gas charcoal grills How Infrared Grills Work

Infrared grill.Gas and charcoal grills are cooked mainly by convection.As the air in the grill is constantly heated by burning charcoal or gas flames, the air rises and loops around the food on the grill grate, causing the food to cook.This constant flow of air can also dry food.Instead of relying on hot air to transfer heat to the food, the infrared grill uses electrical or gas elements to heat the solid surface, then radiates or emits, and the far infrared rays directly enter the food on the grill grate.The heating element also heats the air in the grill, producing some convection, but there is less air circulation, so the food retains more moisture during cooking.The infrared grill has a higher temperature and the speed of cooking food is also faster than the Standard Grill.(There is more information on this on the next page.) An early infrared grill made for commercial use is equipped with a bare ceramic heated surface, which creates a large amount of convection that can be picky and difficult to clean.Many newer IR grill models are designed to layer ceramic or metal heated surfaces with glass panels, direct air flowing out of food and providing highTemperature, uniform diffusion of infrared heat, proponents say, is more uniform than relying entirely on convection [Source: AP's Grill.Independent tests, however, show that[Source: Consumer Report] the end gas grill provides the same uniform heating and cooking.If you think the infrared grill is perfect for grilled steak, but will definitely burn off your favorite vegetable medley, think about it.The heat is adjustable, and while it does not reach (relative) the mellow temperature of burning charcoal, the infrared grill can still be used for everything from roast chicken to steamed vegetables-While you should be extra careful when adjusting to the fast cooking speed of the infrared grill.Even if you like DIY projects, keep in mind that placing ceramic, metal or glass plates on a standard grill doesn't turn into an infrared grill."The best burner," says Ted Wegert, a ceramic engineer at Short North America.They work directly with a variety of barbecue manufacturers to introduce and improve the art of infrared cooking, "a device specifically designed to emit heat in the infrared wavelength range, it is best to go through the plate and do the best cooking."On the next page, learn more about cooking with an infrared grill.