents flare-ups, delivers even-heat and cooks juicier food
- 450-square-inches of primary cooking space is great for most cookouts
- Porcelain-coated grates are durable, rust-resistant and easy-to-clean
- Reliable push-to-start electronic ignition and swing-a-way warming rack for added versatility
2. GASPRO Multi-Tasking Propane Infrared
The GASPRo is one of the best IR grills in a small package and can reach incredible temperatures of up to 1500 degrees which rivals some much larger grills without taking up anywhere near as much space.
The sturdy stainless steel build is rustproof, and there are a host of features such as multiple heat settings, variable rack positioning, a convenient cover that doubles as an extra workspace, and easy gas hookup which provides 15000 BTUs.
There's also electrical ignition to prevent awkward and embarrassing lighting.
The package comes with a rod grid, grease tray, griddle, grid tool, silicone oven mitts, and a 5-foot long POL adapter hose making this a great value grill for on-the-go cooking while camping or for smaller families at home.
Pros
- Reaches temps of around 1500 degrees Fahrenheit
- Sturdy and Rustproof
- Portable size and weight
- 15000 BTU
- Gas propane fuel
Cons
- No handles or wheels
- Boasts the infrared cooking system reaches an incredible 1500°F, serves up steakhouse-quality steaks about 2 min per side. Matched a cast-iron griddle to achieve multi-tasking cooking
- 6-notches in the grill rack determined the grate's proximity to the infrared heat source, offer different heat zones for meat, seafood, and veggies.
- Gives you multiple connection options, built-in a standard ⅜” male flare fitting in the valve and regulator. It allows you to connect any ⅜” female flare hose to a big propane tank.
- Opening the front panel that can temporarily place freshly cooked food during the cooking process. Covering the front panel to keep the internal of the grill clean when you are not using it.
- Safety use for outdoor backyard grilling, RV traveling, camping. Constructed of premium 304 stainless steel, sturdy and rustproof, easily clean after usage.
3. Ivation Infrared Propane Broiler Tabletop
Another smaller grill, this option still packs a punch, reaching temps of up to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit and coming with auto ignition and multiple removable racks for efficient cooking and cleaning.
The stainless steel construction fights rust, and the convenient warming tray is perfect for preparing sauces ready to accompany your deliciously prepared meat and vegetables.
Again, the only downside is that this grill is a little small, so it’s suitable for portable use or smaller gatherings but may not be suitable for large parties.
It also lacks handles and wheels for easy maneuvering; however, it is small enough and light enough to be picked up quite easily.
Pros
- 1500 degree temperature
- Autoignition
- Small and portable
- Propane-powered
- Multiple removable racks
Cons
- Small cooking space
- STEAKHOUSE MEALS IN 120 SECONDS | Enjoy the Charred, Crispy Crust & Tender, Juicy Bite of a Professionally Prepared Steak at Home | Outdoor Propane-Powered Infrared Grill Reaches a Blazing 1500°F in Seconds, Just Like a Steakhouse Broiler | Great for Cooking Steak, Chicken, Pork, Fish, Seafood & Other Gourmet Dishes
- PROPANE-POWERED FOR PORTABILITY | Compatible with Most Standard Low-Pressure Butane, LPG & Propane Gas Cylinders | Infrared Oven Instantly Heats to Optimal Temperature Via Battery-Powered Automatic Ignition & Easy Gas Control Knob | Perfect for Camping, Tailgating, Backyard Barbecues, Patio, Deck & More
- SLEEK STAINLESS STEEL CONSTRUCTION | Housing & Parts are Made of Super Durable Food-Grade Stainless Steel | Includes [2] Removable Grill Racks for Preparing Steaks at Varying Temperatures, Drip Tray, Protective Cover & Shelf Hook for Safely Sliding Out Trays While Cooking | Stabilizing Feet Keep Grill Steady on Any Surface
- CONVENIENT BUILT-IN WARMING TRAY | Innovative Design Includes a Removable Top Pan for Keeping Cooked Food Hot Prior to Serving | Minimal Maintenance & Quick Cleaning with Parts That Easily Remove for Hand Washing | Set Also Includes a Perfect Fit Cover Reliable Protection During Travel
- SEARED PERFECTION WITHOUT THE STRESS | No More Dangerous Flames or Chewy, Dried Out Steaks! | Revolutionary Infrared Grill is Exceedingly Safe & Churns Out Perfect Filet Mignon, Ribeye, New York Strip & Other Meat in Minutes | Place Steak on Rack & Cook 1 Minute on Each Side for Mouthwatering Medium Rare Results!
