How does heavy wind affect infrared gas grills like Charbroil and Saber?

[glitchy]

After like 3 weeks of winds of 20-40 MPH what seems like every day, I've been curious how this kind of wind affects grills like the Saber Cast and Charbroil Commercial series? It's a pain and somewhat dangerous to light charcoal and the SmokeFire will run in it, but it seems to contribute to knocking temperatures really out of whack (especially at grilling temps). With my Weber Spirit, I never had problems with flames going out, but keeping temps could be challenging if the winds were over say 20. Do the infrared style do any better? Worse? Or pretty much the same?

I guess I have another case of MCS, but with no end to this COVID thing in sight and cooking most meals at home, I'm thinking I need something that works well in the wind because it's windy here a lot. I think it's from being so close to Chicago that it just carries to us ;-)

Other ideas for grills that work well in pretty high wind? In the past, we just went out for dinner when it was really windy. Yes, I have an oven and a crock pot, but who wants to use those? I will say, the Memphis didn't baulk too much at wind, but a big grease fire would probably be really fun in 30 MPH winds.

Finally, if you feel the infrared grills do better in wind, who has thoughts on the benefits of a Saber over the Charbroil Commercial? Does the Saber cook and perform better or is it mostly just going to last longer?

Sweaty Paul JCGrill tagging you guys because I noticed you have Sabers.

[bbqLuv]

Wind Break, suggest I may.

[JCGrill]

Not immune to wind, although I have better luck with it than my previous grill (which was a cheapo Charbroil). Lid down is definitely better. I think it has only gone out once. However, I would guess it's only marginally better than other grills in the wind. Suffice to say I've still considered some kind of screen that could be set up temporarily (although I struggle with how that might be possible).

I do like the Saber. The stainless aspect of it is very appealing; cleans up good. It gets way hotter than my last gasser when I need warp speed. But is it going to last long enough to validate the cost? Don't know. Right now I would buy it again if I had to do it over.

[jfmorris]

Personally, having seen the Infrared grills, they are pretty much the same grill burners down below - just an almost solid metal plate up top that gets hot and then radiates the heat. I think wind would affect them in a similar way to regular gas grills, as gas grills are designed intentionally to have a LOT of ventilation in the body. Most have a large opening into the bottom area where the burners are, and are also open along the back of the lid. Those are the areas where wind infiltrates. I think a wind break behind most gas grills is probably a good idea. Wind blowing into the back will likely reduce the heat in the IR just like the standard gas grills.

In winter time, my gas grill lives up against the end of the house, with a brick or concrete siding wall about a foot behind it - that gives it a reasonable wind break.

If you think about it, a set of Grillgrates on a regular gasser makes it effectively into an IR in some ways. If you still have the Spirit, that might be worth considering. But a wind break would be even better....

As weather gets crappier, if I do cook outside it will likely end up on the gas grill or the flat top - the flat top being under a roof.

[glitchy]

I have a fairly small covered patio, like 10x10 with a door at a 45 chopping a corner off and steps cutting further into it. It’s open on 2 sides, but 1 side is landscaped and the ‘access’ side is where the windbreak needs to be. So, it would reduce access, block views, and probably feel very confining. Attached pic gives some reference...I would have been sitting on steps for pic. Pic was before side behind SmokeFire was landscaped since grass burns off there every year.

[jfmorris]

glitchy you planning to ditch one of the pellet poopers, for a gasser? Otherwise, I sure don't see how you would fit anything out there without a patio expansion!

[glitchy]

I sold the Woodwind a while back, it's an older picture. The grills usually live rolled up against the house unless they're in use, I was actually running two that day and cleaning the 3rd. I like the idea of an expansion though, into a covered outdoor kitchen only fully open to the house side so no worries about wind. I'll tell the boss it was Jim's idea.

[Huskee]

I had a CharBroil Tru Infrared when they first came out probably 8-10 yrs ago. It held temps in cold weather & wind about as good as a mailbox with the door open. In good weather I absolutely loved that thing! It opened my eyes to a new way to grill on a gasser. I suspect Saber is better built for such challenges.

[Max Good]

You had that goofy Gourmet model with the trough instead of a flat emitter plate. Those were known to take forever to heat up even in good weather.

[FireMan]

Leave it to Ol’ Husk to get the goofy Gourmet model. That was before he growed up & became an Administrator of the Pit.

[Huskee]

Don't you go spreadin' rumors that I growed up, I have NOT FireMan

[Sweaty Paul]

Living here in Western Kansas I have only lost the fire in the Saber 2 times. Both were same day and we were having 40-60 mph winds predominately out of the west north west so there was no wind break where the grill was. That said, the grill has otherwise always worked well.

[glitchy]

Cool, thanks for sharing.

[Max Good]

The Saber burner system is obviously based on Char-Broil's TRU-Infrared design . The Char-Broil models are great, but Saber is much higher quality in every way. Kinda like comparing Weber's Spirit line with their gas Summits.