Does Weber Make an Infrared Grill? Full Guide & Facts

Infrared grills have exploded in popularity among backyard enthusiasts and professional chefs alike. With the ability to reach blistering temperatures, deliver restaurant-quality sear marks, and cook food evenly without flare-ups, it’s natural to wonder whether the world-famous Weber brand taps into this high-performance technology. After all, Weber is known for innovation from its classic kettle to today’s advanced smart grills.

But here’s the big question: Does Weber make an infrared grill?

The short answer is yes but with some important nuances. Weber does not produce “full infrared grills” in the way a few specialized brands do. Instead, the company integrates powerful infrared burners and infrared sear-zone features into select premium models. These implementations help create extremely high radiant heat for searing without committing the entire grill surface to infrared technology.

This article dives deep into what Weber offers, how their infrared burners work, the pros and cons, model examples, and whether their infrared implementation is right for your cooking style.

What Is an Infrared Grill?

Before understanding how Weber uses infrared technology, it’s important to know what makes infrared grills unique.

How Infrared Cooking Works

Traditional gas grills rely on convection heat hot air circulating inside the grill to cook food. Infrared (IR) grills, however, use radiant heat. Instead of heating the air inside the grill, they heat a panel, ceramic plate, or metal emitter that radiates energy directly into the food.

Benefits of Infrared Grilling

Infrared cooking is popular for a number of reasons:

• Higher heat potential – IR burners can exceed 1,000°F, making them ideal for ultra-hot searing.
• Even, consistent cooking – Infrared burners distribute heat uniformly.
• Moisture retention – Radiant heat reduces the drying effect of convection.
• Faster cooking times – High, direct heat speeds up cooking dramatically.
• Reduced flare-ups – Infrared surfaces protect food from dripping grease hitting flames.

Common Drawbacks

While infrared technology is impressive, it’s not always perfect:

• Less versatile if a grill uses only infrared burners
• Learning curve, especially for delicate foods
• Higher cost than standard gas burners
• Maintenance requirements, depending on the IR burner material

Understanding these fundamentals helps us analyze how Weber integrates IR features into their grills.

Overview of Weber as a Brand

Weber is arguably the most recognizable name in outdoor grilling. Founded in 1952, the company revolutionized backyard cooking with the original kettle grill. Over the decades, Weber expanded into:

• Gas grills
• Charcoal kettles
• Pellet grills
• Electric grills
• Smart grills
• Flat-top griddles
• High-end built-ins
• Grill accessories

Weber has a reputation for durability, quality engineering, consistent performance, and exceptional customer service. Because the brand appeals to everyone from beginners to pitmasters, it’s natural that Weber would explore advanced technologies like infrared heating.

And yes they have.

Does Weber Offer Infrared Grills? (Yes, But Not in the Typical Way)

Many people assume Weber has no infrared products because the company doesn’t heavily advertise “infrared grilling” the same way some brands do. However, Weber does feature infrared burners in several high-end models.

Weber’s Infrared Burners

Weber’s infrared technology typically appears in the following forms:

1. Infrared Rotisserie Burners
   High-powered rear burners used for rotisserie cooking, especially in Weber Summit models.
2. Infrared Sear Burners / Sear Zones
   These are high-heat burners designed to create restaurant-style sear marks quickly.
3. Top-Down Infrared Broiler Burners
   Available in some international Weber models, especially in the Summit built-in lineup.

Is This the Same as a Full Infrared Grill?

No. A “full” infrared grill replaces the entire cooking surface with infrared emitters. Weber chooses a hybrid approach:

• Conventional burners for versatility
• One or more infrared burners for intense heat zones

This design allows flexibility. You get the power of infrared where it matters searing, rotisserie, high heat while keeping the rest of the grill suitable for low-and-slow cooking, indirect heat, or gentle grilling.

Weber Models That Include Infrared Technology

Weber includes infrared systems primarily in high-end gas grills. Some examples include:

1. Weber Summit S-470 and S-670 (Infrared Rotisserie Burner)

These classic luxury gas grills include:

• A rear-mounted infrared burner
• Dedicated rotisserie system
• High searing power

The IR burner radiates heat directly onto roasts or whole chickens, mimicking a commercial broiler.

2. Weber Summit FS38 and SB38 (Top-Down Infrared Burner)

These models, found in markets like Australia, feature a top-down infrared broiler burner, delivering extreme radiant heat ideal for steakhouse-quality crusts.

3. Weber Summit Built-In Series

Some built-in systems incorporate infrared burners for searing or rotisserie cooking.

4. Weber Sear Zone (Found on Premium Gas Grills)

While technically not always labeled “infrared,” Weber’s Sear Zone burners reach extremely high temperatures and function similarly to some IR sear units on competing grills.

5. Weber Genesis Smart Grills (High-Heat Sear Setup)

These are not infrared burners in the strict sense, but they create intense radiant heat when combined with Weber’s cookware and sear elements.

Summary:
Weber uses infrared burners selectively, focusing on performance in specific zones rather than making the whole grill infrared.