4. Magma Products Catalina 2
The redesigned Magma Catalina 2 is perfect for feeding large gatherings thanks to its substantial cooking area. It has a range of great features such as reliable electronic ignition, anti-flare technology, and is relatively portable and lightweight.
The controls function well and the temperature gauge on the lid is a nice touch, however, the controls are sparse, if simple and effective.
One of the main features of this grill is the tempered glass viewing window which allows you to monitor your food without getting too hot or having fat spit up at you and burning you which can be very annoying and uncomfortable.
Pros
- Tempered glass viewing window
- Mirror polished steel construction
- Fold-away legs
- Compatible with disposable propane canisters or onboard LPG CNG systems.
- Electronic ignition
- 12500 BTUs
- New tempered glass viewing window New beautiful rounded edge design Redesigned dynamic combustion system
- Made in the U.S.A. Constructed of 100% 18-9 marine grade mirror polished stainless steel Full double lined lower shell Hermetically sealed thermometer
- Equipped with integrated fold-away legs Locking front access grease tray 12"x18" main grilling area 5-½"x18" secondary grilling area
- Uses standard 1 lb. disposable propane canisters or adapts to on-board LPG or CNG systems
- New electronic ignition Infrared radiant screens
5. Royal Gourmet GA5403B Premier 5
The largest grill on the list, this option by Royal Gourmet lives up to its name with a long list of premium features.
It is surprisingly portable thanks to wheels, well-located handles, and a sturdy design, but also has it where it counts with a comprehensive array of burners capable of conventional grilling and IR grilling for maximum versatility and efficiency.
Pros
- Porcelain enamelled
- Spacious and wide cooking space
- Wheels for easy movement
- Four standard burners, a sear burner and a rear IR burner with an additional lidded side burner
- Loads of clear and precise controls
Cons
- Not very portable despite wheels for repositioning
- Spacious Cooking Space: 738 sq. in. cooking space in total, including 566 sq. in. porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates and 172 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire warming rack that accommodate about 18 hamburgers simultaneously.
- Strong Performance: This stylish gas grill has 4 main burners (10,000 BTU each), a sear burner (14,000 BTU), an infrared rear burner (10,000 BTU) and a lidded side burner (10,000 BTU). 7 high power burners deliver a total of 74,000 BTU output.
- Rotisserie Kit with Motor: Slow-roast a crispy brown whole chicken but juicy and tender meat inside by the strong power of infrared rear burner for high-heat searing or slow spit roasting, which offers added and unparalleled versatility during cookouts.
- Precise Heat Control: Simply press the electronic ignitor button to spark up burners instantly while turning the control knobs to the highest position, adjust the grilling temperature to sear, roast or cook slowly with the monitor of integrated gauge.
- Hassle-free Cleanup: Removable grease tray and grease cup collect the excess grease and residues and help reduce the risk of flare-ups in the consistent grilling. ETL Certified
Best Infrared Grills Buyer’s Guide
With so many great infrared grills out there it can be hard to find one which perfectly meets your requirements, and can be even harder to choose between two that do.
There is a range of options and features to choose from and which set apart different grills, from their size and materials to additional features and their performance.
In this buyer's guide, we’re going to look at these features and highlight what it is you need to keep in mind when looking at grills to ensure you get one that’s perfect for you and your plans, helping you get the best performance possible.
If you have further questions feel free to take a look at the FAQ where we’ve listed some answers to some of the most common questions regarding infrared grills and their characteristics.
Grill Size
One of the most important attributes of any grill is how large the cooking surface is. Being able to cook enough food at the same time is key if you want to host large gatherings at your home and prepare plenty of food simultaneously.
As the size of the grill surface increases, however, the grill will typically become less portable, so it’s important to keep in mind how you intend to use your grill and where you intend to use it.
A small grill surface can have implications for what you cook and how you cook it. If you plan to grill large cuts of meat you will need a much larger grill surface, for example.
If you only plan to prepare some burger patties, hotdogs or corn then a smaller grill will give you everything you need without the added size and cost and much more portability.
Cooking Surface
After the size of the grill surface, the next most important thing is the type of cooking surface, what it's made of, and how it’s constructed.
Some grills use grates which interlock, helping to increase the heat of the grill and prevent flames from jumping out of the grill. Strictly speaking, these grates aren’t always infrared, so it’s important to check this.
The primary attribute of infrared grills is that they increase and evenly distribute heat primarily based on the design of the grill.
