Fire Magic vs. Solaire Grills: Which is Right For You?
Two USA Made popular grill brands are Fire Magic and Solaire. Both brands boast high-quality American craftsmanship, but it can be difficult to choose between the two.
Complicating this decision, both brands come fully stocked with professional features, modern design elements, and enough versatility to become the centerpiece of any outdoor kitchen.
If you’re torn between Fire Magic vs. Solaire grills, this is the guide for you. Below, we break down the features, benefits and differences between the two brands so you can pick the grill that will work best for you and your family.
Benefits of Fire Magic Grills
Fire Magic is an established luxury brand known for its performance and reliability – they’ve been perfecting grill design since 1937.
Their innovative design, outstanding durability, and high-caliber efficiency makes Fire Magic stand out among the crowd.
Fire Magic grills are known for their sleek, modern design. Their products are made in America with 304 stainless steel to ensure a polished, finished look.
Another feature that makes Fire Magic feel even more luxurious is the soft-close magnetic latch on the hood. Smooth glide and a quiet close are often hallmarks of a high-end grill, and Fire Magic doesn’t disappoint here.
Fire Magic also includes little touches that enhance the outdoor cooking experience, such as rain guards and functional storage to keep your grilling utensils and accessories protected from harsh weather.
Fire Magic Features
Fire Magic is renowned for its diamond-seared cooking grids that are perfect for getting a steakhouse finish on your food. Their grills feature an advanced electronic thermometer display with a meat probe.
Additionally, the grill features a large capacity drip tray (Echelon Series) that opens and closes smoothly, and cleans easily.
Grilling fanatics can enjoy professional-grade cooking with the highest BTUs (British thermal units) per square inch, a temperature range that any chef would want (200 degrees Fahrenheit to 1,400, depending on the model), and even a warming drawer (with a buffet warming accessory as an option).
Some models also come with a stainless-steel utensil bin to keep your cooking utensils together in one place.
16-gauge stainless steel flavor grids are engineered for even heat distribution, along with a built-in drip chute for easy clean-up. Fire Magic prides itself on its design and durability, which you can expect to find regardless of the model you choose.
Fire Magic includes a 14-gauge stainless steel charcoal smoker basket with the Echelon Series and is an optional accessory for other grill models. This accessory enhances the flavor of your food with wood or charcoal chips. Adding various wood chips can add a different flavor to the meat you’re cooking (chips made from hickory trees will add a different flavor than chips made from apple or cherry trees). It sits on top of the burner easily igniting the charcoal or wood chips.
Although the exact combination of cooking options present will depend on the specific grill and modifications you choose for grill and outdoor kitchen design, you can expect to find the following features in Fire Magic grills:
- Stainless steel construction
- Five cooking options: grill, smoke, charcoal, sear, and rotisserie cooking
- Large cooking area
- Flavor grids for even heat distribution
- Cast stainless steel burners (Except the Choice series which uses a U Shaped Burner)
- Most BTUs per square inch
- Temperature ranges between 200° and 1000°
- Made in the USA
Fire Magic Price Range
The price of a Fire Magic grill can range anywhere from around $500.00 for a built-in charcoal grill to $13,000.00 or more for a luxury Echelon Diamond grill on a cart.
A broad price range, for sure, which goes to show the variety of options Fire Magic brings to the table.
Fire Magic Warranty
Fire Magic comes with one of the best warranty programs on the market – every single component of the grill is covered for at least one year. In fact, multiple components are covered under a lifetime warranty.
Here are the details of what’s covered and for how long:
- Lifetime warranty: Stainless steel burners, housings, cooking grids
- 15-year warranty: Inner liners, backburner assemblies, and brass valves except for ignition parts
- Five-year warranty: Infrared burners and flavor grid
- Three-year warranty: Side burners and all other components except electrical parts and ignition systems
- One-year warranty: Ignition systems (except batteries), grill accessories, and electrical components, including thermometer and lights
Benefits of Solaire Grills
Solaire grills are renowned for being durable and reliable, at an incredible value.
The history of Solaire goes all the way back to 1907, when a Danish immigrant named Rasmus Rasmussen founded Rasmussen Ironworks in California. Today, the company is still family-owned and is run by one of Rasmus’ descendant’s, Rett Rasmussen.
Solaire has maintained strict quality standards throughout its long history, which has been a major contributing factor to the company’s success. People who own Solaire grills often remain loyal to the brand and are able to keep their grill for many years (with proper maintenance, of course).
Solaire is a more basic grill in that it does not offer all the bells and whistles of FireMagic. There are no electrical components like interior lighting (they do have a grill light accessory you can add) on the grill therefore, there will not be a bunch of extra parts you will have to buy (outside of the usual ignition parts).
Solaire Grill Features
There are two features that Solaire incorporates that distinguish their grills from their competitors: rapid three-minute preheat and unique grates to control flare-ups.
The Solaire rapid three-minute preheat utilizes infrared technology, which allows for quick, efficient cooking. Not only does food grill faster through infrared heat, but locks in moisture so the meat doesn’t dry out – no more dry chicken!
The difference between infrared and conventional burners is that traditional methods use hot air to cook the food, which can take longer, making the food tough. Infrared burners use direct radiant heat to reduce the amount of hot air moving around the food.
In fact, infrared burners are often the secret to success at upscale steakhouses. That’s how they get such a perfect sear on the outside of the steak, without cooking it so long that it turns to gristle.
The other feature we love about Solaire grills is their stainless steel V-grilling grates. These unique grates enhance the flavor of your food, while also reducing flare-ups. They’re an integral component in Solaire infrared burners.
In regular round grate models, fat and juices from the meat roll off the grate and fall onto the burners, which is often a cause of flare-ups. Solaire’s v-shape grates trap the juice so that it doesn’t pour quickly, but instead drips.
