Best Infrared Grills for the Money (4 In-Stock Picks Compared)

An infrared grill cooks with radiant heat rather than hot air alone. The result is even heat, fewer flare-ups and hard searing on steaks.

Infrared grills have changed. Char-Broil, the biggest name in the category, now calls its system Amplifire rather than TRU-Infrared. Many older models are gone from its store. This guide covers grills you can confirm on each maker’s store today.

The short version: The Char-Broil Pro Series 2-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle is the best infrared grill for the money. Its Amplifire emitter plate radiates infrared heat, and it comes with a griddle insert, for $499 at Char-Broil’s price. If you want serious searing and a rotisserie, the Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 RSIB adds infrared side and rear burners.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best for the money: Char-Broil Pro Series 2-Burner Gas Grill and GriddleJump to review ↓
• Best for families: Char-Broil Pro Series 3-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle With Side BurnerJump to review ↓
• Best premium: Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 RSIBJump to review ↓
• Best portable and marine: Magma Catalina Infrared Gas GrillJump to review ↓

Every grill above was listed as available on its maker’s own store when we checked. Prices are the makers’ own and change often.

Grill	Infrared Feature	Burners	Main Cooking Area	Maker’s Price
Char-Broil Pro Series 2-Burner	Amplifire emitter plate	2, 20,000 BTU	325 sq in	$499.00
Char-Broil Pro Series 3-Burner	Amplifire emitter plate	3 plus side burner, 25,500 BTU	412 sq in	$649.00
Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 RSIB	Infrared side and rear burners	3 main, 70,500 BTU total	23.75 x 18 in	$1,579
Magma Catalina Infrared	Infrared radiant plate and screens	1, 12,500 BTU	12 x 18 in	$709.99

1. Char-Broil Pro Series 2-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle: Best for the Money

This is Char-Broil’s current infrared grill. Char-Broil explains that an emitter plate sits above the burners. It absorbs the infrared heat of the flames and radiates it back to the food. Char-Broil says this helps prevent flare-ups and hot and cold spots.

Char-Broil also claims up to 50% juicier food. That is the maker’s claim. You can read its explanation on Char-Broil’s Amplifire page.

The griddle insert adds real value. Swap it in for pancakes, eggs, smash burgers and fried rice. You get a grill and a flat-top in one. If you like griddle cooking indoors too, our guide to the best griddle pan for pancakes covers stovetop options.

Char-Broil also sells a Gas2Coal charcoal tray for this grill, at $39.99. It lets you grill over charcoal on the same grill.

At 325 square inches of main cooking area, it suits two to four people. The burner warranty runs 10 years.

Who should buy it: Couples and small families who want infrared grilling and a griddle at a fair price.

2. Char-Broil Pro Series 3-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle With Side Burner: Best for Families

This is the bigger version of the 2-burner pick. It adds a third main burner, a side burner and about 90 more square inches of main cooking area.

The side burner is useful. Heat a sauce, boil corn or warm beans while the main grill is busy.

It uses the same Amplifire emitter plate system and includes the griddle insert. It is also compatible with Char-Broil’s Gas2Coal charcoal trays.

It is wider, at 55.4 inches. Measure your patio or balcony before you buy.

Who should buy it: Families and hosts who cook for five or more.

3. Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 RSIB: Best Premium

The Napoleon takes a different approach. Its main burners are regular gas burners. It adds two dedicated infrared burners for the jobs infrared does best.

The SIZZLE ZONE side burner is an infrared burner for searing. It gets a steak crust fast, then you move the steak to the main grill to finish. You can also use it for sauces and sides.

The infrared rear burner is for rotisserie cooking. Radiant heat from behind the spit browns a chicken or roast evenly as it turns.

Napoleon backs it with a 15-year warranty. The stainless steel build, backlit knobs and WAVE grids show where the money goes.

It costs about three times as much as the Char-Broil 2-burner. It makes sense if you grill often and want a grill for the long term.

Who should buy it: Keen grillers who want restaurant-style searing and rotisserie cooking.

4. Magma Catalina Infrared Gas Grill: Best Portable and Marine

Magma makes grills for boats. The Catalina mounts to a boat rail with Magma’s mounts, or stands on fold-away legs on a table.