There are a few different types of grill, for example, some are Ceramic, which cook very fast.
There are also heat emitter designs that are less efficient and don’t reach high temperatures in the range of ceramic, however, they are of better value and use stainless steel tubes that transfer heat evenly using a stainless steel panel.
TEC systems are a different version again which use glass and steel IR burners and offer excellent heat transfer and temperatures without flare-ups.
There are also hybrid grills which usually have a mixture of a few infrared plates combined with a conventional cooking system. Some of these come with a single preinstalled burner and are permanently fixed as an infrared burner.
Some use interchangeably infrared burners which are a little cheaper and more flexible than preinstalled burners. This type of burner comes as a regular barbeque with a separate IR burner which can be removed and reinstalled allowing for much more flexibility.
The final type of IR burner comes as a ‘sear station’ and is a fixed IR burner which is typically located on the outside of the grill, meaning you don’t lose precious conventional grill space if you want to keep your standard convection configuration separate from your IR grill.
Energy Source
Most grills, whether conventional or infrared, use gas or propane as an energy source. This is because it’s easily available, relatively inexpensive, and quite efficient for the task making it a perfect choice for casual users.
Gas provides a ready and reliable source of energy for all grills, and it’s good because it’s easily controlled allowing for convenient temperature control which is critical to good grilling.
Typically this gas comes in canisters or bottles of varying sizes, meaning there are options for more substantial setups or more portable grills depending on how you want to use your BBQ and where you’re hosting it.
There are also traditional charcoal grills which are a little less convenient but are of great value, and some people enjoy the unique properties of chargrilling over simple gas convection.
IR grills themselves aren’t powered by anything high-tech or special. They can technically use any source of heat to work, as long as the ceramic or other cooking material is heated to the point where it can emit infrared radiation, which is what cooks the meat.
In a sense, the radiation that cooks the meat is no different than the heat from a fire, which is a different way of producing the same radiation. IR grills simply produce this heat at a much more stable and controllable rate.
BTU Ratings
BTU’s stand for British Thermal Units and is one of the ways that the performance and heat of a grill or BBQ are measured.
As a general rule, a grill capable of providing 80 to 100 BTUs per square inch of the cooking surface will be able to provide enough heat to cook food quickly and effectively.
However, these numbers can be deceptive, as a high BTU rating also means the grill will burn fuel more quickly which can be both expensive and inefficient for some grillers.
Weighing up how much heat you need and how much fuel you’re willing to burn are key things to consider when using BTUs to find the right grill for you.
Portability
Portability is another key concern and is important even for grills that are intended for home or garden use and are generally fixed in their location. A grill that’s easy to move around is a grill that’s easy to work with if you need to rearrange your setup and can be much more convenient.
If you intend to grill on the go, however, there are a host of things to keep in mind. Wheels on each corner or at least 2 are key as this allows you to move the grill around easily.
Weight is also key as a heavy grill will be much more awkward to reposition or take away with you.
Well-placed handles can work well in conjunction with wheels and can help make moving even larger and heavier grills more easily, so this is also an important feature to look out for.
Bottle Placement
The ability to place down your gas bottle within the grill stand is something that can sometimes help save space and make your setup look much neater; however, this can make your grill much bigger and heavier.
Some grills which are portable don’t have bottle placement features, so if you’re someone who wants to be discreet with your fuel storage this is something to keep in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are several types of IR grill, from ceramic to heat emitters and the TEC system variant. Each is capable of slightly different temperatures and performance, but their core function is the same and they all perform well enough to make an excellent choice for fast and consistent grilling.
It depends on what you want to use the grill for. If you plan to slow cook an IR grill may not be the best choice, however, if you want fast and consistent grilling with amazing heat and speed, IR grills are the best choice and they cook much more efficiently and effectively than standard convection grills.
You certainly can slow cook with infrared grills, but this isn’t necessarily an easy feat as most IR grills are purpose-built and designed to grill incredibly fast when compared to other standard grill designs, making them unsuitable for other types of cooking.
One of the key drawbacks with IR grills is that they do tend to smoke a lot, due to the incredibly high heat they produce.
This can be especially bad when first using the grill before the cooking surface has been worn in and used enough to coat it in a mixture of grease, oil, and carbon that helps reduce the smokiness as you cook.
You can try to reduce this by using oil, however, the best solution is to keep using the grill until it's been broken in and the smoking has decreased naturally.
Bill Tiedemann
Great Review! Let me know when you are going to do Pellet Grills.