Infrared Gas Grill vs. Gas Grill; Which is the Better Choice?

From summer vacations and picnics to regular sumptuous meals, they have taken out the frustration and hassle from a barbecue adventure. While having a charcoal grill can be festive, waiting long hours for your meal to be ready can be quite a turn-off.

The convenience that comes with gas grills is the fact that you can turn it on or off whenever you want, grill any time of the day, even at bad weather, and regulate cooking temperature. Unlike charcoal grills, you don’t have to add coals for extended cooking hours, nor have to worry about cleaning up afterward.

Not only do they come with unique and advanced features, but meals that made with them are also healthier than their charcoal counterparts.

Pros

• Unlike charcoal, gas fuel is more economic
• It is environmentally friendly
• More comfortable to operate and clean up
• They can be connected to domestic gas lines for endless cooking
• Most come with added features and accessories, such as smoke boxes. This way, you still have that charcoal flavor but without the charcoal.
• It is healthier and safer
• Can be used indoors
• No foul petrochemical smell that charcoal grills give off

Cons

• It has limited mobility; this happens when you connect to your domestic gas line
• They are quite heavy, limiting their use outdoors
• Risk of fire hazards
• Does not heat up as much as charcoal

Just like gas cookers, they come with convenience and versatility. Whether you are having an instant party, a picnic, or just a craving, these taste helpers are here to make the process completely stress free. Gas grills are quite expensive and can cost a fortune to fix if it encounters technical issues.

If you are an outdoors person, a gas grill might not be a good option because of mobility. Some, however, can use both charcoal and gas, giving you a two in one option. If you do not mind the costs of getting a gas grill and have it indoors most, if not all of the time, you’ve got many benefits waiting for you.

Just like many other sectors, technological advancements and innovations have changed grilling as we know it. There has been a recent entry into the grilling world. It is technologically driven by a different kind of heat transfer, which reduces the chances of stomach aches and cancer. These side effects occur when food is charred or under-cooked.

Unlike other traditional grills that work with direct heat, infrared grills adopt a method known as radiation. Infrared grills cover most of the benefits of charcoal and gas grills added together and even more. They are fast and effective when it comes to cooking meals. Fueled by gas or charcoal, it covers everything you need for a barbecue meal.

Pros

• They run on both charcoal and gas
• Cooks food faster
• They are energy efficient
• Radiation allows even distribution of heat
• Food is tastier and juicier

Cons

• No low-temperature regulator
• Come in large sizes making them hard to move about
• Quite expensive compared to its traditional counterparts

An infrared grill is the best choice for you if you make more food frequently. You could get a combined value and much more if you look over the prices and sizes. While they are very efficient, they cannot substitute all meals, exceptionally soft meals, due to the lack of a low-temperature regulator. If none of these cons set you back, then you should consider moving up the barbecue ladder.

Some important factors should be noted before making your choice for a gas grill or infrared gas grill. Many of these considerations, however, lie mostly on what you need it for, how frequently you use it, what amount of meals you make at a go, and many other questions. If you are having a hard time making up your mind, here are some questions and comparisons that should point you to the right direction.

The most obvious difference is the cooking method. While gas grills use a direct heat cooking method [convection], infrared gas grills use radiation as its cooking method. One edge that infrared gas grills have over regular gas grills is even distribution of heat.

Due to the radiation feature, there is no direct heat contact; the meal is grilled via a ceramic plate heated with either gas, electricity, or sometimes even charcoal.

Infrared gas grills can cook food much faster than gas grills. This feature is because they can attain an even higher temperature.

Infrared gas grills have lower health risks compared to their counterparts. This lowered health risk is mostly because of the cooking method. There are also no hot or cold spots; therefore, it allows for even distribution of heat. This cooking method helps reduce the chances of cancer and stomach aches gotten from charred or under-cooked food. Although this does not mean that gas grills are entirely unhealthy, infrared gas grills have lower health risk factors.

Infrared gas grills are known to produce more delicious and juicier meals than gas grills. However, it is almost impossible to achieve the charcoal flavored taste that makes grilled meals a favorite.

Most gas grills come with smoke boxes that could give you narrow results as a charcoal grill. Infrared gas grills make up for this by vaporizing drippings to improve the flavor of food, but not the smoke-flavored taste. If you are a lover of the smoke-flavored grilled meals, a gas grill is your best choice.

Both come in large sizes and are hard to move around. Both can be attached to a domestic gas line, which is favorable for prolonged cooking but reduces the possibility of moving it about. However, infrared gas grills come in a larger size. If you are getting one, consider your kitchen space, and how often you would take it to outdoors.

Gas grills have better regulators not restricted to food types. Unlike infrared grills, gas grills can cook soft food at low temperatures. Though infrared gas grills have adjustment, it is not advisable for tender meals. If you are also interested in slow cooking food items like pork, then a gas grill will be the best choice. If you are more of a high-temperature grill meal like steak, then an infrared gas grill is best.

Choosing one that best suits you depends mainly on your grilling habits and experience. While a gas grill is user friendly, an infrared gas grill is healthier and more economical. Consider your cooking habits, weigh out your options, make a comparison, and get that grill!