What is an infrared grill and how is it different?

As the summer comes around and you want to make the most of the weather you might be thinking of investing in a barbecue grill to use in the back garden. You will find that there are many choices and that gaining in popularity are the gas infrared grills.

So what is an infrared grill and how is it different?

A standard gas barbecue grill heats the meat by a convection method, it heats up the air between the flame and the grate, the heat of the surrounding air cooks the meat through. The hot air can dry out the meat a bit when cooking.

When a gas grill has infrared technology it usually has an infrared element, that can emit the infrared radiation, between the gas flame and the grate. This absorbs all of the energy and heat from the flame and radiates it out into the meat sitting on the grate. As the food isn’t being heated just from the hot air it doesn’t dry it out as much and it keeps moisture in the meat and makes it juicier to eat.

One of the benefits of cooking with infrared radiation is that it can heat up quicker and hotter so it cooks your food faster using less fuel. The infrared element gives a more even heat so it cooks more uniformly, there are less flare ups in the grill and you can still control the temperature if you want a slower roast or a fast sear.

If you have used a charcoal grill in the past you will have had a natural infrared heat from the briquettes, of course the gas grills are a lot less mess and much easier to control.

When you cook on a gas infrared grill you will find that it takes a lot less time to preheat the grill to the desired temperature. You will also have to be careful with the cooking times for the meat you want to cook as it will cook quicker. To make sure that you are cooking the meat to the safest internal temperature then it’s worth using a meat thermometer to keep a check on it. You can buy them fairly cheaply and they’re easy to use, it definitely beats getting a stomach bug.

As with all grills it’s best to never leave it unattended once you start cooking unless you’re doing a joint or items that take a long time and be aware of high fat items when grilling so you don’t get flare ups or burn the food.

If you’re wondering whether infrared cooking is healthy, well there is no danger with the infrared because there isn’t enough power in an infrared barbecue to cause any damage to a person’s DNA.

Whether you choose an infrared barbecue grill or a standard grill you will always have the job or cleaning it after use. The grill plate is usually cleaned with a wire brush to remove burnt on food particles. If you have an infrared heating surface which can be made of ceramic metal or glass you will still need to clean it to get rid of any ash or food bits. It’s best to start with brushing off the surface dirt and then to use a gentle, nonabrasive chemical cleaner to break up the stubborn bits. This way you’ll keep grilling for a long time and get the best use out of your investment.

Infrared grills come in a variety of sizes and costs so it’s worth asking yourself a few basic questions to decide which size of grill you want. You will no doubt have some limiting factors whether they are to do with price, or space. If you have a large area outside that you can use and a large budget then the options can be endless. You can go large with a good size cooking area that will let you cook for more people like the Royal Gourmet Mirage MG6001-R which is great if you like to host family barbecues often. If space or price is an issue then you have smaller options that you can consider like the Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill which is great if you’re only wanting to cook a small amount at a time or you don’t have a large garden space.

If you like the idea of using an infrared grill for quicker cooking and juicier steaks then you will join the millions of people who are loving their infrared gas grills and you can pick one up from many places online. Check out places like Amazon.com where you can check for the best deals and often get a bargain.