I’m not sure about you, but I sure love my barbecue cooked to perfection. It takes a truly skilled chef to grill a steak in the most mouthwatering way possible. You need the right grill to do that, however. This guide will cover the infrared grills on the market available for you. These infrared BBQ grill reviews will help you decide which grill you should buy.
I will cover the essential features of the best, top-performing grills available today. I’ll list the pros and the cons to make it extremely easy to choose the grill in your price range.
Since we live in an internet age, I’ll also share key ideas from other people’s experiences with the most popular grills. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to know which grill will work for you to get you churching out delicious barbeque.
Best Infrared Grills
1. Char-Broil Portable 240 Liquid Propane Gas Grill
This portable grill is the best purchase that you can make if your budget is under $100.This grill features a large area to cook on and plenty of features to help you craft the ultimate barbecue. Owning this portable grill means that you have the flexibility to take it anywhere.
This grill is built to last; with sturdy construction and great customer support from Char-Boil, you can be sure that you will get a product that will last. One of the best features of this small grill is its compatibility with one-pound propane tanks.
Customers praise the easy assembly that this grill requires. Many are also surprised at the large area that they have to cook in.
Another area of praise is its design. The lid can be removed while cooking if the food on the grill prevents the lid from closing fully. This grill is also recommended for its price. Some reviewers found that quality grills under $100 are difficult to find.
They were pleasantly surprised when they encountered this product from Char-Boil. The design was labeled as being quality-looking, and many expected their grill to last for many years with proper maintenance.
While not utilizing true infrared technology, this machine is the closest to being the portable infrared grill for under $100.
A reliable company backs this product with great customer service and dependability. Its portability means that you can take it anywhere and cook for many people with its large cooking space.
Pros
- Simple button ignition system
- Can remove lid while cooking
- Easy first-time assembly
- Has a strict construction
Cons
- Must purchase an adaptor to connect with a 20-pound propane tank
- Grill’s legs are not removable
2. Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 4-Burner Cabinet-Style Windowed Gas Grill
This grill means business! This is the best grill you can buy if your budget is $1000 or under. It contains a massive area to cook on; you will be able to cook for your entire family and friends with this grill alone.
Since it can use natural gas, you could buy a converter so that you never have to buy another propane tank.
This grill suffers from a lack of mobility. You definitely would not want to be moving it every day, but that isn’t what it was made for. This barbecue appliance was made to stay in a single area and provide a fantastic barbecue. On that point, it exceeds all expectations.
Reviewers couldn’t stop writing about how evenly this grill cooks the meat. This is what netted this model the number one spot barbecue grills. It cooks meat extremely well using infrared technology.
One reviewer never tried infrared outdoor grills. Purchased this product hoping that it would be able to deliver the taste that they are accustomed to with traditional grills. They weren’t disappointed and were happy that this machine didn’t experience flair-ups like their last model.
They praised the easy assembly and the nominal cleanup time.
This is a fantastic grill for the money that will allow you to cook meats quickly and evenly.
Pros
- Has a side burner
- Button ignition system
- Two side shelves to assist in cooking
- Built-in storage cabinet
Cons
- Costs a little more than portable grills
- Some units were prone to rust
3. Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Cart Style Gas Grill
This runner-up in top grills delivers excellent results. Its side burner allows its owners to cook for an entire backyard party just by themselves. The main cooking area heats up to 500 degrees in minutes; you will always have a plan B for dinner if you own this infrared grill.
A propane tank can be put inside this model to save space and squeeze into small areas. Finally, the stainless steel finish will keep this unit looking good for years to come.
People are very satisfied with this machine. It cooks evenly and flair-ups are practically non-existent in this model. Many reviewers who have never tried infrared technology were pleasantly surprised and commented that their food tasted better.
They loved how the unit smoked any drippings that fell from their cuts to give their meat extra flavor. They felt their barbecue was juicy and that the cooking area left them a lot of room to cook for everyone.
This model delivers excellent barbecue through a solid technical design. Infrared technology is utilized well to give meats like steak a juicy flavor without the extra hardening.
Pros
- Boasts an extremely large cooking space
- The temperature gauge on the lid
- Easy assembly
Cons
- No option for a natural gas connection
4. Magma Products Catalina 2 Infra Red, Gourmet Series Gas Grill
This grill gets hot! Featuring a closed lid, it could melt steaks if they are left by themselves for too long. The heat provided by this barbecue machine lets you sear practically anything and is also good for cooking vegetables.
The model was made to be used on boats. It has an open chamber on its backside where flames come out, so care should be taken that there isn’t anything flammable behind the grill when you are barbecuing.
Reviewers love this barbecue grill. Many of them are dismayed that there aren’t many barbecues made to be used on boats. However, they are satisfied that this model exists because it performs its job so well.
