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Infrared Heat

Most people don’t realize that the heat source we are most familiar with, our sun, warms the earth using mainly infrared energy. This is a form of electro-magnetic energy with a wavelength just greater than the red end of the visible light spectrum but less than a radio wave. This energy was discovered in 1800 by Sir William Herschel who dispersed sunlight into its component colors using a prism. He showed that most of the heat in the beam fell into the spectral region just beyond the red end of the spectrum, where no visible light existed. Most materials readily absorb infrared energy in a wide range of wavelengths, causing an increase in its temperature. The same phenomenon causes us to feel warmth when we are exposed to sunlight. The infrared rays from the sun travel through the vacuum of space, through the atmosphere, and penetrate our skin. This causes increased molecular activity in the skin, which creates internal friction and generates heat, allowing us to feel warmth.

Foods cooked over infrared heat sources are heated by the same principle. Charcoal grilling is our most familiar choice for infrared cooking. The glowing briquettes emit infrared energy to the food being cooked with very little drying effect. Any juices or oils that escape from the food drip onto the charcoal and vaporize into smoke giving the food its delicious grilled taste. The Napoleon infrared burner cooks in the same way. In each burner, 10,000 ports

each with its own tiny flame – cause the surface of the ceramic tile to glow red. This glow emits the same type of infrared heat to the food as charcoal, without its hassle or mess. Infrared burners also provide a more consistently heated area that is far easier to regulate than a charcoal fire. For instant searing, the burners can be set to high, yet they can also be turned down for slower cooking. We all know how difficult that is on a charcoal fire. Traditional gas burners heat the food in a different way. The air surrounding the burner is heated by the combustion process and then rises to the food being cooked. This generates lower grill temperatures that are ideal for more delicate cuisine such as seafood or vegetables, whereas Napoleon’s infrared burners produce searing heat for juicier, tastier steaks, hamburgers and other meats. For cooking times and tips refer to the Infrared Grilling Chart.

Infrared Grilling Chart

Food

Control Setting

Cooking Time

Helpful Suggestions

 

 

 

 

Steak

High setting 2 min. each side.

4 min. – Rare

When selecting meat for grilling,

1 in. thick

 

 

ask for marbled fat distribution.

 

High setting 2 min. each side

6 min. – Medium

The fat acts as a natural tenderizer

 

then medium setting.

 

while cooking and keeps it moist

 

High setting 2 min. each side

8 min. – Well done

and juicy.

 

 

 

then medium setting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hamburger

High setting 2 min. each side.

4 min. – Rare

Preparing hamburgers to order

1/2 in. thick

 

 

is made easier by varying the

 

High setting 2 1/2 min. each side.

5 min. – Medium

thickness of your patties. To add an

 

 

 

exotic taste to your meat, try adding

 

High setting 3 min. each side.

6 min. – Well done

hickory-flavored woodchips to

 

 

 

Napoleon’s woodchip smoker.

 

 

 

 

Chicken pieces

High setting 2 min. each side.

20-25 min.

The joint connecting the thigh and

 

then medium-low to low setting.

 

the leg from the skinless side should

 

 

 

be sliced 3/4 of the way though for

 

 

 

the meat to lay flatter on the grill.

 

 

 

This helps it to cook faster and more

 

 

 

evenly. To add a trademark taste to

 

 

 

your cooking, try adding mesquite-

 

 

 

flavoured woodchips to your

 

 

 

Napoleon woodchip smoker.

 

 

 

 

Pork chops

Medium

6 min. per side

Trim off the excess fat before

 

 

 

grilling. Choose thicker chops for

 

 

 

more tender results.

 

 

 

 

Spare ribs

High setting for 5 minutes

20 min. per side

Choose ribs that are lean and

 

low to finish

turn often

meaty. Grill until meat easily pulls

 

 

 

away from the bone.

 

 

 

 

Lamb chops

High setting for 5 minutes

15 min. per side

Trim off the excess fat before

 

medium to finish

 

grilling. Choose extra thick chops for

 

 

 

more tender results.

 

 

 

 

Hot dogs

Medium - Low

4-6 min.

Select the larger size wieners. Slit

 

 

 

the skin lengthwise before grilling.

 

 

 

 

www.napoleongrills.com

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Napoleon Grills BIPRO 600 manual Infrared Heat, Infrared Grilling Chart