Cook the Best Steaks Ever with Your Own Infrared Grill

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Gas or charcoal is probably the main question people ask themselves before buying a grill, but there’s also another one they should be asking: Do I need an infrared grill? The answer will depend on what they like to grill the most and if it’s steak, then an infrared grill should be on the list...

Char Broil Performance 3 Burner Propane Gas Grill with Cabinet
Different grill brands use different types of infrared cooking. It’s important to understand the various types as well as what they can and cannot do. More importantly, often with infrared grills, you get what you pay for so seek out quality. It won’t be a bargain if you have to replace a lot of worn-out components.
Pros:

What Is an Infrared Grill and how is it different?

For steakhouse-level meats in your own backyard, Saber’s 670 40-Inch 4-Burner Built-In Infrared Natural Gas Grill is hard to beat. The brand’s patented infrared cooking system gives you professional-grade results using 30% less fuel than a  traditional gas grill. This grill has unique cooking grates and infrared emitters that together prevent flare-ups and give you incredibly even heat across the grill thanks to the four 8,000-BTU gas burners. Also, they fire up with the push of a button with the integrated electronic ignition. The 304 commercial grade stainless steel lid, burners, emitters and grates all mean that you’ll enjoy long-lasting performance and quality.
If you’re after great versatility — and perfectly seared steaks — check out the KitchenAid 5-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner. The total cooking area is a massive 1,057 square inches, meaning that you can easily cook all kinds of food for a crowd: You can grill at least 26 burgers on the large side and up to 15 on the small side! KitchenAid’s grill has stainless steel burners and angled flame tamers that provide even heat across the whole cooking surface.  It also features enhanced stainless steel wrapped main cooking grids and 445 Stainless Steel Wrapped, V-Shaped flame tamers that help in distributing the heat and reducing flare-ups.

How Does Infrared Cooking Work?

Cons
Gas or charcoal is probably the main question people ask themselves before buying a grill, but there’s also another one they should be asking: Do I need an infrared grill? The answer will depend on what they like to grill the most and if it’s steak, then an infrared grill should be on the list of options.

The Three Types of Infrared Cooking

Cons:

Related: 5 Best Outdoor Gas Griddles for All Year Around

Ceramic Infrared Burner System

KitchenAid 5 Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Burner

TEC’s Radiant Glass Panel System

Must-Have for Grilling Meat

Heat Emitter System

Ceramic infrared burner systems are the most common kind. These grills have a stainless steel burner covered by a ceramic surface.  The cooking grid is a few inches above ceramic, which gets extremely hot very quickly. Actually, the cooking surface will heat up to about  600 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Food drippings on these types of burners might lead to some minor flare-ups, but they only add to the flavor of the meat. Many brands with a Ceramic infrared burner system can only be. Used at high temperatures but there are some that have a specific burner that lets you cook at temperatures as low as 300 degrees.

What About Hybrid Systems?

A spacious 592-square-inch cooking surface has U-shaped cooking grates and a  stainless steel heat zone separator between the burners. This is fabulous because you can cook different foods at different temperatures at the same time. This also makes a side burner unnecessary because you can use the grill like your stovetop and put pots and pans right on the cooking grids.  Clean-up is easy too: Set the grill on high and the self-cleaning cooking surface will incinerate anything left behind in about 10 or 15 minutes. Made in America, the built-in grill has a double-lined hood and is made of heavy-duty, quality, 304-grade stainless steel with chrome control knobs. TEC covers the structure with a lifetime warranty, the grates for 10 years and other components for one year.
Saber 670 40 Inch 4 Burner Built In Infrared Natural Gas Grill

Pros and Cons of Infrared Gas Grills

Pros
Some regular gas grills include an infrared element for use with a rotisserie in a separate area for searing meats. This is because infrared elements create more heat than a regular gas grill, making them great for searing.

  • They heat up very quickly. Because infrared grills can put out a great deal of heat – more than a typical gas grill- — they also heat up extremely quickly. In fact, heat up roughly 30 percent faster than a conventional grill. This is because the infrared heat cooks the food directly, the preheating of the grill doesn’t take nearly as long.
  • They put out very high heat. Infrared grills can produce temperatures as high as 1200 degrees. A typical gas grill goes to around 500 or 600 degrees while egg-style charcoal grills can top out around 800 degrees. This means that infrared grills are superior for searing meats and cooking very quickly: If you cook a lot of steaks – and for a crowd — the infrared grill will be the choice for you. The high heat and quick cooking time will keep the meat tender and juicy, while creating a fantastic exterior crust – just like at your favorite high-end steakhouse!
  • The heat produced is very even. In an infrared grill, the heat source sits below the infrared element, whether that’s tile or metal, and that in turn distributes the heat more evenly. And, because the food’s not being cooked by hot air, it stays juicier.
  • Food tastes better. As already noted, foods cook quickly and retain more moisture, so the are tastier.
  • Infrared cooking is more energy efficient. Basically, because you’re not spending so much time preheating the grill, you’re not wasting so much gas. The cooking time is shorter too, which also saves energy.
  • No flare ups! Because the element that sits between the food and the heat source is so hot, anything that drips onto it is vaporized. Almost nothing can make its way down to the flame to catch fire.
  • Most infrared grills are easier to clean.  For the same reason that flare-ups are minimized, any food particles will be turned to ask by the high temperatures, meaning you won’t have anything to scrape or scrub.

