Cooking on an infrared grill is not the same as cooking on a charcoal or a gas grill.
This grill type is very different from others and requires a different approach.
That’s why you may run into trouble while cooking, especially if you already own a gas or charcoal grill.
When I got my first infrared grill, I was struggling because at first because I thought the cooking times were the same as with other types of grills.
I was very, very wrong and my first barbecue was a disaster.
That’s why I did some digging and experimenting and made this infrared grill cooking times list so you won’t make the same mistakes as me.
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Before I Dive In
Before you take a look at the cooking times, it would be wise to understand how such grills work.
They are different from gas and charcoal grills that you are used to in that they feature an infrared element as their heat source.
This element is heated when you ignite the grill and it then radiates the heat to cook your meals.
This is different from the “normal” grills that you are used to whereby meals are cooked in direct contact with the heated grates or by the heated air that circulates within the grill and ultimately cooks the food.
Infrared grills are efficient when it comes to heat and this is one of the factors that affect the cooking times.
The heat is so concentrated, most of it “goes” into the food, cooking it instead of dissipating into the air.
If you are used to cooking with the traditional gas and charcoal grills, then you should be prepared to cut your cooking times considerably once you fire up this grilling marvel.
With that said, let’s now take a look at the actual cooking.
Infrared Grill Cooking Times
Cooking times, however, vary with the foods that you are preparing with softer ones like fish fillet cooking up in a short period of time while thick and stubborn steaks taking a bit longer.
Like other grills, you will have to preheat it before cooking, but the pre-heat duration will be also shorter.
After about 5 – 10 minutes of preheating, open the lid, and start cooking.
Here are the suggested cooking times for different meals cooked on an infrared grill.
Meat
| Steak | Ribeye Steak | Loin | Hamburger | Hot dogs | Large sausages | Lamb Chops | Boneless Chicken Breast | Seafood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cooking Time [minutes] | 6 | 5 - 25 | 20 | 4 - 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 - 10 | 4 - 6 |
Vegetables
| Peppers | Tomatoes | Mushrooms | Onions | Corn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Cooking Time [minutes] | Whole: 10 - 20 Sliced: 5 -10 |
Whole: 8 - 20 Sliced: 4 |
4 - 8 | 8 - 20 | With husk: 30 - 40 Without husk: 5 - 7 |
Meat
Steak
Steaks not thicker than one inch should be cooked for about 3 minutes on either side on the high temperature setting.
How Long Do You Grill a Steak on an Infrared Grill?
The total cooking time is 6 minutes.
Ribeye Steak
Depending on the thickness, the total cooking time is anywhere between 5 to 25 minutes.
Pro tip: to get that famous steakhouse sear mark, sear the ribeye steaks for a minute on each side (including edges). Once done, turn the steak 45° and repeat the process.
How Do You Cook a Ribeye Steak on an Infrared Grill?
Let’s say you have a 1.25-inch thick ribeye steak.
Here’s what you do (don’t worry, it’s not hard; the process is pretty much the same as with every type of steak):
- Season the steaks with some oil, salt, pepper, or whatever you wish, and give the meat some time to rest and absorb
- Preheat the grill to high
- Place the steaks on the grill and cook each side for about 5 – 6 minutes
- Remove the steaks and let them rest for about 5 minutes
- You can use this time to set up the table and your favorite sauces
- Enjoy
That’s it.
Loin
The cooking time depends on the thickness of the cut.
For cuts with a thickness of more than an inch, cook each side for about 5 minutes.
The total cooking time should be about 20 minutes.
Burgers
Burgers not more than half an inch thick should be cooked for 2 minutes on either side on the high setting.
Thicker hamburgers should be cooked for 3 minutes on either side.
Hot dogs
Cook your hot dogs for 4 minutes with the hood open on the medium setting.
Large sausages
Cook sausages for 3 minutes with the hood open.
Depending on how fatty they are, you may have to leave them on the warming rack for a few minutes more.
Lamb Chops
Lamb chops not more than ¾ inch thick should be cooked for 3 minutes on each side with the hood open.
Boneless Chicken Breast
How Long Should I Grill Chicken?
Chicken breasts that are ½ inch thick should be cooked for 3 minutes before turning over the other side.
The total cooking time is 6 minutes with the hood open.
Chicken breasts that are ¾ inch thick should be cooked for 4 minutes on each side with the hood open while breasts thicker than an inch should be cooked for about 4,5 minutes for a total of about 10 minutes.
You will be cooking the breast on the high setting.
To truly master the art of cooking chicken on an infrared grill, then take a look at this chicken grilling guide.
Seafood
How Long Does It Take for Shrimp to Cook on the Grill?
Cook shrimp and other seafood for 2 – 3 minutes per side on the high setting if they are about ½ inch thick.
Thicker sections will also be cooked in the same duration but on a medium setting.
How Long Does It Take to Grill Fish Fillets?
Fish fillets generally take a few more minutes to cook than shrimp.
If the fillet is an inch thick, cook it for a minute or two more (3 – 4 minutes per side).
Vegetables
Grilling vegetables is simpler than meat.
The important things you need to remember are:
- You’ll get the best results on high direct heat
- Slice bigger vegetables into smaller pieces or wedges
- They generally cook faster than meat
- They’re done when the skin turns color (if you’re not sure, just poke them with a knife or fork. If you don’t feel any resistance, they’re done)
Tip: Coat the veggies with some oil before placing them on the grill. This prevents drying out and burning.
Peppers
If you’re grilling them whole, then they’ll need 10 – 20 minutes.
If you cut them in half, they’ll need about half that time to be ready.
Tomatoes
You can cook sliced tomatoes together with hamburgers as they roughly need the same time – about 2 minutes per side.
Whole tomatoes need to be cooked quite longer – anywhere from 8 to 20 minutes.
Mushrooms
Whole or sliced, 2 – 4 minutes per side is usually enough.
Onions
Depending on how thick and golden you like them, you can cook them as little as 4 minutes per side or as much as 10 minutes per side.
I suggest the latter for half-sided or quartered.
Corn
They are a tougher nut to crack than other vegetables and more time to cook, especially whole with husks.
For the latter, you’ll need a can of beer (or your other favorite beverage) and a chair as you’ll going to have to wait 30 – 40 minutes before you can sink your teeth into them.
Without husks, they cook much faster: from 5 to 7 minutes.
Conclusion
Infrared grill cooking times differ from charcoal and gas grills because infrared grills cook on a different principle.
By sticking to these guidelines, you’ll enjoy tasty meals like you never did before.
Try these models for the best results.
Happy grilling!
What kind of food do you grill the most? Meat or vegetables? Let me know in the comment section below.
Hello Mario,
Thank you so much for this awesome guide to cooking on an infrared grill. I followed your directions exactly for cooking boneless ribeye steaks and I have to say it turned out to be the best ribeye I’ve ever enjoyed. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised as this was my first experience grilling steak! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. You are bringing “cooking happiness” to many!