Introduction To The Infrared Grill
The infrared grill is a relatively new form of grilling technology which cooks meat directly instead of indirectly using a convection method like the traditional barbecue grill. This results in a steak that is cooked and seared to perfection on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
Until recently the only way you could get a steak cooked like this with the impressive char marks was to go to a restaurant because the infrared grilling technology was only available to commercial establishments. However in the year 2000 the patent on the technology expired and manufacturers began producing infrared bbq grills for consumer use.
It is now possible to cook your own restaurant style steaks and other tasty grilled food from your own back yard. The older style barbecue grill heats the air surrounding the meat to raise the temperature. The hot air temperature is what cooks the meat. This is called convection because the heat is not applied directly to the meat or other food you are cooking. Instead the air surrounding the food is heated. With infrared bbq grills, the infrared grill burner, made of ceramic tile or stainless steel, is heated by either propane or gas. The temperature gets very hot, usually between 450 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit, which means the meat cooks fast and doesn’t dry out. The direct heating source produces uniform heat which also helps to cook the meat or other food more completely and thoroughly.
Most infrared grill reviews are very positive regarding this grilling technology. Preparation and cooking times are fast with an infrared gas grill. This helps to save time and use less propane or gas as well. Infrared grilling is also more uniform due to the fact that it is the ceramic tile or stainless steel that is directly heated and not the outside air. This results in more uniform cooking in addition to being faster than conventional methods. Meat is seared on the outside with the juices locked in on the inside.
Two of the leading manufacturers of infrared grills for consumers are Char Broil and TEC. Char Broil was one of the early mainstream grill manufacturers to start producing the infared grill for consumers. Char Broil infrared grills come in three different models The Red, the Quantum and the Heatwave. The Big Red has three burners with push start knobs that are adjustable. These can be set at different temperatures depending on what type of food you are cooking. Wood chips can also be added in between the grates to produce a wood smoke flavor.
TEC infrared grills are made for both commercial and consumer use. The company is the inventor of the infrared grill. The TEC infrared grill has burners made of stainless steel. These burners are usually more durable than the usual ceramic-based burners that most infrared grills come with. The stainless steel grills are also easy to clean. TEC grills come in built-in, pedestal mount and free standing configurations and 764, 573 and 382 square inch sizes, as well as some budget and portable models. Natural gas and propane options are available. TEC definitely offers state of the art infrared grills.
The infrared grill has definitely revolutionized the art of grilling. You no longer have to go to an expensive restaurant to get the perfectly cooked steak. Infrared grills are easy to use, with virtually no preparation time and very little clean up time either. The only real draw back to an infrared grill can be its price. These types of barbecue grills do tend to be more expensive than regular gas grills. However, the convenience, taste of the food, and reduced preparation, cooking and clean up times can make the additional cost well worth it.
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