Happy new year! I purchased an electric infrared grill that’s advertised as a smokeless tabletop grill and put it to the test over the holidays. Some have asked me what I honestly thought of this KG-338ig infrared grill, so here’s sharing what I have observed after using it several times. I hope you find this blog post helpful.
The inspiration to get this infrared grill came to me after eating yakiniku at a newly-opened joint in a mall. It was not bad but I figured I could do this at home easily and cheaper too. Ever since we have to live with the pandemic, hosting BBQ parties is no longer an option so I’d have to grill indoors. And so began the quest for a tabletop grill that will not leave a lingering smell in my apartment. I looked up and compared a few different models of tabletop grills, including a flat rectangular model that appears functional and aesthetically pleasing (but I am not convinced it is smokeless). Then I discovered this electric infrared k-grill, the KG-338ig, that is touted as being smokeless. Now that is an attractive feature which definitely intrigued me, even though I find the design rather clunky. I placed an order online during a holiday flash sale anyway.
Grill Design
The design of this grill features an infrared heating lamp and built-in fan fixed on an arm above the grill pan. The lamp/fan arm can be swivelled 45° sideways on either side, while the grill pan is removable. There’s a hole in the middle of the slightly inward-sloping grill pan for secreted oil from grilled foods to be collected into a plastic drawer beneath. This plastic drawer can be completely taken out to dispose the collected oil. This infrared grill is powered by a detachable power cord, which I find a bit too short unless your dining table is flushed directly against the wall. The power cord is 1 meter long so I need an extension cord since my dining table is in the middle of the room, away from the walls where the power outlets are.
Temperature Control
Once plugged in, this infrared grill is turned on by manually turning the dial at the top of the arm. This simple dial turns on the heat to maximum power and if required, it can be dialed down manually by guesstimate as there’s no temperature indication markings. It takes merely seconds for the infrared lamp to heat up real hot real fast.
Cooking Time
Depending on what type of food you decide to grill, cooking time varies. The infrared heat is strong so generally cooking time is speedy. Pork and chicken will of course take longer than beef to be fully cooked. Take note that the infrared lamp casts a red glow on the food being grilled. This creates the illusion that food still appears raw so there is a chance that you will overcook your food. When I grilled ribeye yakiniku for the first time, the meat was way overcooked and became rubbery.
Charring depends on whether the meat is fatty or not. Even so, that will take a while before you get to see charred bits on the corners of your food. You can also get decent caramelization if the meat has been marinated first. Generally the cooked meat will not look the same as when it’s been grilled over charcoal for sure.
Is It Truly Smokeless?
When it comes to smokeless, I am referring to “smoke” as 1. visible smoke and 2. smoky smell.
Visible smoke: There is slight smoke visibly wafting from the meats on the grill pan, but the built-in fan sucks it up right away. Think of it as a mini exhaust fan which functions just like those foil pipes you see hanging above every tabletop grill in Korean BBQ restaurants. This mini fan operates silently so I did not even realize it is on and working. My dining room did not have a trace of fogginess even though I’m using this infrared grill in an air-conditioned room with all windows and doors closed.
Smoky smell: I can definitively attest that there is NO heavy smoky or oily-food smell lingering all over my apartment. Friends whom I have invited over for BBQ dinners agree as well. If you have an ultra sensitive nose, you can still detect smoky food smell afterwards although it’s very mild and tolerable.
Compared to when I panfry steak, crisping bacon, or deepfrying anything using the kitchen stove with every window open, the infrared grill definitely performs as advertised when it comes to smoke and smell control. However I have only tried this grill on fatty meats such as pork belly and marbled steaks. I have not attempted to grill fish or other seafood on this infrared grill yet.
What About Oil Splatters?
When you grill something like pork belly, you will hear an ocassional pop now and then whenever the fat on the meat is reacting from the heat. Nonetheless, the grill pan is wide enough to prevent messy splatters. Besides, oil that’s drawn out from the grilled meats is chanelled into the middle hole so without a pool of oil sitting on the grill pan, truthfully there is hardly any splatter. I am obsessive about keeping things clean so I covered my dining table with plastic cover anyway.
What I Don’t Like About This Infrared Grill
I am somewhat bothered by the distance between the infrared lamp and the grill pan. Flipping food requires a deft hand so I strongly recommend using a pair of long tongs instead of using chopsticks or fork. Even though the fixed arm can be swivelled sideways, there is still a risk of getting the top of your hand or fingers burned by the infrared lamp so you may need to wear an oven mitt.
The very first time I used this infrared grill, I tried grilling a whole slab of steak and realized immediately that flipping the steak is too challenging. The limited vertical distance between the grill pan and the hot lamp restricted the movement of my hands when trying to handle the steak. If only the arm can be adjustable to move upwards to create more vertical distance, but I suppose that may end up being even more dangerous.
Tangent: speaking of grilled steak, please try this Grilled Rump Steak recipe. It’s one of my fave things to make and eat!
After repeated use, the infrared lamp will start to get dirty. The fixed arm is not detachable so cleaning the lamp is only possible if the entire plate is unscrewed. This is so inconvenient.
What I Like About This Infrared Grill
I find food cooked using this infrared grill tastes cleaner (and possibly healthier) since oil is not needed to cook and there’s hardly any charred or burnt bits.
Cleanup is a total breeze! The detachable grill pan is easy to wash. The oil drawer is also convenient to take out for a good wash.
Grilling Tips
- It’s better to cut up your meats and veggies into bite-sized pieces prior to grilling. This will reduce cooking time.
- Marinade your meats in advance because brushing sauces while grilling is not convenient or safe.
- I line a sheet of baking paper (with a hole cutout in the middle) over the grill pan first for easy cleanup.
- I also put a layer of chopped cabbage and/or enoki mushroom and arrange the meats on top. I do this so the meat is cooked from the heat source above while the oils seep into the veggies below. I believe this prevents oil splatters even more effectively and the veggies get deliciously flavored at the same time.
- It’s better to arrange the food in an outward radial formation as the heat is concentrated towards the middle. Place cooked food that you wish to keep warm away from the center of the grill pan.
Food Pix
So far I have cooked the following using this infrared grill:
- Marbled Sirloin
- Ribeye
- Gyutan (Beef Tongue)
- Pork Belly
- Pork Jowl
- Pork Collar Chops
- Taiwanese Sausage
- Oyster Mushroom
- Enoki Mushroom
I want to do LA Kalbi soon as I haven’t had that in years. I guess I’d have to try grilling seafood soon and maybe some items from this BBQ party I did years ago.
Final Thoughts
With any product or appliance you decide to get, there’s always a set of pros and cons depending on how it fulfils your usage intent. For me, this infrared grill has met my objective of having yakiniku or Korean bbq dinner at home conveniently and affordably. I can grab a couple packs of meats from Donki and grill them for a solo meal quickly without smoking up my apartment. The size of the grillpan is adequate to make food efficiently for a small group of family members and friends. The footprint is also just right for the size of my dining table that seats 6 to 8 pax. I do need to find space in my kitchen or pantry to store the grill when it’s not in use though.
Function-wise, I am pleased with the grilling performance especially the smoke control. Considering that a yakiniku set meal at the mall starts at SGD16.90++ and it is not entirely filling, this k-grill is a good investment. You can purchase the KG-338ig electric infrared grill online from Shopee.
