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TEC Learning Center:
- Discover The Difference
- Evolution of infrared
- Innovation Timeline
- infrared Technical Explanation
- Advantages of TEC infrared
- TEC History

Discover the Difference
While TEC's old ceramic infrared technology was a great improvement over conventional grilling, TEC's revolutionary new grilling system is the first and only to cook with 100% infrared energy.
Old Ceramic Infrared Technology TEC's New Patented Grilling System
  • Ceramic Burners are fragile - susceptable to breakage and moisture damage.
  • Cooks with 50% infrared heat and 50% hot air (dries out food).
  • Does not distribute heat evenly, producing uneven cooking across the grilling surface.
  • Open flame creates flare-ups.
  • Limited turn down ability prevents slow cooking.
  • Only a portion of marinades and food drippings are vaporized.
  • 100% stainless steel burners are ultra-tough and built to last.
  • Cooks with 100% infrared energy, greatly reducing moisture loss and shrinkage in food.
  • Provides uniform distribution of heat across the grilling surface - no hot or cold spots.
  • Is virtually flare-proof
  • Has an unprecedented range of cooking intensity - slow roasts as well as sears.
  • Employs radiant glass panels that vaporize all food drippings and marinades, maximizing the outdoor charboil flavor.

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    Evolution of infrared
    In 1980 Thermal Engineering Corporation, TEC, introduced the world's first under-fired infrared gas grill. As the patents covering this process expired other grill manufacturers adopted our traditional infrared cooking process. Building on its 25 year head start, TEC continues to developed new infrared technologies. And with its new Flare-Proof, all-metal infrared burner system. TEC proudly continues to lead the way into a new revolution of outdoor grilling.
    Conventional Grills use simple, metal burners to produce flames that are too large and too few. Because they cook with hot air, they have cool spots and dry food out quickly. Flare-ups are often a problem, and lava rocks are dirty and dusty.
    TEC's First infrared Grills used tiny flames that heated ceramic plates. These burners emitted infrared radiant energy which cooked the food with far less drying and fewer flare-ups than conventional grills. Still, the flames were open to the food, so slow cooking and protection of the ceramics could be challenging.
    TEC's Radiant Glass infrared Grills used glass panels to allow the passage of infrared energy while almost entirely blocking rising hot, dry air. This grill allowed food to remain more moist and tender while the glass panels protected the ceramics.
    TEC's Flare-Proof, All-Metal, infrared Burners are by far the most sophisticated ever invented. It uses multiple layers of metal to produce infrared energy. The radiant glass panels, positioned directly over the burners, allow the passage of infrared energy while blocking air flow. Placement of the grates, glass and burners provide total heat uniformity and eliminates flare -ups.

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    TEC Innovation Timeline

    TEC® invented the first gas-fired infrared burner in this country in the early 1960's. TEC then invented the infrared gas grill. In 1980, we introduced the first stainless steel gas grill and the first with a concealed gas tank. Our flavor-enhancing channeled cooking grid system followed. Then, we developed the first portable infrared gas grill and the first electric infrared cooking system.

    Throughout our site you'll see that our commitment to innovation continues with a new, patent-pending all stainless steel infrared burner and a virtually flare-proof cooking system. Again, TEC is raising the bar and redefining outdoor grilling: preparing great tasting food in the comfort of your own home.

    1961 infrared:
    Patented the first ceramic infrared burner in the U.S. This device is widely used in commercial cooking and has exploded into the residential gas grill scene.
    1980 Breakthrough Firsts:
    Introduced the first infrared gas grill with the following innovations:
  • Flavor-enhancing channeled cooking grid design
  • Gas tank concealed inside grill cabinet
  • First all-stainless-steel gas grill
  • First deep fryer attachment for gas grill
  • First frying griddle attachment for gas grill
    • 2000 Improvements:
    Introduced the first infrared grill to employ radiant glass emitter panels to permit cooking with virtually 100% infrared energy. TEC also introduced its innovative upscale, all-metal "Ultimate Island" build-in enclosures and the first portable infrared gas grill for table-top use.
    2002 Mobile Technology:
    Introduced the first electric infrared grill in a portable, tabletop model.
    The 2005 Grilling Revolution:
    TEC began the next revolution in grilling with its introduction of a virtually flare-proof, infrared gas grill that employs a new, more durable all-metal infrared burner, distributes 100% infrared energy with complete uniformity of heat across the cooking surface and provides an enhanced charbroil taste. Winner of Hearth & Home magazine's 2005 Vesta Awards for Best New Gas Barbecue and Best New Outdoor Room Product.

