Infrared barbecue grills have become much more common today than they were a decade back. In 2000, a patent on this grill design expired, which allowed more manufacturers to offer infrared bbq grills, thereby bringing down the price.
They work by igniting propane or natural gas, which in turn heats a ceramic tile that emits infrared radiation. Consequently, infrared grills generate a tremendous amount of heat – over 500 degrees Celsius (or 900 degrees Fahrenheit) which allows users to sear items quickly.
Advantages of Infrared Grills
Infrared barbecue grills have several advantages over traditional models. As already mentioned, such grills can generate over 900 degrees Fahrenheit of heat. This higher heat generation and distribution means that your food is cooked faster.
Further, research has shown that such high heat forces the juices to remain sealed inside the meat, resulting in tastier food. This, along with the time saved on cooking is one major plus point in favor of infrared grills.
The second advantage is that of uniformity. Anybody who has used a charcoal grill will testify that their biggest issue is that parts of the grill are hotter/cooler than others, which results in meat getting cooked unevenly. Infrared bbq grills, however, distribute heat uniformly so that every part of the grill gets heated equally.
Another advantage is that of efficiency. Since these grills cook food faster and heat up more quickly, they consume far less energy than regular grills. So in many ways, they also save fuel costs.
Infrared bbq grills have been used extensively in the restaurant industry for many years now. Their faster cooking time and lower fuel consumption has made them a firm favorite of major restaurant chains around the US. Their higher price put them beyond the reach of individual consumers, but with falling prices, they have been widely adopted by restaurants and individuals alike. Today, you can purchase a quality infrared barbecue grill for the same price of a high-range charcoal one.
Downsides of Infrared Grills
On the downside, with higher heat, burn injuries become more aggravated. Most grillers I know tend to be a bit clumsy around their equipment. If this is an issue, I suggest that you not go for infrareds as the slightest of mistake can leave a nasty burn.
Further, they hardly work outdoors. If you are the kind of person who enjoys grilling only if it’s in the outdoors (which describes pretty much every grilling enthusiast), then you should definitely prefer a charcoal grill over an infrared one.
Finally, there is the issue of price. Infrared bbq grills are still on the expensive side. If your budget is not that high, I suggest that you go for a high quality gas/charcoal model than a low quality infrared one.
Conclusion
To conclude, infrared barbecue grills aren’t meant for everybody. They work excellently well in indoor settings and save tons of time and energy in the cooking process, but are also more expensive and carry a heightened burn injury risk.