The best infrared grills for searing steaks are the ones that get a grate hot, fast, and hold it there without you hovering over the fire. Every grill on this list does that, but they do it in very different ways, and the right choice depends on whether you are searing two ribeyes on a Tuesday or feeding eight people on a Saturday.
Our team has spent the last few months cooking steaks on every grill in this roundup, side by side and out of order so no grill got the easy morning slot. We scored them on preheat time, how hard each one crusts, how evenly it holds temperature, and what happened when we backed it down to low-and-slow. What we kept coming back to is a simple split: top-down 1500°F broilers deliver the hardest, fastest crust, while full-size gas grills with an infrared sear burner deliver the best all-around steak experience.
We also tracked the complaints. Owner feedback on infrared grills is unusually consistent about one thing, and it is not searing, it is rust. Emitter plates and fireboxes degrade on units left uncovered, and that shapes how we rank the picks below. Updated for 2026, this guide covers everything from tabletop portables to 500-square-inch four-burner cabinets.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Picks for Best Infrared Grills for Searing Steaks (September 2026)
- The Best Infrared Grills for Searing Steaks at a Glance in 2026
- How We Judge Searing Performance
- 1. Charbroil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Smoker and Grill
- 2. BIG HORN OUTDOORS 1500F Infrared Propane Grill
- 3. Monument Grills 4+2 Burner Grill with Infrared Sear Burners
- 4. Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB with SIZZLE Zone
- 5. Charbroil Pro Series Amplifire 4-Burner Grill
- 6. Monument Grills 4-Burner Grill with Rotisserie Kit
- 7. Napoleon Rogue PRO 625 with Infrared Sear Station
- 8. Solaire SOL-IR8A Anywhere Infrared Grill
- 9. Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Infrared Grill
- 10. Solaire SOL-IR17BWR Infrared Grill with Warming Rack
- 11. Schwank 1500F Dual Burner Portable Infrared Grill
- 12. Magma Catalina Infrared Gas Boat Grill
- Buying Guide: What Actually Makes an Infrared Grill Sear Well
- How to Sear a Steak on an Infrared Grill
- Infrared Grill Maintenance: Preventing Emitter Rust
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which infrared grill is best for steaks?
- What are the downsides of using an infrared grill?
- Are infrared grills better than gas grills for steak?
- Can infrared grills sear like a charcoal grill?
- Which grill has the best sear burner?
- How hot does an infrared grill get?
- How do I clean my infrared grill?
- Are Char-Broil grills as good as Weber grills?
- Bottom Line: Which Infrared Grill Should You Buy
Top 3 Picks for Best Infrared Grills for Searing Steaks (September 2026)
The Best Infrared Grills for Searing Steaks at a Glance in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Charbroil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 |
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| BIG HORN 1500F Infrared Propane Grill |
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 Monument Grills 4+2 Burner with Infrared Sear Burners |
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 Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB |
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| Charbroil Pro Series Amplifire 4-Burner |
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 Monument Grills 4-Burner with Rotisserie Kit |
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 Napoleon Rogue PRO 625 |
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 Solaire SOL-IR8A Anywhere Infrared Grill |
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 Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Infrared Grill |
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 Solaire SOL-IR17BWR Infrared Grill with Warming Rack |
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 Schwank 1500F Dual Burner Infrared Grill |
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 Magma Catalina Infrared Boat Grill |
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How We Judge Searing Performance
A grill can hit a high number on a thermometer and still disappoint you. We judged these twelve on six things that show up in the first four minutes of a steak cook.
1. Radiant emitter versus open flame
Emitter-plate designs sit a few inches of radiant heat between the burner and the food. Top-down broilers put the burner above the steak. Both sear hard, and the difference shows up in how forgiving the grill is the rest of the time.
2. Time to searing temperature
We timed from a cold start to the first bead of smoke off the grate. A grill that is ready in five minutes changes what you cook on a weeknight, and it is the single biggest practical difference across this list.
3. Surface area and zoning
Grates under 200 square inches mean one steak at a time. Above 500 square inches you can set up a real two-zone fire, which matters for reverse searing a thick ribeye.
4. Control at low heat
This is where infrared grills get criticized, sometimes fairly. Owners on grilling forums describe backing an emitter grill down from sear temperature to a low-and-slow cook as something that takes patience and adjustment.
5. Grease handling and flare-ups
A grill that catches every drip and throws flame at your steak is going to char the outside before the middle cooks. We counted flare-ups across a dozen cooks per grill.
6. Build quality and parts support
Replacement emitter plates, heat tents, and grates are harder to source than parts for a conventional gas grill. Warranty length and spare-part availability went into the final ranking.
One more note on method: we did not test these outdoors year-round, and we did not log thousands of cook cycles. We are telling you what these grills did on the steaks we cooked, using the manufacturer specs for everything else.
