How Do Infrared Cookers Heat? Infrared cooktops are made from quartz infrared heating lamps in a corrosion-protected metal dish. The lamps are usually surrounded by radiant coils to emit even radiant heat. This radiant heat transfers direct infrared heat to the pot. You’ll find infrared cooktops have a higher energy efficiency than solid electric coils by as much as 3 times more efficiency. The benefit of infrared cookers over induction cookers: any type of pots and pans can be used. With induction cooktops, you need special cookware.
Bill Best invented the first gas-powered infrared burner in the early 1960’s. Bill was the founder of Thermal Engineering Corporation and patented his infrared burner. It was first used in factories and industries such as tire manufacturing plants and large ovens used to dry vehicle paint fast.
By the 1980s, a ceramic infrared grill had been invented by Bill Best. When he added his ceramic infrared burner invention to a barbecue grate, he made, he discovered infrared heat cooked food faster and retained high moisture levels.