Infrared grills are one of the best things invented in the grilling space. They offer great advantages and offer a quick alternative to traditional grills.

They may be on the more expensive side, but we can definitely say they’re worth their price, considering that they allow even heating, fast cooking, and perfect searing.

If you’re looking to buy an infrared grill that you can use at home, it’s next to make sure that you choose the right one. That’s why in this article, we’re showing you seven of the best infrared grills on the market today.

We’re also going to tackle the following topics:

  • Choosing an infrared grill
  • What an infrared grill is and how it works
  • Why you should buy an infrared grill

Comparison Table

Our #1 Choice
Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared 450 3-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill

1. Char-Broil TRU-Infrared 450

This model is a large enough grill with a small footprint; it’s perfect for large families that have limited space for a grill in their homes​ ​​ – Read Review.
9.8
Close Runner Up
Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 525 4-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill

2. Char-Broil TRU-Infrared 525

This model is the larger version of the 3-burner grill above; it’s made for big families with more room at their home – Read Review.
9.7
Multi Purpose
GASPRO Multi-Tasking Propane Infrared Steak Grill, XL Steakhouse & Cast-Iron Griddle 2-in-1 Outdoor Cooking Master | 125 in² Extra Large Cooking Area | Dustproof Foldable Panel

3. GASPRO Infrared Grill

This model offers a 2-in-1 design; it comes with a griddle and a grill rack, offering you options on how to cook your meat​ – Read Review.
9.5
Portable
Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Portable TRU-Infrared Liquid Propane Gas Grill

4.Char-Broil Grill2Go X200

This model comes with a portable design; it has a small cooking space but can reach very high temperatures; the design is very durable as it’s made of a cast-iron aluminum frame​ – Read Review.
9.3
Best Budget
Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill, Black

5. Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro

This model is designed for small families living in a condo and has a small balcony where they can grill; it has a small footprint but still offers a large cooking space – Read Review.
9.1
Compact Design
Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel

6. Solaire SOL-EV17A

This model features a portable design; it’s the lightest grill on this list; it has a small cooking space but heats up fast​​​ – Read Review.
9.2
For Boating
Magma Products, Newport II Infrared Gourmet Series Gas Grill, A10-918-2GS, Multi, One Size

7. Magma Products Newport 2

This is the only infrared grill on this list that can be mounted on a boat; it also comes with a unique viewing window​​ – Read Review.
8.9

Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 450

  • Cooking Area: 600 square inches
  • BTUs: 24,000 BTU
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 3
  • Dimensions: 23.5 x 51.1 x 47.2 inches
  • Weight: 131.4 pounds

More features: Porcelain-coated iron grates and warming rack; top-ported tube burners; Surefire Electronic ignition system; TRU-infrared technology; with 10,000 BTU side burner; enclosed storage cabinet; 4 caster wheels; 2 side tables; and lid-mounted temperature gauge

If you have a large family and just want a good quality full-sized infrared grill without breaking the bank, the Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 450 3-Burner Gas Grill might be for you.

As its name implies, the grill comes with a 450 square inches primary cooking space that can cook you up to 20 hamburgers. And if that’s not enough, you also get a 150 square inches warming rack that you can use to grill other food items on lower heat.

You get three top-ported tube burners that produce 24,000 BTUs of power across your grill. The grill can reach temperatures of up to 650 °F, but if this is not enough, you get a side burner that produces 10,000 BTU of power, allowing it to reach up to 1000 °F.

The grill also comes with three independent control knobs that allow precise and easy temperature control throughout your cook. It also comes with a lid-mounted temperature gauge to help you monitor the grill’s internal temperature.

Now, let’s talk about the grill’s cooking performance.

The TRU-Infrared technology helps ensure that heat is distributed evenly throughout your grill’s surface. There is no risk of having hot or cold spots, so your meat will surely be cooked evenly. The infrared technology also prevents flare-ups, so your food won’t get burned.

The grill grate and the warming racks are porcelain-coated to ensure that the food won’t stick to the surface. This way, it’s easier to clean your grill after the cook. On top of that, because the infrared grill can reach very high temperatures, it can vaporize any drippings, so it doesn’t end up at the bottom of your grill.

Another thing we love about the Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 450 3-Burner Gas Grill is its design. Despite providing a large cooking space, the footprint is smaller compared to other full-sized grills.

It also provides lots of extra storage with the enclosed cabinet just below the grill. You can hide the tank below, so it doesn’t occupy more space, and you can still keep more tools inside.