Cons of Infrared Grilling

  • High temps only. If you like to do some smoking or roast meats in your grill at lower temperatures, you can’t do that with an infrared grill. You’ll have to look for a hybrid model gas grill with just an infrared section. The high infrared temperatures also make it a poor choice for vegetables and fish. That said, there are some infrared models that offer lower temperatures and it’s up to each consumer to decide if an infrared grill is worth the extra cost.
  • Easy to overcook food. The same high heat that’s sooo desirable for steaks is also the same think that presents a risk for overcooking food. Because it heats much more quickly and at higher temperatures than most people are used to, there’s a learning curve. It’s very easy to overcook things.
  • They’re more expensive. The added technology and more complex construction unsurprisingly mean that infrared grills cost more. It’s important to consider how much you really want or need this type of cooking tech.
  • They’re very heavy. Because of the extra components, infrared grills are much heavier than standard gas grills, so moving them around is not easy or recommended.
  • Possible added health risk. The high temperature of an infrared grill may cut down on cooking time but it can increase the health risks from eating charred food. Studies have shown that burned food may increase cancer risk. According to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, “Although some studies show burnt, fried, or barbecued meat is associated with a higher risk of certain cancers in lab tests, the connection between charred food and increased cancer risk is not proven for certain.”

If you’re ready to explore some of the best-infrared grills out there, start with these.

TEC Patio FR 44-Inch Built-In Infrared Natural Gas Grill – PFR2NT

Some regular gas grills include an infrared element for use with a rotisserie in a separate area for searing meats. This is because infrared elements create more heat than a regular gas grill, making them great for searing.

  • Easy cooking success for new infrared grill users
  • Super easy to clean
  • Able to cook simultaneously ar different temperatures
  • Smoking and roasting accessories are available separately
Like anything else, an infrared grill has pros and cons and whether it right for you depends on what and how you prefer to cook. The advantages and disadvantages also depend on the model you buy and what specifics it offers. That said, there are some general things to consider when looking to buy an infrared grill.

  • Pricey
  • Not as stylish as some other comparable infrared grills.
  • TEC grills create a lot of clean white smoke and need good ventilation.

Saber 670 40-Inch 4-Burner Built-In Infrared Natural Gas Grill 

Whether you go for the high-heat features or want something a little more versatile, there’s an infrared grill that will meet your needs. Just make sure that you consider how and what you like to grill the most before you buy so that you’ll be happy with your choice.
Pros
Some grills combine the benefits of a standard gas grill with a separate infrared burner in a specific area of the grill. This lets you sear meats and then move them to the main part of the grill to finish cooking. Some models offer the option of adding in an infrared burner either when you purchase it or at a later date. Some wood/charcoal grills offer this option as well.

TEC Patio FR 44 Inch Built In Infrared Natural Gas Grill PFR2NT

  • Versatility thanks to heat zone separators
  • Buyers praise the quality of construction
  • Virtually no flare-ups
  • Easy to clean
TEC Patio FR 44 Inch Built In Infrared Natural Gas Grill PFR2NT

  • Buyers love the cooking versatility
  • Incredibly even heat across the cooking surface
  • Reviewers say it is well built and cooks beautifully
  •  
TEC Patio FR 44 Inch Built In Infrared Natural Gas Grill PFR2NT

  • Very versatile grill that combines a searing station, large main grill, side burner and rotisserie.
  • With all four- and five-star reviews, buyers love it and say that it has everything a person could possibly need for grilling.
  • It’s very spacious and reviewers say it’s beautiful too.
     
TEC is the company that launched infrared grills. They went on to reconfigure the burner system, creating the radiant glass panel infrared system. This set-up puts the cooking grid directly on top of the radiant glass panel. Underneath the durable stainless steel burner. The heat this puts out is unbelievable even and it nearly eliminates all flare-ups. These systems are very versatile, allowing you to cook at temperatures as low as 200 degrees and as high as 900. The minor trade-off with these is that they don’t get quite as hot as the ceramic burner systems do, but they still do a superb job searing your steaks!

  • Cannot be converted to natural gas
  • While certainly not the most expensive, this grill is pricier than most regular grills.

This Saber infrared grill also features four cooking zones that have individual burner control knobs so that you can manage the grilling temperature across the full grill. Grate-level temperature gauges  — which not may grills offer — allow you to grill with the lid up. In addition, this model has an adjustable, stainless steel warming rack that can be folded away for extra space when using the optional rotisserie kit, which is sold separately. In fact, the warming rack can be used for roasting. And, don’t worry about grilling after dark: It has two 2 internal halogen lights so you can cook as late into the evening as you like.
Infrared grills use radiation in the segment of the electromagnetic spectrum we can’t see – it’s similar to the one in a television remote. But while the remote works with a very short wavelength that you can’t see or feel, the one in a grill uses longer wavelengths that generate heat. It’s a really natural heating process – like when you feel warmth from the sun or from the coals in a fire. Infrared technology was first introduced into barbeque grills in the 1980s by the Thermal Engineering Corporation. It took a while before it caught on with consumers and once the patents on the technology expired, infrared grilling started to become popular after 2000.

walter@graefika.com
Author: walter@graefika.com