A reviewer loved it so much that they took it off their boat and made it their central barbecue unit at home.
They love the fact that this grill can be used in windy weather without suffering inconsistency in cooking. Its flames are not affected by the wind, and the drip from meats adds fuel to keep the flames lit and the meat cooking.
This barbecue is an excellent purchase. It gets super hot and has a closable lid to cook even the thickest cuts of meats in just a few minutes.
Pros
- Drippings are automatically used to smoke meats
- Ready to cook in five minutes
- Stainless steel build
- Gets extremely hot
Cons
- Not brushed stainless steel
- Temperature gauges have colors and not numbers
5. Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill
This barbecue machine is one of the best cookers out there. Boasting the ability to sear meats in just a few minutes, this griller gets extremely hot very quickly. It only features enough room to cook a few patties at once, but the turnaround time is fast to get the next meats on the grill.
The lid is mostly there for portability. You can close the lid and carry this griller like a briefcase. Its strongest point is its portability; you can take it almost anywhere since it is so compact
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive for this appliance. Many people praise how well this grill cooks its food. This is arguably the most important criterion for any barbecue machine to ace.
Other reviewers found that the small size lets them take the machine anywhere. Since it cooks the meat quickly, it can be taken to work and used to cook lunch for a team in the space of a half-hour lunch break.
This infrared grill can also be used with natural gas using a converter, so infrared natural gas grill reviews would find its dual-gas capability to be useful in situations where propane gas is unavailable.
This machine provides great value for your money. It cooks meat extremely well and has the durability to last a very long time.
Pros
- Extremely portable
- Can be used with natural gas
- Has a stainless steel grill for increased resistance to rust
Cons
- Comparatively smaller grilling area than most grills
- Can’t cook with a closed lid
6. Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Portable Grill2Go Gas Grill
The following honorable mentions are all great grills. This one in particular is one of the small infrared gas grills out there. It is highly portable, so you can take it almost anywhere!
It comes with a protective case that lets you hold gas canisters and other grilling accessories. The travel bag protects the grill well, and both are sturdy enough to stand up to the test of time.
This grill gets extremely hot quickly. Taking it out on the boat will let you enjoy seared meats out in the water. It can also be used as a secondary grill to bring to events while not sacrificing portability or quality.
Reviewers love the portability and accessibility that this pack provides. The grill has sturdy feet to be used on almost any surface.
This grill puts out massive heat quickly; you don’t have to wait long to start cooking. In less than 10 minutes, the grill can be operating at max power to start churning out searing steaks.
One reviewer found success in attaching a control valve to this grill. This lets them lower the heat to around 350 degrees and be able to cook meat as you would on a stovetop.
This powerful and compact grill will let you carry infrared grilling technology almost anywhere.
Pros
- The grill cooking grate is made out of stainless steel
- Lid temperature gauge
- Locks to hold the lid in place while transporting the grill
- Sturdy grill handles and legs
Cons
- Legs can get warm
7. Char-Broil Patio Bistro 240 TRU Infrared Compact Gas Grill
This grill is the essence of a standard grill utilizing infrared technology. This appliance doesn’t come with all the features that some of the grills have on this list. However, it heats up quickly and cooks meat well.
It can be moved around, but this barbecue model is best used as a stationary unit where the goal is to have a large amount of area to cook in. You don’t need extra features to deliver amazing barbecue; this model will cook great food quickly.
Customers love the simplicity of this model. Some have purchased their smoke racks to give their food a smokey flavor. There have been other reviews that stated that this unit is perfect for just a few people.
Since it doesn’t take up a lot of space, it is perfect for situations where it isn’t used often. It can be stored easily according to some reviewers and set up quickly to make perfect dinners. Many reviews left a plethora of approval messages for this well-built machine.
This barbecue unit cooks food well. The infrared technology will deliver amazing dinners without needing to be supplemented with some of the features that other grills have on this list.
Pros
- Highly portable
- Easy to assemble
- The propane tank fits under the cooking grate
Cons
- Can’t be used to cook for many people
- Can’t be fueled by natural gas
8. Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill
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This 3-in-1 is a major upgrade from the previous winner of the under-100 category. Despite it losing some points on portability, this machine offers all of the luxuries of smoking, grilling, and roasting at a low price. Clean-up is also extremely easy.
The side smoke box can be used to input all of your favorite chips. Additionally, the roast can hold a turkey big enough to feed everyone on Thanksgiving.
This cooking appliance gives you a great variety of cooking methods so that you don’t have to buy individual smoking, grilling, and roasting machines.