We also love that there are two side tables to give you more preparation area. One table is dedicated to the side burner, but because it’s lidded, you can use it as a table when not in use.

Char-Broil also provided us with four wheel casters so you can still move the grill around despite its size. However, it will be hard to transport it for really long trips. You might need to disassemble it if you do, but you might have a hard time assembling it back again (one of its cons).

Pros

  • Large cooking area
  • Fast heat-up
  • Even heat distribution throughout
  • Comes with storage cabinets and two side tables
  • Lid-mounted temperature gauge
  • Propane to natural gas conversion

Cons

  • Challenging to assemble
  • Produces a bit of smoke even when the lid is closed
  • Not ideal for frequent transport

Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 525

  • Cooking Area: 725 square inches
  • BTUs: 32,000 BTU
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 4
  • Dimensions: 23.5 x 57.2 x 47.2 inches
  • Weight: 162.9 pounds

More features: Porcelain-coated cast iron grates and warming rack; top-ported 443 stainless steel tube burners; Surefire Electronic ignition system; 13,000 BTU lidded side burner; lid-mounted temperature gauge; comes with enclosed storage cabinet; 4 caster wheels; 2 side tables

The Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 525 4-Burner Gas Grill is the larger version of the Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Gas Grill. This is perfect if you have a large family and has more space for a grill in your home.

As indicated in the number on its name, this grill comes with a cooking area of 525 square inches. This will allow you to cook around 28 hamburgers, 25 chicken breasts, or 16 steaks. And you think this space is still not enough, you also get a 200 square inches of warming rack for vegetables or other food you’d want to cook at a lower heating level.

The grill comes with four burners that distribute 24,000 BTUs of heating power across the grill. And because this grill uses TRU-infrared technology, heat is distributed evenly on your grill grates, ensuring that there are no cold and hot spots so that your food can be cooked evenly.

It also features four independent control knobs to make it easier for you to adjust temperatures when needed. You also get a lid temperature gauge that will help you monitor the inside temperature of your grill.

If you think the four burners are not enough, you also get a 13,000 BTU side burner with a wider temperature range than the main burners. So, if you need to sear meat or cook food that requires a higher temperature, you can use this.

We love that the grill features porcelain-coated cast-iron grates and warming rack so that your food won’t stick. The high temperature that the grill produces also allows it to vaporize any drippings so they don’t end up on the bottom of your grill.

With these features, you can definitely tell that this grill is easy to clean.

For the grill’s overall structure, you can immediately notice that the grill comes with an enclosed storage cabinet where you can keep the tank, so it’s not visible to guests. You can also use it to store supplies like tools you’d need.

The two side tables would be perfect to be used as a preparation table. One side table is also the side-burner, but if it’s not in use, then you can place your tools there and other condiments so they’re just within your reach.

The grill also comes with four caster wheels, like the 3-burner version, which would allow you to move the grill around. But because this is a big-sized grill, it’s not very portable to take on long trips.

Pros

  • Large cooking area
  • Strong and durable construction
  • Fast and reliable ignition system
  • Even heat distribution with no flare-ups
  • Comes with an enclosed cabinet and two side tables
  • Propane to natural gas conversion

Cons

  • Tricky to assemble

GASPRO Multi-Tasking Propane Infrared Grill

  • Cooking Area: 117 square inches
  • BTUs: 15,000 BTU
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 1
  • Dimensions: 25.7 x 22.6 x 15.9 inches
  • Weight: 34.8 pounds

More features: 2-in1 griddle and grill; reaches a temperature of 1,500 ° F; 6-notches in the grill rack; premium 304 stainless steel construction; push-button electronic igniter; CSA certified

The next infrared grill on our list is the GASPRO Multi-Tasking Propane Infrared Outdoor Cooking Master. It already comes with a griddle and a grill, making it perfect for those looking for a more multi-tasking grill.

The grill provides an overall cooking area of 242 square inches, where the griddle is at 117 square inches, and the grill rack is at 125 square inches. This would be a good enough size for a small family, and you can cook two dishes at once – frying on the griddle while grilling meat inside.

What we love about this grill is that it has a wide temperature range of 200 to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you want to sear something, you can definitely do so with this grill.

The inside of the grill also offers you more versatility to your cooking. You will observe that there are six notches there, so you can move the grill rack as close or as farthest to the heat as you can.

It would be great, though, if there are at least three grill racks provided to allow us to occupy the whole space of that grill and probably cook more at the same time. But when it comes to overall cooking performance, it’s similar to any infrared grills that provide even heating throughout.

