[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by _Q_

Thanks for all the advice.

I went yesterday to Lowe's armed with all the info in this thread then I cam across the new infrared grills and decided to ask you guys first.

Any experience with these? Are they any good? I read online that they are only useful for cooking steaks and are pretty useless for everything else. Is that true?

Thanks again. I appreciate your help.

Ever been to a steakhouse that uses an infrared grill? I'm pretty confident I have not. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I would say stay away.

http://www.bbqguys.com/content_content_13972.html

Benefits of Infrared Grills

• Infrared grills heat up faster and utilize less energy and gas than traditional grills.
• The design of the infrared grills, which places the heating device below the ceramic element allows for more even heating, meaning less hot and cold spots while grilling.
• Because of the higher temperatures, foods will cook more quickly. This helps in keeping the fluids of foods locked in for better tasting meats.
• Infrared heating means the heat is sent directly to the food. This allows you to grill with the lid open and watch your food cook without the fear of losing precious heat.
• With infrared, juices drip directly on to the burner and vaporize instantly, meaning less flare-ups while grilling.
• The high heat from infrared burners sears foods more quickly, locking in juices for tastier meats.
• With less time spent standing next to the grill, you can make grilling an everyday event - not just a weekend luxury.
• Infrared grills are versatile and allow you to cook everything, from steaks and chicken to seafood and vegetables, like a pro.
• Because they take less time to heat up and grill foods, infrared grills are an energy efficient, or green, option over convection gas and charcoal grilling.

Most of the benefits listed here are kind of a joke. Ok it heats up quicker and can get to a higher temp, I have never needed a BBQ to get to 900 degrees. It says foods will cook more quickly but that seems to me like I would have less control of doneness of the food, it will go from done to well done a lot quicker. It claims that it sears the food quicker allowing juices to be sealed in, this is misleading as searing meat doesn't lock all the juices in it because they still leak out. Also it says it is versatile and you can cook everything, news flash you can cook everything on a regular grill as well.
The tips for using an infrared grill are pretty funny as well. It says don't cook with the lid down so I guess don't plan on cooking in rain, snow, or wind.