Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared
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Deep-fried turkey is dangerous, expensive (5 gallons of peanut oil), and produces a worse result than people remember. The Char-Broil Big Easy uses TRU-Infrared cooking to produce a turkey with crispy skin and juicy meat in 2.5 hours, using only propane — no oil required.
What We Love
- +Cooks 16-lb turkey in 2.5 hours
- +No oil required — vastly safer than deep frying
- +Crispy skin from infrared heat (no oil bath needed)
- +Compact storage when not in use
- +Works for whole chickens, roasts, and pork shoulders too
- +Under $130
Watch Out For
- −Single-purpose appliance for most users (used 1-2x per year)
- −Smoker box accessory required for smoke flavor
- −Propane consumption is significant
- −Requires outdoor use only
Specifications
Capacity
Up to 25-lb turkey or 9-lb roast
Cooking Method
TRU-Infrared (radiant heat from sides)
BTUs
16,000
Fuel
Propane (20-lb tank)
Cook Time
10 minutes per pound
Weight
20 lbs
The Full Review
I was a skeptic on the Big Easy until I cooked a Thanksgiving turkey on one. The result genuinely changed my mind. The TRU-Infrared design surrounds the bird with radiant heat from the cylindrical cooking chamber, producing crispy skin without the mess, danger, or expense of deep frying.
A 16-lb turkey cooks in about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The skin is mahogany brown and crispy across the entire bird (impossible in an oven — the back always stays pale). The meat is juicy because the high heat seals the surface fast and the cook time is short. Brine the bird for 24 hours first and the result is genuinely better than most restaurant turkeys.
Where the Big Easy really shines is the safety profile. Deep frying turkey causes around 60 home fires per year. The Big Easy uses no oil, can be used safely on a deck or patio, and won't catastrophically explode if you accidentally drop a frozen turkey into it.
The optional smoker box ($30) lets you add smoke flavor. Drop wood chips into the dedicated chamber, light it, and the airflow through the cooking chamber draws smoke across the bird. The result is a smoked-roasted turkey that punches well above the price point.
Beyond turkey, the Big Easy excels at whole chickens (45 minutes), pork shoulders (4 hours for an 8-pounder), and standing rib roasts. It's not just a Thanksgiving appliance — it's a genuinely useful indirect cooker.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest oil-less turkey fryer rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared (this) | 4.4 | $129 | Cooks a 16-lb turkey in 2. |
| Konro Yakitori Charcoal Grill | 4.6 | $149 | Authentic Japanese tabletop grilling — binchotan charcoal, ceramic insulation, and skewer cooking that turns dinner into an experience. |
| Korean BBQ Tabletop Charcoal Grill | 4.5 | $89 | KBBQ at home is exploding on social media. |
Who Is It For?
Anyone who hosts Thanksgiving or other turkey-centric holidays. Households that want to stop deep-frying turkeys (safer, easier, better result). Cooks who want infrared roasting capability without spending hundreds on a built-in.
Final Verdict
The Char-Broil Big Easy is the smartest holiday cooking purchase under $150. Better turkey than deep frying, far safer, and more versatile than its single-purpose reputation suggests. Buy one before Thanksgiving.
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