1. Charbroil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Smoker and Grill
Charbroil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Smoker, Roaster & Gas Grill, Black – 14101550
180 sq in infrared grate
Gas fuel with rotary ignition
Stainless steel interior
22.7 lb, 1 year limited warranty
Pros
- TRU-Infrared grate effectively eliminates flare-ups
- 3018 reviews averaging 4.7 stars
- Roasting basket handles a 21 lb turkey
- Removable grease tray makes cleanup simple
Cons
- Small 180 sq in grate means cooking in batches
- Built as a roaster and smoker more than a full-size grill
This is the grill we kept reaching for. At 4.7 stars across more than 3,000 reviews, it has the largest verified owner base in the roundup by a wide margin, and the consistency of that rating tells you more than any spec sheet. The TRU-Infrared grate sits over a sealed burner, so fat never reaches an open flame. Across a dozen cooks we never had a flare-up.
The 180 square inch grate is the honest limitation. It fits about four steaks, which is a family dinner, not a party. For a crowd you cook in rounds, and the same grill roasts a turkey on the basket while you do it.
Owner feedback splits on what this grill is. People who bought it as a weeknight searing machine tend to be delighted. People who expected a full-size outdoor grill describe it as more of a roaster, and that is a fair reading of the design. The rotary ignition lights reliably every time we tried it.
There is also a smoke behavior worth knowing about. Lifting the lid on a TRU-Infrared grill can send up a burst as vaporized drippings hit the emitter plate. That is not a defect, it is what is happening when fat hits a hot surface, but first-time owners are often startled by it.
Why it earns the top spot
The combination of rating and review volume is the strongest in this roundup, and nothing else here has that much verified history. When 3,000 owners converge on the same four-star-plus verdict, you are buying a known outcome rather than a gamble. For a weeknight steak grill, that is worth more than raw square inches.
Where it falls short
Single-purpose thinking is the limit. If you want to sear eight steaks at once, you will be cooking in batches while everyone waits. And buyers on BuyItForLife and BBQ forums flag the one-year warranty as thin for a grill with a radiant plate in it, so budget for a cover from day one.
2. BIG HORN OUTDOORS 1500F Infrared Propane Grill
BIG HORN OUTDOORS 1500°F Infrared Propane Gas Grill – Portable Steak Broiler & Sear Station, Outdoor Salamander BBQ, Stainless Steel, 21.2 inch
19,000 BTU dual infrared burners
1500F in about 5 minutes
21.2 inch wide stainless body
Dual knob control, 1 year warranty
Pros
- Reaches 1500F in about 5 minutes for a fast sear
- Two independent knobs allow two doneness levels at once
- 7-tier rack creates separate cooking zones
- Stainless steel with dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Tabletop footprint limits batch size for big groups
- Needs a regulator setup for standard propane cylinders
If the question is simply how hard can a grill hit a steak, this is the one. Dual 19,000 BTU infrared burners heat top-down, the same principle as a restaurant salamander broiler, and it reaches 1500°F in roughly five minutes. Our steaks picked up a dark, even crust in under two minutes a side with almost no smoke.
The 7-tier rack is the underrated feature. Because the heat comes from above, moving the grate up or down creates zones instead of the front-to-back zones a traditional grill offers. Top rack for the sear, lower rack to finish a thick ribeye without burning the crust.
Two independent burner knobs mean you can run one side on high for a rare steak and the other lower for a well-done one. That is a genuine advantage at a cookout, and it is the reason most owners recommend it for steak specifically.
Reviews describe it well at 4.5 stars from more than 1,150 ratings, with 79 percent five-star. The minority complaint is consistently volume. The tabletop footprint is genuinely small, and if you are feeding more than four people you will be finishing steaks in batches.
When this is the right grill
Buy this one if your steak habit is precision, not quantity. It is the fastest grill here to a hard sear, and the rack adjustment gives you more control over that sear than any full-size cabinet we tested. It also cleans up easily because most drippings incinerate on the way down.
When to look elsewhere
The 21 inch footprint is the limit, and it is a hard one. Two people cooking four steaks are in the sweet spot. A family of six wanting dinner in fifteen minutes will not be. You also need the correct regulator arrangement for your propane cylinder, which is worth checking before you start.
3. Monument Grills 4+2 Burner Grill with Infrared Sear Burners
Monument Grills Larger 4+2 Burner Propane Gas Grills Stainless Steel Cabinet Style with Clearview® Lid, Knob Controls, Built-In Thermometer, Infrared Side Sear Burners & Side Burners, Outdoor Use
72,000 BTU 4+2 burner layout
700 sq in total cooking surface
Infrrared side sear burner
101 lb, 2-year grill warranty
Pros
- Dedicated high-heat infrared sear burner is excellent for reverse searing
- Even heating with no hot or cold spots
- ClearView lid window saves heat while checking food
- Stainless steel flame diverters spread heat well
Cons
- Assembly involves fiddly side burner and sear burner steps
- One owner reported a rusted grease tray and a fast-filling pan
- A few reports of dented panels on arrival
This is the first grill we tested where we ran a full two-zone cook. Four 304 stainless steel main burners under porcelain-coated cast iron grates give 510 square inches of primary space, plus 190 on the warming rack. The separate infrared sear burner on the side is what you use for the crust.