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    infrared Technical Explanation

    Using the science of radiant energy to prepare the best-tasting food
    Although highly familiar to us, the concept of infrared radiant energy still mystifies many people. First, its not nuclear radiation. While it works a little like a microwave, it need not be electric. It works like the sun.

    The fact is, infrared radiant energy is among our most widely experienced sources of energy. In scientific terms, infrared is a form of electromagnetic energy found in the same spectrum that includes visible light, radio waves and microwaves. It can be generated with electricity, gas, wood and by other means. infrared energy is extremely beneficial in cooking because it does not dry food out the way hot air does. There is a scientific reason for this: In nature everything is surrounded by a boundary of stagnate molecules of air and water. infrared can penetrate this boundary without disturbing it, directly transferring the energy to food with minimum moisture loss. However, hot air can not deliver its energy to food without displacing this boundary layer which results in drying and consequently dries food out as it cooks by draining it of its natural juices.

    Let's explore two very familiar examples of infrared:
    Warmth of the sun and the intense cooking capacity of glowing charcoal. Everyday the earth is warmed by radiant energy from the sun. infrared energy is transferred directly from its source to the object being heated. The sun's infrared energy radiates through the cold vacuum of space and penetrates our skin. Electrons in the skin's atoms begin to move fast, creating friction which generates heat and causes us to feel warmth.

    Glowing charcoal produces this same molecular activity in food. The glowing coals radiate energy, which cooks food with very little drying effect. And as the juices that do escape and drops onto the coals, they are vaporized into smoke, which rises back up to the food, giving it that great outdoor grilled taste.

    However, there are crucial differences between TEC infrared grills and charcoal grills. Most importantly, although charcoal radiates infrared energy, this radiant heat consists no more than 25% of the energy produced in charcoal grilling. The remaining 75% or more of the heat generated is hot air and hot air dries out food as it cooks it. But TEC grills cook with 100% infrared energy so even well-done meat remains tender and juicy. They also reach full cooking capacity in about 7 minutes. Charcoal takes about a half an hour.

    With TEC infrared grills, there are no flare-ups or charring of food as with charcoal grills. TEC grills distribute heat with absolute uniformity - and they do it the same way every time! You know how difficult it is to regulate heat from charcoal. Finally, TEC infrared grills burn very cleanly and don't add dust to food the way charcoal does. And there is no ash to clean up and throw away later.

    TEC's New Flare-Resistant System, With All-Metal Burners And Radiant Glass Emitter Panels

    This system is by far the most sophisticated ever invented. It uses multiple layers of metal to produce infrared energy. The radiant glass panels, positioned directly over the burners, allow the passage of infrared energy while blocking air flow. Placement of the grates, glass and burners provide total heat uniformity and eliminates flare-ups.

