Best Infrared Grills on the Market

Infrared grills used to be perceived as a rare commodity that can only be found in fairly popular steakhouses. Lately, however, their popularity has soared to blinding heights, to the point where you can now find affordable units to put in your backyard.

But what is it about infrared grills that make them more sought after than their regular gas or charcoal counterparts? Infrared grills have the ability to radiate an incredible amount of heat that you just can’t get from other types of grills. Additionally, these fantastic appliances have the ability to sustain the flavor of whatever food you put on them.

Are you interested in buying an infrared grill? Stick around as we’re going to be discussing the different factors that make for a great grill and we’ll be revealing our top contestants for the title of the best infrared grill on the market. 

Things to Consider Before Buying an Infrared Grill

Before heading out to buy an infrared grill, there are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration to ensure getting the maximum bang for your buck. 

Grilling Capacity

Depending on the surface area of the grill, the amount of food you’re cooking and how fast it’s cooked can vary. Make sure that you consider the number of people you’re going to be cooking for before buying a grill, you don’t want to buy a grill with a surface area that doesn’t meet your needs. There are models on the market that come with a secondary cooking surface that allow for a larger meal, but they’re a bit more expensive than regular models.

BTU Level

While the BTU level of a grill is more accurately a representation of its gas consumption, rather than its heat output, you should be aiming to purchase an infrared grill with a relatively high BTU level as higher-BTU grills are usually more powerful than grills with a lower BTU value.

Power Source

The market of infrared grills is divided into two models when it comes to their power source. The first model is entirely electric and doesn’t require gas at all. The second one, just like a gas grill, requires refills of propane, but these models are much less power-hungry than traditional gas grills and they don’t require much gas consumption to reach desired high temperatures.

Ignition System

This might not occur to you as all that important, but think about it, do you want a faulty ignition system that takes multiple trials until it lights up the grill? The majority of infrared grills on the market feature electric ignition systems that eliminate the need for manual lighting. This is a must-have feature to look for in an infrared grill.

Build Quality

Make sure that you invest in an infrared grill that has a sturdy construction that will last you long. Rugged grills usually tend to have a steep price tag, but that’s the price you have to pay for quality or else you’ll end up with a cheap grill that will only last you a year or less. If you don’t buy cheap, you won’t buy often.

Another thing to consider in a grill is the material from which the grate is made from. Ideally, you want to look for a grill that features a porcelain-coated or a stainless steel grate as those tend to last a lot longer than other materials. Additionally, they have better flavor-keeping abilities that make for a much tastier meal.

Number of Burners

You want to stay away from grills that only feature one burner as they tend to have weak heat output and distribution. Generally, the more burners you have, the more heat you get and the more balanced the heat distribution will be. 

If you have a bit of money to spend, you might want to consider buying a grill that features a rotisserie as well. Another cool thing to look for in a grill is a warming rack. This allows you to keep the food warm for a decent amount of time.

Storage Space

You want a grill that features enough storage space for you to store all your grilling tools, wood chips, sauces, etc. This space can come in the form of shelves, cupboards, or an enclosed cabinet. Ample storage can make your grilling experience much more enjoyable.

Portability

Whether you enjoy grilling inside the house or in the outdoors, make sure that you invest in a compact, lightweight grill that you can move from one place to another.

How We Selected the Best Infrared Grill

7 Best Infrared Grills

In such a competitive market space, it’s hard to distinguish between quality and trash, so in order to help you pick out the best infrared grill for you, we’ve compiled a list of the absolute best units on the market today.

Solaire SOL-EV17A Infrared Gas Grill

Features:

• 140-square-inch grilling area
• Ceramic and stainless steel burner 
• Electronic push-button ignition system
• Infrared power of 14,000 BTU

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Unlike most grills that claim to heat up and be ready for grilling in just 1 minute, the Solaire lives up to its claim of heating up in only 3 minutes, give or take. The design of this grill helps incinerate any dripping that hits the burner and return it to the food in the form of flavor-enhancing smoke.

This grill is super sturdy and built to last, thanks to its fully welded stainless steel construction. The sparks are ignited rapidly with a single push of a button for reliable firing. The only thing that takes away from this grill is that it uses a 1 pound propane cylinder that’s not included, and if you want to use larger tanks, you’ll need to buy an adapter.

Pros

• Rugged and built to last
• Heats up very quickly
• Reliable ignition system
• Great at keeping the flavor

Cons

• Propane tank is not included
• Very steep price tag

Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Gas Grill

Features:

• 450-square-inch grilling area
• 150-square-inch porcelain-coated rack
• Infrared power of 10,000 BTU
•  Electronic ignition system
• Temperature gauge
• Enclosed storage cabinet

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For those with mid-sized grilling requirements, the Char-Broil Infrared Grill provides 450 square inches of porcelain-coated grates as your cooking space and 150 square inches of the same surface as a warming rack. The grill also features an enclosed storage cabinet that you can use to store your grill tools, sauces, and rubs.

This grill features 3 top-ported burners, along with a 10,000-BTU side burner, and a very reliable electronic ignition system. Easy to put together, heats up pretty fast, and an overall excellent machine. The problem with this grill, however, is that it’s pretty bulky and can be a bit of a hassle to move around and that it’s not easy to clean at all.

