The top pick for infrared grills is the Char-Broil 463655621 because it boasts great temperature control, and even heat distribution, has plenty of storage, and is easy to assemble.
My friend loves to grill steaks and was looking for an infrared grill to make this easier. Since they know that I have some experience with grills, they asked me to help them out. So, I decided to make a list of the top options and review them for you!
In this post, I will help you identify the best infrared grill and show you what some of the other top options are. I have also included a buyer’s guide!
Before I introduce you to the best infrared grills, I do want to clarify something. Technically, there are two types of infrared gas grills.
The first is one that only uses infrared technology. Therefore, you can only cook food using the infrared burners.
Then, you have the grills where the main burners utilize natural gas or propane gas. However, there is a back or side burner that utilizes infrared technology.
To ensure that you find what you are looking for, I have included both kinds of grills in this list.
Here are the best infrared grill makes and models for you to choose from:
Best Overall
I was really impressed by the temperature range and control with this grill. One of the perks of infrared grilling is the high temperatures and this grill certainly backs up these claims. You are easily able to sear steaks as well as large cuts of meat in no time at all.
That being said, I liked the temperature control features as a whole. This is because I found it easy to manage the temperature and low and high temperatures. And, when I tracked the temp inside this infrared grill, I found that the temperature was maintained pretty well throughout the cook.
The other thing that I really liked about this grill was the infrared heat distribution. It was so even throughout the grates. I discovered no hot spots or cold spots across several cooks. So, this helps to cook your food at a steady and even rate.
In fact, the only thing that I don’t like about these infrared plates is that they are tricky to clean. Char-Broil does give you a special brush but this doesn’t really make the job any easier.
The storage spaces on this infrared grill are pretty cool, though. The cabinet allows you to keep the gas cylinder out of sight. And, in case you want a prep table or want somewhere to store food that is going into the grill or coming off it, you have two side tables for this!
It was also nice that this grill was pretty easy to assemble. I was able to do it by myself within an hour or so. The instructions are pretty great and it all comes together nicely.
Best Portable Infrared Grill
There is a lot to like about the design of this grill – which is the main reason that I chose it as the best infrared portable grill. To start off with, it boasts a light and compact design. This makes it really easy to carry and transport. You may even be able to do it by yourself.
The other perk is that you can lock up this grill allowing you to transport it without any of the components falling out. The side handles certainly make it easier to get the grill to your destination too. And, once you are at the destination, the stand allows stability and a higher surface for you to work on.
I was surprised by how hot this burner could go get! It was able to get to really high temperatures within a very short period of time.
The only issue is that it is actually tricky to maintain lower temps with this model. So, unless you are only planning on using it for searing, you need to get a valve to help you maintain a lower temperature.
Despite the heat problem, I have to stay the heat distributed really evenly throughout the grate. I checked and the temperature remained steady from one side of the grill to the next. So, your food does cook at an even rate.
Best Grill with Infrared Side Burner
This is the perfect grill for you if you want a traditional gas grill to cook some foods at a lower temperature and then an infrared burner to cook steaks and other foods at higher temperatures.
Now, unlike some other grills, this model has two infrared burners – one at the rear and one on the side. This grill can come with a rotisserie kit and so you can roast a chicken over this burner. The side burner is ideal for searing foods after before or after they have been grilled.
It doesn’t matter whether you are using the regular or infrared burners, you can guarantee that you are going to get a high heat output from all areas of this grill. What’s more, you have consistent and even heat distribution, ensuring that you will be able to cook your food thoroughly and evenly throughout the entire session.
I also like that there is a quite a bit of cooking space here – this is true for the primary cooking space as well as for the warming rack and the additional infrared burners. All in all, this is a great grill if you need to cook for a larger crowd.
Another plus point is that practically everything on this grill is made from stainless steel – this includes the stainless steel grates. Due to this, the grill and its components are a lot more durable and will last a much longer time, even with frequent use.
The only complaint that I have with this grill is that it can be difficult to assemble.
If you are on the lookout for larger infrared grills, then you should definitely consider this infrared grill. Not only do you have a main cooking area, but you also have an additional burner on the side. This can be great for preparing sauces or doing any additional cooking on the side.
My only complaint about this grill would be that the infrared burners can be difficult to clean after use.
I have to say that the temperature control on this grill is really great. For one thing, getting up to those high temperatures is a breeze. For another, I found that whenever I adjusted the temperature that the temp inside the cooking chamber corresponded quickly and efficiently.
I also like the fact that there are minimal flare ups as a result of this.
I like that the heat is the same from one end of the grill to another. This makes it excellent for cooking food at a steady rate. It also helps when cooking larger batches of the same food. You have peace of mind knowing that your food is going to cook at a similar rate.
I also like the storage features on this grill. You have a side table for prep work. There is also a cabinet for the gas cylinder but you may be able to fit other grilling tools here as well.
Do you only want an infrared grill to cook your steaks on? Or, do want to be able to take your grill wherever you want to go? In any case, this is the model for you. It is compact and fairly lightweight so you shouldn’t have too much trouble transporting it from one place to another.
And, even if you are only planning on storing it in your kitchen as an additional steak searing grill, then it isn’t going to take up too much space.
