7 Best Infrared Grills of 2023

Photo: Saber Grills

Infrared grills provide one of the best ways to grill food outdoors, and they will always provide better results than most other grill types.

With the best infrared grills, you will be able to sear your favorite meat cuts at high temperatures without drying it out, which means that you will always end up with tender and juicy meat.

These grills are quicker than most other types as they will preheat quickly and cook food much faster. Also, cleanups are faster and easier, and you will not have to worry about flare-ups when grilling.

To get the superior taste and convenience that comes with infrared grilling, you will need to pick a good model, and this piece aims to make this an easier task with review and a detailed buying guide.

7 Best Infrared Grills – Review

IMAGE	PRODUCT	FEATURES
	1. Char-Broil 463675016P1 (Best Overall)	High-performing stainless steel burners Fast and easy ignition Spacious folding side shelves Can use either propane and natural gas
	2. Char-Broil 15601900 (Small but Powerful)	Smaller size but feature-rich Wide range operating temperature More portable and affordable Convenient electronic ignition
	3. Char-Broil 12401734 (Highly Portable for Use On-the-Go)	Compact and highly portable grill Durable stainless steel grates Battery-free ignition system Accurate hood-mounted temperature gauge for easy monitoring
	4. Magma A10-918-2GS (Beautifully-Crafted & Durable)	Sleek and attention-grabbing finish Stainless steel construction for many years of service Relatively lightweight and portable Uses bot propane and natural gas
	5. Solaire SOL-EV17A (Convenient Grilling from Anywhere)	Conveniently portable for use from anywhere Flavor-enhancing and flare-up reducing grids Easy ignition and faster heat up Fully welded construction
	6. Napoleon P500RSIBPSS (Reliable for High Capacity Cooking)	Larger cooking area Higher total BTU output Durable stainless steel components Easy and smooth rolling casters
	7. Saber Grills R50SC0017 (Premium Quality Stainless Steel Grill with Larger Cooking Area)	Durable stainless steel construction Relatively larger cooking area Simple and reliable electronic ignition Handy internal halogen lights

1. Char-Broil 463675016P1 – Best Overall

Photo: Char-Broil

• Cooking Surface: 445 square inches
• BTU: 18,000
• Material: Steel
• Weight: 96.3 pounds

With a total of 445 square inches of cooking space, this Char-Broil infrared grill will provide lots of space for cooking for a family or small group. Its two high-performing stainless steel burners are designed to provide sufficient heat to cook any kind of food.

Also, it uses a SureFire ignition system that will ensure fast and easy starts of each burner every time as it will always provide a reliable spark.

There are some convenient folding side shelves that will provide extra storage space and also adequate space for preparing your food and a large storage cabinet for the tank and a few other things.

This grill can use either propane or natural gas with a conversion kit which makes it even more versatile. Given the performance, features and relatively affordable price tag, this is the best infrared grill for the money in our list as you will need to spend more cash to get anything better.

Because this grill can get quite hot, it will be a little hard to use without grilling gloves, but it is always recommended using them even at low-temperature grilling to prevent accidental burns. And the open back design will still have more pros than cons.

Pros:

• High-performing stainless steel burners
• Durable porcelain-coated grates
• Highly reliable ignition system
• Duel fuel compatible
• Convenient folding side shelves design

Cons:

• Open back means that things can easily fall over
• Hard to use without grilling gloves

2. Char-Broil 15601900 – Small but Powerful

Photo: Char-Broil

• Cooking Surface: 320 square inches
• Material: Steel
• Weight: 43 pounds

For the regular grillers that are looking for something small and portable and do not also want to spend a lot of cash, this is one of the best infrared grills under $300 for you.

Besides being highly portable and affordable, this grill is high performing thanks to the powerful and durable stainless steel grates that are designed to retain more heat and ensure an even heat distribution.

This small infrared grill uses a convenient electronic ignition that will make it quick and easy to fire up, and it also has a lid-mounted temperature gauge to make it easy to keep track of the temperature inside the grill.

Although this electric infrared grill takes more time to assemble than what many people would like, the process is still quite easy.

