Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Review: Features and Who It Is For

The Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 is a propane cooker built around a single idea: roast a whole turkey without a vat of hot oil, then use the same body to smoke and to grill. This review is editorial and based entirely on the product listing and public manufacturer information. We have not cooked with this unit, so everything below describes what the specifications claim on paper and who that design seems to suit, not a hands-on verdict.

What it is

The Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 (model 14101550) is a freestanding propane cooker that the listing positions as three tools in one: a smoker, a roaster and a gas grill. Its signature job is oil-less roasting. Instead of lowering a bird into several gallons of hot oil the way a classic turkey fryer does, this unit surrounds the food with infrared heat inside an enclosed cooking chamber. The same cabinet is then marketed for low and slow smoking and for open grilling, depending on the mode and the accessories you use. In plain terms, it is a propane TRU-Infrared cooker designed to roast a whole turkey without oil and to double as a smoker and grill for the rest of the year.

The oil-less angle is the reason most people look at this cooker. Deep-frying a turkey produces a famously good result, but it also means heating and later disposing of a large volume of oil, and managing the well-known risk of an oil fire. The Big Easy aims at the same crispy, roasted outcome using radiant heat instead, which changes the cleanup and the handling even before you weigh the taste.

Key features per the listing

Here is what the product listing and manufacturer description claim. None of this is a measurement we took; it is the published spec sheet, summarized honestly.

• 3-in-1 design. Marketed to smoke, roast and grill from one unit, which is the core selling point and the reason it carries three names.
• TRU-Infrared heat. Char-Broil's infrared system is described as cooking with radiant heat, which the brand links to more even results and fewer dry spots and flare-ups than a bare open flame.
• Oil-less roasting. The roaster cooks a whole bird with no cooking oil, the feature that separates it from a traditional deep fryer.
• Propane fueled. It runs on a standard propane tank, which is sold separately and is not part of the box.
• Whole-turkey capacity. The listing describes room inside the chamber for a whole holiday turkey. Confirm the exact weight rating on the current listing so it matches the size of bird you plan to cook.
• Smoker box. A smoker box is part of the system for adding wood smoke flavor during a cook.
• Grill grate accessory. A grill grate lets the same unit act as an open grill rather than only an enclosed roaster.
• Porcelain cooking chamber. The cooking chamber carries a porcelain-coated finish, which the listing frames as easier to wipe down after use.
• Black finish, model 14101550. Sold in black under that model number, which is worth quoting when you compare listings so you do not mix it up with other Big Easy variants.

Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 Smoker, Roaster and Gas Grill

Propane TRU-Infrared cooker that the listing says roasts a whole turkey without oil and also works as a smoker and an open grill.

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Who it is for

This cooker reads as a strong fit for a specific shopper rather than a universal grill. It suits the cook who wants a holiday turkey with that roasted, crisp-skin finish but does not want to manage gallons of hot frying oil. It suits an outdoor cook who would rather own one versatile propane unit than a separate fryer, smoker and grill. And it suits households already set up for propane, since the fuel and the tank handling will feel familiar.

It is a weaker fit if you have no outdoor space, since it is strictly an outdoor appliance, or if you only ever cook small portions and would not use the whole-bird capacity. It is also a weaker fit for someone who specifically wants the deep, hours-long bark of a dedicated charcoal or pellet smoker, because smoking here is one mode of a multi-tool rather than the single purpose the machine was built for.

Strengths on paper

Several listed strengths stand out when you read the specifications rather than cook on them. Oil-less roasting is the headline: on paper it removes the stored oil, the heavy pot and the disposal step, which also removes the most dangerous part of a traditional turkey fry. The TRU-Infrared system is marketed for even heat, which in principle helps a large bird cook through without scorching the skin. Versatility is real value too, because a single propane body that smokes, roasts and grills can replace a shelf of single-use gear and takes up less storage. Finally, propane means quick startup and steady fuel compared with lighting and tending charcoal.

Things to check before you buy

Because this review is spec-based, the honest move is to flag what you should confirm for yourself rather than assume.

• Outdoor use only. This is a propane appliance and must be used outdoors with proper clearance from walls, eaves and anything that can burn.
• Propane tank is separate. Budget and plan for a tank and the fittings, since the listing sells the cooker, not the fuel.
• Capacity versus your bird. Check the stated weight rating against the turkey you actually buy, especially around the holidays when birds run large.
• Modes may need accessories. Smoking and grilling rely on parts such as the smoker box and grill grate, so confirm what is included versus what is extra.
• Weather and wind. Propane cooking outdoors is affected by cold and wind, which can change heat-up time and cook times.
• Cleaning the chamber. A porcelain chamber is meant to wipe down, but any roaster that handles a whole bird will need regular cleaning to stay in good shape.

How it compares

It helps to place this cooker against the two things buyers usually weigh it against. Compared with a traditional oil deep fryer, the Big Easy trades the submerged-oil method for infrared roasting. You give up the exact texture some fry loyalists chase, and you gain a safer, far less messy process with no oil to heat, store or discard. Compared with a dedicated pellet or charcoal smoker, the Big Easy is a generalist. A pellet smoker will usually give you deeper, more controllable smoke over long cooks, while the Big Easy offers smoke as one capability inside a unit that also roasts a holiday turkey and grills a weeknight dinner. If oil-less whole-bird roasting is your main goal and smoking is a bonus, the 3-in-1 design makes sense; if long-session smoke flavor is the priority, a purpose-built smoker is the more focused tool. None of this is a scored test; it is a straight reading of what each type of cooker is designed to do.

Verdict

On the specifications alone, the Char-Broil Big Easy TRU-Infrared 3-in-1 is a sensible pick for the cook who wants roasted, oil-less turkey plus flexible outdoor cooking from one propane unit, and a poor pick for someone chasing only deep-smoke results or working without outdoor space. The real decision comes down to how much you value skipping the oil and owning one versatile body over owning separate specialist tools. If that tradeoff fits your kitchen, you can review current details and the full specification for the Char-Broil Big Easy on Amazon and match the capacity to your needs before buying.

Safety note

This is a propane appliance intended for outdoor use only. Keep safe clearances from structures and anything combustible, never operate it indoors or in an enclosed space, and follow the manufacturer manual for assembly, fuel connection and operation. The information here is general and editorial, not a substitute for the product manual or professional safety guidance.

Disclosure: This article is reader-supported. If you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It is editorial and based on the product listing and public manufacturer information, not on hands-on cooking.