The grill is small and heavy, but it’s still portable enough to take it with you when camping. At home, this grill should only be used outdoors because it can get very hot considering that it’s made of stainless steel.

We also love that it’s very easy to clean after use.

Pros

  • Sturdy and durable construction
  • Comes with a cast-iron griddle
  • Allows for different heating levels
  • Preheats fast
  • Even heat distribution

Cons

  • Small cooking area
  • Comes with only one rack

Char-Broil Grill2Go X200

  • Cooking Area: 200 square inches
  • BTUs: 9,500 BTU
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 1
  • Dimensions: 23.7 x 15 x 13.6 inches
  • Weight: 20 pounds

More features: Cast-aluminum firebox; lid with dual stainless steel latches and temperature gauge; high-impact frame with legs; with carry handles; stainless steel grilling grate

Next, we have another grill from Char-Broil, the Grill2Go X200 Portable TRU-Infrared Gas Grill. As the name implies, this grill is one of the best portable grills offered by Char-Broil. If you’re looking for a grill that you can take anywhere, this would be a great choice.

The grill comes with a 200 square inches grilling space. It sounds small, but we need to consider that this grill is designed to follow you anywhere, and the size can actually serve a group of four.

The burner delivers up to 9,500 BTUs of power, allowing it to reach really high heat temperatures in a short amount of time. And because it uses TRU-infrared technology, the heat is distributed evenly, allowing the meat to cook faster. So in just a short period, you can cook several dishes, despite the small size.

The grill grates are also made of stainless steel, which is another factor why it heats up fast. The disadvantage here, however, is that food can easily stick to the grate.

You also get a removable drip pan, so there’s no mess, and because infrared grills prevent flare-ups, there’s also nothing to be scared of about the drips burning back to your meat.

The grill structure screams durability. It features a cast-iron aluminum firebox that makes it strong. It also comes with stable legs, so it doesn’t stumble over even if the wind is strong.

Weighing around 20 pounds, this grill is already on the lighter side, and carrying it shouldn’t also be a big problem as it also comes with carrying side handles.

Other features you can look forward to with this grill are the temperature gauge that will help you monitor the temperature, the push-button ignition for easy start, and steel latches so the grill doesn’t open during transport.

Pros

  • Can sear like a full-sized grill
  • Suitable for outdoor and indoor grilling
  • Portable
  • Budget-friendly

Cons

  • Even at low temperatures, it can still be too hot

Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro

  • Cooking Area: 320 square inches
  • BTUs: 13,000 BTU
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 1
  • Dimensions: 24.4 x 25.2 x 38.2 inches
  • Weight: 43 pounds

More features: TRU-infrared technology; 2 wheels; towel bar; Easy Light integrated ignition; stainless steel cooking grate

Next, we have another grill from Char-Broil, the TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill. This is the most ideal for families living in a small space but still want to have a dependable grill that they can use.

This grill occupies a very small space, and as its name implies, it’s designed to be used on your patio or balcony. So if you’re living in a small apartment and you don’t have a big backyard, you can still enjoy a weekend barbecue on your patio.

Despite the small footprint, the grill offers a wide primary cooking space of 240 square inches that can fit ten burgers at the same time. It also comes with an 80 square inch warming rack so you can cook another dish at a lower heat.

The grill may only come with one burner but delivers a high power output of 13,000 BTUs. This means that it can reach high temperatures very fast, and if you want to sear meat, you’ll be guaranteed to get beautiful sears.

The grates are porcelain-coated, so food won’t stick to it, which allows cleaning easier for you. This also helps prevent rusting and ensures more durability to the grill.

One of our favorite things about this grill is that it allows you to enhance the flavor of whatever you cook. You can add wood chips on the grates to add smoky flavor to your meat, a feature most grills won’t have.

The grill comes with space below, which is enough for you to place the propane tank there. You also get wheels that allow a bit of mobility if you want it to go from one place to another. It even comes with a towel bar so you can keep your tools and other accessories within reach.

Pros

  • Space-saving design with large cooking space
  • Energy-efficient
  • Allows wood chips addition for smoky flavors
  • Preheats fast

Cons

  • Limited warranty
  • Complicated to assemble

Solaire SOL-EV17A

  • Cooking Area: 140 square inches
  • BTUs: 14,000
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 1
  • Dimensions: 13.5 x 21 x 8.25 inches
  • Weight: 15 pounds

More features: Real infrared ceramic and stainless steel burner; electronic push-button ignition; 304 stainless steel construction

The next grill on our list is the Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Portable Infrared Gas Grill. From its name, we can already say that this grill is designed to be taken anywhere with you.