Pros:

• Small but more feature-rich
• Convenient electronic ignition
• Handy lid-mounted temperature gauge
• Relatively more affordable

Cons:

• Lengthy assembly

3. Char-Broil 12401734 – Highly Portable Infrared Grill for Use On-the-Go

Photo: Char-Broil

• Cooking Surface: 200 square inches
• BTU: 9,500
• Material: Die-cast aluminum
• Weight: 20 pounds

Weighing only 20 pounds and with a compact design, high-impact frame, legs, and sturdy handle, the X200 by Char-Broil is our best portable infrared grill as you can carry it with you almost anywhere.

Besides being portable, this infrared grill cooks pretty well thanks to the highly durable stainless steel grates and the fact that the small burner will generate up to 9,500 BTUs which is perfect for a 200 square inch surface.

Also, this is an easy grill to fire up thanks to the built-in and battery-free push-button ignition, and there is a hood-mounted temperature gauge to make it easy to monitor the grill’s temperature.

The cooking surface is relatively smaller when compared to others in our list, but it is still large enough for a portable grill. Also, it seems to get a little too hot which is typical of infrared grills, but you can still control the temperature easily to suit the food you are cooking.

Pros:

• Lightweight and highly portable
• Hood-mounted temperature gauge
• Sturdy and high-impact frame
• Built-in battery-free push-button ignition
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Relatively smaller cooking surface
• Gets a little too hot

4. Magma A10-918-2GS – Beautifully-Crafted and Durable

Photo: Magma

• Cooking Surface: 162 square inches
• BTU: 11,200
• Material: Stainless steel
• Weight: 19.94 pounds

A nice barbecue always makes your outdoor excursions more enjoyable and with this infrared grill from Magma Products, you can grill food from almost anywhere as it is highly portable.

This beautifully-crafted grill has a smooth and sleek finish that will ensure it complements any kitchen decor, and it will always stand out anywhere you place it.

The grill weighs only 19.94 pounds which makes it easy to carry around. And to make it even better, it will not only use propane fuel canisters but also both low-pressure propane and natural gas.

With its 100% stainless steel construction, this infrared grill is designed to offer many years of service.

Despite its smaller size, it still provides up to 11,200 BTUs. Other things like the built-in thermometer, tempered glass view window, integrated fold-away tray, and convenient grease tray also help to make this one of the best infrared gas grills out there.

The 162 square inches of cooking space is relatively small, but for a portable grill for use on the go, it should still be enough as you can easily use it to cook for a small group.

Pros:

• Elegant design with rounded edges
• Compact and lightweight for portability
• Quick and reliable electronic ignition
• Grease tray included for easy cleanup
• Can use both propane and natural gas

Cons:

• Smaller cooking surface

5. Solaire SOL-EV17A – Convenient Grilling from Anywhere

Photo: Solaire

• Cooking Surface: 140 square inches
• BTU: 14,000
• Material: Stainless steel
• Weight: 15 pounds

Another highly portable infrared gas grill designed for convenient use on the go. The compact and lightweight grill provides up to 14,000 BTU and has a cooking surface of 140 square inches.

You can be confident of using it for many years thanks to the fully-welded stainless steel construction that is built to last. This construction eliminates the need for lengthy assembly as you will only need to attach the handles and it will be ready for use.

This grill uses a ceramic and stainless steel burner that ensures fast heat up, and it will be ready to use in as little as 3 minutes. Also, it has quick and easy push-button electronic ignition system.

With the v-grate grids, you will also get better flavors and reduced flare-ups as they ensure any drippings from the food will be incinerated instantly to create flavor-enhancing smoke.

Although there a many sharp edges on this infrared grill, this is a small problem to fix with a quick and simple filing. Given the size of the grill and what it is meant for, the coking space is still good enough.

Pros:

• Usable from anywhere
• Fully welded for maximum durability
• Ready to use with minimal assembly required
• Easy push-button ignition
• Improved flavor and minimal flare-ups

Cons:

• Many sharp edges
• Small cooking space

6. Napoleon P500RSIBPSS – Reliable Infrared Grill for High Capacity Cooking

Photo: Napoleon

• Cooking Surface: 900 square inches
• BTU: 85,000
• Material: Stainless steel
• Weight: 192 pounds

Napoleon P500RSIBPSS provides the largest cooking surface in our infrared grill review. The 900 square inches of cooking space will be more than enough for large groups. With a total of 85,000 BTU, it has enough power to heat up the larger surface.