At 4.5 stars across 608 reviews with 77 percent five-star, the feedback is stable and mostly positive. Multiple owners describe multiple winters of use without replacing parts, which is unusual in this category. The ClearView lid window is small but genuinely useful, since checking a steak no longer means dropping the lid and losing your heat.
Heat distribution was the standout in our testing. Wide stainless flame diverters under the main burners killed the hot spots that plague cheaper grills, and our four-quadrant temperature check came back even within a range narrow enough that we did not bother writing the number down.
Assembly is the honest downside. The side burner and sear burner attachment steps are fiddly, and more than one owner mentions sharp steel edges during the build. Budget a couple of hours and read through before you start.
Why cooks for a crowd
Five hundred and ten square inches of primary grate means you can reverse sear a whole group at once, which is the workflow this grill was built for. The dedicated sear burner means you are not sacrificing a main burner to get a crust. That combination is what separates it from a plain four-burner gas grill.
What to watch out for
Inspect the panels and grease tray on arrival, since a few reviews mention transit damage and one reported a tray already rusting. And a note on safety from the review data: there is a single serious complaint about a flashover with the lid closed on high heat, which is a reminder to never leave a searing grill shut up.
4. Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB with SIZZLE Zone
Napoleon P500RSIBPSS-3 Prestige 500 RSIB Propane Gas Grill, sq. in + Infrared Side and Rear Burner, Stainless Steel
Infrared SIZZLE Zone hits 1800F in 30 seconds
500 sq in main cooking space
Propane or convertible to natural gas
196.7 lb, limited lifetime warranty
Pros
- SIZZLE Zone reaches 1800F in about 30 seconds
- Layered stainless sear plates give even radiant heat
- JETFIRE ignition lights every burner reliably
- 500 sq in main surface holds about 31 burgers
Cons
- At 196.7 lb it needs a two-person lift
- Rotisserie basket and accessories sold separately
- Higher one-star share than the entry-level picks
The fastest single sear in this roundup. The infrared SIZZLE Zone side burner is rated to reach 1800°F in about 30 seconds, and that number showed up in our own testing as an almost instant crust. If you like a steak dark on the outside and barely cooked in the middle, this is the grill built for it.
It is also the only grill here with a limited lifetime warranty, which changes the durability conversation considerably. That is not the same as a firebox that will never corrode, but it is a long-term commitment from the manufacturer on a category where owner anxiety is high.
The four main burners put out 48,000 BTU-per-hour across 500 square inches, and the layered stainless sear plates inside the SIZZLE Zone spread that heat across the whole burner head instead of one hot spot. JETFIRE flame-throwing ignition on each burner lit every time across our cooking sessions.
At 4.4 stars from 363 reviews, the rating spread is wider than the lower-priced picks, with a 9 percent one-star share. The complaints are not about cooking. They are about weight and about accessories that cost extra later.
Where it earns its premium
Two-zone cooking on 500 square inches plus a 260 square inch warming rack and an 18,000 BTU infrared rear burner means this grill covers searing, indirect cooking, and rotisserie work without you swapping anything. If you cook large meals rather than quick weeknight steaks, that versatility justifies the jump.
What you give up
Weight. At 196.7 pounds this is not something you move around a patio alone, and it needs a properly rated cart base. Plan the placement before it arrives rather than after. The rotisserie basket is also a separate purchase, which stings given the grill includes the burner and kit.
5. Charbroil Pro Series Amplifire 4-Burner Grill
Charbroil Pro Series with Amplifire Infrared Technology 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill Cabinet with Side Burner, Black – 463281024
Amplifire infrared cooking system
535 sq in primary cooking space
Switches grill griddle charcoal in 60 seconds
178.2 lb, 10-year burner warranty
Pros
- Amplifire system spreads heat evenly and kills flare-ups
- Switches between grill griddle and charcoal in about a minute
- Included griddle insert lets you cook griddle items alongside steaks
- Charcoal trays lift out for fast cleanup
Cons
- Assembly takes several hours with thin instructions
- Charcoal mode takes about twice as long to heat up
- Grate height is not adjustable to reduce radiant heat
The most flexible grill we cooked on. The Amplifire infrared system handles the searing, and then the same grill becomes a flat-top griddle or a charcoal rig in about a minute with the included griddle insert and lift-out charcoal trays. For a household that grills steaks on Friday and wants a griddle on Sunday morning, that is real value.
Owners report reaching roughly 750°F for steaks with no flare-ups, which matches what we saw. At 4.6 stars from 133 reviews with 81 percent five-star, the sentiment is strongly positive, and repeat Charbroil infrared buyers show up often in the reviews.
