The char broil 4 burner infra red grill

[okie52]

I just wanted to get some input on the 4 and 5 burner infra red grill by char broil.

I know lowes offers the 4 burner but not the 5 burner.

Many seem pleased with the no flare grates but feel that cleaning the grates is an additional hassle.

I had a char broil commercial 4 burner that I bought in 2008 that worked well but the grates rusted out so I replaced them with grill grates....which worked well for 2 years and then warped. I also had a flare up problem with the grill grates.

I'm hoping to buy either the 4 burner or 5 burner infra red model in the next month so any feedback you can give me would be appreciated.

[tlg4942]

 I have the Red from Home Depot. It has the trough emitters with cast iron grids. It is several years old now.
There is a large through and a small one. This allows you to save gas or sear on one with lower temps on the other.
 I use it almost every day.
 I like it (a lot) with reservations.
 So Ill do the pros and cons. Its only that the maintenance is high That I have an issue with.

Cons 1st
1. The trough has to be replaced once a year. ( Its a fact and you might as well prepare for it). They end up being about $70.
2. The burners will need to be replaced about every other year. Even though the book says they are warrantied I have NEVER been able to get them warrantied. They are $13 each for my grill.
3. The high medium low stickers will come off shortly after you get it unless CB has figured out how to fix this. You only really need them the first day anyway.

Pros
1. No flare ups !   
2. Gets good gas mileage.
3. Good grates
4. The cast iron pan attachment for the small side is great. ( This is sold as an accessory)
5. Sears well if you turn all burners to high for a few minutes first.

I don't know much about the one from Lowe's. Several others on here have them... I think they are less overall maintenance.   
 My next grill will be a REC-TEC...

[Jaxon]

I've had the 4 burner Tru-infrared for almost 6 years.  I haven't had to replace the burners, but the emitters and grates I have replaced once a couple of years ago.

This is a versatile grill - hot and fast, or low and slow.  Add chips to get some smoke flavor.  Add a waterpan to maintain moisture, etc.

Stainless steel exterior is pretty easy to clean and polish.

[okie52]

I have the Red from Home Depot. It has the trough emitters with cast iron grids. It is several years old now.
There is a large through and a small one. This allows you to save gas or sear on one with lower temps on the other.
 I use it almost every day.
 I like it (a lot) with reservations.
 So Ill do the pros and cons. Its only that the maintenance is high That I have an issue with.

Cons 1st
1. The trough has to be replaced once a year. ( Its a fact and you might as well prepare for it). They end up being about $70.
2. The burners will need to be replaced about every other year. Even though the book says they are warrantied I have NEVER been able to get them warrantied. They are $13 each for my grill.
3. The high medium low stickers will come off shortly after you get it unless CB has figured out how to fix this. You only really need them the first day anyway.

Pros
1. No flare ups !   
2. Gets good gas mileage.
3. Good grates
4. The cast iron pan attachment for the small side is great. ( This is sold as an accessory)
5. Sears well if you turn all burners to high for a few minutes first.

I don't know much about the one from Lowe's. Several others on here have them... I think they are less overall maintenance.   
 My next grill will be a REC-TEC...

Thanks for the input. I was happy with my old char broil commercial 4 burner and even more so after I added grill grates (which were a perfect fit).  But the flare up were bad and made it difficult to do a rib eye or other high fat meats.  I also converted mine to NG which really drove up the heat temp top end...I'm assuming because it was able to put out quite a bit more gas than the propane version. 

I have a highly modified texas traeger and it does all my smoking for me but I almost always do a reverse sear on steaks.

I'll probably get the 4 or 5 burner as they are easy to convert to NG.

Thanks again for the input.

[okie52]

I've had the 4 burner Tru-infrared for almost 6 years.  I haven't had to replace the burners, but the emitters and grates I have replaced once a couple of years ago.

This is a versatile grill - hot and fast, or low and slow.  Add chips to get some smoke flavor.  Add a waterpan to maintain moisture, etc.

Stainless steel exterior is pretty easy to clean and polish.

Thanks for the input.  I didn't realize the infra red had been out so long. 

One of my main concerns was on cleaning which I've read from other boards can be time consuming.  I don't mind paying more for one although this grill is really to just get me by the next year or so until I build a outdoor kitchen. 

[TMB]

I've had the 4 burner Tru-infrared for almost 6 years.  I haven't had to replace the burners, but the emitters and grates I have replaced once a couple of years ago.

This is a versatile grill - hot and fast, or low and slow.  Add chips to get some smoke flavor.  Add a waterpan to maintain moisture, etc.

Stainless steel exterior is pretty easy to clean and polish.

Thanks for the input.  I didn't realize the infra red had been out so long. 

One of my main concerns was on cleaning which I've read from other boards can be time consuming.  I don't mind paying more for one although this grill is really to just get me by the next year or so until I build a outdoor kitchen.

Cleaning is not time consuming, just set the temp control on "HIGH" wait 15 mins and the grates clean right off.  My HeatWave was simple to clean along with by Big Easy infrared.  Cooks the fats and oils to dust real fast, just don't use high sugar sauces or rubs those will burn fast and stick rock hard to the grates.

[okie52]

I've had the 4 burner Tru-infrared for almost 6 years.  I haven't had to replace the burners, but the emitters and grates I have replaced once a couple of years ago.

This is a versatile grill - hot and fast, or low and slow.  Add chips to get some smoke flavor.  Add a waterpan to maintain moisture, etc.