The grill comes with a total of 6 burners that include 2 infrared ones and they will allow you to cook in 8 different ways.

The construction makes this one of the best stainless steel infrared grills out there and it includes stainless steel grids, sear plates, and burners.

Despite the larger size of this grill, it is still quite easy to move around thanks to the easy rolling and locking casters. And it also has some convenient i-glow control knobs to make nighttime cooking easier.

This is the second priciest infrared grill in our list, but given its highly durable construction, high BTU and large cooking surface, it is worth. Although assembly instructions are not the best, you should still have an easy time putting it together as it is quite a straightforward process.

Pros:

• Large cooking surface
• Higher total BTUs
• Easy rolling and locking casters
• More burners provide more heat and versatility
• Glowing knobs for convenient nighttime use

Cons:

• A little pricier
• Poor assembly directions

7. Saber Grills R50SC0017 – Premium Quality Stainless Steel Grill with a Larger Cooking Area

Photo: Saber Grills

• Cooking Surface: 675 square inches
• BTU: 42,000
• Material: Stainless steel
• Weight: 218 pounds

Saber R50SC0017 has the second highest total BTU output in our infrared grill review, and this is an indication of its massive cooking power.

With a total of 42,000 BTU, this grill will provide more than enough heat to cook even the thickest steaks, and it also provides up to 675 square inches of cooking space to accommodate large volumes of food.

This top-rated infrared grill features a premium stainless steel construction to ensure maximum durability, and it also includes a side burner, side shelf, and convenient warming rack.

You can use this grill any time even at night as it will come with some nice halogen internal lights that provide adequate illumination for nighttime grilling.

Also, it is easy to get it running thanks to the fast and simple-to-use electronic system. And assembling, it is a quick and almost effortless task.

Although it is the heaviest model in our list it comes with some smooth rolling casters for easy mobility. The high price tag is still not a dealbreaker as this infrared grill will give you value for every buck you spend on it.

Pros:

• Larger cooking surface
• Durable premium stainless steel construction
• Quick push-button electronic ignition
• Fast and easy assembly
• Internal halogen lights ensure easy nighttime grilling

Cons:

• Quite a pricey grill
• Relatively heavy

Benefits and Drawbacks of Infrared Grills

Photo: Char-Broil

1. Benefits of Infrared Grills

Quick Preheating – With an infrared grill you will not have to wait for ages for it to preheat as it is designed to heat up quickly and be ready to use in just a few minutes.

Fast Cooking – Infrared grills are quicker than the traditional gas and charcoal grills, and so they will allow you to grill food even when you have limited time.

Great Taste and Quality – Because these grills are designed to attain higher temperatures than any other type, they will be perfect for searing steaks and cook better quality food. The grilled foods will retain their natural juices and will be more tender, and so you can expect them to be delicious.

Fast and Easy Cleanup – Infrared grills are the easiest to clean up because most come in a self-cleaning design that will only require you to turn up the heat to burn off the remaining food particles and use a brush to remove anything else that remains.

Energy Efficient – Besides getting great tasting foods, the infrared grill will also use less energy to cook it when compared to the gas, charcoal or electric grills.

2. Drawbacks of Infrared Grills

Requires Practice – Since infrared grills will operate at some insanely high temperatures, there is a learning curve when using them. If you do not know what you are doing, there is a high possibility of charring your food.

Can be Pricey – While there are some smaller and more affordable models in the market, most top-rated infrared grills are pricier than the regular gas and charcoal grills as they will have some fancy features and technologies.

Temperature Range – Although, these grills are famous for achieving some incredibly high temperatures when it comes to low temperature cooking they will not offer the same level of control. And this means that cooking delicate foods like vegetables and fish can be hard.

How to Buy the Best Infrared Grill

Photo: Char-Broil

Like with any other grill types, there are some factors to watch out for to ensure that what you buy will work well for you, and they include the following.

1. Cooking Surface

The cooking surface that the grill provides will determine the amount of food that you can cook at ago and hence the number of people you can use it to cook for.

While a large cooking surface like the 900 square inches on the Napoleon P500RSIBPSS is always the best as it ensures that you will have extra room for more food when you have to host more people, it also means that the grill will be larger and will take up more space.