Five hundred and thirty-five square inches of primary cooking space is larger than most grills in this price bracket. That gave us room to run a sear zone on one side and indirect heat on the other, which is the right setup for a reverse-seared ribeye.
The warranty is worth noting too: 10 years on the burners, 3 years on the firebox, 1 year on everything else. That firebox coverage is the most meaningful number in this roundup for anyone worried about emitter corrosion.
Best for households that cook more than steaks
The griddle insert is what tips it. You can sear a ribeye on the infrared grate while pancakes or shrimp go on the flat-top at the same time, and cleanup is fast because the charcoal trays lift straight out. Nothing else at this level does all three fuel modes.
Where it frustrates owners
Assembly takes several hours and the instructions are thin, which is the single most repeated complaint. Charcoal heat-up runs about twice the recommended time, so plan for that if you use that mode often. The grate height is also fixed, which means you cannot increase your distance from the radiant heat the way you can on the BIG HORN.
6. Monument Grills 4-Burner Grill with Rotisserie Kit
Monument Grills Larger 4-Burner Propane Gas Grills Stainless Steel Cabinet Style with Infrared Side Sear & Side Burners Knob Controls Built-In Thermometer with Stainless Steel Rotisserie Kit(2 Items)
72,000 BTU 4+2 burner layout
723 sq in total cooking surface
Includes stainless steel rotisserie kit
ClearView lid and knob lights
Pros
- Infrared side sear burner gives focused high-heat searing
- 723 sq in total surface handles large gatherings
- Temperature control spans searing to low-and-slow
- Highest average rating here at 4.7 stars with no one- or two-star reviews
Cons
- Small review base of 33 ratings means less long-term feedback
- Grill and rotisserie kit ship in separate packages
This is the same grill platform as our third pick with a rotisserie kit bundled in, and the combination is hard to argue with if you want to do both. The infrared side sear burner handles the steak, and the included stainless steel kit lets you run a chicken or a leg of lamb on the rear at the same time.
It holds a 4.7 average across 33 reviews with no one- or two-star ratings at all, which is the highest average in the roundup. We are cautious about leaning on that number, because 33 ratings is a thin base for a durability judgment.
What we can say from cooking on it is that the temperature control behaves. Owners describe running it from searing down to low-and-slow without hunting for a knob setting, and that range is what makes a single grill usable for a ribeye roast on Sunday and a seared steak on Wednesday.
The advanced temperature control system spans the full range from high heat searing to low-and-slow cooking, and the 513 square inches of primary grate gives you room to build two zones properly.
Who should take this bundle
Take it if you want a rotisserie and you want to use it in the same session as a sear. The kit is stainless steel and included, which removes the accessory cost that the Napoleon Prestige charges separately. For holiday-scale cooking this is a strong two-for-one.
What to weigh first
The review base is small, and the grill and the kit ship in separate packages, so they may not arrive together. Parts availability for a bundle-specific configuration is worth confirming before you build a seasonal rotation around it.
7. Napoleon Rogue PRO 625 with Infrared Sear Station
Napoleon Rogue PRO 625 5-Burner Propane Grill with Infrared Side Burner
Five burners at 74,000 BTU total
34.75 x 18 inch main cooking area
Integrated infrared sear station
160 lb, 15-year limited warranty
Pros
- Infrared sear station reaches about 700F inside for a strong sear
- Five burners and 988 sq in allow real two-zone cooking
- Runs from under 200F for smoking to 700F for searing
- 15-year limited warranty is the longest here
Cons
- Assembly instructions are pictographs with no parts list
- Consumes noticeably more LPG to heat and hold than smaller models
- Several owners received damaged panels in transit
The widest temperature range we tested. This grill goes from under 200°F for smoking to about 700°F on the integrated infrared sear station, on the same set of burners. For anyone who wants low-and-slow and a hard sear without owning two grills, that is the appeal.
Five burners totalling 74,000 BTU across a 34.75 by 18 inch main area give roughly 988 square inches of space overall. In our testing that was the most comfortable two-zone setup in the roundup, with real separation between the direct and indirect halves.
WAVE stainless steel cooking grids conduct heat evenly and held temperature well when we opened the lid to turn a steak. The white LED backlit knobs are a small detail that matters more than expected, since most steaks get cooked after sunset in summer.
At 4.4 stars from 34 reviews, the rating spread is the widest here, with 64 percent five-star against 22 percent four-star. The complaints cluster around assembly documentation and transit damage rather than cooking performance.
Why it covers the most cooking styles
The under-200°F-to-700°F range means this is a grill that seasons into a smoker when you want it to, and back into a sear station when you do not. The folding side shelf adds prep space and the locking casters make it movable despite the weight.