For such a small grill, this model offers up some serious output. You can get incredibly high temperatures as a result and this allows you to cook or sear food at a much faster rate. And, despite being a compact model, this grill can get hot enough to be used for cooking thicker cuts of meat without any issue.
I wasn’t expecting all that much in terms of this infrared grill so I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor. You get that gorgeous sear on the surface of the meat but the inside was nice and juicy. So, you get a great end result each and every time.
Another cool thing about this grill is that you can adjust the cooking grates fairly easily. Due to this, you can move the food closer or further away from the main heat source. Or, you can adjust the shelves so that they can accommodate thicker cuts of meat. This helps you to make the most out of the cooking space that you have.
The only downside is that these grates can be pretty sharp so you do have to be careful not to cut yourself.
I absolutely love how light and compact this grill is. You will have no trouble carrying it by yourself. So, if you are someone who likes having cookouts away from your home, then you will enjoy how easy it is to transport this grill.
It isn’t just about how compact the grill is, though. It also comes with a lid that can be locked down. So, you can easily transport this grill without worrying that everything is going to fall out along the way. This makes for a great portable grill.
The only issue I have with this grill is that it can be difficult to clean.
Don’t let the size of this grill fool you. It is capable of producing an incredible amount of heat. Now, this is true of infrared cooking and most infrared grills. However, I was quite surprised by just how hot this grill could get. So, make sure to keep an eye on your food as it is cooking.
The flavor that you get with this grill is also pretty great. The higher temps ensure that you get that gorgeous seared flavor. Still, the temp control means that you can ensure that the inside of your meat is still very tender.
Although this may not fall into the category of traditional infrared grills, it still offers plenty of space to utilize the infrared burners. You have the rear part of the grill that can also function as a rotisserie section. Then, you have the side burner that is perfect for searing meat and food.
And, you also have lots of other square inches of regular cooking space. So, if you are someone who likes to cook for lots of people at once, then you are going to love this grill.
The only issue that I could find here was that it does take a long time to assemble and you are also going to need some help.
The temperature control on this grill is phenomenal and this includes the infrared burner system as well. The moment that you alter the temperature, the burners respond accordingly. And, keep in mind that this is especially important with infrared cooking where temperatures get really hot.
I like that there are a lot of user friendly features with this grill. To begin with, you have the light up controls. This comes in handy when you are cooking in low lighting. It is also nice to see how much storage is offered with this grill. Even after placing the cylinder here, there is still space to spare.
This grill is also largely made of some pretty high quality materials, making it pretty durable. If you want a grill that is a good investment and is going to last you a while, this is certainly a make and model that I would advise you to get.
Here are the top tips to follow when choosing from the best infrared grills on the market:
So, the first decision that you need to make is regarding whether you should choose a grill that only uses infrared technology or if you should go for a regular grill with a infrared side burner.
Now, there are a couple of perks for a grill that only works off infrared tech.
To begin with, these grills are a lot more efficient than traditional gas grills or even a charcoal grill. This is because with this technology, the grates are heated directly rather than the air being heated. This allows your food to cook a lot faster.
There is also the fact that you can get up to really high temperatures that are perfect for searing. Furthermore, there are also almost no flare ups with this kind of grill as any fat or liquid is immediately vaporized.
A regular grill with an infrared side burner is a good option for anyone who wants the option of grilling or smoking foods at a lower temperature but also has the choice to sear meat when needed.
You want to make sure that the grill that you are getting is going to last you a while. Due to this, I would suggest checking out what materials the grill is made from.
In general, stainless steel is the way to go. This is because it is durable, is rust resistant, and it is easier to clean.
Now, as infrared grills tend to run hotter, I would suggest looking for stainless steel grates as well. This will help your grates last longer.
Of course, the only real downside for a stainless steel construction is that you will have to end up paying more for your grill.
Yes, infrared grills are the hottest option of gas grills but this doesn’t mean that they are all equal. If you want to sear foods quickly and efficiently, then you should go for a hotter option.
In general, the more BTUs per burner, the better the heat output. Keep in mind that most brands will tell you the combined BTU plus the one for side burners. So, you will need to divide the overall BTU by the number of burners that the grill has.
Of course, you need to consider the amount of cooking area that you have on your infrared grill. If you are a single person, then portable infrared gas grills will do the trick. This grills may even be enough for a couple.
However, if you have a small to mid-sized family, then you should get a small to mid-sized grill. If you are someone who frequently hosts cookouts frequently then a larger grill will do.
It isn’t enough to check out the cooking area dimensions, though. You also need to see how many burners are there in relation to the cooking space.
For instance, with a portable infrared grill, a single burner will do. Anything larger than this, though, and you will require at least two burners, maybe three. Mid-sized grills can need anywhere to four burners while larger grills may require up to six or even more than this.
This is what ensures that the entire grill surface will heat up evenly and cook the food evenly too.
Once you have got the main things out of the way, then you can focus on other elements. This can include side shelves, tool hooks, storage space, etc. If you want, you can even look for a grill with smart features so that you can connect your grill to your smartphone and manage it from a distance.
Well, there you go – the best infrared grill is the Char-Broil 463655621. It offers up excellent temperature control, distributes heat across the grill evenly, has plenty of storage space, and is easy to assemble.
Still, it is a good idea to check out all the grills on this list. They each have their own features and strengths and you can never be sure of which one might be the perfect fit for you until you take a closer look at them!