How Weber’s Infrared System Works

To understand Weber’s approach, it helps to compare their infrared philosophy with other brands.

Weber Uses a Hybrid System

Some brands, like TEC or Solaire, offer grills where every burner is an infrared emitter. Weber, in contrast, often reserves infrared technology for:

• Rear burners
• Sear zones
• Specialized high-heat modules

This hybrid system offers more versatility because:

• You can grill low-and-slow without burning your food
• You can sear steaks with restaurant-quality heat
• You can rotisserie chicken using radiant infrared instead of direct flames

Performance Characteristics

Weber’s infrared burners are known for:

• Consistent heat distribution
• Fast ignition
• High peak temperatures for searing
• Less flare-ups compared to standard burners

While not a “pure infrared grill,” the design is highly effective for multi-style cooking.

Advantages of Weber’s Infrared-Enhanced Grills

1. Better Searing Capabilities

Whether it’s the Sear Zone or the top-down infrared burner, Weber’s IR systems reach the high temperatures needed for:

• Steakhouse-style crusts
• Reverse-seared meats
• Browning burgers
• Quick caramelization

2. Perfect for Rotisserie

Rear IR burners provide:

• Even browning
• Crisp skin on poultry
• Reduced flare-ups
• Stable heat for long cooks

3. More Versatile Than Full Infrared Grills

With Weber’s approach, you keep the MAIN advantages of gas grilling:

• Fine temperature control
• Multiple cooking zones
• Slow-and-low capability
• Better performance for delicate foods

4. Ideal Balance of Technology and Reliability

Weber infrared burners are:

• Durable
• Easy to maintain
• Backed by Weber’s strong warranty

5. Better Fuel Efficiency

Infrared burners channel heat more effectively, reducing gas waste compared to some standard burners.

Limitations of Weber’s Infrared Options

1. Only Certain Models Include IR Burners

Most Weber Spirit and lower-tier Genesis models do not include true infrared systems.

2. Infrared Is Usually One Burner, Not the Entire Grill Surface

If you want a “full infrared grill,” Weber does not currently produce one.

3. Higher Price Range

The models with IR technology especially the Summit series are usually more expensive.

4. Some Users Report Learning Curve Issues

New users often struggle with:

• Over-searing
• Managing extreme heat
• Rotisserie setup
• Burner cleaning

5. Replacement Infrared Parts Can Be Costly

Specialized components cost more than standard heat shields and burners.

Comparison: Weber vs Full Infrared Grill Brands

Feature	Weber	Full IR Grill Brands (TEC, Solaire, Lynx)
Infrared Coverage	Partial (one or more burners)	Full cooking surface
Versatility	High	Moderate
Heat Control	Excellent	Limited at low temps
Searing Power	Strong	Extremely strong
Cost	Moderate–High	High–Very High
Learning Curve	Easy–Moderate	Moderate–Difficult
Ideal For	Everyday grilling + searing	High-end steakhouse results

Bottom line:
If you want balanced performance, Weber wins.
If you want full infrared cooking across the entire surface, specialized IR brands are better.

Should You Buy a Weber Infrared Grill?

Who Weber IR Grills Are Best For

Choose a Weber infrared-enhanced grill if you want:

• Restaurant-quality searing
• Strong rotisserie performance
• A high-end, multi-functional gas grill
• Excellent durability and warranty support
• A grill capable of both low-and-slow AND high-heat cooking

Who Weber IR Grills Are NOT for

Skip Weber IR burners if you want:

• A full infrared cooking surface
• Specialized steakhouse performance (the entire grill glowing red)
• A lower-priced infrared solution

What to Consider Before Buying

Before selecting a model, ask yourself:

• Do I want a rear IR burner, a sear IR burner, or both?
• Do I prefer versatility or pure high-heat performance?
• How often will I actually use the IR feature?
• What’s my budget?
• Am I buying for steaks only, or for full-range cooking?

Ideal Weber Infrared Models to Consider

• Weber Summit S-470/S-670
• Weber Summit FS series
• Weber built-in infrared setups
• Weber models with Sear Zone burners

Summary of Key Points

• Yes, Weber DOES make grills with infrared technology.
• Weber does not produce grills where the entire cooking surface is infrared.
• Infrared features appear mainly in high-end Weber Summit grills.
• Weber’s IR burners provide high heat, great searing, and excellent rotisserie performance.
• Their hybrid system offers a balance between infrared power and traditional grill versatility.

Final Words

Weber absolutely integrates infrared technology into its grilling lineup, but not in the same way brands with full IR systems do. Instead of turning the entire grill into an infrared cooker, Weber uses targeted infrared burners—like the Sear Zone or rear IR rotisserie burner to give you powerful radiant heat exactly where it matters. This balanced approach lets Weber users enjoy both low-and-slow control and extreme high-heat performance on the same grill.

If you love Weber’s build quality and want high-end searing, rotisserie crisping, or broiler-level heat, their infrared-equipped models are excellent choices. Just be sure to check the exact burner configuration of the model you’re interested in to confirm that it has the IR features you want.