Best Infrared Gas Grills

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The short answer

For most backyards the best infrared gas grill is a Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared: affordable, widely available and designed to reduce flare-ups and hold even heat across the grates. If you want a premium grill with a dedicated infrared sear zone and rear rotisserie burner, choose the Napoleon Prestige 500. For steak-house searing on the go, the Solaire Anywhere portable is a cult favorite. Infrared grills cook hotter and more evenly than many conventional gas grills but take a little adjusting to.

Our picks at a glance

Pick	Model	Infrared type	Best for	Amazon
Best overall	Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared (3-burner)	Full-grate infrared emitter system	Everyday grilling, even heat	Amazon
Best upgrade	Char-Broil Commercial Series TRU-Infrared	Full-grate infrared, heavier build	Buyers wanting better materials	Amazon
Best step-up Char-Broil	Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared	Full-grate infrared	Larger families	Amazon
Best premium	Napoleon Prestige 500	Infrared side sear burner and rear rotisserie burner (varies by version)	Serious grillers, rotisserie	Amazon
Best portable searing	Solaire Anywhere	Ceramic infrared burner	Steaks, tailgating, camping	Amazon
Best portable budget	Char-Broil Grill2Go X200	TRU-Infrared	Tailgates and RVs	Amazon

How we picked

We compared manufacturer specifications, owner reviews from major retailers and published reviews. For infrared grills we focused on how evenly the grill heats, whether it can still cook low enough for chicken and fish, how easy the infrared emitters are to clean, build materials, and long-term owner reports on rust and burner life.

What is an infrared gas grill?

A conventional gas grill heats food mainly with hot air (convection) rising from open burners. An infrared grill places a surface, such as a ceramic burner, a perforated metal emitter or glass panel, between the flame and the food. The surface heats up and radiates infrared energy to the food. The practical results:

• Higher, faster searing heat: dedicated infrared sear burners get very hot for steakhouse crusts.
• Fewer flare-ups: drippings hit the emitter and vaporize instead of falling onto open flame.
• More even heat: full-grate systems like Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared reduce hot and cold spots.
• Juicier results, according to manufacturers: less hot air moving across the food means less drying.

There are two main styles. Full-grate infrared (Char-Broil TRU-Infrared) puts an emitter under the entire cooking surface. Infrared sear burners (common on Napoleon, Weber and others) add one very hot zone, usually a side or main-grate burner, alongside conventional burners.

1. Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared: best overall

Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared system is the most accessible way to get infrared cooking. Emitter plates under the grates spread heat evenly and reduce flare-ups, and the Performance line is sold at mainstream prices. Most versions include a side burner and electronic ignition; check the exact listing for burner count and features.

Good to know: infrared grills run hot. Start with lower burner settings than you’re used to, and clean the emitters with a brush so drippings don’t clog the perforations. Budget grills in this class are not as rust-resistant as premium stainless models; a cover extends their life.

Choose it if: you want even heat and fewer flare-ups without spending premium money.

Check the Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared on Amazon →

2. Char-Broil Commercial Series TRU-Infrared: best upgrade

The Commercial Series uses the same TRU-Infrared concept with heavier materials and a more robust feel than the Performance line. It’s a good middle ground if you like the even-heat infrared design but want a grill built to last more seasons.

Check the Char-Broil Commercial Series TRU-Infrared on Amazon →

3. Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared: bigger family grill

The Signature line adds size and features above the Performance series. Consider it if you regularly cook for a larger family and want more grate space with the same infrared system.

Check the Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared on Amazon →

4. Napoleon Prestige 500: best premium

Napoleon is known for its infrared options. Versions of the Prestige 500 include an infrared SIZZLE ZONE side burner for intense searing and an infrared rear burner for rotisserie cooking, alongside conventional main burners. Stainless construction and a heavy lid make it a long-term grill. It’s the pick for people who want both conventional and infrared cooking in one high-end grill.

Good to know: Napoleon sells several Prestige 500 configurations (propane vs natural gas, with or without side infrared). Confirm the exact model includes the infrared burners you want.

Check the Napoleon Prestige 500 on Amazon →

5. Solaire Anywhere: best portable for searing

Solaire has specialized in infrared grilling for decades. The Anywhere is a compact portable grill with a ceramic infrared burner and a V-shaped grate design intended to channel drippings away. Owners use it for fast, intensely seared steaks at home, tailgates and campsites.

Good to know: it’s built for high-heat grilling, not for low-and-slow cooking or delicate fish.

Check the Solaire Anywhere on Amazon →

6. Char-Broil Grill2Go X200: best portable budget

The Grill2Go brings TRU-Infrared to a portable grill sized for tailgating, camping and RVs, with a sturdy body and a latching lid. It runs on small propane cylinders, with an adapter option for larger tanks.

Check the Char-Broil Grill2Go on Amazon →

Infrared vs conventional gas grills

	Infrared	Conventional gas
Searing	Excellent, very high heat	Good on better models
Flare-ups	Fewer	More common
Heat evenness	More even on full-grate systems	Varies; hot and cold spots common
Low-temperature cooking	Possible but runs hot; needs practice	Easy
Cleaning	Emitters need occasional brushing	Flavorizer bars or heat tents
Indirect cooking	Harder on full-grate systems	Easy with multiple burners

Buying checklist

• Full-grate or sear zone? Choose full-grate infrared for even heat everywhere; choose a sear burner if you want conventional cooking plus a dedicated hot zone.
• Fuel type: propane or natural gas versions are not interchangeable without a manufacturer conversion kit. Buy the right version for your hookup.
• Materials: stainless steel burners and grates and a heavy lid last longer near the coast and in wet climates.
• Grate size: plan for about 400–500 square inches of primary cooking area for a family of four, more if you entertain.
• Warranty: compare coverage on burners and emitters, the parts that take the most heat.
• Safety: keep propane grills outdoors with clearance from structures, leak-test connections with soapy water, and never grill in a garage or under a low overhang.

FAQ

Are infrared grills better than regular gas grills?

They’re better for searing, even heat and avoiding flare-ups. Regular gas grills are easier for low-temperature and indirect cooking. Many premium grills combine both.

Can you cook low and slow on an infrared grill?

Yes, but infrared grills run hot, so use the lowest settings, keep the lid closed and use a thermometer. Full-grate infrared grills make true indirect cooking harder than multi-burner conventional grills.

How do you clean an infrared grill?

Burn off residue on high for a few minutes, brush the grates, and periodically brush or vacuum the emitter plates so drippings don’t block them. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

Do infrared grills use more gas?

Not necessarily. Infrared grills reach cooking temperature quickly and many cooks run them at lower settings, so gas use is often similar to or less than a conventional grill.

Is Char-Broil TRU-Infrared real infrared?

Yes. TRU-Infrared uses a perforated emitter plate between the burners and grates that radiates heat to the food, which is why it reduces flare-ups and evens out heat.