Based on our testing, Breville's The Smart Grill is our top pick for indoor cooking. The sleek-looking George Foreman grill has several features that make grilling an enjoyable experience. During our tests, we found the grill easy to set up and simple to use. But 15 servings, as the company markets this grill, is stretching it, she says, finding it closer to six portions, tops. Even heating and truly nonstick plates make the multiuse Breville The Smart Grill (view at Amazon) is your best bet indoors. Our testers also observed that though the gauge was set to 400 F, we got thermometer readings of up to 480 F in certain spots on the grill itself. The fuel will burn as your food cooks, and the smoke given off will make your meal that much more flavorful. Still, this nonstick quality, in addition to the metal grill pan lifting off easily from the grill base and pedestal, made it relatively easy to clean (though it is far too big to fit into a standard sink, so you have to wash it gingerly). It didn't perform as well with chicken breasts, with the tester noting that raised grates might've worked better in that experiment. Smoke aside, this grill is a solid option for the price. "The burgers were definitely juicy and tasted lightly of a grilled flavornot as strong as an outdoor grill, but also there was no smoke!" ", Cast iron cooking grates help retain heat. When you're done, the lid does come off for a wash in warm, soapy water, and the grill plate can go in the dishwasher. The extra-large, removable drip tray is almost the whole width of the grill, so you can be sure that there won't be any mess. George Foreman GFO240S Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill, Presto 09020 Cool Touch Electric Indoor Grill, George Foreman GGR50B Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill, Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with Air Fry. Youll want to keep in mind how many people youre cooking for. In such situations, an electric grill is the best option. Thats not all. "I kept the window open each time I used it, and initially I was worried it would set off the smoke detector, but there was hardly any smoke at all." In other words, you can do the cooking with infrared. "The flavor of the zucchini was more of a roasted flavor versus a char-like flavor from a traditional grill," our home cook explained. However, the PowerXL Smokeless Grill promises to solve this common kitchen woe, thanks to its built-in smoke-extracting fan, making it great for grilling indoors. We ran tests on all the settings each grill had in order to accurately gauge both the appliance's heat level and how evenly it cooked. The chicken was very tender, juicy, and flavorful, which I was amazed by with such simple seasoning. She travels the world seeking out food, adventure, wellness, and culture. Donna Currie, Product Tester. Read reviews and buy the best smokeless grills from top manufacturers including Hamilton, George Foreman, Philips, and more. Camryn Rabideau is a product tester and writer for The Spruce Eats, and she's written dozens of pieces on all types of grills. But because plant-based burgers lack the fat content of their meat-based counterparts, there wasn't much fat for the grill to drain away, which is one of its biggest selling points. Its porcelain-coated grates are rust-resistant and you can clean them easily. We also like that it heats up in just a few minutes and is easy to put togetherjust four pieces. Plus, its relatively portable and easy to store and clean. Size impacts not just how much you can cook at once, but also how easily you can transport the grill or store it away. There is zero grill flavor, and they're semi-juicy if not overcooked. You also dont get the authentic grand aroma of grilled chicken, which you get while cooking with charcoal and gas grills. Its handle is large. Dimensions: 18.43 x 11.25 x 2.18 inches | Cooking Area: 160 square inches | Power: 1300 watts | Use: Indoor, "It's very light, very thin, and very easy to store. The electric grill is in vogue for the last few years. Ariane Resnick, Product Tester, Materials: Brushed stainless steel, nonstick cast aluminum plates | Dimensions: 16.7 x 14 x 5 inches | Cooking Area: 260 square inches | Wattage: 1800 watts | Use: Indoor, What We Love: Nonstick surface, grill pan is easily removable from base, great for cooking fatty meat, What We Don't Love: Not actually for 15 servings of food, no smoky flavor, large footprint. It comes in an aesthetically beautiful stainless steel design and measures about 14 x 17 inches. It heats up in minutes and while it isnt as smokeless as it claims to be, I like that its lightweight, easy to put together, and doesnt take up a lot of space." And, there