Are Infrared Grills Worth It

Old School And New School

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Infrared grills make outdoor bar-b-ques much less of a guessing game.

The days of flame flare-ups and carbonized food have been left behind.

The design of Infrared grills spreads heat from the gas flame across the entire cooking surface rather than having the gas flame emerge from a hole in the burner assembly.

Ill repeat some things mentioned before because I think they are important and worth mentioning again.

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Dan Bjork

Dan Bjork is an Appliance Sales Consultant at Yale Appliance in Framingham. He started his career selling appliances over 20 years ago. Dan truly loves appliance, and his passion shows when helping his customers cut through the confusion of looking at new appliances. He loves nothing more than having folks leave happy and confident in their choices. When he is not selling appliances, Dan can be found spending quality time with his wife and four children, fishing or reading a good book.

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What Are The Advantages Of Cooking With An Infrared Grill

The undeniable truth about infrared burners is that they are lightening fast. These burners are capable of getting up to around 700°F in seven minutes.

  • With a grill that hot, you will be able to sear your food really quick.
  • Manufacturers also make the claim that cooking with an infrared grill will lock in more juices.

However, there is still conjecture surrounding these claims. When searing your meat, you are caramelizing and browning the surface as the Maillard reaction takes place. While a brown and crispy surface may appear to lock in juices, whether or not this really happens is still debated.

So while locking in juices is a moot point, there are some other advantages.

Infrared grills produce very even heat, which makes for a consistently well seared surface.

Being so fast and hot, infrared cooking is energy efficient as well. You will be able to cook more food in a shorter amount of time, using less fuel.

Lastly, due to the intense heat of the burners, there can be less chance of flare ups when cooking with certain types of infrared. We will talk more about the different types of infrared grill later in this article.

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Are Infrared Grills Worth The Cost

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If youre in the market for a new grill, youve probably been bombarded with the term Infrared. If you listen to the sales reps, they say its a must have feature when shopping for a grill.

Infrared burners promise incredibly fast searing, perfectly even heat distribution and the ability to hit temperatures that you could only dream of reaching with a commercial grill.

But before you shell out extra cash, its worth understanding what infrared actually means, and the pros and cons of infrared grilling.

So lets have a closer look at how infrared works.

Are Infrared Side Burners Worth It

Performance 4

Preheating the IR side burner is important, especially if you want those grills hot enough to sear your meat properly. By now, you might be wondering, Are infrared burners worth it? Other than the different results you can produce, it also has increased energy and time efficiency that definitely make it worth it.

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What Is An Infrared Grill And How Do They Work

Infrared grills, also known as IR grills, use infrared radiation to cook your food. To do this, a regular gas grill gets started up, then has a specialized plate placed on top as a cooktop. The heatwaves from the grill get spread through the plate, which distributes the heat evenly throughout the plate.

As opposed to producing just hot air, an infrared grill produces infrared waves. These waves are what heat up the surface of an object, such as a slab of meat. Since the plates on an infrared grill are designed to conduct heat, these grills have a notoriously fast heat-up time.

These types of grills work similar to the sun. The energy of the sun consists of roughly 50% infrared, which is why roadways are very hot to the touch in the summer, but we cannot visibly see the heating process.

Benefits Of Infrared Grills

If youre thinking about upgrading your current grill, then youre probably torn between going the gas or the charcoal way. However, theres a third option you might not be aware of: The infrared grill.

Infrared grills are not as new as you may think. The first grills were produced in the year 2000 after a four-decade-long patent to the infrared burner expired. This effectively paved the way for manufacturers to use the technology to build infrared grills.

But whats all the hullabaloo about? Heres everything you need to know about the benefits of infrared grills.

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Is It Normal For Grill To Smoke

Smoke is a natural part of grilling, and it infuses foods with that woodsy, BBQ flavor we all love. White colored smoke coming out of the grill signals that the food is being grilled correctly. At this point, just relax and let the grill do its job. But black smoke is a signal that the grill needs to be adjusted.

Should You Be Replacing Your Grates

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Youre probably in one of two camps. You either want to avoid buying a new grill for whatever reason and wonder/hope that new grates are the answer to your prayers. At least for the next year or two. Or, you want better performance and are willing to spend some money to get it.

