The Char-Broil Signature Series TRU-Infrared 4-Burner Gas Grill

We made the most tender ribs and juicy steaks on our new Char Broil Infrared Grill! Get a real-world review with pros and cons before you buy.

Six years ago, my parents were in the market for a new propane grill. We knew we wanted to go with propane gas versus a natural gas grill, and I’d had a Weber gas grill in the past and wanted them to have something new and different.

After a lot of research online and looking at what felt like hundreds of gas grills, we settled on a Char Broil infrared grill. More specifically, the Char-Broil Signature Series Amplifire 4-Burner Gas Grill.

What does Char Broil tru infrared grill mean?

A tru infrared grill, renamed “Amplifire” in 2022, converts the hot air generated in traditional gas grills into infrared heat. The heat is distributed evenly over the entire grill surface and flare ups are prevented from happening entirely.

To me, this means that the meats I grill will get a nice sear, which as a chef is very important. Check out these grill marks from the first time we used it:

Here’s what I said about this grill right after we first used it almost six years ago:

There are so many things we love about the new stainless steel Char-Broil grill. The first thing I noticed are the porcelain-coated grates which are great for preventing your food from sticking. There is also 525 square-inches of grilling space which means you can cook up to 29 burgers at once.

Next was the side burner (that comes with a griddle; I’d never seen that before but how awesome is that??) which makes it so nice to just heat up a side dish or quickly reduce a sauce. It’s also dual fuel enabled, which means you can connect to natural gas at home. We haven’t done that yet but we’re definitely going to try it.

But it’s the Amplifire Cooking System that really separates this grill from any others I’ve cooked on. It allows your food to cook evenly with no flare-ups. The night before our barbecue, my parents grilled some steaks. They both raved that they were the best they’d ever had on a grill and neither could believe how evenly they cooked.

Updated review of our Char Broil Infrared Grill

Here are the key features of the grill from the Char-Broil website, along with our thoughts on each, having owned this grill for almost 6 years now. I called my dad, read him each listed feature, and typed out his thoughts exactly as he shared them. I shared my thoughts, too, since I’ve spent a lot of time grilling with it over the years.

• Amplifire TRU-Infrared cooking technology prevents flare-ups, delivers even-heat and creates up to 50% juicier food – DAD: “It does give you juicier food, I don’t know about 50%. The steaks are very good on there.” ME: “This is an accurate statement from my experience. I’ve cooked on a lot of grills in my time, everything from a weber grill to a charcoal grill, and this bbq grill makes some really juicy steaks and burgers.”
• Integrated LED lights and sleek lid, handle & cabinet design for distinctive style – Both my dad and I were sort of “meh” on this one. Sure, it’s probably true, but it’s not important enough to either one of us to really notice. I will say that it’s a smart-looking grill though!
• SureFire® electronic ignition for quick and reliable starts at the push of a button – DAD: “Very good.” ME: “It’s always started very easily for me.”
• Intuitive design with keyhole slots and common hardware makes assembly quick and easy – We actually don’t remember assembling it so can’t comment on this. Having said that, it must not have been difficult since we don’t have any frustrating memories about it!
• Porcelain-coated, cast-iron grates are durable, rust-resistant and easy-to-clean – DAD: “I agree with that.” ME: “I definitely agree with this. Part of the reason that it’s easy to clean is likely because the food doesn’t stick to the porcelain grill grate in the first place, so it’s a WIN-WIN.”
• Warranty: 10-year burner, 3-year grates/Firebox, 1-year all other parts
• Dual Fuel: This grill can be converted from liquid propane to natural gas with a conversion kit that is sold separetly.
• Tank gauge to monitor fuel level

I asked a few more questions just to round things out:

Has it held up well? DAD: “So far, we haven’t had to do any repair work on it. It’s not rusted out, it’s given us good service.” ME: “Definitely.”

How well do the burners work? DAD: “No problems to this point. They heat up well and quickly. They do a good job.” ME: “I’ve made a lot of sauces using the burners and they’ve worked just as well or better than any other propane burners I’ve used.”

Anything you don’t like about it? DAD: “The cover that came with it drops little specks or granules that are hard to clean off the grill.” ME: “I probably haven’t used it enough to experience any major cons. It’s the propane gas grill I plan on purchasing next.”

My dad told me something else that I hadn’t known prior to our call: my brother-in-law used it at my parent’s house and loved it so much that he bought one just like it.

Difference Between 2-Burner, 3-Burner, 4-Burner Char Broil Signature Series Amplifire Grills

Note: There are no 5-burner or 6-burner Signature Series Amplifier grills. Char Broil does make Signature Series 5-burner grill and 6-burner grills.

How do you clean an infrared grill?

We clean our char broil infrared grill the same way we’ve always cleaned our gas grills: using the “burn off method”. Turn the burners to high, close the lid and leave it alone for about 10 minutes. This will “burn off” any residual food stuck to the grates. Turn off the grill and use a brush to remove anything stuck to the grates.

Summary

This is a fantastic grill that’s held up well for almost six years now. The only negative we’ve found is with the cover itself, so you might want to consider buying a separate cover and avoid that hassle. If you want juicier steaks, ribs, and burgers, as well as a great sear, you really can’t go wrong with this Char Broil infrared grill.

A few things I’ve made on this grill over the years:

• These baby back ribs with this blackening seasoning and/or this pomegranate chipotle barbecue sauce
• This Smoked Mac and Cheese which might be my favorite side dish ever
• Grilled Pineapple No-Bake Cheesecake
• Teriyaki Grilled Chicken Wings
• Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

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Kristy Bernardo

Kristy Bernardo is the recipe creator behind The Wicked Noodle. She's a five-time cookbook author, has taught cooking classes to both kids and adults, and has been creating recipes for nationwide brands since 2009. She learned most of her cooking skills from her mom and grandmother, then honed those skills at boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America.

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