Magma says its radiant plate and infrared screens give intense, evenly spread heat and eliminate flare-ups. On a boat, that matters. Flare-ups and wind are a real hazard on the water.

It runs on small 1-pound propane canisters. That makes it portable for tailgates, campsites and small balconies where rules allow gas. Pair it with the pots and pans in our best camping cookware guide, and keep food cold in a rugged lunch cooler.

Magma says it serves 6 to 8 people. The stainless steel is marine grade, so it resists rust near salt water.

It is expensive for a one-burner grill. You pay for marine-grade steel and mounting options.

Who should buy it: Boat owners, and anyone who wants a rugged portable infrared grill.

What Happened to Char-Broil TRU-Infrared?

The older version of this guide listed Char-Broil’s Performance TRU-Infrared grill, Grill2Go X200 and The Big Easy. We check each product on its maker’s store before we recommend it.

When we checked, Char-Broil’s store did not list the Performance TRU-Infrared or Grill2Go X200 as products. Char-Broil’s current infrared system is called Amplifire, used on its Pro Series grills. The Big Easy is still sold, now as The Big Easy Outdoor Air Fryer. It is a roaster for turkeys and roasts rather than a grill, so it is not a pick here.

The older Northfire, Solaire and Philips picks could not be confirmed on their makers’ stores, so they are not included.

How Infrared Grilling Works

A regular gas grill heats food mostly with hot air rising from the flames. That is convection. Air is a poor conductor, and wind or an open lid lets the heat escape.

An infrared grill adds radiant heat. A plate, screen or ceramic burner gets very hot and radiates heat directly to the food. It is like the warmth you feel from the sun or a campfire.

There are three common designs:

• Emitter plates. A metal plate sits between the burner and the grates. The flame heats the plate, and the plate radiates heat up. Char-Broil’s Amplifire works this way.
• Radiant plates and screens. Similar to emitter plates, with screens that spread the heat. Magma uses this design.
• Ceramic infrared burners. Gas heats a ceramic tile with thousands of tiny holes until it glows. These get extremely hot and are used for searing. Napoleon’s SIZZLE ZONE is an infrared burner of this kind.

Pros and Cons of Infrared Grills

Infrared grills do some things very well. They also have trade-offs.

Advantages:

• Fewer flare-ups. Drips hit a hot plate, not an open flame.
• Even heat. Radiant plates spread heat across the grates.
• Great searing. Infrared sear burners get very hot, fast.
• Less affected by wind. Radiant heat is not blown away as easily as hot air.

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost. Infrared grills and burners cost more than basic gas grills.
• Learning curve. High heat can burn delicate foods if you are not careful.
• Different cleaning. Ceramic burners need gentle care.

If you mostly grill burgers and hot dogs, a basic gas grill is fine. Our guide to the best gas grills under $500 covers good value options. If you love steak, infrared searing is a real upgrade.

How to Grill on an Infrared Grill

Infrared grills cook fast. Adjust your habits.

1. Preheat fully. Give the plate or burner 10 to 15 minutes to heat.
2. Start lower than you think. Infrared heat is intense. Medium is often enough.
3. Sear, then move. Sear steak on high or on the sear burner, then finish on lower heat.
4. Use a thermometer. Food cooks faster than on a regular grill. Our guide to the best meat thermometer for smoking covers fast instant-read models.
5. Oil the food, not the grates. A light coat of oil stops sticking. See our guide to the best oil for an air fryer for high smoke point oils that work on grills too.
6. Rest the meat. Let steaks rest a few minutes before slicing.

Heat-resistant gloves help when moving grates and emitters. Our guide to the best heat-resistant gloves for cooking covers grill-rated gloves.

What to Cook on an Infrared Grill

Infrared heat suits some foods perfectly.

