Testimonial

Chris from Houston, TX, shares:

"The Solaire Anywhere Grill that got to me just before Fathers Day, I must say, is heaven in a little silver box!  I cannot honestly remember the last time my wife has clapped after every bite of food that she ate after having steak for the first time on the Anywhere grill.  Well done on this product, we love it!"

New Solaire Logo

After 10 successful years with the Solaire line of infrared grills, Rett Rasmussen, Vice-President of Rasmussen Gas Logs and Grills, the manufacturer of the Solaire Line of Infrared Grills, decided that it was time for the company to develop and unveil a new logo. “We wanted a logo that was representative of the actual products that we manufacture—the precision, the heft, the quality, the value, etc. The old logo was merely stylized font that really had no connection with the grill, its construction, or its performance,” he states.

He goes on to explain, “The new logo is a precise combination of many different elements. Within the logo is an ancient symbol for heat oven, as well as a schematic symbol for infrared. It has elements of the sun design, and colors that represent radiant heat. The arrows are indicative of how Solaire’s infrared heats the food directly, which keeps the food succulent and moist. The arrows also exemplify that the infrared burner system is the heart of our grills--it’s the basis of our grilling systems. The logo is balanced and precise which represents the performance of our grills. It sits down into the letters of Solaire to signify the heft and quality of the actual products. Our products are not cheaply made. They’re built for quality and longevity.”

When asked, “Did you really put that much thought and effort in the development of the design for this new logo?” Mr. Rasmussen emphatically states, “Absolutely. The process of how and why we came up with the new logo is representative of how innovative and thorough our company is. And it was quite a natural process for us, because it’s the same process that we go through in the design, development, and engineering of all of the products that we make.”

He goes on to give credit to the true source of their company’s innovation—the customer. “When a consumer calls our company, real people answer our phones and experienced personnel talk to the callers…and we really listen to what they are saying. And based on their input, we look for ways to innovate and improve our product. We are truly a customer-centric manufacturer, and that’s why consumers love our products.”

Turkey on Solaire Infrared

At Christmas I roasted our family's 15 pound turkey on our 42-inch Solaire Infrared Grill. We have the IRBQ-42C, which does not have the rear infrared rotisserie burner. Not to worry, as you can prepare almost any kind of food on a Solaire - it's all about managing the heat.

A happy Solaire customer had told me how she brined her turkey at Thanksgiving, so I thought I would give that a try. There are many brine recipes on the web. I combined a couple to create a solution of apple juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, kosher sea salt and various spices. I placed the bird in a 5 gallon bucket and soaked it in the brine solution and ice overnight, turning the turkey over once during the night. Brining is supposed to add moisture and flavor (in the end, it didn't hurt to do so).

I then placed the spit rod through the turkey, tied the wings with twine (you don't want any parts flopping around as it turns) and balanced it as best as I could using the counter-weight. In theory, if you have a perfectly balanced load, a rotisserie motor could turn an unlimited amount of weight. It's the unbalanced load that creates the strain on the motor. So you want to eliminate as much of the grinding noise you hear as the motor strains to bring the load "over the top". Balancing the food on the rod as best as you can will lengthen the life of your rotiss motor.

I then preheated all of the burners in my grill for three minutes (that's all it takes with Solaire Infrared to reach maximum temperature). I coated the bird with olive oil, then mated the bird/spit rod to the motor, directly over one of the burners.

I seared the turkey over the direct infrared high heat for about 15 minutes (or until the juices really start to flow). This really starts the cooking process and is the Solaire Infrared advantage for any type of food you wish to grill. (If your grill has the rear infrared rotisserie burner, turn it on and leave it running during the entire process. The bird will be finished sooner with the additional direct heat, without sacrificing any succulence).

Please note the oven thermometer on the back ledge of the grill. While most Solaire grilling is done with the hood up and air temperature is inconsequential, the next phase of grilling this turkey is aided by having a thermometer. I purchased this one at the grocery store a few years ago for less than $10. It can be placed on the rear or side ledges - it's just to provide a guideline of the temp when you close the hood during the next phase.

On to the next phase. After searing the bird over the direct infrared heat, now we move to using indirect heat utilizing the BBQ Tray accessory. First turn the burners to two dots up from the lowest setting on the valves. Place the BBQ Tray directly underneath the turkey and fill it with water (I've used beer and wine in the past - your choice). The liquid in the tray serves two functions: (1) It keeps the tray from warping as the direct infrared heat is converted to convected heat; and (2) It steams up into the food, acting as a self-baste to keep the food moist. Then close the hood. After a few minutes, take a peek at the thermometer. You want to achieve around 350 degrees F. Adjust the valves as necessary to achieve and maintain this temperature. Refill the BBQ Tray with liquid as needed, ensuring that it never goes dry. During the cooking you want to adjust the balance as needed to ensure smooth turning.

The bird will get nicely roasted on the outside over time. The true measure of doneness, however, is when the internal temperature in the meaty part of the breast reaches 165-degrees F. Test with an instant-read thermometer (the kind professional chefs keep in their pocket). This 15 pound turkey took close to 2 hours (120 minutes) to do so. When this is achieved, remove the turkey from the grill and let stand (rest) for 20 to 30 minutes before carving (the bird will continue to cook during this time).

This turkey looked great on the outside, and was juicy and flavorful on the inside. But the true test of success is how your guests respond. Please note the plates of these happy teenagers at the "kid's table." They ate all of the turkey first, leaving the prime rib and mashed potatoes for last.

Happy Grilling!