Solaire Infrared Grills
Solaire pioneered ceramic infrared grilling in the US — the brand's V-shaped ceramic infrared burners deliver 900°F+ searing temperatures that no U-burner grill can touch, in 27, 30, 36, and 42-inch built-in and freestanding configurations.
The Story
Solaire introduced the first all-infrared gas grill to the US market in the late 1990s, in a factory in Yucaipa, California that still produces every current Solaire grill. The brand's design philosophy centers on a single engineering decision: V-shaped ceramic infrared burners instead of the stainless U-burners that dominate the rest of the category.
The infrared platform delivers 900°F+ grate temperatures within 3-5 minutes of ignition — faster preheat than any U-burner grill and roughly 300°F hotter at peak than conventional stainless burners. For the restaurant-style sear (whole-grill 900°F for 60 seconds, flip, 60 seconds, done), nothing in the residential category approaches Solaire's peak output.
The tradeoff is cooking versatility: an all-infrared grill is magnificent at high-heat searing but less flexible for low-and-slow smoking or indirect cooking because the ceramic burners don't modulate as finely as stainless U-burners. Solaire buyers are typically steak + burger specialists who want restaurant-grade output. For the broader cooking versatility most backyard cooks want, a conventional U-burner grill with a dedicated infrared sear station (Coyote S, Hestan GRTR Prestige) is often a better fit.
Origin
Yucaipa, California
Burner platform
V-shaped ceramic infrared
Peak temperature
900°F+
Warranty
Lifetime burners + cookbox
Design Principles
What Solaire Infrared Grills Cares About
01
V-shaped ceramic infrared
The V-shaped ceramic infrared burners deliver uniform 900°F+ heat across the entire cooking surface — not just a dedicated sear zone.
02
3-5 minute preheat
Infrared radiates heat into the grates immediately — the full cookbox hits 700°F within 3-5 minutes vs 10-15 minutes for conventional stainless U-burner grills.
03
Searing specialist
Solaire is built for high-heat searing. For whole-grill 900°F restaurant-style cooking, no other residential grill matches peak output; for low-and-slow indirect cooking, the all-infrared platform is less flexible than a dual-platform grill.
Questions
Frequently Asked About Solaire Infrared Grills
What's the advantage of infrared grilling over conventional gas?
Peak grate temperature and preheat speed. Infrared burners radiate heat into the grates immediately (3-5 minute preheat to full temperature) and hit 900°F+ grate temperatures — roughly 300°F hotter than conventional stainless U-burners can produce. For restaurant-style searing (whole-grill 900°F for 60 seconds per side on a steak), infrared is the only residential platform that approaches commercial infrared broiler output.
Can Solaire cook low-and-slow?
Yes but less comfortably than a conventional stainless U-burner grill. Solaire's ceramic infrared burners modulate between approximately 350°F and 900°F; the low end is high enough for most grilling but less flexible for 225°F low-and-slow smoking than a conventional grill. If low-and-slow is a primary use case, pair Solaire with a dedicated pellet grill or buy a conventional grill with infrared sear station rather than all-infrared.
Which Solaire model is right for my backyard?
The 30" Deluxe is the sweet-spot residential size — 3-burner platform with the Rotisserie back burner, suitable for feeding 4-8 people regularly. The 36" Infrared Vero adds a fourth burner + a dedicated sear-zone configuration for buyers who sear 2-3+ times per week. The 42" is overkill for most residential installs; it's typically specified by buyers hosting 10+ regularly or by commercial residential (large catering gatherings).
How long do Solaire ceramic burners last?
The ceramic infrared burners are warranted for lifetime of the original owner, which is unusual in the grill industry (most burner warranties cap at 10 years). The ceramic surfaces last 15-20 years with normal residential use + annual cleaning; the lifetime warranty reflects the engineering durability of the ceramic platform vs stainless U-burners.
Can I convert Solaire between natural gas and propane?
Yes — all current Solaire models are field-convertible via the Solaire conversion kit (approximately $150-250 depending on burner count). The conversion is a 2-3 hour job for a qualified gas technician. If you know the fuel type at order time, specify at the factory level to avoid the conversion overhead.
Catalog coming soon
Solaire Infrared Grills’s pieces are being onboarded now. In the meantime, browse our full catalog of authorized makers.
Browse CatalogContinue
