With the best electric grills, the fun and flavor don’t have to end when the weather outside becomes unfavorable. Neither should it stop when you move into an apartment that doesn’t allow charcoal or gas grilling. Enter electric gas grills. But how do you buy the best electric grill?
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Electric grills push BBQ to the next level. In fact, no other cooking appliance can whip up burgers, hotdogs, and steaks faster than an electric grill.
No coals are involved here; just plug it into a power outlet to heat it up, and you are good to go. But the best part is that you don’t have to be a pitmaster to produce excellent barbecue. If you are hungry for more, you are in good hands.
Jump to read about the best electric grill by category:
- George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill – Best Overall Grill
- Hamilton Beach – Best Value for Money
- Zojirushi EB-CC15 – Best Indoor Grill
- Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 Countertop Grill – Most Versatile Grill
- Cuisinart Electric Griddler – Best Indoor Griddle
- Kenyon B70082 Floridian – Best Premium Small Grill
- T-Fal GC7 Opti-Grill – Best Grill for Rookies
- Power XL – Best Smokeless Grill
- Weber Q 2400 – Best Portable Grill
- Meco Tabletop 9210 – Best Table Top Grill
- Fire Magic E250s – Best High Power Grill
The Best Electric Grill (Reviewed for Fast Flavor)
Just like with charcoal or gas grills, there are lots of options when it comes to electric grills. And this can be overwhelming, making it hard to choose one that really suits you.
We did the heavy lifting and reviewed the best electric grills to help you make the right choice.
1. George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill – Best Overall Grill
If you love entertaining your friends and family, the legendary George Foreman grill is your best bet. This grill comes with everything you need to grill with a pitmaster’s proficiency.
Being electric means George Foreman is good indoors as it is in the outdoors. The weather shouldn’t cut your outdoor grilling experience; just remove the stand and transport it indoors for countertop grilling.
Talking about grilling, it offers you a decent 240 sq. inches of a circular cooking area, allowing you to whip up, up to 15 servings at a time. And don’t forget, you will enjoy easy cleanups, thanks to the nonstick cooking surface.
The heating element here blasts 1600 watts and evenly distributes heat across the grill. You get a heat range of between 250 and 500 degrees. Foreman gives you a temperature control knob with five heat settings so you can easily set the desired temperature for your cooking.
2. Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Grill – Best Value for Money
Are you looking for a high heat option without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Hamilton Beach. This grill gives you a temperature range of 200-450 degrees.
The Hamilton Beach is quite easy to use. For example, the indicator light turns on once the grill fully preheats. The grill gives you 118 sq. of the nonstick cooking surface that can grill for up to 6 people.
Cleaning is a breeze. The large drip tray collects all the excess juices and grease. What’s more, the grill grates, drip tray, and hood are dishwasher safe. But the grill cover is best hand-washed.
With the Hamilton Beach, your best grilling days extend beyond summer. Enjoy restaurant-level foods right in your own condo.
3. Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill – Best Indoor Grill
The Zojirushi EB-CC15 features a flat grilling surface suitable for a kitchen countertop. This 1300 watt indoor unit is ideal for grilling vegetables, seafood, steaks, and much more.
It comes with a big enough coated, nonstick cooking surface (approximately 20-by-14-inch footprint) suitable for all types of cooking.
A variable heat control knob allows you to adjust cooking temperatures all the way from 176 to 410 degrees to suit your cooking needs. Thanks to the grill design, all the excess oils and fats are directed into the drip pan for better food results.
Zojirushi does not take chances when it comes to safety. To that end, it has a safety feature that hinders power from reaching the appliance unless the cooking grid and the metal drip tray are in place. Also, you cannot remove the grid when the unit is running.
Weighing only 7 pounds, you can easily move the Zojirushi to your ideal grilling spot.
4. Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 Indoor Electric Countertop Grill – Best Versatile Grill
Ninja Foodi takes versatility to a whole new level. Their AG301 can roast, air fry, dehydrate and even bake without blinking.
It utilizes the revolutionary Cyclonic Grilling Technology that circulates 500 degrees of air around food for the perfect all-around sear, giving food the grill marks everyone loves.
The 10 inches nonstick, ceramic-coated cooking grate comfortably fits 4- 8 ounces burgers. You can also grill chicken, sausage, hamburgers, and steaks for all and sundry. Take some frozen fries and try the air fry function, and they will be char-grilled in just 25 minutes.
Grill with confidence with the Ninja Foodi thanks to the digital control panel that allows you to choose the cooking function, time, and the desired temperature range. This feature, coupled with the cool air zone and the splatter shield, allows total smoke-free cooking.
This one will make your indoor cooking a lot more fun than you ever imagined.
