What is the difference between radiant and lava rock Charbroiler?

Is lava rock charbroiler really phasing out?

So called Lava rock charbroiler or grill, uses natural volcanic stone as the BBQ medium, which has the advantages of uniform heat transfer, fast heating speed, and good barbecue effect. In addition, food baked from lava rocks or briquettes has a more crispy surface and a better taste. The heating method of the lava rock broiler can instantly cause the surface of the ingredients to coke, thereby locking in the juice and nutrients of the food, forming a delicious caramel color during the process. Not only can it barbecue delicious meat, fish and other staple foods, but it can also cook various vegetables, bread and other snacks, nutritious and delicious. However, long-term use may cause cracks and wear on the surface of lava briquettes, requiring regular replacement.

In earlier years,lava rock grill was once highly praised by consumers and became the preferred barbecue equipment for the public. These briquettes were placed on a bracket above the burner to absorb and dissipate heat. Its large surface area can easily evaporate oil and provide uniform even heat. However, precisely because lava rocks are porous, they absorb oil and other droplets, making cleaning a very challenging task. If there is no grid device installed, it will also reduce the service life of the burner, and the problem of burner corrosion will exist for a long time. Another thing is that the oil and droplets absorbed yesterday will be transferred to today’s delicious barbecue, which is also very unpleasant.

Later on, ceramic briquette charbroiler emerged with the aim of providing more uniform heat and better vaporization than lava rocks. However, ceramic briquettes also have their drawbacks, such as being brittle in texture and aging over time. Ceramic briquettes have not solved the old problem of easy corrosion of burners.

                                                                    heat plate for grill

In recent years, it has been found that alternative solutions that can provide insulation and uniform heat radiation can still be found without using lava rocks or ceramic briquettes. For example, this barbecue radiant charbroiler  from Grace Kitchen Equipment has a cast iron grate/bar that directly contacts the ingredients on its surface. Its J-shaped cross-section intercepts oil and drops it into the J-shaped grooves of the grille. Some of it flows into the oil drip tray due to gravity, while others vaporize, achieving the smoky effect of charcoal barbecue grilling flavour. It can be said that it perfectly combines the advantages of various methods. Even if a small amount of droplets falls, the uniquely designed vertical heat plate structure (or heat tent) below will protect the burner from contamination and will not block the flame hole.

Not surprisingly, there are still some users who have a special preference for lava rock barbecue charbroilers. The unique design and structure of the Grace Kitchen gas radiant grill char broiler can also achieve good results. Just increase the distance between the grate and the heat tent a little, and the lava rock/briquettes can be placed on the rack, turning it into a lava rock grill charbroiler, killing two birds with one stone.

Gas Lava Rock Grill Charbroiler With Cabinet