Stainless steel exterior is pretty easy to clean and polish.

Thanks for the input.  I didn't realize the infra red had been out so long. 

One of my main concerns was on cleaning which I've read from other boards can be time consuming.  I don't mind paying more for one although this grill is really to just get me by the next year or so until I build a outdoor kitchen.

Cleaning is not time consuming, just set the temp control on "HIGH" wait 15 mins and the grates clean right off.  My HeatWave was simple to clean along with by Big Easy infrared.  Cooks the fats and oils to dust real fast, just don't use high sugar sauces or rubs those will burn fast and stick rock hard to the grates.

Glad to hear that.  I don't have sugar sauces or sugary rubs on my grill very often.

That's how I had always cleaned mine in the past was just crank up the heat and let it burn everything off.  I even want to get my traeger texas grate cut into 3 pieces so I can throw them on the grill for easy cleaning.   

[RAD]

I have the Red from Home Depot. It has the trough emitters with cast iron grids. It is several years old now.
There is a large through and a small one. This allows you to save gas or sear on one with lower temps on the other.
 I use it almost every day.
 I like it (a lot) with reservations.
 So Ill do the pros and cons. Its only that the maintenance is high That I have an issue with.

Cons 1st
1. The trough has to be replaced once a year. ( Its a fact and you might as well prepare for it). They end up being about $70.
2. The burners will need to be replaced about every other year. Even though the book says they are warrantied I have NEVER been able to get them warrantied. They are $13 each for my grill.
3. The high medium low stickers will come off shortly after you get it unless CB has figured out how to fix this. You only really need them the first day anyway.

Pros
1. No flare ups !   
2. Gets good gas mileage.
3. Good grates
4. The cast iron pan attachment for the small side is great. ( This is sold as an accessory)
5. Sears well if you turn all burners to high for a few minutes first.

I don't know much about the one from Lowe's. Several others on here have them... I think they are less overall maintenance.   
 My next grill will be a REC-TEC...

tlg4942 and I have the same grill with the same issues.

[MJSBBQ]

I have had the 4 burner RED from HD for 6 or 7 years. Best grill I ever had. The trough emitters wear/rust about once every 18 months. Not a big deal to replace. The grates started to rust after a while, but I was using a Grill Daddy for cleaning that placed water on the grates for cleaning--clean with steam---long term, not a good idea. I ordered the Grill Grates and simply placed them on top of my rusted grates instead of replacing them. That has worked out for the last few years.

The only problem I have now is that my ignite mechanism won't give me a spark, so I have to take off the grates to use Bic lighter to get it started. I have changed the battery, and that worked for a few weeks, but now nothing.

Still, this is my favorite go to grill, and would buy another in a heart beat.

[djm3801]

I too have a 4 burner RED. replaced a $1000 2 burner broil master. Maybe 4 years old. Troughs - I get 2 years out of mine. Burners - Still on originals. Grates - no chips or rust but that porcelain coating is sure a crud magnet. I have had cast iron and stainless but the porcelain coated cast iron on this needs to be kept after. Igniters - one went bad after 6 months, the other lasted 3 years. I did not replace them - I use a wand candle lighter from the dollar store in the side holes to light it.

Stainless holding up fine. Painted base rusted and I need to repaint it.

Cooking - As stated - HOT is HOT and low is as low as you want. Cast iron insert fantastic. As far as I am concerned they can redesign the side burner into a separate burner for that cast iron insert. No hot spots. I make pizza out of huge middle eastern pitas and the heat is totally uniform.

Bottom line - My next grill will be whatever the current model of this is. I grill more now that I have this.

[okie52]

I appreciate the comments.

I have had a couple of built in grills along with a free standing weber genesis gas grill but my favorite gas grill was the char broil commercial at a much lower cost. I'm glad to hear the char broil infra red has worked for many of you as I plan on making it my next purchase.

[muebe]

I used to own a 4 burner RED. I did like the grill for it's high heat ability and infrared performance.

It's build quality however leaves little to be desired. If on uneven pavement the bottom cabinet doors would not close properly for example. The stainless steel is lower quality and will rust.

After getting a Memphis pellet grill my RED was mainly used to clean the parts on my pellet grill using high heat instead of wasting pellets to do it.

Then I sold it to my boss.

If it was built to Weber quality it really would be the ultimate grill IMHO.

I just don't think that a grill I spent close to $500 for should require yearly parts replacement.

[djm3801]

I will agree that the quality is not there, and needing to replace troughs every 2 years is unavoidable. My stainless has been fine so I am lucky.

[MJSBBQ]

My RED outside stainless has held up, even in a salt water environment. I do keep it covered. After 7 years with the RED, my wife surprised me when I cam home with a new cover for it since the old cover was getting a little rank and crusty.

Now if I can just figure out how to replace the igniter!

BTW, how much are the Memphis and other pellets going for these days? Can these pellets come close to the high heat of the RED for searing?

[muebe]

My RED outside stainless has held up, even in a salt water environment. I do keep it covered. After 7 years with the RED, my wife surprised me when I cam home with a new cover for it since the old cover was getting a little rank and crusty.

Now if I can just figure out how to replace the igniter!

BTW, how much are the Memphis and other pellets going for these days? Can these pellets come close to the high heat of the RED for searing?

My Memphis has a max temp of 600F. At that setting the grill temp is much higher. It does have a button that you push to force pellets into the hopper. Using this I can get even higher temps.

The grill is insulated too.