Some reviewers have commented that their Thanksgiving dinner was cooked to perfection on this grill. The roaster was reported to provide an immense amount of drippings from a turkey to make abundant gravy afterward. Clean-up was also reported to take less than 20 minutes.
Another reviewer wrote that this was their new favorite toy. Jokes aside, they said that the smoking features on this machine more than met their demands for cooking for family and friends. Many reviewers were extremely satisfied with their purchase.
This smoker, roaster, and griller provide amazing value. All three components deliver excellent results; one can save a lot of money by buying this barbecue machine instead of owning separate appliances.
Pros
- A smoker box is built into the side to allow easy refilling
- Holds up to 25-pound roasts
- Easy assembly
- Two side handles allow for easy transportation
Cons
- Smoker heat can be a little too high
- Since it is a hybrid, it can be outperformed by specialized barbecue machines
Tips on Choosing
When choosing an infrared grill, it is important to make the right choice according to your situation. Before you begin shopping online or walking into stores, it will be extremely helpful to know why exactly you want one.
Some grills are perfect for cooking for large amounts of people. Other grills excel in cooking for only a few people and being stored away afterward.
When choosing an infrared grill, it is important to decide on one based on your needs.
Consider the following questions.
- How often will I use it?
- What type of food will I cook with it?
- Do I have a large amount of space to put it in?
- How much can I afford to spend?
- Would I want to get a different infrared grill later?
- Will I be moving the grill often?
- Would I ever want to take an infrared grill with me to another location?
Answering these questions will point you in the right direction as to what type of infrared grill you should get. If you like camping a lot, maybe getting a big home grill isn’t the best option. But if you already have a great conventional grill to take camping with you, getting a home grill could be the best choice.
Factors To Consider
If you can afford to buy a better grill, doing so will often yield a better return for your money. While purchasing a standard infrared grill will get you great cooked food, choosing one with better features will make the grilling process easier.
Infrared grills can cost a lot of money; it is very important to consider the type of grill that you will buy.
The following features are on the most popular grills today:
- Stainless steel
- Electronic ignitors
- Locking mechanisms for the lid when moving
- LED lights near the rack and control knobs to see in the dark
- Side burners, drawers, and side shelves
Indeed, you do not need all of these features to enjoy a great barbecue. But these features will make your experience with the grill more enjoyable and convenient.
A choice that every grill buyer might run into is having to decide whether to purchase a high-quality portable infrared unit or a medium-quality large stationary one. A portable grill can churn out quality food in only a few minutes.
A large one can cook a lot more food, but you can’t move it around from one place to the next without suffering great inconvenience. You wouldn’t take a backyard grill with you camping.
If you don’t need to cook for a lot of people, the portability of a smaller high-end grill can make up for not being able to cook as much as a big one.
These portable models have advanced to be able to be taken anywhere without the quality of cooked food suffering. Although it won’t be as flashy as owning a large model, portable grills can be taken virtually anywhere.
FAQ
Are infrared grills better than conventional grills?They are better for cooking certain kinds of food. Some foods need to be cooked at high temperatures to be able to be eaten correctly. For example, steaks have to be cooked quickly or they will toughen up if exposed to heat for too long. On the other hand, fish can't handle high temperatures. If one cooks a lot of meat like steaks, they will benefit a lot more by having infrared grills. Their food will cook faster and taste much better.
If I have a conventional grill, should I upgrade to an infrared one?You should if you cook a lot of meat. Steakhouses use special broilers; they do not use conventional ovens to cook steaks. Not only can infrared grills cook food faster, but they will make meat taste more delicious. When food is cooked with infrared technology, it is cooked directly instead of through the air. This means that juices inside the meat help cook the meat faster and stay locked inside to give the meat more flavor.
Do I have to buy an expensive infrared grill to get the benefits of cooking with infrared technology?You don't have to buy the best infrared grill to enjoy the benefits that this technology brings to the table. Standard infrared grills exist that are inexpensive and can serve delicious cuts of meats. More expensive models will have more features, however. If you are planning on cooking with infrared technology, it is worth your while to buy a good model that will have features that will help you cook.
Conclusion
Infrared technology is advancing with more and more grills. This technology is gaining popularity as more people become aware of it. Since most people don’t only cook seafood, this technology holds a lot of interest for the vast majority of the population.
Infrared grills can cook meats faster and make them come out more delicious. The special method of cooking is akin to induction found in stovetop appliances. Food is heated directly instead of through a medium. The infrared grill for the money is the one that serves your needs the best.
Whether you are a camper or an active backyard adventurer, infrared technology can improve any barbecue experience. Meat can be cooked a fraction of the time and come out with a beautiful seared finish.
If you are looking to upgrade to an infrared grill, don’t hesitate. They are capable of churning out the tasty barbecue for family, loved ones, and guests.
