If you are searching for a Big Horn infrared grill review, the short version is this: Big Horn Outdoors makes a portable, propane-fired infrared broiler that reaches roughly 1500°F (815°C) in 3–5 minutes with a 19,000 BTU ceramic infrared burner, and it is built for fast, top-down searing rather than low-and-slow cooking. That combination is why the grill earns its reputation with steak lovers who want restaurant-style crusts at home or at the tailgate. This review covers what the grill actually does, where it shines, where it has limits, and how to tell whether it fits the way you cook.
All specifications here are traceable to the official Big Horn Outdoors product listing; price is intentionally left off this review because promotions move faster than specs, so the current number belongs at checkout.
The temperature claim, decoded
The headline number is not a sales figure — it defines how the grill cooks. A 19,000 BTU ceramic infrared burner radiates heat downward from above the food, the same principle a restaurant salamander broiler uses. The food surface sees intense radiant heat immediately, while the air temperature around it stays lower. That is exactly what builds a fast crust on a steak without drying the interior through a slow hot-air cook.
Preheat time matters, too. In real use, the 16-inch model reaches roughly 1500°F (815°C) in 3–5 minutes — not the 10–15 minutes a typical gas grill needs before the grates are searing hot. A short preheat is what makes this a spontaneous-cook tool on a weeknight or before a game. The trade-off is that the heat is intense and direct; food needs attention, not a timer and a walk away.
What the 16-inch portable grill includes
The Big Horn portable infrared broiler is a tabletop unit built with a stainless steel body. The 16-inch model ships with two cooking plates and a pizza stone, and the grate has ten adjustable rack positions. The top position concentrates maximum searing heat close to the emitter; a lower position creates a gentler zone around 450°F (232°C) for finishing, holding, or baking. Two grates plus a stone give the grill the range to sear one dish and bake or warm another, which is more flexibility than most tabletop searing tools offer.
Steak performance in practice
On the upper rack positions, the radiant heat sears the steak surface in tens of seconds, so the crust forms fast and the design limits flare-ups because the flame never contacts the food. After the sear, moving the steak to a lower rack position finishes it without burning the surface. The same intensity has a learning curve: a thin steak can go from seared to overdone while you reach for a spatula, so an instant-read thermometer or a probe is not optional at these temperatures.
A consistent session looks like this: preheat fully so the grates and stone are at temperature, not just the air; sear a 1–1.5-inch steak on the hot rack briefly per side; move it lower to finish; rest and slice. Once the preheat is soaked in, the results are repeatable.
Beyond steaks: what else it cooks
Beyond steaks, the grill handles chops, burgers, seafood, and vegetables that benefit from high, dry heat. The included pizza stone converts the same unit to a small outdoor pizza or flatbread baker, and the lower rack zone cooks vegetables or reheats sides without charring them. This is a specialist tool, not a smoker: if your cooking is mostly low-and-slow, a pellet grill or a conventional gas grill is a better fit. But for fast searing and open-air high-heat cooking, it is genuinely versatile.
Where an infrared grill falls short
Infrared grills are not ideal for every job. They run hot and fast, so long barbecue sessions, smoking, and delicate temperature holds are outside their comfort zone. The intense heat can char marinades that contain a lot of sugar or oil before the interior cooks, which means technique matters more than it does on a gentler grill. And because the unit is portable and tabletop, it has a smaller cooking area than a full-size backyard grill — you are trading capacity for speed and portability.
Infrared versus conventional gas grilling
The practical differences show up in three places. First, preheat: minutes instead of ten-plus. Second, cooking style: top-down radiant heat sears hard, while a gas grill heats the grates and the air around the food. Third, flare-ups: infrared designs keep the flame away from the food, which reduces the sudden flare-ups that gas grills produce with fatty cuts. Those differences make infrared a strong complement — or replacement — for steak-focused cooks who already own a bigger, slower grill.
Matching the grill to your cooking style
You are the right buyer if you cook steaks often, want a fast, intense sear outside the kitchen, and value portability for camping, tailgates, and small patios. You are less the right buyer if you mostly grill in low-and-slow sessions or cook for large crowds on one surface. Matching the choice to your situation is the point: the grill is not a do-everything backyard centerpiece, but it is one of the fastest ways to get a steakhouse-style crust at home.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Cooking before the preheat settles. The unit may feel ready in the first minutes, but the grill performs best when grates and stone are fully at temperature. Soak the preheat, then sear.
- Leaving thin cuts on the high rack. Thin steaks and fish need shorter contact; use the lower rack or shorten the time rather than walking away.
- Ignoring the thermometer. At 1500°F, surface changes happen in tens of seconds. A probe or instant-read thermometer is the difference between a great crust and an overcooked steak.
- Overloading the grate. A tabletop unit has a compact cooking area; cook in batches instead of crowding food, which drops heat and steams the surface.
- Skipping cleanup. Fast high-heat cooking leaves residue that sets quickly; the removable, dishwasher-safe grates and grease tray make it a five-minute job.
The realistic expectation in one paragraph
The Big Horn infrared grill is a focused tool: it preheats fast, sears hard, limits flare-ups, and travels well, and the lower rack zone gives it more range than a pure broiler. It will not smoke a brisket or feed a crowd from one grate, and it rewards care with an instant-read thermometer. If you want high-heat crusts at home or on the road, and you understand the trade-off against low-and-slow cooking, it delivers exactly what the 1500°F claim promises — nothing more, and that is enough.
See the current portable infrared broiler and the full infrared collection. Big Horn portable infrared broiler · infrared grill collection
FAQ
What are the downsides of using an infrared grill?
The main downsides are the learning curve and the specialty focus: the heat is intense and fast, so thin cuts can overcook quickly; the grill is not built for low-and-slow smoking; and a tabletop unit has a smaller cooking area than a full-size grill. The 1500°F heat also means sugar-heavy marinades can char before the interior cooks. These are manageable, but they define where the grill fits.
Who makes the best infrared grill?
“Best” depends on your use case. Big Horn Outdoors builds a portable, propane-fired infrared broiler focused on fast, high-heat searing, which suits steak lovers and campers. A full-size built-in grill may suit a patio cook who wants permanent placement and more surface. Compare preheat time, burner type, portability, and included accessories rather than only the temperature claim.
Is an infrared grill worth the money?
It is worth it if you will actually use the high-heat searing mode. For a steak-focused cook, the fast preheat, hard crust, and flare-up control make the price a good value. If you mostly smoke or slow-cook, a conventional gas grill or a smoker is the better buy. The value depends on matching the tool to your cooking, not on the temperature number alone.
Is Big Horn Outdoors legit?
Big Horn Outdoors is a direct-to-consumer outdoor cooking brand sold through its own site and marketplace listings, with a lineup of portable pizza ovens, infrared grills, stoves, and outdoor kitchen pieces. The brand publishes model specifications, list prices, and a warranty on its official listings. As with any online purchase, confirm the current price, shipping, and return policy on the official product page at checkout.