It’s probably one of the most lightweight grills on this list as it only weighs 15 pounds. You can expect that this is already a small grill with a cooking space of 140 square inches and would allow you to cook six burgers at once.

This may sound like a con, but it’s actually a good size for camping or tailgating. And because the burner delivers an output of 14,000 BTUs, we can say that this grill gets really hot in a very short time.

So even with a small cooking space, you can still cook more food. And because this is an infrared grill, the heat distribution is even, and you can expect your meat to be cooked evenly as well.

We love how the grill comes with unique v-shaped grates. This means that while the meat is cooked, the grates will catch all those juices, lock them in, and just provide extra flavor to your food.

As much as almost everything about this grill sounds great, there are a few cons. One of those is the design, where you can observe that the grill has sharp edges, and it can injure anyone if you’re not careful.

It’s also made of stainless steel throughout, which means it can get really hot. You need to be very careful in operating it, or you might end up burning yourself. Temperature control can be very challenging, too.

Pros

  • Durable stainless steel construction
  • Easily converted to natural gas
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • V-shaped grates

Cons

  • Very hot even at low temperatures

Magma Products Newport 2

  • Cooking Area: 162 square inches
  • BTUs: 11,200 BTU
  • Fuel Source: Propane Gas
  • Number of Burners: 1
  • Dimensions: 22.5 x 11.63 x 11.63 inches
  • Weight: 19.94 pounds

More features: Tempered glass viewing window; rounded-edge design; 100% 8-9 grade mirror polished stainless steel construction; double-lined lower shell hermetically sealed thermometer; fold-away legs; grease tray; electronic ignition system

Last on our list is the Magma Products Newport 2 Infrared Gourmet Series Gas Grill. This is the only grill on this list that is compatible to be taken with you on a boat. You just need to buy the separate mounting kit, and you’re all set.

The grill only provides an overall cooking space of 162 square inches, which is enough to cook for two people on a boat. If there’s more of you, then there’s still nothing to worry about because the burner delivers 11,200 BTUs of heat across the grilling surface.

This means that the grill can reach high temperatures fast, allowing you to cook meat more quickly, too, and probably serve more people.

The grill is constructed with an 18-9 marine-grade mirror and polished steel, making it very sturdy and durable. It also won’t rust fast even if exposed to water and other elements when you’re out boating. This also makes the grill look very clean and elegant.

A unique feature of this grill is the viewing window located on the lid. This can make it easier for you to monitor what’s going on with your food. We think that this is a nice feature give that you get a temperature gauge that just displays color and not degrees, making temperature monitoring harder.

The grill is designed to be easy to clean, thanks to its excellent grease management system. It also comes with a removable tray that collects grease and drippings and prevents mess.

Now, don’t think that this grill is only suited for boating. You can still take it with you when camping, tailgating, and other outdoor activities, but it’s just nice to have that boating option for those who also love to enjoy freshly grilled seafood while surrounded by water.

Pros

  • Durable stainless steel construction
  • Big enough cooking space to serve two people on a boat
  • Portable with foldable Legs

Cons

  • Small cooking space
  • Mounting accessories are sold separately
  • The thermometer doesn’t display degrees

How To Choose An Infrared Grill?

There are seven excellent grill choices above, and we’re already telling you that any of those is a great choice. It would only be a matter of preferences.

So, how should you choose an infrared grill that fits you the best? Well, there are a few things that you would want to consider:

  • Fuel Source
  • Size and Dimensions
  • Number of Burners
  • Flavorizer Bars
  • Warranty

Fuel Source

When it comes to fuel sources, infrared grills mostly work with just two: propane or natural gas.

A propane gas grill is perfect for those who want to have more portability. You also have the option to choose a big tank or just small propane tanks for portable-designed grills. Whereas with natural gas, your grill would mainly be in one place, but we think that the advantage here is that you don’t have to worry about gas supply.

Most of the grills on the list above can be converted from propane to natural gas. But you do need to buy the convert kit separately if you wish to switch between the two.

Size and Dimensions

To determine the right size and dimension of your grill, you need to consider the following:

  • How many people you’re serving
  • Where you’re most likely going to use the grill
  • The size of your home.