This controlled drip reduces the chance of flare-ups, and can help flavor your meat as the drips turn into smoke and drift back up to the food.
You can expect high quality from every Solaire grill, but these are the features you can expect to find in your ideal grill model:
- Fast heating (in 3 minutes)
- V-shaped grilling grates to reduce flare-ups and enhance flavor
- Infrared, convection, and infravection burner configurations
- Removable warming rack and drip tray
- Lifetime warranty on V-grates, stainless steel construction, and burners
- Made in the USA
Solaire Price Range
Solitaire grills prices range from around $249.00 for the portable mini infrared grill to $8,000.00+ for the largest built-in luxury grill (56 inches).
Solaire Warranty
While the Solaire warranty isn’t as extensive as the Fire Magic warranty, it’s nothing to scoff at. Parts that tend to wear out from use are covered for a period of time, and then the bones of the grill — stainless steel, grates, burners — are covered for a limited lifetime.
- Limited lifetime warranty: Stainless steel construction, V-grilling grids, and main burners
- Two-year warranty: Ignition system
- One-year warranty: Almost all other components
Fire Magic vs. Solaire Grills
Both Fire Magic and Solaire offer some sort of collection of grills and accessories to enhance your grilling experience. FireMagic has a more extensive array of Outdoor Kitchen Storage Components and Appliances including Power Burners or a Griddle.
Both brands have designed products that are built with high-quality materials, leading to dependable grills and accessories.
Both brands offer lifetime (or limited lifetime) warranties, as long as the grills are adequately cleaned, covered, and maintained. As with any other cooking appliance, individual components will need to be replaced after enough time.
The biggest difference is the bells and whistles and burner configuration. With Solaire you can have all infrared, all blue flame or a combination of the two. FireMagic does not offer an all infrared option. Also, keep in mind, bells and whistles leads to a future investment in parts (when out of warranty). The more electrical components on an outdoor appliance, the more there is to break and maintain. So, if you are looking for a simple low maintenance luxury grilll with many burner configurations, then choose Solaire.
You need to replace corroded parts just like you’d need to replace the brakes in your car – it’s a safety issue.
Built-in Grill Models
Built-in grills are an excellent choice for homeowners interested in maximizing their outdoor dining experience, or building an entire outdoor kitchen. They’re customizable for your specific backyard cooking needs — and frankly, they look very sleek.
Any outdoor kitchen is kicked up a notch with the addition of a built-in grill. There’s just something about the finish and attention to detail. It’s what you expect in an indoor kitchen, so when you see it in an outdoor kitchen, it feels even more luxurious.
Both Fire Magic and Solaire offer a variety of built-in grill models that will suit any budget.
Portable Grills
As beautiful as built-in grills are, they’re not what everyone is looking for. Some people want to grill on the go.
For these grilling aficionados, portable grills are perfect.
Whether you’re traveling, camping, attending an outdoor festival, spending time in the park, or just relocating the party to a friend’s house, portable grills are extremely versatile.
Portable grills are easy to move around because they’re lightweight. Most can easily fit in the trunk of your car.
If you’re looking for a portable grill, Solaire is really your only option between these two brands ( and you won’t be disappointed).
Which Grill Is Best for You?
Don’t worry too much about making the “wrong” decision. Regardless of the brand you choose, you’re getting an excellent grill.
In the end, it all comes down to your personal preferences and needs. It’s about how you specifically use your grill and what you want to achieve with it.
If you’re looking for a grill that will offer unmatched performance and a wide range of cooking options, Fire Magic may be the best option for you. Their grills are made with high-quality materials and meticulous detail, and have numerous features that make for an enjoyable grilling experience.
Solaire grills are versatile and long-lasting. You can choose between infrared, convection, and infravection burners. Their v-shaped burners help keep flare-ups to a minimum, which may be ideal for very arid environments where one spark can cause catastrophic damage.
Solaire has one solid advantage to Fire Magic if you’re in search of a portable grill. Quite literally, Solaire is the only option when considering these two brands.
Both brands allow you to cook anything like a professional, from fresh summer vegetables and fruit to burgers, steaks, chicken, pork, and fish. The grilling possibilities are endless.
From both Fire Magic and Solaire, you can expect a fun grilling experience and juicy food that your family and friends will love.
The luxurious design of your new grill will undoubtedly improve your cooking experience (because let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to cook, but grilling is always fun).
Why High-End Grills Are Worth the Investment
If you’re interested in a high-performing appliance with state-of-the-art features and reliable craftsmanship (with a warranty you’ll actually find worthwhile), you should invest in a quality grill.
For grilling enthusiasts, a high-end grill from Fire Magic or Solaire enhances any party. Whether you’re cooking for your family on the weekend, hosting a party for your closest friends, or throwing an end-of-summer bash, Fire Magic or Solaire can get you through it with flying colors.
You can enjoy the luxurious look and taste that only a beautifully designed and crafted outdoor kitchen can provide, while feeling good about your investment.
As a grilling aficionado, you can enjoy plenty of burners, high BTUs, and more than enough cooking space. Best of all, you won’t need to purchase another grill for a long time since high-end grills often come with a quality warranty.
Few things can compare with the experience of cooking on a high-end, perfectly made grill. The level of control you have is unparalleled, from a steakhouse diamond seared steak to a juicy rotisserie chicken — and everything in between.
If you’re ready to place an order for a Fire Magic or Solaire grill, or if you have questions, we’d be happy to help you.
If you live near our showroom in Hollywood, Florida, feel free to stop in — we’re open six days a week for your convenience. Alternatively, you can call us at (877) 983-0451 or email us . We look forward to speaking with you soon!
