At a Glance
Will you be shopping for a new grill this season?
If so, you have most likely seen the term infrared burner. What is an infrared burner, how does it differ from a traditional gas grill burner, and is it right for you?
In this article, you will learn the answer to these questions. You will also learn how a sear station doesn't necessarily mean the grill sears.
What Is An Infrared Burner?
The concept of an infrared grill is not new.
It has been around since the 1980s, originally invented by TEC Grills. With an infrared burner, there is an infrared element between the grates and the flame.
The gas flame heats a ceramic tile covered in thousands of microscopic holes that radiate infrared energy into your food.
Lynx Trident Infrared Burner In Professional Gas BBQ Grill
Differences Between Infrared And Traditional Gas Burners
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You can think of a traditional grill burner as shining a flashlight onto and around your food with a wide cone of diffused heat, whereas an infrared burner points a laser of heat directly onto the food.
All-Gas Vs Infrared Searing On Outdoor BBQ Grills [VIDEO]
Getting an even heat across the grill can be difficult with traditional grills in windy areas. Infrared burners are not affected by wind.
That gives you the ability to create even heat across the cooking surface.
Infrared burners utilize uniform radiant energy, heating the food directly. Infrared heat cooks your food evenly and faster.
Compare that to open flame grill burners which radiate heat through a heat distribution system (ceramic rods, lava rock, etc.), to distribute the heat across the grilling area.
The downside with traditional grills is that hot spots occur, and a lot of heat redirects downward.
As we said, think laser versus flashlight for infrared vs. regular gas heat.
What Are The Benefits Of An Infrared Burner?
Lynx Professional BBQ Grill Infrared Burners
- Direct heat: The heat is more direct and more efficient.
- Faster grilling time: Infrared burners heat up very quickly so you can get grilling in no time.
- Higher temperatures: Infrared burners are hotter than a traditional burner. Some infrared burners approach 1,000 F. With that kind of heat, you can sear a steak to perfection.
- Moister, more flavorful food: Because infrared is direct heat, you end up with moister meat.
- Less flare-ups: No exposed flame means fewer flare-ups than a traditional gas grill.
- Easy cleaning: Infrared burners are much easier to clean.
What Are The Benefits Of A Traditional Burner?
Weber BBQ Grill Gas Burners
- Usability: If you have had a traditional gas grill in the past, there is no need to change the way you grill.
- More affordable: Traditional gas burner grills cost less and available on all grills.
- Lower temperatures for slow cooking: This type of burner can sustain lower overall temperatures for slow cooking in most cases.
Best Grill For Infrared Burners: Lynx Professional BBQ Grill
Lynx Professional BBQ Grill L30ATRFLP - $4,769
A normal infrared is one temperature, but Lynx offers a variable from 300-1000 degrees.
You have that direct heat of an infrared but at a lower temperature. You can cook more water-soluble foods like fruit and veggies.
Lynx Professional BBQ Grill Infrared Burners
This grill is all infrared and is available in larger in 30, 36, and 48-inch sizes, but should you buy it?
Lynx Professional Built-In BBQ Grill on Display at Yale Appliance in Hanover
You will be able to grill faster than a conventional burner. The downside is the price at well over $4,000.
Also, you need to be close by to your grill when you're cooking with infrared. Your food cooks faster and could burn if you are not paying attention.
Many pro grills will have the infrared option along with burners. A combination may be a good consideration to an all sear grill.
However, If you truly like to grill, all sear is a good consideration. You have the output plus the ability to lower temperature.
Difference Between A Sear Station And An Infrared Burner
A less expensive option is the Weber Genesis and Summit Series grills. These are all traditional burner units perfect if you mostly cook hotdogs and hamburgers.
Weber Summit BBQ Grill E-470
They also offer a "sear station," which is an additional burner element that provides a heat boost.
Weber Summit Grill Sear Station
It's not an infrared burner, just an added burner for more heat. It will not be as effective as infrared.
The Weber Summit BBQ grill does add an infrared, but that is on the backside of the grill for the rotisserie on their Summit series only.
Best Infrared Burner Alternatives
There are also some professional gills with traditional burner options more closely emulating an infrared.
The Hestan offers a 25,000 BTU burner with super thick grates that absorb and retain more heat.
Hestan Professional BBQ Grill on Display at Yale Appliance in Boston
This makes them more effective at searing than a regular gas burner, but again not as effective as an infrared burner.
Hestan Professional BBQ Grill Grates on Display at Yale Appliance in Hanover
Infrared Vs. Traditional Burners: Key Takeaways
Lynx Grill and Outdoor Kitchen at Yale Appliance in Boston
In the end, whether to buy a grill with an infrared burner really comes down to budget and how you cook.
If you are a weekend griller who primarily cooks burgers and chicken or don't want to spend thousands of dollars, then a traditional gas burner grill will suffice.
You can spend $799-$999 on a Weber and be happy.
If you love to grill, grill a lot, then the infrared burner may be worth the investment. However, burners with infrared will cost over $4,000.
Using Infrared Burners In Your Kitchen
I know this is a grill article. However, you can have infrared broilers and grills in your kitchen.
Many professional ranges from Wolf, BlueStar, and Thermador offer infrared broilers. BlueStar is the hottest at 1800 degrees.
BlueStar Infrared Broiler For Gas Ranges and Wall Ovens
You can buy infrared grills for your cooktop in brands like Wolf, Miele, and Jenn-Air.
Miele is the hottest at 19,000 BTU.
Additional Resources
Get our free BBQ Grill Buying Guide for reviews, features, and specs of the best brands. Over 800,000 people have already found answers in a Yale guide.
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