Heres how this decision will break down. Original grates will be the choice if price is most important. However, if you appreciate the underlying design of infrared and what makes it so good then youll appreciate the design choices made in the higher end infrared grills and the aftermarket grill grates well cover below.

You can go with aftermarket replacement grill grates instead of the original ones your grill came with. There are a few designs out there in the marketplace but it dominated by one brand and for good reason great product works as promised but a bit pricey for some folks. It comes down to how much you care about grilling, barbecuing, or smoking meat.

Youre reading this because youre thinking about replacing them, so lets get right to it dont buy the same grates your grill came with. None of them except on high-end grills are worth the money.

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Are Infrared Grills Much Better

Infrared Grills use less gas, provide the maximum even heat, and temperatures up super fast! We dont feel theyre better, just different. Determined on the sorts of foods you grill when this is a much better way of grilling.

However, with that, in our experience, clients either love them or hate them. Theyre fantastic for fast searing your meals and sealing in juices, then shifting your meals into an open fire.

What Are Key Benefits Of Infrared Grills Over Traditional Grills

What are key benefits of infrared grills over traditional grills?

Is infrared better for grilling? When it comes to grilling, thats all infrared radiation is: heat waves that are emitted by a hot object which has itself been heated by a propane or natural gas-powered heat element. In short, infrared grills are much hotter and much more efficient, which means they cook much more quickly than conventional grills.

What does an infrared grill do? An infrared grill is a gas grill that uses infrared technology as the heat source or as an optional burner. In a conventional gas grill, the flame heats the grates directly. Enthusiasts say infrared grills are good at searing meat, provide uniform heat and cut down on flare-ups.

Is infrared grilling healthier? Infrared grills can be significantly more efficient, and they can also be healthier, since they dont char food and therefore dont create as many of the carcinogens produced by traditional charcoal and gas grills. Its a very healthy way of eating, since the only thing that gets cooked out of the food is the fat.

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How Do You Use An Infrared Burner On A Gas Grill

Using Your Fire Magic Infrared Burner

  • Fire up your grill. Turn on the gas according to the instructions for you particular Fire Magic Grill and turn on the infrared burner.
  • Place the meat on the grate above the infrared burner.
  • Finish cooking the meat.
  • Remove the meat from the grill and enjoy.
  • The Disadvantage Of An Infrared Grill

    Infrared Grilling

    One of the limitations of cooking is the expense and trouble in controlling the cooking temperature. Because of the utilize of infrared radiation, infrared gas barbecues can be more costly than gas barbecues. It is hard to manage the cooking temperature since infrared barbecues warm up rapidly. Making it more challenging to keep up with the low cooking temperatures necessary for specific kinds of meals such as vegetables and fish. Likewise, they can be very cumbersome and hefty as they were initially intended for business kitchens and not meant to be compact.

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    What Are Users Opinion About Napoleon Prestige Pro 500

    Most of the consumers of this grill find it tough to assemble however, they were happy with the napoleon 500 prestige pro features within the affordable price. The grilling surface was just perfect for them and searing the meats within the precise temperature seemed perfect to them. More importantly, the infrared rear burners make them worthy and satisfactory unless the scenario would turn in the opposite way.

    Are Infrared Grills Hard To Clean

    The basics of cleaning an infrared grill are the same as for any grill, but take extra caution in cleaning the heating element and infrared surface. At least twice a year, an infrared grill should be inspected for wear, paying close attention to any damage to the heating element, the infrared plate and the grate.

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    Make The Most Of Your Infrared Grill: Tips And Tricks

    One of the best parts of summer is cooking outside. Grills have come a long way since the small spaceship-like grills of the 1950s. More cooking methods have developed, catering to different personal preferences from charcoal to gas and now to infrared grilling. Tips and tricks have changed just as the cooking methods, tools and technology have changed.

    Infrared grills are relatively new to the outdoor appliance market. They maximize flavor, energy and convenience by using an infrared cooking system as opposed to the convection system traditional gas grills use. Infrared grilling does not disturb the moisture boundary that surrounds all food, allowing it to retain up to 35 percent more moisture. Infrared systems use a layer of heat between the grates and the flame. This radiates heat into the food, cooking it more efficiently.

    Infrared grills offer several advantages, but becoming a grillmaster can be tricky. The following infrared grill tips will help you tame your grill and master everything from classic cheeseburgers to filet mignon and fresh fish.