is enough prep and storage space. Along this journey, we will also see their features, advantages, and disadvantages. If youll be grilling indoors, choose a grill that can live on your counter as well as your deck. Before you decide which one is for you, there are several factors to consider. To clean an electric grill, start by unplugging it and allowing the grates to cool down. It also has temperature control, which is adjustable with five options to choose from. So, the main thing what you need to understand is using an electric grill you may not get the required heat, which makes the cooking time longer. One of the major problems with grilling indoors is that it can create quite a bit of smoke, setting off your fire alarmand no one wants to deal with that! For grills with cast iron grates, use a wire brush to remove particles as needed, and wash with soap and water, drying thoroughly after. In testing this grill, there was a fair amount of smoke produced as our home cook grilled up burger patties, buns, chicken breasts, and sliced zucchini. Her only complaints: The loud beeping when the grill heats and when it gets up to temperature. All seven slices of white bread toasted evenly to a nice golden brown with picture-perfect grill marks. When our team tested the GFO240S in the Lab, the consistency among the tests stood out. What do you do? These Are the Best Indoor Grills and Sandwich Presses to Have at Home, The Best Smokeless Grills, Tested by Our Experts, The Best Small Grills That Deliver Big Flavor, The Best Portable Gas Grills for Your Next Adventure, The 9 Best Weber Grills, Tested by Our Experts, The Best Portable Grills When Youre on the Move, The Best Charcoal Grills for Delicious Outdoor Cooking, We Tested the Best Inexpensive Pellet Grills for Your Next Barbecue, The Best Kamado Grills for Every Grilling and Smoking Need, The Best Grills for Tailgating That Are Lightweight and Powerful, We Tested the Best Pizza Ovens for Your Next Pizza Night, The Best Flat-Top Grills for Al Fresco Breakfast and Dinner, The Best Food Dehydrators, Tested by Our Experts, The 7 Best Camping Grills for Your Outdoor Adventures, The Best Grills You Can Buy at Walmart Right Now. The grill needs to preheat for about 20 minutes, but once hot, the food cooks fairly quickly. Siobhan is a freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. "As I suspected, its really a meat eaters appliance," she added. You can raise veristand model up to your chest. The testers also cleaned each one repeatedly to observe ease of cleaning. Though it is not at par with its strong cousins such as charcoal and gas grills in terms of cooking power and grill, it certainly has the capacity to provide you with the decent meal depending on the type of grill you have. George Foreman, Silver, 12+ Servings Upto 15 Cuisinart CEG-980T Outdoor Electric Tabletop Char-Broil 17602047 Infrared Electric Patio Breville BGR820XL Smart Grill, Electric Countertop Kenyon B70082 Floridian All Seasons Portable 11 Best Small Grills of 2022 (for Apartments, Balconies & Rooftops), 5 Best Rotisserie Grills [BBQ Grill Attachment], 11 Best Smokeless Grills of 2022 (Indoor, Outdoor & Electric BBQ), 3 Best Yakitori Grills of 2022 [Ranked & Reviewed], 8 Best Tailgate Grills of 2022 | Reviewed & Rated, 11 Best Gas Charcoal Combo Grills of 2022 [Dual Fuel Grill Reviews], 5 Best Flat Top Grills of 2022 | Reviewed & Rated, 1560-watt electric heating element to heat 280 square-inch total cooking area, Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body. Yakitori grills offer street food-style seared meats, all from the comfort and convenience of your own backyard. Our home testers judged our top picks on how easy it was to use and clean, the product's temperature range and any special features, and if it was worth the price. The titanium-infused plates are extremely durable and can be placed in the dishwasher afterward. Finally, it's not easy to clean: You must unscrew parts to access the interior to clean up drippings to prevent grease flare ups. Part of the reason is that the grilling surface is nonstick: "You can effect grill marks on either meat or non-meat products, but they're mostly cosmetic, and not because the cooking surface really seared the food surface at high heat or because the food stuck and developed that necessary 'burned' surface," our tester notes. The temperature controller allows for more precise cooking, and overall the food was cooked evenly and developed those really nice classic grill marks. Planning to do most of your grilling indoors? George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill, Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill, The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Voltage- 