Most infrared grills are large and bulky, but this does not mean they will all have the same cooking surface size. For a small family, an infrared grill with at least 200 square inches of cooking space like Char-Broil 12401734 should be good enough.

2. BTU

Because infrared grills will also use burners for heating up the grill, the BTU is also an important factor to consider when shopping.

The total BTU determines the cooking power of the grill and hence it will also determine the maximum temperature that your infrared grill can attain.

When it comes to the BTU, you should consider the total that you get from all the burners and divide this by the total area of the cooking surface to determine the exact amount of heat you are likely to get per square inch.

3. Number of Burners

Although infrared grills will only take a short time to heat up to high temperatures, you will still need to consider the total number of burners in the unit.

The number of burners will determine how efficient the grill will be at heating up the cooking surface. But the right number will depend on the size of grill you are buying.

If you are going for a small infrared grill, make sure that it has at least 2 burners while 2 to 3 burners should be enough for mid-size ones, and the larger models should have upwards of 3 burners.

4. Material

The materials used to make the infrared grill will determine both the performance and durability, and so they are an important factor to consider.

When it comes to the material, you will need to consider both the frame or base and the grates. There are many options to choose from which include metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and cast iron.

Some electric indoor models will use plastic for the frame which is cheaper but not as sturdy as stainless steel.

Stainless steel makes some of the best infrared grills and it will be great for use on both the frame and grates. But, for the grates, porcelain or enamel coated cast iron will also work well.

5. Portability

Portability is one area where infrared grills seem to be at a disadvantage when compared to other types because most are larger and bulky.

However, there are several smaller and more compact models that are designed to increase portability, and they will be great for camping, tailgating and much more.

Read More: The Best Camping Grills

Also, most large models like Napoleon P500RSIBPSS will have some wheels for increased portability. Going for a grill with wheels or casters is always a great idea if you intend to be using it from different spots.

6. Price

Because infrared grills are generally pricier than the regular gas and charcoal models, it is always important to consider the price before settling on any model.

These grills will typically cost anywhere between $200 and $1,000 dollars, but some models can be cheaper and pricier than this.

However, before you decide to go for the cheapest model, it is important to note that the more expensive high-end models will are often well-built and with more extra features and a larger cooking space.

When it comes to the price, you need to strike a balance between the features and performance of the grill and what you are paying for it.

How to Cook with an Infrared Grill

Photo: Char-Broil

Cooking with an infrared grill is not as complicated as some people tend to assume. Provided you know what to do, it can be as simple as using regular gas, electric or charcoal grills. Here are a few simple steps to follow for efficient and easy infrared grill cooking

Step 1: Pre-Heat Grill

After igniting your infrared grill, the first step should be to close the heat and allow it to preheat. The preheat time will vary from one model and grill size to the other, but on average, about 5 minutes should be enough as most tend to heat up quickly.

Step 2: Char the Food

Once the grill is heated up and ready for use, you can now place your food on the hot grates. Because preheating will ensure that the food cooks fast and thoroughly, it is important to char the outer layers.

Charring will create a barrier between the tender interior of the food which has all the nice juices and the intense heat. 2 to 3 minutes of charring on all sides should be enough for most food types.

Step 3: Cook at Low Heat

After the charring process, you should now lower the heat to avoid burning the food. Cook with the low heat setting until the food is done and make sure that you turn it over every 2 or 3 minutes.

Step 4: Keep the Hood Open

While it is possible to cook with an infrared grill when the hood is both open and closed, it is always better to keep the hood open as this will ensure that the grill only heats the food and not the surrounding air.

Step 5: Let the Food Rest

Once you ascertain that your food has been cooked properly, the last step is to allow it to rest for at least 3 minutes before you can serve it.

Removing the food from the grill will allow it to continue cooking without direct heat thanks to the intense heat it was getting. Allowing the food to rest ensures that the inner and outer surfaces will have an even temperature before consumption.

Conclusion

Finding the best infrared grill model should also now be effortless as our top 7 reviews above will give you some idea on what to buy.

From our review, the Char-Broil 463675016P1 is our top overall pick thanks to its high-performing stainless steel burners, reliable electronic ignition, and the versatile design as it can work with both natural gas and propane.

Sources

1. The Pros and Cons of Infrared Grill – The SpruceEats
2. Infrared Grill Pros and Cons – hrf