    How To Cook On An Infrared Grill

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    When most people think of grilling, they think of cooking over an open flame. However, there is another way to grill that doesnt involve fire infrared grilling.

    Infrared grills use heat radiation for cooking food, which results in a faster cook time and juicier meat.

    Wondering how to use one? Keep reading for tips.

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    Are Infrared Grills Better Than Regular Gas Grills

    You know, this is a tricky question to answer. The truth is that while infrared grills have many advantages, they also have several disadvantages too

    The pros are as follows. They provide a uniform distribution of heat, theres reduced flare-ups, they heat up quickly, theyre great for the outdoors, unaffected by wind, and theyre also one of the safest ways to cook.

    But on the other hand, there are the cons. The top quality grills are rarely available at a good price point. And while infrared grills are often great for grilling meats, it can be a little too easy to burn veggies on an infrared grill.

    Do Infrared Grills Smoke A Lot

    One of the most common reasons for a grill to produce excess smoke is for it to be dirty. This should be super easy, as infrared grills are mostly self-cleaning. Just turn the heat up to the max for a few minutes, after you have cooked the food, and the heat will vaporize any residue that has been left behind.

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    Are Infrared Grills Healthier

    Infrared grills can be significantly more efficient, and they can also be healthier, since they dont char food and therefore dont create as many of the carcinogens produced by traditional charcoal and gas grills. Its a very healthy way of eating, since the only thing that gets cooked out of the food is the fat.

    Is An Infrared Grill Better

    3 Best Infrared Grills Under $300 Of 2021 Worth Checking

    Enthusiasts say infrared grills are good at searing meat, provide uniform heat and cut down on flare-ups. In our tests of gas grills, we havent found that infrared grills or grills with an infrared element are any better than those with standard burners. All the best grills in our tests cook uniformly.

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    Why Might You Want One Who Are Infrared Grills Best Suited To

    So, who would want one of these grills?

    Well, if youre looking for the cooking method that can give you the best steak experience consistently, then an infrared grill could be a welcome addition to your grill collection.

    Or, if patience is not your strongest trait, then infrared can save you a lot of time, and deliver your dinner much quicker!

    Maybe you like to keep on top of new technology and impress your guests? If so, an infrared grill would do precisely that.

    These grills could also be well-suited to those that have cooked on an industrial scale before and who regularly host and grill for large groups.

    Know How Big Your Storage Space Is

    Another thing you have to consider when looking for the best infrared grills is the space where you will put it. If you live in a condominium unit or apartment, chances are you have minimal space. Thus, standalone indoor infrared grills are out. You can opt for countertop indoor infrared grills instead.

    But if you have tons of space in your kitchen or backyard, then feel free to leave the size factor out of the equation.

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    Can You Use Aluminum Foil On Infrared Grill

    I reached out to one of our grill vendors to get the information on infrared grilling. It is not recommended to use tin foil to wrap food or use on the grates as a cooking surface. What you want to do is keep in the juices of your food. If you wrap your food, it wont sear, which keeps the juices in.

    Are Infrared Grills Worth The Cost Or Are They Just Marketing Hype

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    Many infrared grill owners swear that there is nothing that compares to the ease, speed, convenience and perfect results that these burners produce. Others, however, claim that a high end grill will produce exactly the same results.

    Here are a couple of points to take into consideration when weighing up if one of these grills is right for you.

    • You will need to learn a few new techniques in order to get the best results out of your grill. For some this might seem like a pain, but others love learning new tips and tricks and putting them into action.
    • Infrared grill burners will cook your food incredibly fast. If you regularly sear steaks for large groups, then perhaps the speed at which you can churn out consistently great food will be a selling point for you.
    • Because the grilling surface is usually close to the burner, dripping fat is usually burnt up and produces smoke that flavors the food. As long you dont purchase a model that is prone to flare ups, this will result in some extra flavor in your food.

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    Easily Repaired Weber Grills Infrared

    Weber makes grill schematics as well as replacement parts conveniently readily available. This makes them very easy to repair at a wide variety of service centres or to buy parts as well as repair them on your own, without needing to ship the grill anywhere.

    This additionally implies that you may be able to locate an older design Weber at a yard sales and also rehab it with new parts, to bring it back to life.

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