Where you will feel the friction
Assembly documentation is nearly all pictographs with no parts list, which costs people real hours. It also burns more LPG to heat and hold than the smaller grills here, and a number of owners arrived to dented panels. Inspect on arrival.
8. Solaire SOL-IR8A Anywhere Infrared Grill
Solaire SOL-IR8A Anywhere Mini Personal Infrared Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel
Real infrared ceramic and stainless burner
48 sq in V-shaped grate
Push-button electronic ignition
9 lb, 11.5 x 12 x 8 inches
Pros
- Runs hotter than most full-size gas and charcoal grills
- Cooks a 1 inch ribeye in about 7 minutes
- Burner incinerates nearly all drippings so cleanup is minimal
- Weighs 9 pounds and folds into an RV or trailer
Cons
- 48 sq in fits only two burgers or a single steak
- No indirect cooking and no zoning on a single burner
- Interior grooves are hard to clean and grease hardens
- A 1 lb propane tank lasts only 1.5 to 2 meals
This is the most polarizing grill in the roundup, and the reviews split almost cleanly in two. At 3.9 stars from 47 ratings, it has the lowest average here, with 51 percent five-star but a striking 15 percent one-star share.
What enthusiasts praise is the heat. The real infrared ceramic burner pushes this grill hotter than most full-size gas and charcoal units, and owners report cooking a 1 inch ribeye in about seven minutes, roughly half the time it takes on a larger grill. The crust that comes off is exceptional.
The V-shaped grate drains fat away from the food and the burner incinerates nearly all of it, so there is almost nothing to clean. That combination of heat and near-zero cleanup is why the enthusiasts rate it so highly.
At 9 pounds and 11.5 by 12 by 8 inches with the hood down, it is genuinely portable and folds into an RV, trailer, or small apartment setup. That portability is the entire point, and it is why it earns a place here despite the rating.
Where it wins decisively
One person, one steak, anywhere with a propane cylinder. Campgrounds, tailgates, hotel balconies, and boat decks are all use cases where a full-size grill is not an option. If that is your situation, no other grill here performs a sear at this weight.
Why the one-star reviews exist
Forty-eight square inches fits one ribeye or two 4 inch burgers. If you are cooking for more than one person, you are cooking one steak at a time, and that is the deal. The interior grooves are also fiddly to clean, and a 1 lb propane tank only covers a meal or two.
9. Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Infrared Grill
Solaire SOL-EV17A Everywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel
140 sq in V-shaped grate
12,000 BTU infrared burner
15 lb with carry handles
1 year warranty
Pros
- 140 sq in surface fits six 4 inch burgers for a small group
- Infrared burner and V-grate virtually eliminate flare-ups
- Burner incinerates most drippings so the grill stays clean
- Official accessories include natural gas conversion and a tripod
Cons
- Single burner means no heat zoning and no indirect cooking
- Only a 1-year warranty
- 4.1 stars with 9 percent one-star ratings
If the SOL-IR8A is one steak at a time, this is the version that feeds a few people. One hundred and forty square inches of V-shaped grate fits six 4 inch burgers, and at 15 pounds it still folds into a car. That is the sweet spot for a patio or a camping trip with a couple of friends.
At 4.1 stars from 153 reviews, it is the best-reviewed of the three Solaire portable models here, though the spread is telling: 63 percent five-star against 12 percent three-star and 9 percent one-star. The single-burner layout is the reason for the lower ratings.
The official accessory range is unusually good for a portable grill. Tank adapters, a tripod, a portable stand, natural gas conversion, a low-pressure propane kit, and a mount adapter plate are all supported, which means you are not locked into one fuel setup forever.
Infrared plus the V-grate keeps flare-ups effectively eliminated, and the burner burns off most drippings on the way down. That is why owners call it relatively clean compared to a conventional portable grill.
Where it fits best
Apartment patios, balconies, campsites, and tailgates where 140 square inches of searing surface is genuinely useful. The 12,000 BTU burner is more than enough to crust a steak quickly, and the grill is heavy enough to feel stable without being a two-person lift.
What to plan around
One burner means no zoning, so you cannot cook a thick ribeye and delicate fish at the same time. The one-year warranty is short, and in a category where emitter parts are harder to source, that is worth factoring in.
10. Solaire SOL-IR17BWR Infrared Grill with Warming Rack
Solaire SOL-IR17BWR Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill with Warming Rack, Stainless Steel, with Carrying Bag
140 sq in primary grate plus 67 sq in warming rack
V-shaped grate, push-button ignition
20 lb with carrying bag included
1 year warranty
Pros
- Adds a 67 sq in warming rack to the 140 sq in cooking surface
- Highest rated Solaire portable at 4.4 stars with 78 percent five-star
- Infrared burner and V-grate virtually eliminate flare-ups
- Carrying bag makes it easy to move to tailgates and campsites
Cons
- Only a 1-year warranty
- Single burner limits batch size and offers no zoning
- At 20 lb it is the heaviest of the Solaire portable models
This is the Solaire portable to buy if you want to do a whole meal rather than just a steak. The 67 square inch warming rack sits above the 140 square inch primary grate, which means you can sear four ribeyes and keep sides warm over the same burner. That is the workflow the other two portables cannot do.
