Infrared

• Best for: steakhouse-style searing, burgers, chops, fast high-heat cooks
• What to expect: intense top heat, fast preheat and searing
• Common setup: infrared sear burner as an optional zone on many premium grills

What is Infrared?

Infrared is direct radiant heat. A ceramic burner plate contains hundreds of small ports inside a stainless housing. When lit, it glows and delivers intense heat to the cooking surface—more like a broiler than a conventional burner. Traditional burners primarily heat the air in the firebox first, then transfer that heat to your food.

How infrared grilling feels different

• Faster browning: radiant energy drives a strong sear quickly
• Even searing: many evenly spaced ports create a more uniform hot zone
• Less wind impact: radiant heat isn’t disrupted the same way an open flame can be
• Heat range: many infrared sear burners can reach very high temperatures in minutes (varies by brand/model)

You may already know infrared from a rotisserie back burner—that long ceramic burner on the rear of many grills is also infrared technology designed for high, steady radiant heat.

Want both styles? Many grills combine traditional burners with an infrared option. Browse Infrared & hybrid gas grills.

Many premium brands—including Lynx, Sedona, Twin Eagles, Delta Heat and more—offer an infrared sear burner as an option on select models.

Infrared vs Blue Flame: What’s the Difference?

Both infrared and traditional blue flame burners are used in gas grills, but they heat food in very different ways. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right grilling style for how you cook.

BBQ Depot Tip: Many premium grills combine both technologies—traditional burners for flexibility and an infrared burner for high-heat searing. This hybrid setup gives you the widest cooking range.

Pro-Tip: Infrared cooks significantly faster than blue flame. If you're new to infrared, keep a close eye on your food—steaks can reach a perfect sear in about half the time you're used to.

Infrared Grill FAQs

What’s the difference between infrared and blue flame burners?
Infrared burners use direct radiant heat from a ceramic surface, while blue flame burners heat the air with open gas flames.

Does infrared cook faster than blue flame?
Yes. Infrared delivers intense radiant heat directly to the food, which can cook and sear faster.

Can I have both infrared and blue flame?
Many premium grills combine traditional burners with an infrared sear burner for maximum flexibility.

Brief History of Infrared

TEC Infrared helped bring infrared cooking to the residential market. After early patents expired, many manufacturers began adding infrared sear burners to their grill lineups.

Top brands known for infrared performance

• TEC: a long-standing specialist in infrared grilling
• Solaire: a popular high-performance infrared choice
• Texas Sizzler: known for all-infrared grill options
• Alfresco: offers an all-infrared option (often special order)