• Steaks and chops. The classic. A fast, hard sear gives a deep crust.
• Burgers. Even heat and fewer flare-ups mean fewer burnt patties.
• Chicken. Start on the sear zone for color, then finish on lower heat. Our guide on how long chicken lasts in the fridge helps with leftovers.
• Corn. Radiant heat chars corn quickly. See how to grill corn on the cob.
• Rotisserie. An infrared rear burner browns a spinning chicken evenly.
• Griddle foods. The Char-Broil griddle inserts handle pancakes, eggs and stir-fries. Clean the griddle like an electric griddle top; our guide on how to clean an electric griddle covers sticky film and burnt grease.
• Sausages and brats. Grill them over medium heat so the casings do not split. If it rains, our guide on how to cook sausages in the oven is the backup plan.

A cast iron skillet on the grates adds another cooking surface for onions, peppers and sides. Our Lodge cast iron skillet review covers sizes that fit on a grill. For smoky flavor on a gas grill, add a smoker box. Our guides to the best smoker box for gas grills and how to use a smoker box on a gas grill cover the method.

Cleaning and Caring for an Infrared Grill

Cleaning depends on the design. Always check the manual.

• Burn off after cooking. Run the grill on high for a few minutes to turn drips to ash.
• Brush the grates. Use a grill brush while the grates are warm.
• Care for ceramic burners. Do not spray water on them or scrub them with a wire brush. Burn residue off instead.
• Empty the grease tray. Grease buildup is a fire risk.
• Check emitter plates. Scrape off heavy buildup now and then.
• Cover the grill. A cover protects it from rain and dust.

If your flame looks weak, our guide on why your gas grill has a weak flame walks through the fixes. And check your tank before a cookout. Our guide on how to tell if your grill’s propane tank is empty shows easy tests.

Infrared Grills on Balconies and Small Patios

Before buying any gas grill for a balcony, check your building’s rules and local fire code. Many apartments ban propane grills on balconies.

If gas is allowed, a compact grill like the Magma Catalina fits small spaces. Our guide on how to set up a small patio for grilling shows how to lay out a safe cooking zone. If not, an electric grill may be your only option. Our guides to the best small grills for balconies and patios, best portable grills for apartment living and balcony grilling safety tips and rules cover the options.

Which Infrared Grill Should You Buy?

Buy the Char-Broil Pro Series 2-Burner if you want infrared grilling and a griddle for the lowest price.

Pick the Char-Broil Pro Series 3-Burner if you cook for a bigger family and want a side burner.

Choose the Napoleon Rogue PRO-S 425 RSIB if you want a dedicated infrared sear burner and rotisserie, and a 15-year warranty.

Get the Magma Catalina Infrared if you grill on a boat or want a rugged portable infrared grill.

Related Guides

• What Is a Grill?
• Best Gas and Charcoal Grill Combo
• How to Use a Charcoal Grill
• How to Use an Electric Smoker
• Small-Space Grilling Accessories You Actually Need
• Best Propane Smoker
• Best Offset Smoker for Beginners

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best infrared grill for the money?

The Char-Broil Pro Series 2-Burner Gas Grill and Griddle is the best value pick in this guide. It uses Char-Broil's Amplifire system, where an emitter plate above the burners radiates infrared heat to the food, and it includes a griddle insert. Char-Broil lists it at $499.

How does an infrared grill work?

Most infrared gas grills put a plate or screen between the flame and the food. The flame heats the plate, and the plate radiates infrared heat to the food. Char-Broil says its Amplifire emitter plate absorbs the infrared heat of the flames and radiates it back to the food. This gives even heat and fewer flare-ups.

Are infrared grills worth it?

They are worth it if you want fewer flare-ups, even heat and strong searing. They can run hot, so there is a learning curve with delicate foods. If you mostly grill burgers and chicken, a regular gas grill works fine; if you love steak, an infrared sear burner is a real upgrade.

Can you cook everything on an infrared grill?

Yes, most foods. Infrared heat is ideal for steaks, chops and burgers. Fish and vegetables cook well at lower settings. For slow-cooked foods like ribs, use low heat and the lid, or use a rotisserie if your grill has an infrared rear burner.

How do you clean an infrared grill?

Burn off residue on high for a few minutes after cooking, then brush the grates. Do not use water or a wire brush directly on ceramic infrared burners. Empty the grease tray regularly. Check your maker's manual, because cleaning rules differ between emitter plates and ceramic burners.