Using The Best Portable Infrared Grills For Camping

So you’re finally ready to go camping, but you realized that your old grill just doesn’t cut it anymore. Maybe the propane hoses are shot, or the ignition system isn’t sparking it anymore. Or you’re just tired of having charcoal coating your food and well, charring it. Nobody can really blame you there, charcoal doesn’t really taste that good. And cleaning it up is such a hassle.

But now the question is how you’re going to feed everyone while you’re out camping. Luckily, there’s a different choice that’s quick and efficient. One that can also save you a lot in the long run. Using the best infrared grills for BBQ-ing is becoming quite popular lately with how effectively these grills cook. Not only does a compact portable grill cook fast, it seals those vital juices inside so your food tastes much better.

Delicious BBQ Food Cooked Evenly and Fast

If you’re done with having the outside of your food charred while the inside is still raw, or having to wait until the grill is hot and people are getting really hungry, then infrared can be your best friend. With infrared, your food will come out juicy and moist every single time and much faster than regular charcoal or propane; and without the dangerous flame flare-ups with dripping grease.

Infrared Grills Use Charcoal or Propane

While they may use either charcoal or propane as fuel, they take that heat and evenly distribute it around the food to cook evenly and eliminate hot or cold spots. And with the flame not being exposed, it makes it safe to use practically anywhere, even during the really dry seasons where campgrounds might even impose a burn ban.

They can also be used if you take a hike somewhere, but don’t want to go back to camp to eat after; and can even pass in strict areas with rules against open flames. Though it’s always safer to check specifics beforehand, rather than mess up your trip with trouble.

How Do These Infrared BBQ Grills Work?

If you’re not exactly sure how it works, it’s actually quite simple yet unbelievably effective. The grill uses the primary fuel source and heats either ceramic plates, glass plates, or even air pockets in the grill which in turn heats and cooks the food through induction.

Through the process of induction the food is evenly cooked, which means you no longer have to stand there and monitor the food to flip every so often, which gives you the freedom to simply hang back and spend time with others.

No Fat Flare Ups

And now that you don’t have to flip your burgers or other food, you don’t have to worry about grease hitting any open flames and causing flare-ups. Not only because you’re not constantly flipping the food, but because it’s not even in contact with an open flame. So you’re safe from flare-ups, your food’s safe from being under or over-cooked, and it’s cooking much faster than just a regular grill.

Fast To Heat Up

All you really have to do is start it up, wait a couple minutes and toss your food on. It really only takes a couple minutes, unlike waiting for propane or charcoal to heat up, which can take as long as twenty minutes or more.

Now that the grill’s heated up in what seems like the blink of an eye, it’s time to arrange your food, and sit back for a few minutes, but not too far, since it’ll be done faster than you can believe; and without overcooking, or drying it out.

Juices Are Sealed Inside

And one of the best parts about when food’s cooked through infrared is that the juices are sealed inside as it cooks. This means no more worrying about dry meat, or vegetables if you grill those too, which leaves it more tender and tasty. After all, camping really isn’t the same if you’re stuck eating charred or dry meals.

Nor More Hassles Of Cleaning Up Greasy Grills

One of the absolute worst parts of grilling outdoors is when the food gets stuck to the cooking grate. And not many people have much patience when they’re hungry after a long day, and are now struggling with prying their food from the grill. It’s too hot to stand there and scrape at it right away, but if you wait, it’s literally going to be harder, and you might end up scraping off the protective coating from the grate, too.

All those problems can be gone with infrared grills. Simply close the lid and crank up the heat a bit more, and wait for a little while while the food particles simply cook away into nothingness. Then just let it cool off and give it a quick wipe down and store it away for the next meal. Just don’t put it too far, you might decide you want to grill something else up in the middle of the night with how efficient it can be.

Which Brands To Consider

Now that the major bonuses have been covered, you might be thinking about giving it a whirl. So now it’s time to consider not only the brand, but even the model of grill that you’re going to get. Most brands have begun to implement infrared technology into their grills, though as with everything made these days nothing is really guaranteed; even among well-known brands.

While that may be the case, there are actually very few companies that make bad grills so you’re able to choose more freely.

While they do still typically use propane or charcoal, due to the quick heating and cooking, you won’t need to bring as much with you which saves more money for the trip itself. And the cleanup is a lot easier, as you won’t have to deal with a huge pile of ashes if you use a charcoal fueled grill.

Ignition System

As for the ignition system, there are really only two ways to light it; electric push buttons are generally used for propane grills, and lighters are used for charcoal. The type of ignition is really debatable, and comes down to personal preferences. Whatever your choice, there’s very little chance you’ll be disappointed with your new infrared grill. You may even find yourself convincing friends and family to get their own pretty soon as I’ve been doing.

What Are The Downside Of Using Infrared Grills When Camping?

With all the positives out of the way, it’s time to get to the cautions and downsides to infrared grilling.

First off will be the very basic cautions of how hot these grills can really get, and how fast.

A Grill can reach 500 Degrees in 5 Minutes!

Infrared grills are capable of reaching, or exceeding, over 500 degrees in as little as 5 minutes. That’s 100 degrees a minute! This is definitely something to think about if you take little ones camping, as it won’t have the usual crackling flames of the traditional grills, so it’s a good idea to keep an extra close watch.

The temperatures used for cleaning certain grills of the little bit of leftover residue can even exceed a thousand degrees. It’s great for the disappearing act of crusted food during the cleaning process, but also for anything else that touches the surface.

Always Check The Warranty Details
While in the big picture they’re exceptional at cooking and grilling, there are naturally either certain brands or models that are defective. Whether it’s something simple as an ignition switch that takes a little longer than normal or hot and cold spots, there are bound to be some defects in some grills. Though this is rarely the case and most people love their grill, it does happen now and then and is almost always covered under a warranty.

As strange as it seems, that’s pretty much the only thing you really have to worry about. Well that and grilling a whole lot more now that you know how well infrared grills cook and keep juices in meat. So go ahead, hop online or head to your nearest store, hopefully they have them in stock, and check out the different options to find the one that suits you and your family’s camping needs.