Why a Gas Grill Isn’t Enough: Upgrade to Wood-Fired Grilling

Introduction

While a large griddle for gas grill adds cooking flexibility, gas grills themselves come with serious flavor limitations. Gas burners typically reach a max of 450°F—not nearly hot enough to develop the coveted Maillard crust on steaks or burgers. That Maillard reaction, which kicks in above 500°F, is what creates that charred, caramelized exterior that steakhouse aficionados crave. Gas simply can’t get you there.

Wood-fired grilling—especially on an Arteflame—takes things to the next level. Cooking over real wood delivers unique flavor compounds that gas can’t replicate. Foods like perfectly seared ribeyes, gourmet smash burgers, lamb chops, and thick-cut pork steaks achieve restaurant-level taste when grilled over solid hardwood at blazing temperatures. Arteflame grills heat to 1,000°F, allowing you to sear meats instantly on the center and then finish them gently on the plancha. That’s something no standard gas grill can ever achieve.

Wood-Fired Grilling Advantages

If you're already using a gas grill, adding a wood-fired grill like the Arteflame opens up a whole new world of outdoor cooking possibilities. Here’s why serious grillers are adding Arteflame to their lineup:

1. Flavor That Gas Can’t Match

Wood-fired cooking uses hardwoods like oak, cherry, mesquite, or hickory. These woods infuse your food with unique, smoky flavor profiles that elevate even simple ingredients. Gas, on the other hand, is clean-burning—which means clean-tasting. No matter how large the griddle is for your gas grill, it can't replicate that deep, earthy char that only wood can provide.

2. Higher Heat = Better Searing

Serious searing starts at 700°F and above—territory gas grills struggle to reach. Arteflame wood-fired grills reach an astonishing 1,000°F in the center, allowing you to:

• Instantly caramelize the surface of steaks, locking in juices
• Achieve the Maillard reaction more efficiently for restaurant-quality flavor
• Get crispy skin on chicken or seafood quickly without overcooking the inside

Once the meat is seared, move it to the outer cooktop—a signature plancha that offers more gentle heat, perfect for finishing thicker cuts or toasting buns.

3. Dual-Zone Cooking Versatility

Arteflame grills feature a center fire pit surrounded by a circular carbon steel plancha. This layout automatically separates cooking zones by temperature. You can sear a filet mignon in the center, slide it to the edge to finish, and sauté vegetables all at once—no lid needed.

4. Visual Appeal and Social Experience

Unlike gas grills that push you to the corner of the patio, the Arteflame's open-fire design creates a gathering space. Watching flames dance and hearing the sizzle of food on steel is part of the experience. It's a centerpiece—not just a cooking tool.

5. Built for Year-Round Use

Arteflame grills are crafted from durable Corten steel that weathers beautifully while resisting corrosion. Whether in summer or in snow, your grill is always ready. The plancha even doubles as a warming surface for mugs on chilly days.

6. Combines With Your Gas Grill

Already own a gas grill with a large griddle? That’s great for quick pancakes or stir-fry. But when it's time to wow your guests with flame-seared tomahawks, mesquite-kissed salmon, or cast-iron skillet sides cooked over real embers, your Arteflame becomes the hero. It doesn’t replace your gas grill—it enhances your outdoor culinary range.

7. Healthier Cooking

With no flare-ups like you get with gas chicken cooking, the plancha surface allows for more controlled, even cooking. Less charring and fewer burnt spots mean better flavor and fewer carcinogens formed by flare-ups.

8. More Cooking Real Estate

The wide ring of the Arteflame enables multiple dishes to be cooked simultaneously, without a stack of upper warming racks or crowded burners. Grill meats, veggies, crusty bread, and seafood all at once—perfect for weekend entertaining.

9. Low Maintenance

The Arteflame’s steel surfaces season like cast iron. The more you use them, the better they get. When you’re done cooking, scrape the surface and apply a bit of oil. That’s it. No burner tubes to clean or propane tanks to swap.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to take your grilling to truly professional levels, adding a wood-fired grill is the best move you can make. Your gas grill is great for convenience—but real flavor, high-heat searing, and versatile cooking zones only come from cooking with fire. With its gorgeous design, unmatched performance, and ability to reach searing temperatures up to 1,000°F, the Arteflame grill is in a league of its own.

100% made in the USA, Arteflame grills are built to last a lifetime, turning every meal into an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re searing steaks, toasting sourdough, or sizzling cast-iron creations, Arteflame delivers that authentic wood-fired taste you'd expect from a fine-dining steakhouse—right in your backyard.