The Sear Zone's special ceramic burner preheats to over 1,400 degrees in about 4 minutes and flash - caramelizes food, locking in juices and flavor, while the unique U-grate catches food drippings, instantly vaporizing them to create flavor-enhancing smoke. The intense, highly directional heat quickly creates beautiful grill marks and is capable of completely cooking almost any food from vegetables to steaks. Or, sear the item for 2-3 minutes per side, then transfer to the standard burner of your Alfresco grill to finish.