5. Cuisinart Electric Griddler – Best Indoor Griddle
With its five separate nonstick cooking spaces, the Cuisinart electric griddler will undoubtedly impress you and everyone you grill for.
You can churn some great sandwiches on the panini press or use it as a full grill to cook your burgers, steaks, and veggies. Or, use the full griddle to whip up some omelet or pancakes for breakfast. All you need to do is open the cover so that it takes a flat position. For quick eggs and bacon, you can use it as a half griddle.
The contact grill has 240 sq. inches of grilling area to cook your vegetables, meat slices, and hamburgers. With a temperature range of 175-450 degrees, you can explore different types of cooking. The user-friendly digital control will help set low temperatures for smoking or high temperatures for searing your steaks.
Both the nonstick cooking surfaces and the scrubbing tool are dishwasher safe, so cleaning will not be a hassle.
6. Kenyon B70082 Floridian – Best Premium Small Grill
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If you are looking for a powerful electric grill, you will be at home with the Kenyon B70082. Don’t be fooled by its looks; this is a mean grilling machine featuring a 1300 watt element that provides an impressive cooking temperature of 600 degrees in just 10 minutes.
The heating element stays hidden for flame-free, flare-ups-free, and smoke-free cooking. Kenyon throws in digital temperature control with 8 settings for perfect temperature every time.
It features a 155 sq. inches of grilling area, big enough to feel 2-3 hungry fellows. A top-quality nonstick material covers the cooking grates, which are directly attached to the heat source, allowing even heat distribution.
To clean it up, you only need to wipe it with a paper towel. But for a thorough cleaning, run the drip tray, griddle, and lid through a dishwasher.
7. T-Fal GC7 Opti-Grill Indoor Electric Grill – Best Grill for Rookies
The T-Fal GC7 will make things easy for you by eliminating all the guesswork in your cooking. Made with top craftsmanship, it offers convenience and versatility that only T-Fal can give.
If you want to enjoy some grilled food, but your BBQ experience is only knee-deep, T-Fal will save the day anytime. Just choose any of the 6 preset programs comprising burger, poultry, sandwiches, sausages, red meat, and fish. Once you place any of these foods on the grill, T-Fal will sense the thickness of the food and automatically cook it based on the program selected.
Your work is limited to preheating the grill, lowering the lid, then sitting back and letting the machine do what it does best: cook sumptuous meals.
The cooking level indicator shows the cooking progress and even alerts you when the food reaches your desired level of readiness. This unit also comes with a heating element with a grill power of 1800 watts. This guarantees quick heat-ups.
The T-Fal GC7’s removable drip collects all the oil drippings for seamless cleanup, and furthermore is dishwasher safe for total convenience.
8. Power XL Smokeless Indoor Grill – Best Smokeless Grill
A major turn-off with grilling indoors is smoke, which inadvertently switches on the fire alarm or triggers an asthma episode for grillers with asthma issues. But you can enjoy smokeless grilling with the Power XL Smokeless grill. Thanks to its unique design, all smoke is eliminated through its built-in smoke extracting fan.
The Power XL comes with a heating element that blasts 1500 watts of grill power, quickly heating up to 450 degrees. It offers a large, ceramic, nonstick 13-3/4 x 8-inch cooking area, big enough to handle 8 giant hamburgers, or 3 racks of ribs, in any weather, any time.
This grill gives you a flat griddle that is interchangeable with the grill surface for your breakfast needs, best for whipping up grilled paninis, pancakes, and eggs. When cooking, all the oil and fat drains into the removable drip tray.
With the LED smart temperature control, you can crank up the heat to sear your steaks on high heat or go low on your veggies. Want to know the best part? You can grill your frozen foods hassle-free. Plus, the silicon sealed glass allows you to monitor the cooking progress with ease.
The Power XL comes with fully removable, dishwasher-safe parts, adding efficiency to the entire grilling process.
9. Weber Q 2400 – Best Portable Grill
If you are always on the move, the Weber Q 2400 is one of the best electric grills for you. This grill offers 280 sq. inches of cooking surface that consists of two porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates.
Weber includes aluminum heat retention liners that retain heat and allow even heat distribution across the grilling surface so you can sear burgers and steaks, grill fish, chicken, fruits, and vegetables with ease. The removable grease pan collects all the grease every time.
Its heating element packs 1560 watts of grill power to give you enough heat to sear your steak or perfectly cook your fish.
This grill comes fully assembled so that it can get down to business right out of the box. Bring the Q 2400 along for your tailgating and camping adventures, and it will never disappoint.
10. Meco Tabletop Electric BBQ Grill 9210 – Best Table Top Grill
The Meco Tabletop Electric Grill comes with a 1500 watt UL and CUL-listed heat element and is compatible with any household outlet.