Pros

• Commodious cooking space
• Fairly simple assembly
• Cooks food pretty quickly
• No flare-ups whatsoever

Cons

• Steep price tag
• Not the easiest to clean

Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill

Features:

• Adjustable temperature dial 
• Convenient lid window 
• Dishwasher-safe components
• 1200 watts of power

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This might not be the most spacious grill on the list, but for the price it’s presented at, you’ve got yourself a great bang for your buck. You can sear your meat at 450 degrees or use the temperature dial to lower the heat down. Unfortunately, the grill takes some time to heat up properly and a bit more time to cook the food.

The grill features a removable non-stick plate so that you don’t have to waste time on scraping. The indoor hood and drip tray are easily removable and are safe for dishwasher cleaning. If you’re looking for a small-sized, portable grill to take along with you to picnic, this is the ideal product for you. Just be careful when putting it in the trunk of your car or van as it’s not the most durable grill on the list.

Pros

• Affordable price tag
• Small and portable design
• Easy to clean
• Good heat distribution

Cons

• Long cooking time
• Cheaply made

Philips Indoor Smokeless Grill

Features:

• Smoke-less infrared technology
• Dishwasher-safe components
• Free recipe book included
• Consistent 446°F

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Equipped with advanced infrared heat technology, this grill allows for indoor grilling with little to no smoke at all. The Philips Indoor Grill is pretty easy to set-up and it heats up quickly so you don’t have to starve for an extra 10 minutes. 

Heat distribution is great on this grill and the nonstick ALU grid is fairly easy to clean. The whole construction is detachable and suitable for dishwasher cleaning. And for even easier cleaning, this grill is accompanied by a ceramic scraper for the interior reflectors.

Pros

• Balanced heating all across
• Heats up pretty quickly
• Comes with a ceramic scraper
• Sizable grease tray

Cons

• The bright lights are annoying
• A little overpriced

George Foreman 15-Serving Electric Grill

Features:

• 240-square-inches circular grilling area
• Temperature indicator light
• Indoor/Outdoor removable stand
• Adjustable temperature control
• Countertop Stand

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If you’re looking for effectiveness, affordability, and aesthetics, then the George Foreman Electric Grill is going to blow you away. This stylish and versatile grill features 240 square inches of grilling surface, which is pretty spacious for a grill in this price range. If only they had made the cord a little bit longer, it would have been a perfect grill.

The coating is nonstick for easier cleaning and durability. The thing that makes this grill a winner is its removable stand that allows you to grill literally anywhere. It can be placed either directly on a tabletop or atop its pedestal The grill provides variable temperatures from low to high so you won’t be stuck grilling at a constant temperature.

Pros

• Highly affordable
• Durable and easy to clean
• Ideal for apartment-use
• Roomy grilling surface

Cons

• The cord needs to be longer
• Uneven heat distribution

Simple Living Advanced Indoor Smokeless Grill

Features:

• Cooking area dimension of 14×8″
• Constant temperature of 446°F
• Detachable components for easy cleaning
• Cool-touch safety base and handles

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This grill brilliantly achieves a great balance between portability, effectiveness, and pricing. The advanced infrared technology helps get rid of smoke with the aid of special reflectors guide, giving you tasty, juicy food without drywalling your house black. 

The nonstick surface is large enough to cook for around 8 people and you won’t have to scrap it every time you grill. You can easily take this grill with you on a vacation with the family and enjoy a tasty BBQ meal wherever you want. Make sure to remove the plastic protective covering on the drip tray before usage.

Pros

• Compact and portable design
• Easy to use and clean
• The grill is virtually smokeless
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Cooking time is slow
• Instructions can use some improvements

Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 TRU-Infrared Grill

Features:

• 200-square-inch stainless steel grilling area
• Main burner of 9,500 BTU 
• Hood-mounted temperature gauge
• Leg-tucked ignition for protection

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This second entry from Char-Broil is a grill that’s designed specifically for traveling. The grill size is 23.7 x 15.7 x 13.6 inches and it weighs around 20 pounds. The ignition can be found tucked inside the front right leg to protect it from damage. There’s also a temperature gauge that you can find mounted on the hood of the grill.

Total cooking surface spans 200 square inches, which is pretty decent if you’re cooking for 4 or 5 people. And for such a portable grill, the 9,500-BTU main burner sure delivers a lot of heat. The grate is of stainless steel construction, so you’re ensured great longevity over time.

Pros

• Arguably the most portable grill on the list
• Unmatched searing capability
• Great heat output and distribution
• Very durable construction

Cons

• The regulator is pretty much useless
• Needs enhanced ventilation

Conclusion

Among the above-mentioned products, two names stand out the most. In our humble opinion, the number one spot goes to the Solaire SOL-EV17A Infrared Gas Grill. It might be a bit expensive, but it provides the quality and taste anyone would look for in a grill. On the other end of the price spectrum, the George Foreman 15-Serving Electric Grill is simply an impressive grill for the price it’s presented at. Definitely deserves the runner-up spot. 

Hopefully, the information we’ve provided has given you the insight you needed before buying an infrared grill. Please let us know which among the 7 products we’ve reviewed you think is the best infrared grill.