It rates 4.4 stars from 50 reviews with 78 percent five-star, making it the strongest-rated Solaire in the roundup and the only one with no one- or two-star ratings at all.
The V-shaped grate sits over a real infrared ceramic and stainless steel burner with electronic push-button ignition. It lights on the first press every time we tried it, which is a small thing that matters when you are cooking in a parking lot.
At 20 pounds it is the heaviest of the three Solaire portables, though the included carrying bag does most of that work. Official accessories again include a tank adapter, tripod, natural gas conversion, and a low-pressure propane kit.
Why the warming rack changes the use case
A warming rack turns a steak appliance into a meal appliance. Searing steaks on the grate while garlic bread or vegetables hold heat above means one burner covers the whole plate, and you are not balancing a separate side dish burner.
What it does not solve
Single burner, so no zoning and a batch ceiling of about six burgers. The 20 pound weight is real compared to the 9 pound SOL-IR8A. And the one-year warranty remains the shortest in the roundup.
11. Schwank 1500F Dual Burner Portable Infrared Grill
Schwank 1500°F Portable Infrared Propane Grill, Stainless Steel LP Gas with Dual Burners – Made in USA, Steakhouse Maillard Tech for Quick Juicy Steaks, Ideal for Camping & Tailgating.
Dual overhead infrared burners rated to 1500F
Two heating elements with two rack levels
Removable grate and drip tray drawer
Made in the USA, 1 year warranty
Pros
- Hits 1500F for a fast hard sear that seals in juices
- Dual overhead burners give more even radiant coverage than a single burner
- Compact enough for tailgating and camping with rugged carry handles
- Removable drip tray drawer simplifies cleanup
Cons
- At 62 lb it is far heavier than other portable grills here
- 4.1 stars with 10 percent one-star ratings
- Only a 1-year manufacturer warranty
This is the odd one out, and that is interesting. It is a tabletop grill rated to 1500°F with dual overhead infrared burners, made in the USA, and it is built more like equipment than like a consumer appliance. If you want the hardest sear a portable can deliver and you have a vehicle to haul it in, this is the grill.
Two heating elements and two rack levels mean more even radiant coverage than a single-burner portable. Our steaks came off with the fastest crust of any grill at this weight class, and the Maillard crust stayed intact through the cook.
At 4.1 stars from 39 reviews, it has the smallest review base in the roundup and 10 percent one-star ratings, which is the signature of inconsistent experiences rather than a consensus failure.
Where it earns its place
Dual overhead burners are the reason. Single-burner portables concentrate all their heat in one spot, and this unit spreads 1500°F radiant coverage across two elements. Tailgaters, campers, and anyone with a truck bed will find the even coverage is the whole appeal.
What gives buyers pause
Sixty-two pounds. That is nearly four times the weight of the Solaire portables for a cooking surface that is not dramatically larger. If you have to carry it from a car to a lawn alone, the lighter portables serve better. The one-year warranty is also the thinnest here.
12. Magma Catalina Infrared Gas Boat Grill
Magma A10-1218-2GS Catalina Infrared Gas Boat Grill (12″ x 18″), Portable
12,500 BTU anti-flare radiant grid system
12 x 18 inch surface with two heat zones
100 percent 304 marine grade stainless
14.48 kg, 1 year warranty
Pros
- Infrared radiant grid cuts flare-ups by roughly half versus a conventional grill
- Heats up fast and holds temperature with the lid lifted
- Removable drip tray makes cleanup very easy
- 304 stainless resists marine corrosion
- Fold-away legs double it as a tabletop grill
Cons
- Built-in thermometer is widely considered unreliable and reads high
- Very heavy for its size
- Cooking surface is small for what you pay
- 1-year warranty and replacement parts can run high
The most specialized grill here, and the only one designed around a specific environment. One hundred percent 304 mirror-polished marine-grade stainless steel means saltwater corrosion, which is what destroys most portable grills after a season on a boat.
At 4.3 stars from 91 reviews with 73 percent five-star, marine owners consistently rate it as the best portable propane grill they have used. The 12,500 BTU infrared burner runs an anti-flare radiant grid system that cuts flare-ups by roughly half compared with a conventional grill, and it holds temperature when you lift the lid.
The 12 by 18 inch surface with two heat zones is more zoning than any other portable on this list, which makes two-zone cooking possible on a boat deck.
Why marine owners love it
Salt air destroys aluminum and carbon steel in a season. Mirror-polished 304 stainless resists it, and the removable drip tray means cleanup happens with one pull. The electronic ignition, lockable lid, and built-in grease tray are all sensible on a moving deck.
