Grill Maestro

I’ve done about two BBQ “parties” (more than just me and my fiancee) and about two dozen other random cooking sessions on the Charbroil TEC Grill and overall I have to say that I’m pretty satisfied with the TEC technology on the whole. The main benefit I derive from using the technology is the fact that the cooking heat is distributed so evenly, it isn’t affected by air drafts and the plate doesn’t suffer from variable heat and cool spots - one of the main complains about my last gas grill (also a Charbroil). Do I buy the whole infrared technology? I’m not really sure because I don’t truly understand what it’s supposed to do, why it’s different than the propane heat, and so other than even heat distribution, I think my appreciation is a bit lacking because of my naivety.

The even cooking heat is certainly a plus though. In the past, I knew that the hottest part of the propane grill was in the back left, over the burner that received the propane first and shielded by the walls of the grill, so I would have to plan my cooking based on that information. Now with the TEC grill, since I know that entire plate will be hot and hot at the same temperatures, I don’t have to worry as much.

Another benefit of the TEC technology has less to do with the fact that the plate lets infrared heat out but more about the fact that you have a plate on the grill, albeit it’s underneath a grate. What this means is that you can throw all sorts of marinades and smoke chips on the grill and let it smoke up, sizzle, and add some juice back into whatever you’re cooking. I’ve tried the smoke chips a couple times now and it’s great.

So, is the TEC technology worth it? That depends on what’s important to you and what’s in your budget. I think it’s worth it but I don’t know if I’d spend my money on it (it’s hard for me to make that determination too because I had a one year old grill before I received the TEC), but I do think it’s pretty good technology.