Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Gourmet 3-Burner Review
Formerly called Red, Char-Broil’s Gourmet line has a significantly different design than the Commercial or Professional models. Below the porcelain coated cast iron grates and above the burners sits a dark non-stick trough that radiates heat to the cooking surface. This makes the entire grill an indirect cooker. There is no ability to cook directly over live fire and no radiant panels directly under the grates that provide searing heat like other Char-Broil TRU-Infrared lines. It has three stainless steel burners, a 13,000 BTUs flush lidded side burner and battery powered ignition.
The cooking grates have an ornamental design with openings that allow you to drop wood chips into the trough for BBQ smoking. The trough effectively vaporizes drippings and is easy to clean. But, as with all Char-Broil grills, owners are divided into two camps, they either love them or hate them. Some complain it takes too long to heat up and the non-stick surface on the trough flakes off causing it to rust and need replacement. Yet Red models were recommended in the 2012 by a leading consumer rating publication.
Gourmet grills have hood mounted heat indicators. As always we urge you to get an accurate digital thermometer. The double layer hood provides good insulation and heat retention. Lid, control panel and handles are stainless steel. The cart is black painted steel with double stainless steel doors and four casters.
Product Information:
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Model:Gourmet 3-Burner
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Item Price :399.00
*Price Subject To Change -
Made in USA:no
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Review Method:Looked Closely At It
We have seen this product up close and we have also gathered info from the manufacturer, owners, and other reliable sources. -
Primary Function:Grill
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Burner Type:Side
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Fuel:Propane Gas, Natural Gas Capable
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BTU:35,300
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Heat Flux:70.6
Heat Flux is the BTU per square inch and is a more useful measure of how much heat a grill delivers than BTU alone. -
Main Burners:3
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Primary Capacity:Mid-Size (about 24 burgers) : 500 square inches
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Secondary Capacity:180 square inches
Manufacturer:
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Char-Broil
Char-Broil is an innovator in the popular gas grill arena with clever designs, low to midrange prices, and excellent customer service. For several years they have focused on infrared cooking. Starting in 2012 all new IR models were dubbed “Tru-Infrared”. These grills are made with stainless steel tube burners that work in conjunction with a radiant surface to bring heat close to the food. The radiant surface shields food from direct flame and reduces hot dry convection heat rising from the burners.
As one of the biggest BBQ manufacturers in the world, Char-Broil offers a clear, low cost alternative to Weber and surpasses many other price driven manufacturers with their infrared gas grill design innovation and focused marketing. Also in 2012, Char-Broil introduced Saber, a new, very high quality line of gas grills that goes head to head with Weber’s Summit series in the premium grill space. They offer charcoal grills, smokers, fryers and a variety of accessories and tools.
Char-Broil is owned by The W.C. Bradley Company headquartered in Columbus, GA. Roots of W.C. Bradley go back before the Civil War to The Columbus Iron Works. The first Char-Broil grill was made and sold in the USA in 1948. Now all Char-Broil grills are manufactured in China and distributed around the globe.
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Published On: 11/14/2012
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