If you are considering the purchase of a new barbeque or grill for your personal use or for entertaining, consider the benefits offered by an infrared grill. Infrared grills are not a new technology, but as a result of their patents having expired in the year 2000, their prices have dropped, while their technology and efficiency have improved, making right now an ideal time to consider in this advanced and superior grilling method.
Infrared gas grills are unique and function in a manner that is distinctly different from other popular grill types, such as gas, electric, and charcoal grills. An infrared gas grill functions on the principle of infrared heat radiation. This is effectively done by the use of a solid ceramic tile at the base of the grilling apparatus. By igniting natural gas or propane underneath the ceramic tile, the fuel is converted into infrared radiation, which directly heats items placed on top of the grill surface. Whereas all other popular grill types cook items by the use of heated ambient air, as opposed to by the heat source directly, the thermal infrared radiation in infrared grilling cooks food directly. The grill comes closest to simulating this method is one that uses charcoal for fuel. Because the charcoal pieces retain the heat of the original flame, they cook with approximately twenty-five percent ambient heat, while the additional seventy-five percent is, once again, hot air.
Although this difference may not initially seem to be of great importance, infrared heat carries with it several distinct grilling advantages. For instance, the necessity of much less ambient hot air means that food items, and meats in particular, are less likely to be dried out as they cook. They are able to retain their juices and flavor much more efficiently for an end result that is infinitely more satisfying. Other advantages include the assurance of an even heat distribution on the entire grilling surface, which eliminates the need to move food items around as they cook, and often messy and inconvenient process, and the potential for much higher grilling temperatures facilitating techniques such as searing meat (meat searing is another effective method of locking in the juices and flavors of meat to ensure and end product that has flavor, without being dry.)
One disadvantage of infrared grilling is the inability to attain very low cooking temperatures for items intended to be slow cooked. If you are an expert griller that likes to have both options available, grill designs are now being offered that feature various combinations of infrared and traditional options, allowing for variety and versatility. The other variation on the traditional infrared grill is the portable infrared grill. Portable versions often have smaller grilling space to facilitate travel. They are also a slightly less expensive option for people that wish to experience infrared grilling on a budget.
With its countless advantages over traditional grill options, and now with its competitive pricing and multiple special features offered, the infrared grill is quickly becoming the preferred household grilling technique.