Grilling with Infrared: Everything You Need To Know

by Alison Garcia


Infrared grilling isn’t new, but it is very popular. We’ve seen interest in our infrared grills grow exponentially in the last year and customers are loving what they have to offer. Still, infrared grills are less familiar than traditional gas or charcoal grills, so we wanted to take a minute to break down everything you should know about these awesome grills in case you are considering buying one.

What Is An Infrared Grill?

An infrared grill is a type of grill that uses radiant heat rather than direct heat to cook food. These grills are designed with an infrared plate usually made of stainless steel, glass, or ceramic that is heated by gas flame. A standard grill grate sits above the infrared element

Benefits of Infrared Grilling

Heats Up Quickly

Have you ever ended up with a well done steak trying to get a good sear? It’s happened to the best of us. 


The truth is, it can take a long time for a gas grill to heat up sufficiently to get a good sear. One of our favorite benefits of infrared technology is just how quickly it gets blazing hot. Traditional gas or charcoal grills take 15-20 minutes to preheat while an infrared grill can reach top temperatures in 3 minutes flat.

Better Sear, Moister Meat

Because infrared grills are able to achieve consistent high heat, they sear better than a traditional gas or charcoal grill and that sear serves as an impermeable barrier, locking moisture and flavor into your food. This is especially important for steaks and other cuts of meat if you want to achieve a steakhouse quality cook!

No Blow Outs or Flare Ups 

Never worry about singeing your eyebrows ever again. Because your food isn’t coming into direct contact with the flame, dripping fat is immediately turned to smoke giving your food that yummy barbeque flavor.


CHALLENGES & CONSIDERATIONS

Low Temperature Regulation

While infrared excels in the high heat department, it doesn’t offer as much control in the low heat ranges. If you’re exclusively using your grill for fish, vegetables and warming taco shells, a regular gas grill model is probably a better choice for your needs.

More Smoke

High heat and great searing capabilities go hand in hand with smoke. The fattier or more oiled your food is, will impact how much smoke is created when grilling with infrared but you can expect it to be more than a traditional gas grill.

Infrared Grilling Techniques & Tips

If you are used to cooking over charcoal or a traditional gas grill, grilling with infrared will definitely take some getting used to. To shorten your learning curve and get you to that perfect sear faster, check out some of our pro tips.

  1. Season your grill grates lightly with oil before grilling to make cleaning easier
  2. Allow your food to come to room temperature
  3. Grill with the lid open after preheating
  4. Shake off any excess marinade before placing your food on the grill
  5. Avoid basting while food is on the grill
  6. Flip your food frequently to prevent it from becoming charred
  7. Invest in proper grilling tools - flipping with a fork is a thing of the past 
  8. Remember, high heat dramatically shortens your grilling time

Think grilling with infrared technology is for you? Check out our infrared gas grills including the Monterey, Catalina, and Newport for the latest in infrared technology. If you’ve decided traditional gas is more your speed, we’ve got you covered there too with a catalog of top tier portable gas grills, mounts and accessories

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