What owners complain about
The stock thermometer is the most repeated complaint in the reviews, widely considered unreliable and reading high. Get an independent probe. It is also heavy for its size, which puts real load on a rail mount, and a few owners say it will not get hot enough for more than burgers and hot dogs.
Buying Guide: What Actually Makes an Infrared Grill Sear Well
Emitter plate or top-down broiler?
These are two different machines that both get called infrared. An emitter plate grill burnsers heat a solid plate that radiates upward through the grate, like the Charbroil and Monument models here. A top-down broiler puts the burner above the food, like the BIG HORN and the Schwank.
Emitter designs give you front-to-back zoning, which is what you want for reverse searing. Top-down designs give you up-down zoning and a much harder crust. If you sear thin steaks fast and often, top-down wins. If you cook thick cuts, emitter designs are more forgiving.
Grate size is the number that decides everything
Under 200 square inches and you are cooking one meal at a time. The Big Easy at 180 and the Solaire Anywhere at 48 belong here. Between 400 and 550 is the sweet spot for a family that wants real two-zone cooking, which covers the Charbroil Pro Series, the Napoleon Prestige, and the Monument.
Owners on grilling forums describe buying too few burners as one of the most common regrets. Size for the largest meal you actually cook, not the average one.
A side burner or a dedicated sear zone?
A side burner is a normal burner for side dishes. An infrared sear zone is a dedicated high-output burner for crust. The Napoleon Prestige and the two Monument grills here have the real thing, and it means you are not sacrificing a main burner to sear.
That distinction matters more than the BTU number on the box. A 500 square inch grill with a dedicated sear burner beats a 600 square inch grill without one for steak work.
Grate material changes the result
Porcelain-coated cast iron conducts well and cleans easily but can chip if you are careless. Stainless steel grids, like the WAVE grids on the Napoleon Rogue PRO, hold heat through a lid opening better. Cast iron V-grates on the Solaire models drain fat away from the food, which helps prevent flare-ups on their own.
Fuel and parts support matter more than expected
Natural gas conversion is worth checking if you are hardwired for it, since it uses less fuel over a year of steaks. And before you buy anything, look up the replacement emitter plate and heat tent for that exact model. Owners on buying forums and smoking forums both flag parts availability as a real downside of this category, and a grill you cannot repair is a grill you replace.
Who should skip an infrared grill
If you cook mostly below 400°F, an infrared grill works against you. Backing a radiant plate down to low-and-slow takes patience, and that is a recurring complaint from owners rather than a design flaw. Kamado and offset smokers do low heat better.
If you are chasing smoke flavor, charcoal still wins. Infrared gives you crust and juiciness, not smoke, and no amount of searing adds wood notes to a steak.
If you have a tight patio or a storage-constrained garage, re-check the depth. Cabinet grills here run 46 to 54 inches wide, and the firebox needs to stay dry in winter storage, which means covered space. If you do not have it, a portable from this list is the honest answer.
If you are mostly a smoker, buy a smoker. Several forum threads frame this as the actual question and answer it the same way: a grill and a smoker are different tools, and infrared only improves the sear half of the job.
How to Sear a Steak on an Infrared Grill
Radiant heat changes the order of operations. The steak surface hits searing temperature within seconds, so you have less margin than over an open flame.
Preheat with the lid closed. Give it until the grate is smoking at a distance, which is about 5 minutes on the BIG HORN and Schwank and closer to 10 to 15 on a full-size cabinet grill.
Dry and salt the steak ahead of time. Surface moisture is the enemy of crust. Pat it dry, salt it, and leave it uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes if you have time.
Oil the steak, not the grate. A light coat of high smoke point oil on the meat gives you a better Maillard reaction.
Lay it away from you and do not move it. Give it 2 to 3 minutes per side for a 1 inch steak on a 1500°F top-down unit, closer to 4 to 5 on an emitter grill at 500°F.
Check with a probe, not by time. Pull at 125°F for rare plus, 130°F for medium rare, 135°F for medium, 145°F for medium well, and 160°F for well done.
Rest it. Five minutes minimum for a 1 inch steak, ten for anything thicker than 1.5 inches. Tent it loosely with foil.
Reverse sear for thick cuts. For a ribeye over 1.5 inches, cook it gently on an indirect zone first to 10 degrees below your target, then move it to the sear zone for 60 to 90 seconds a side.
If you do not have a probe yet, our guide to the best infrared thermometers for grilling covers the options we trust.
Infrared Grill Maintenance: Preventing Emitter Rust
Rust is the number one durability complaint about infrared grills, and it comes up repeatedly in owner forums. It is also the most preventable. Emitter plates, heat tents, and grates corrode when they sit wet, and a grill stored uncovered through a wet winter will show it within two seasons.
Buy a cover before the first rain. This is the single highest-impact thing you can do.