110-120Volts,1800 watt embedded heating design. In the Lab, our testers did observe some uneven heating, with more heating consistency on the back and center of the grill. Cleanup is easy too. That uniform grilling and well-defined grill marks continued when we tested strips of fresh zucchini and a flank steak, with neither test producing extreme amounts of setting-off-the-fire-alarm smoke. When it comes to heating time, it takes around 20 minutes. Will you curtail your desire of having grilled chicken temporarily? The grilled chicken breasts were juicy and moist, and the zucchini was tender and had a nice smoky flavor. George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill, Best Budget: It also has a setting for keeping your food warm. As a home appliance, however, even for a larger family who wants to do a bunch of burgers at once, it's probably still too big and more trouble than it's worth to use and store indoors. Theres also a dishwasher-safe drip tray that collects excess grease, but keep in mind that the grill plate is not removable. And, the side handles are ergonomic. Unsubscribe at anytime. Kenyon Floridian Electric Grill. Want all the fun of cooking outdoors in a portable, easy to use form? Some electric grills are designed for just one or two people, while others are large enough to cook a meal for the whole family. Another note is that our home tester is vegetarian, so she cooked several types of veggie burgers, including Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, and Lightlife patties, as well as Beyond Brats in lieu of chicken. It was also confusing initially to figure out how to lay it flat," she says. If you want a freestanding electric grill, you cant go wrong with the George Foreman GFO240S Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill. The patties cooked evenly, with no hot or cold spots, though she notes that the burger buns toasted more evenly on the griddle side. It has a good 240 sq. Will you stop going on camping? Some electric grills have nonstick grill tops making clean-up a breeze. Once the burgers were done, they observed if there were grill marks and how juicy the final burgers came out. Our testers found that it felt a little unstable during all the tests, though it ultimately didn't break or fall off the stand. Most people think of outdoor cooking when it comes to grilling, but some electric grills can be used indoors, toowhich is great when the weather isnt cooperative, or you need to stir a risotto on the stove and have a steak on the grill. our process. Electric grills are great for making hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, and grilled vegetables, but depending on the grill you have, there might not be as much room for liquids to drain, so use marinades and dressings sparingly. The hot spots did translate to a little bit more golden coloring on our toast and a tiny bit more caramelization on our flank steak and chicken breast. Breville BGR820XL The Smart Grill. This tabletop model has a 1560-watt heating element and 189 square inches of cooking area, as well as a 6-foot grounded cord. You can infuse your barbecue with a smoky flavor by heating wood chips on the grate while cooking. This electric grill features infrared technology that heats food directly to minimize hot spots, and it has 240 square inches of primary cooking space to hold around eight to 12 burgers at a time. Now, let us have look at the five best electric grills available in the market. There's an additional removable warming rack for a total of 320 square inches of cooking space. 5 inches and comes with a folding table top 240 Square inch grilling surface with 80 Square inch warming rack- 8 to 12 hamburger capacity. Devorah Lev-Tov, Product Tester, Materials: Cast iron grates, cast aluminum body, stainless steel burners, plastic legs | Dimensions: 14.5 x 31.5 x 19.5 inches | Cooking Area: 280 square inches | Power: 1560 watts/20 volts | Use: Outdoor, What We Love: Leaves nice sear marks, burger patties and chicken turned out juicy and tender, drip pan is disposable, What We Don't Love: Heavy, large footprint, noticeable hot spots, food had roasted versus char-grilled flavor, The Kenyon Floridian grill is a nice choice for those who know how to utilize hot spots on a traditional grill to their advantage. Also, assume you are living in an apartment or condo where the open flames are not permitted. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best They tasted no more 'grilled' than they do when otherwise pan-cooked or broiled." During her apartment-living days, she relied on a small electric George Foreman grill to get her grilling fix in the summer, even though she only had a small balcony to cook on. If your grill is on the lesser end, its less likely to give your food those desirable grill lines. However, it has the capacity to provide a decent meal depending on the type. The 280-square-inch grill has a 6-foot grounded cord that connects to a temperature controller. Grilling on an electric grill wont win a low-and-slow barbecue competition, but for people who live in apartments or dont have easy access to outdoor spaces (or just want an easy way to grill proteins and veggies without the smoke or fire), there are several standout grills worthy of your consideration. The Breville smart grill is an attractive stainless steel patio grill. What do you do in that situation? Thankfully, this model has a window in the lid so you can monitor the food's progress while keeping all the smoke away from any sensitive alarms. This option comes with a ceramic nonstick grill plate, and the heating element can produce temperatures up to 450 F. You'll know when the grill's ready by a green light. "Im still running my exhaust fan as I type, with my back door and windows open to air out the house," she says. Ariane's work has been covered by outlets including CBS' The Dr.s, Forbes, Well + Good, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Hallmark Home and Family, and more. They are actually facts, which you need to keep in mind before going for an electric grill. Once you learn its quirks, it can grill up whatever you want with appetizing grill marks, as we found with our steak and chicken tests. Its no surprise that Weber, the king of charcoal grills, also reigns supreme when it comes to electric grills. Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill, Upgrade Your BBQ With the Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill, Best Indoor: Dimensions: 16.73 x 12.4 x 6.81 inches | Cooking Area: 118 square inches | Power: 1200 watts | Use: Indoor, "This cooks things on the lighter lower end, so the resulting food is less caramelized, but the food is relatively consistent, and it looks OK on the counter. This piece was updated by six of our writers, all of whom specialize in various food and kitchen topics, and all have written several pieces for Simply Recipes. TheOnlineGrill.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer. They took note of how well these grills cooked beef burger patties or meat substitute patties, burger buns, boneless chicken breast, and a batch of vegetables to grill. Perhaps it's time to look at electric grills. Simply Recipes uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. productslearn more about Megan duBois, Product Tester, Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 21 x 12 x 7.3 inches | Cooking Area: 155 square inches | Wattage: 1300 watts | Use: Outdoor. This does come with a specially designed spatula that doubles as a scraper if anything does get stuck on. If high-heat cooking is important to you, look for grills that can provide that heat reliably. Tabletop models tend to be smaller but, if you get one of the standing grills that can be used outside, youll likely get more cooking space, too. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. This electric grill delivers 1750 watts of power and plugs into a standard outlet. inches grilling space though it is a bit less when compared to Weber Q 2400. Most electric grills are around 1000 watts and can go up to about 1,700. Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a freelance writer, editor, and former New Yorker based in sunny Panama City Beach, Florida. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-electric-grill/. The Simply Recipes A-Z Guide to Cooking Terms and Definitions, George Foreman's 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill, Cuisinart CEG-980T Outdoor Electric Tabletop Grill (view at Amazon), Nutrient composition of a selection of plant-based ground beef alternative products available in the United States. Get easy-to-follow, delicious recipes delivered right to your inbox. It doesnt need any assembly. In terms of performance, the burger patties, buns, and broccolini our home cook grilled turned out perfectly. It left nice grill marks on everything we tested and we didnt find any hot spots. The "smart" part of this grill is the technology inside the heating element that helps to keep the temperature even on the nonstick grates. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Electric grills tend to be more portable than their gas and charcoal counterparts and are easier to set up and clean, making them ideal for those living in apartments or other small spaces. The nonstick grates sit directly on top of the heating element, which allows the grate to get hot, but there are noticeable hot spots on the grill, particularly in the areas where the heating element turns to make the coil, our home cook found. ", Removable, nonstick grates are simple to clean. The power requirement is 1,560 watts /120 Volts. Harnack L, Mork S, Valluri S, et al. The Char-Broil 17602047 Infrared Electric Patio Bistro is a kind of odd man out among the peers because of its unique infrared feature. Our home tester said this electric grill has a small learning curve if you're switching from charcoal or gas grilling, but overall, controlling this device was pretty intuitive. Additionally, TheOnlineGrill.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 5 inches | Cooking Area: 260 square inches | Power: 1800 watts | Use: Indoor, "The grill produces nicely caramelized and well-cooked meat.". "If you keep it on low, the burgers sit there and sort of 'bake' instead of grilling. After cooking, the patties turned out juicy, "but there was no distinguishable grill flavor," says our tester. If you're looking for a larger electric grill, Weber also has the Q 2400, which boasts 280 square inches of cooking space for a slightly higher price. Bob Vila. apartment balcony fire grill It's even smart enough to quickly react to temperature drops. One more important point is they dont get the authentic grand aroma, which comes out while cooking with charcoal and gas grills. Yes, but its important they do not smoke. And finally, while electric grills are easy to maintain, dishwasher-safe parts and removable drip pans make cleanup easier. This electric grill has a 250-square inch cooking surface; however, it has a single burner. This grill is so portable that you can even pack it up and carry it with you. The Cuisinart CEG 980T Outdoor Tabletop Grill is also one among the best portable electric grills. There was also some inconsistency with grill marks (it doesn't achieve the high temperature necessary for true sear marks). With all those in mind, we researched the best electric grills on the market and sent them to several home cooks to put to the test. The top plate is not only height-adjustable; it can also be flipped completely open. Those are the areas where more caramelization and searing occurred, though everything that was grilled cooked up nicely. When youre all done eating your burgers, veggies, or whatever you choose to grill up, anything thats removable is safe to put in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. But, here too open flames are not permitted. Our suggestion: Take George outside instead. Speaking of temperatures, unlike many on this list, the Breville has a digital display so you can set it with accuracy up to 450 F, and it has a preheating countdown clock, which means you can set it and go back to chopping. Dimensions: 26 x 38.5 x 24.2 inches | Cooking Area: 320 square inches | Power: 1750 watts | Use: Outdoor, "While its not quite the same as a dedicated smoker, we thought this grill worked surprisingly well; because the smoke is closer to the food, its a very efficient system." But not all of us have room to take on a huge charcoal or gas grill. It can get up to 600 degrees in about 10 minutes, but it weighs 24 pounds, which is heavier than it sounds because youre carrying this around your kitchen or back patio to find a spot to put it. But heres the thing: A lot of electric grills are cheap, unreliable, and just plain unpleasant to use. For people living in apartments and condos, cooking grilled chicken is not permitted in their balconies or courtyards. Devorah has lived in Brooklyn since 2006. It is one of the best combo (indoor and outdoor) grills, which provides you with many features including the removable pedestal and tabletop grilling. Some of these grills are small enough to use on the countertop while others have stands making them easy to use outside in, lets say, a parking lot for tailgating, without having to bend over or risk stepping on it. Who else recommends it? "For the price, this is a solid option. Overall, our home reviewer was incredibly happy with the sleek design and performance of this electric grill, saying that its ideal for those looking to save space and that its cast-iron grates deliver beautiful sear marks. Weighing only around 5 pounds, it doesnt take up too much space while still offering 160 square inches of cooking area. There's also the wattage: The higher it is, the more likely you'll get those great sear marks and caramelization. The fact that most of the pieces are dishwasher-safe is also a plusno need to soak and scrub the grease away. Weber Q2400 is one of the top electric grills that are available in the market. It's been a lifesaver for him to be able to grill his meat on the balcony due to his wife being a lifelong vegetarian.