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    Advantages of TEC infrared
  • 100% Infrared Grilling:
    Conventional grills use convective burners that cook with hot air that dries out food. But TEC’s ceramic burners cooked with 50% infrared heat (and 50% hot air) so that food retained more of its natural juices. This is because everything in nature, including food, has a moisture boundary that surrounds it, and infrared energy can penetrate food and cook it without disturbing this moisture boundary. TEC’s new FR Series grills employ a patented 100% infrared cooking system that cooks food without using any hot air so food retains the maximum amount of moisture. As a result, moisture loss and food shrinkage are reduced by up to 30% - even well done meats remain tender and juicy.
  • Uniform Distribution of heat across the cooking surface - No hot or cold spots:
    Infrared heat is by nature non-uniform. TEC’s original ceramic burners, employed by other grill companies today, cannot distribute heat evenly and they produce a hot spot at the center of the burner. But TEC’s new all stainless burners have specially configured apertures that direct the infrared heat evenly across the cooking grids, producing almost perfect uniformity of heat for grilling, within plus or minus 4 degrees. All other grills sold today, whether they are infrared or not, have hot and/or cold spots, but every square inch of cooking surface of the new TEC grills is available for grilling.
  • Enhanced Charboil Flavor:
    An important part of TEC’s new, patented infrared technology is the radiant glass panels located between the burner and the cooking grids. These panels, like the glass designed for residential stovetops, are developed to withstand high temperatures. Although they keep the burners clean by protecting them from the debris and drippings associated with grilling, their major function is to produce an outdoor grilled flavor. The radiant glass works much like charcoal. When drippings from food touch the surface of the heated glass, they are incinerated, producing a smoky vapor that infuses food with a charbroil taste. Expensive marinades can be poured on food while grilling without wasting them because any excess that drips on the glass sizzles into steam that becomes part of the smoky vapor.
  • Virtually Flare Proof:
    TEC’s new grills are virtually flare proof. The radiant glass panels are located just above the burner flame, and the cooking grids rest directly on top of the glass panels. This close positioning eliminates the oxygen required for flare-ups. Normal amounts of grease that are produced from grilling the fatty parts of meat, as well as oils from marinades, do not cause flare-ups when they are incinerated by the radiant glass panels because there is no oxygen to ignite a flame.
  • Unprecedented Range of Cooking Intensity:
    TEC’s new grilling system is not only 100% infrared, it has an incredible range of cooking intensity. On high fire settings, the new TEC grills cook with greater intensity and speed than other infrared grills but also have incredible turn down capability. So while you can roast a pork tenderloin on one burner on high fire, you can sauté vegetables on another burner on low. And they heat up quickly too – ready it be used within 7 minutes after lighting when the hood is closed.
  • 100% Stainless Steel Burners:
    The ceramic burners used in other infrared grilling systems today are known to be fragile –susceptible to moisture damage and impact breakage. But TEC’s new, patented stainless steel infrared burners are ultra-tough and built to last. These burners have been cycled in laboratory testing for thousands of hours and have proven to be virtually indestructible.
  • Easy To Clean:
    TEC grills are fast and easy to clean. Operating the grill on high fire for 5 minutes after grilling will incinerate any drippings and debris that accumulate during grilling. What remains is a light residue of ash that settles on the cooking grids and radiant glass panels. After the grill cools, the cooking grids can be removed and cleaned with a brass or stainless brush. The ash on the glass panels can be scraped to the back of the grill with a spatula where it falls through an opening to the drip tray below. Interior side and back trim, as well as the warming rack and drip tray, are easily removable and can be put in the dishwasher or hand washed in a sink.
  • Can be used as a conventional stove:
    The new TEC grills do not require a side burner because the grilling surface itself also functions like a conventional stovetop. Simply put your pot or pan on the cooking grids or remove the grids and cook directly on the radiant glass panels.
  • Most Fuel Efficient Grilling System Ever Developed:
    TEC’s new infrared burners are the most fuel-efficient burners ever developed. In fact, the results of independent testing show that TEC grills use up to 50% less fuel than other grills, allowing for more grilling time between tank changes and lower fuel costs
  • Made in America of 100% Stainless Steel Construction:
    TEC grills are constructed of 100% heavy-duty stainless - 12, 14, 16 and 18 gauges. They are the heaviest grills made today, and they are made in America.

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    TEC History
    TEC builds the most efficient, durable, technologically-advanced grills available today.

    For over 40 years they have researched, developed and perfected applications of infrared radiant energy. Perhaps their greatest invention was the infrared gas grill. Today, no other grill provides a better, more flavorful taste than a TEC infrared.

    No one has dedicated more time and effort to radiant energy research and development than Thermal Engineering Corporation. They invented a unique high-efficiency, long-lasting ceramic infrared burner, and introduced it in 1961. Since then, they have built an impressive portfolio of innovations in applied heat transfer. More than thirty issued or pending U.S. and foreign patents, as well as a variety of cutting-edge products stand as testimony to their innovation. This focused dedication is how Thermal Engineering Corporation -- TEC, came to be known as The infrared Experts.

    TEC identified uses for our infrared burners then developed the processes and built the equipment to take advantage of the efficiencies of infrared, radiant energy -- primarily in painting, dying and curing. These innovations include more efficient and effective paint-drying equipment for the worlds best-known automobile makers, advancements in tire manufacturing that made the radial tire possible, and improvements in the finishing of other products widely used around the world. Today, the Process Division continues this work, and their customers for these services include many highly renowned Fortune 500 companies.

    By the 1980's TEC was using their infrared expertise to improve the efficiency of commercial cooking equipment. They designed and built grills that heated up faster and more evenly across cooking surfaces, yet used less fuel. Radiant energy does not rely on a transfer medium like hot air; rather, it cooks without drying. So cooking with infrared energy is not only more efficient, it makes food taste better. In 1980 TEC introduced the world's first under-fired infrared gas grill, and chefs began to discover -- and taste -- the mouth-watering, flavorful advantage of infrared grilling.

    Over the past 20 years they have continued to innovate and lead product development within the upscale outdoor grill market.

    Many believe that our latest invention, our new patent-pending grilling system is revolutionizing the way the world grills. Visit the TEC Advantage section of our website to learn more.

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