With a 164 sq. inches of cooking surface, Meco will comfortably grill, roast, and sear enough food for the family. It is advisable that you first preheat it for 10-15 minutes and then set the temperatures according to the type of food you want to cook.
You are guaranteed perfectly and evenly cooked food thanks to the reflector pan that radiates all the heat to the food as it cooks on the grilling surface. Nothing compares to the authentic taste of hotdogs and hamburgers grilled on a Meco.
At the back of the pedestal base is the grease cup that catches grease, allowing easy cleanups.
11. Fire Magic E250s Electric Grill – Best High Power Grill
After being in the business for over 80 years, you can expect nothing but the best from Fire Magic. And the Fire Magic E250s does not disappoint. This is a stainless steel-constructed unit that promises many days of excellent service.
The heating element offers a grill power of up to 1800 watts, delivering as much as 725 degrees of cooking temperature. The body comes triple-walled for maximum insulation, while the lid is double-walled for enhanced heat concentration, resulting in perfectly cooked food.
Here, you have 252 sq. inches of grilling area consisting of 16-gauge stainless steel flavor grids that allow even heat distribution for perfect cooking.
And thanks to the thermostatic control system, temperature control is a breeze. It keeps internal temps within 20 degrees of the desired cooking temperatures. And if you leave it open and unattended for long, it automatically shuts off after 2 hours. You will also find here a meat probe thermometer for keeping tabs on the internal cooking temperature. For easy cleaning, Fire Magic throws in a removable drip tray that catches all the juices and oils.
This grill will offer you timeless culinary companionship whether you use it in a condo, boat, or apartment balcony. The generous 10-year warranty is just a bonus.
Buying the Best Outdoor Electric Grill (Here’s What to Consider)
With the advent of technology, electric grills are quickly gaining traction as the grills of choice. If you are contemplating buying the best electric grill, here are a few factors you should keep in mind to make the right choice.
Size
To choose the right size, think about how you will be using the grill. Do you want to be feeding a large group of people, or is it just for the occasional use for a family breakfast?
Countertop models are suitable for cooking in a family setting. But if you plan to host cookouts, a grill with a larger cooking surface is necessary.
Heat Output
Heat output varies between different models. However, most electric grills have a heat output of above 350 degrees, which is enough to cook most types of food.
But there is a catch; most lower-priced models only have an on and off button. This means that you can’t control the temperature.
If you are willing to spend a little bit more, you can get models that come with temperature controls, monitors, and gauges and hit more than 650 degrees.
One thing that sets electric grills apart is the absence of cold and hot spots on the cooking surface. The grill maintains constant temperatures across the cooking surface, resulting in evenly and perfectly cooked food.
Cord Length
Obviously, you have to plug in an electric grill to work. To that end, think about how long the cord needs to be. If you will be using the grill indoors, a long cord may not be necessary. But if you plan to be grilling outdoors, a model will a longer cord will be preferable.
Cooking Grates
The construction material of your cooking grates will highly impact their performance. Stainless steel grates are the best due to their high heat retention properties. You, however, have to dig deeper for a grill with these grates.
Although cast iron grates are cheap, they still get the job done, hitting high temperatures in record time. But they will rust if you expose them to water.
Porcelain-enameled grates heat up relatively fast and have a longer shelf life than cast iron. If you opt for a grill with this grate, ensure to clean it with the right brushes to prevent the coating from chipping off.
Grills come configured for use with a single grate or multiple grates. Multiple grates can be used interchangeably with a griddle, allowing you to explore various menu capabilities.
Ease of Cleaning
Of course, you want a grill that’s easy to clean. Cast iron grates require quite a bit of work because they are sticky and leave food debris after cooking.
Porcelain-enameled grates are better, as they are nonstick, but will only last if you use the right brushes that will not scratch the nonstick surface.
Stainless steel wins the cleaning test any day. You can effortlessly clean them with just about anything without compromising their quality.
Stand or Cart
Some grills come fixed on a stand and are ideal for outdoor grilling. You will also find high-end models that come with a removable stand that’s easy to disassemble.
A grill with a rolling cart allows you to cook from any spot in your backyard due to easy maneuverability. On the other hand, some grills come with optional stands that will enable you to grill without the stand and only use it to bring convenience to your grilling.
Which Electric Grill Is Best? Conclusion
Whether you need one for general grilling, indoor cooking, camping, or use on your patio, an electric grill delivers any day.
The convenience if offers sets it apart from other grills as you can cook anytime without having to waste time lighting it up or worrying about bad weather.
Pick any of the best electric grills we have reviewed, and you’ll be sure to have a great experience.
Do you have an opinion on what the top electric grills are? What is your favorite BBQ recipe? Leave us your thoughts in a comment below!