If you have a small space, it’s highly recommended to choose a grill with a small footprint. But if you have a bigger space, then a larger one won’t be a problem. However, it may also not be a good choice to buy a big-sized grill if you’re serving a few people.

If you’re planning to buy a grill that you can take with you camping or tailgating, then you would want to choose one that is portable, meaning it’s light and easy to carry. However, you need to expect that portable grills offer limited cooking space than full-sized ones.

Number of Burners

Next, you need to consider how many burners you want. Naturally, grills with more burners offer more cooking space and versatility than grills with only one burner.

Full-sized grills can offer several burners, and most even come with a side burner, which provides a significant difference in the grill’s temperature range.

Flavorizer Bars

A flavorizer bar is a great feature to consider as it helps enhance the flavor of any meat you’re grilling.

We all know that if we’re grilling meat, there will always be drippings. And what’s great about having flavorizer bars is that it allows drippings to vaporize, giving your meat a more smoky flavor.

Warranty

Last but not least, you need to think about the warranty. Remember, this is your guarantee that the manufacturer would take care of any problems encountered within the first few years the grill is with you. This would include chip-off paint or just broken parts within the delivery.

Manufacturers that offer a warranty are more trustworthy as this means that they believe in the quality of their grill.

Warranties can range from 1 year to up to 10 years, depending on the manufacturer, and the longer the warranty, the better it would be for you.

What Is An Infrared Grill?

Infrared grills function almost the same as how you would use a gas or charcoal grill. The main difference is that it uses infrared burners, which emit very high heat through radiation.

This means that cooking with an infrared grill is very efficient compared to our standard grills. It preheats the grill fast, cooks food quickly, distributes heat across the grill evenly, and allows perfect cooking by preventing flare-ups.

How Does Infrared Grilling Work?

Unlike traditional gas grills, infrared grills feature a panel between the flame and the grill grates. The flame will then heat this panel which will eventually radiate a very intense heat to cook the food on the grill grate.

In other words, these grills don’t heat up the grill grates through the flame. Instead, it allows the panel to heat that grate and cook the meat, making even cooking possible.

However, even without direct contact with the food, infrared grills don’t heat up the surrounding air. The heat mainly focuses on the bottom of the grate, which allows you to get a perfect sear on the meat without drying it out.

Why Buy An Infrared Grill?

With this said, an infrared grill is really a great choice for people who want to achieve an excellent cook on their meat. But, even with this case, it may still not be for everyone. Take a look at a few advantages and disadvantages of using an infrared grill to see if it’s for you.

Advantages

  • Heat Time: One major advantage of using an infrared grill is that it takes little to no time at all to heat up. The grills on our list can reach at least 5-7 minutes to reach temperatures as high as 700 °F.So if you don’t have the patience to wait on a traditional grill to heat for 15 minutes, then an infrared grill might be for you.
  • Energy Efficient: Infrared grills are also energy efficient as it uses less fuel than the gas or charcoal grill alternatives. It may reach high temperatures in a short amount of time, but you are barely using any fuel in the process.
    If you’re someone who wants to reduce the impact of fuel usage on the environment, then this is a great reason to get an infrared grill.
  • Searing: Because infrared grills can reach temperatures of up to 1500 °F, getting perfectly seared meat shouldn’t be a problem.
  • Heat Distribution: You’ll also love the even heat distribution these grills offer. You no longer have to worry about having cold or hot spots or uneven cooking on your meat if you’re using an infrared grill.

Disadvantages

  • Price: Considering that the technology infrared grills use is different and unique, this grill is incredibly expensive than their gas or charcoal grill alternatives. Not many households may afford it, ban, it’s definitely worth the investment for those who can.
  • They Run Hot (And we mean really hot): Infrared grills can hit very high temperatures, and if you’re not careful enough, you can burn yourself. Temperature control might also be a challenge on your first try, so you may not be able to get a perfect cook on your meat immediately.
  • Adjustment Period: Infrared grills are challenging to use. There’s a big learning curve until you finally get used to it.

Our Verdict

Everything on the list above has a great overall quality for an infrared grill. But we think that the Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 450 stood above the rest.

It’s big enough to serve a large number of people, but it has a small footprint to occupy a small space. The price is also more affordable than other infrared grills within its range. The features are all great, and it’s a grill that can last for years.

However, again, we say that this may also not be the grill for you. If you’re looking for a portable grill, the Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 portable TRU-Infrared Gas Grill is an excellent choice.

Again, when choosing the best infrared grill for you, it’s very important to make sure that you think about all the factors before buying an infrared grill in the market.