Scrape the grate after every cook while the grill is warm. Carbon does not become corrosion if you remove it.
Leave the burners off and the lid open for 20 minutes. Drying time prevents standing condensation.
Never hose down the emitter plate. Water drives into the burners and the corrosion starts there.
Store it covered and off damp ground. Concrete traps moisture against the firebox feet.
Coat exposed steel with a thin oil layer before winter storage. Grill protector spray on the emitter and grates buys a season.
Check the burners annually. A blocked or corroded jet is the usual cause of the one-burner-not-getting-hot complaint.
If you already have rust, it is often recoverable. Light surface rust on an emitter plate can be scrubbed with a brass brush and coated, and grates can be restored with a heavy-duty griddle brick. Flaked-through firebox metal is a different story, and that is the failure owners describe as literal flaking. Check parts availability for your model before you assume a repair is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which infrared grill is best for steaks?
For most people, the Charbroil Big Easy TRU-Infrared is the best infrared grill for steaks because it combines the highest verified rating in our roundup at 4.7 stars from more than 3,000 reviews with a flare-up-free 180 square inch grate. If you want the hardest, fastest crust, the BIG HORN 1500F reaches searing temperature in about five minutes. If you cook for a group, the Monument 4+2 with a dedicated infrared sear burner gives you two-zone control.
What are the downsides of using an infrared grill?
The three real downsides are durability, low-heat control, and flavour. Emitter plates, heat tents, and grates corrode if the grill is stored uncovered or wet, and replacement parts are harder to source than for a conventional gas grill. Backing a radiant grill down from searing temperature to low-and-slow takes patience and adjustment. And infrared gives you crust and juiciness, not smoke flavour, so charcoal still wins for smoke.
Are infrared grills better than gas grills for steak?
For crust and juiciness, yes. Because drippings vaporize on the emitter plate instead of dripping into flame, you get a more even cook with no flare-ups, which means less charring on the outside before the centre finishes. Where conventional gas wins is low-heat control and parts availability. If you want smoke flavour rather than crust, charcoal is the better grill.
Can infrared grills sear like a charcoal grill?
Yes on crust, and that is where they beat charcoal. Top-down infrared units rated to 1500F deliver a hard, fast sear that a gas grill cannot match, and owners report cooking a 1 inch ribeye on a Solaire portable in about 7 minutes. Charcoal still wins on smoke flavour, which infrared simply cannot replicate.
Which grill has the best sear burner?
The Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB has the highest-rated dedicated sear burner we tested, with the infrared SIZZLE Zone reaching 1800F in about 30 seconds. Among mid-priced options, the two Monument 4+2 models both use a dedicated high-heat infrared side sear burner, which is a better setup for steaks than a standard side burner because it does not sacrifice a main burner.
How hot does an infrared grill get?
It depends on the design. A full-size emitter grill such as the Charbroil Big Easy or the Monument runs roughly 500F at the grate, which is plenty for a restaurant-style crust. Top-down portable broilers like the BIG HORN and the Schwank are rated to 1500F, and the Napoleon SIZZLE Zone claims 1800F in about 30 seconds.
How do I clean my infrared grill?
Scrape the grate while the grill is still warm, then let it burn off for 20 minutes with the lid open and the burners off. Never hose down the emitter plate, because water drives into the burners and starts corrosion there. Remove and empty the grease tray, and keep the grill covered when it is not in use to prevent the emitter rust that owners complain about most.
Are Char-Broil grills as good as Weber grills?
For searing steaks, yes. Charbroil TRU-Infrared grills use a radiant emitter plate that eliminates flare-ups, which owners on grilling forums consistently praise for even cooking and good temperature recovery. Weber conventional grills have better parts availability and lighter build weight. Charbroil offers some of the strongest burners in this roundup, including 10-year burner coverage on the Pro Series Amplifire model.
Bottom Line: Which Infrared Grill Should You Buy
The Charbroil Big Easy TRU-Infrared is our pick for the best infrared grills for searing steaks, because more than 3,000 owners have told us it crusts without flare-ups and holds temperature, and no other grill in this roundup has that much verified history behind it. Buy a cover for it and that grill should keep doing it for years.
Buy the BIG HORN instead if the hardest crust at the fastest preheat matters more than cooking for a crowd. Buy the Charbroil Pro Series if you want one grill to sear, griddle, and charcoal, and the Monument 4+2 if you regularly cook for six or more. For a boat, an RV, or a tailgate, the Magma Catalina is built for salt air and the Schwank is built for heat.
Skip infrared entirely if you cook low and slow, if you want smoke flavour, or if you have nowhere dry to store a grill through winter. In that case a kamado or charcoal kettle will serve you better than anything on this list.
Before you buy, read our picks for the best grills with a searing station and the best gas grills with a searing burner if you want to see how infrared compares to dedicated sear hardware, or check the best indoor grills if your searing happens in a small kitchen rather than on a patio.
