The Kettleman TRU-Infrared Charcoal Grill is one of those backyard grills for the griller on a budget. This grill has all the feature that you would find with any other kettle grill with a few extras that make this grill stand above similar grills in this category. The assembly of this grill is pretty straightforward and can be done in under an hour. There is also plenty of cooking surface to feed that hungry crowd and the hinged lid is something that I truly like. Can this Char-Broil Tru-Infrared Grill Be all they say it is?
CHAR-BROIL TRU-INFRARED GRILL
Hinged Lid
Let’s talk about the hinged lid, not many kettle grills have this option but it’s one of my favorite features on this grill. This feature makes it easy to focus on tending to the food or charcoals with both hands. You don’t have to search for the place to hang the lid while standing in a cloud of smoke or place the lid on the ground while trying to tend to the cooking.
Oversized Dampers
The oversized adjustable dampers on the lid make it super easy to control temperature while using your grill. Just open or close the damper to let the heat out or keep it in.
Bottom Damper
This Char-Broil Tru-infrared grill does not come with the traditionally adjustable bottom dampers. Instead, it has these holes in the bowl. The good thing is that the coals get to burn really hot the bad thing is that they cannot be closed to cut off oxygen and help extinguish the coals after use. But I guess that’s only important if you plan to reuse leftover coals like many of us do.
Removable Ash Bowl
The removable ash bowl easily slides in and out from the bottom of the bowl to make clean up and ash disposal a snap. Just remove empty and replace. This isn’t a major bell or whistle because it’s standard on most mid-level kettle grills but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Lid Mounted Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge that’s mounted on the lid can be used to monitor grill temperatures for the perfect cook every time. I think it’s cool to know what’s going on inside the grill without having to open the lid.
Porcelain Coated Steel Grates
The upside down V-shaped porcelain coated steel grate is designed to keep food from falling into to the fiery abyss below and to help prevent flare-ups. The porcelain coating also aids in even heat distribution so you don’t have to worry about hot and cold spots on the grill.
TRU-Infrared?
What makes the Char-Broil Tru-Infrared grill more Infrared than any other kettle grill? Is it the fact that the coals burn hotter because of the holes in the bowl? Or is it because the distance between the coals and the food is shorter than some other grills, therefore, creating a faster cooking time? Can it be a combination of things? I understand that the charcoal does emit some infrared heat but that comes from the charcoal, not the grill. In any case, I think the whole TRU-Infrared thing is a bit of a stretch, to say the least. Then again I could be totally wrong and this could really be a TRU-infrared charcoal grill, But I doubt it. This in no way changes the fact that this is still a good grill. Infrared or not.
Price
The price on this grill is very good at less than $150.00
Pros:
- Price
- No fall through grates
- Hinged Lid
- Removable Ash Bowl
- Large cooking surface
Cons:
- Legs can be a little wobbly
- Can’t close bottom damper
Specs:
| Made in | China |
| Grate Material | Porcelain-coated Steel |
| Weight(in.) | 44lbs. |
| Height(in.) | 38.8 |
| Width(in.) | 26.8 |
| Depth(in.) | 25.8 |
| Cooking Surface(Sq. In.) | 360 |
Would I recommend this grill?
The bottom line is yes. For the price. I would definitely recommend this grill to anyone looking to get a decent grill at a great price. Although there may be some quality issues down the road with some of the hardware (nut, bolts, etc.) these things can easily be replaced for pennies. So, I think in the long run this would be a good investment for the aspiring backyard chef.
