Is there anybody who doesn’t love food fresh off the grill? From burgers to kebabs and everything in between, a grill is a must-have for any food lover, and an electric grill can help you good healthy, flavorful grilled foods inside or outside your home.
Expert BioExpert Bio
Jim’s experience in outdoors projects in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges spans four decades. A do-it-yourself guy at heart, Jim has worked with, rebuilt, and led maintenance on a variety of lawn and garden products over his career include riding tractors, lawn mowers, push mowers, and commercial lawn mowers. Jim is well-versed in fleet management and maintenance operations as well. Jim’s past experiences also include distinguished service as an officer in the US Army.
Find out about Our Favorite Electric Grills Below.
GC70 OptiGrill Electric Grill
T-fal’s electric grill has a unique cooking style, adapting to the thickness of foods to make them perfectly every time. Automatic cooking programs and two cooking modes help you heat up anything.
Our testers found this electric grill from T-fal quite easy to clean with its removable non-stick plates. T
The tight lid may cause some foods to overcook.
15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill
George Foreman has made a name for himself with his grills and it's not hard to see why with this 15-serving appliance offering adjustable temperature control and moisture control of foods.
The removable stand on the Foreman makes it easy to take this grill outside or bring it inside and use on a counter as desired.
The non-stick coating tends to chip away with repeated use.
Variable heat controls and cool-touch handles make the Zojirushi indoor electric grill an easy to use option for those seeking a healthier way to cook.
The Zojirushi grill easy to disassemble for cleaning and enjoyed the fact that the drip pan was dishwasher safe.
One issue with the Zojirushi grill it takes a while to heat up compared to similar grills.
When it comes to family gatherings and parties, a grill is a must-have; there’s nothing quite like a burger or a hot dog fresh from the grill! However, whether due to bad weather or lack of outdoor space, an outdoor grill is not always possible. Luckily, there is a solution for those who love that freshly grilled taste: electric grills.
Electric grills are mostly similar to traditional wood-burning or gas grills, with the significant difference of being powered by electricity. There are four types of electric grills that you can choose from:
This type of electric grill is similar to most traditional outdoor grills, except that you need to have an electric outlet or at least an extension cord nearby to power the grill. You won’t need to spend a lot of time and effort heating up the grill; simply switch on the unit and the machine will do the rest. Since it does not burn wood or gas, it is also more environmentally-friendly to use.
There are several reasons why you should consider using an indoor electric grill other than bad weather or the lack of an outdoor grilling space. If you are living in an apartment building, the rules might state that you cannot grill food outside. Also, indoor electric grills are designed to heat up quickly, so you can cook your food more easily. What’s more, you will have easier access to a power outlet since you are already inside your home. Some models even have removable plates, making it easier to clean up the grill after you use it.
Electric griddles are smooth and flat, and will not drain excess oil or fat from your food. Thus, they are well-suited to specific food items such as pancakes, eggs, or English muffins, rather than oily food items such as steak, sausages, or chicken. If you love eating breakfast items, an electric griddle would be a great addition to your kitchen!
Since most electric grills don’t produce smoke, you might miss that smoky flavor that you get from traditional grills. Using an electric smoker might help you with that problem. Electric smokers cook food items slowly over a low heat, which helps tenderize the food, especially if you are cooking meat or fish. The slow cooking process and low heat also allow you to use liquid smoke, which can create that smoky flavor you’ve been looking for, even without using a traditional grill. Electric smokers can come in wildly different prices, from basic models going for less than $100 to high-end models that can cost around $500.
There are both pros and cons to using electric grills. First, the pros:
Of course, there are also cons, such as:
Here are some of the factors that you should consider when choosing the right electric grill for you:
How Much Space Do I Have?
Electric grills can come in a wide range of sizes, from small personal grills (such as the famous George Foreman grill), to large grills suitable for making group meals. If you have a large kitchen or even a small garden, a medium to large electric grill can be a good choice.
How Many People Am I Cooking for?
You don’t want to keep on grilling several batches if you’re cooking for a large number of people. Conversely, you don’t want a huge grill if you’re only going to cook regularly for yourself and some friends. If you’re mainly going to use the electric grill for personal use, go for a small personal model such as the Calphalon 5-in-1 Removable Plate Grill, as it can also function as a personal electric griddle. On the other hand, if you’re a regular party host, the Char-Broil TRY Infrared Patio Bistro Electric Grill can cook up to 12 burgers at a time.
What Is My Budget?
As with all kitchen devices, the more expensive your grill, the bigger and more features it will have!
