If you don’t have much time and just want to find out what the best indoor grill is, then I recommend the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill as the best one.
In the dead of winter, some days dreaming of getting back to grilling is enough to keep me powering through the cold. Then I remember that I can grill, indoors. Today, there is a wide variety of indoor BBQ grills, some even providing an experience close to an outdoor grill.
Why Do I Want An Electric Grill?
Whether it be the cold winter keeping you from enjoying your favorite grilled foods, or you’d just simply like to something up without all of the effort and time grilling outdoors can sometimes take, an indoor electric grill is an infinitely useful tool.
Besides keeping you out of the cold in the winter or the rain on a stormy day, a countertop grill offers quick preheat time and sometimes even quicker cooking time. They are typically small enough to not take up much counter space and are significantly less cumbersome than outdoor grills.
An indoor barbecue grill can also be a life-saver for those without any space for an outdoor grill, as well as apartment dwellers that aren’t allowed to have a grill on their balcony. I personally have fallen into the former category before, and yes, a grill machine for home came in handy.
What To Look For In An Indoor Electric Grill
Just like a regular old outdoor grill, inside barbecue grills have nuances that offer unique experiences. Depending on what you need it for, you’ll be able to find some electric grills perfect for personal use and others that you could host a party with.
What you’ll want to look out for is surface size, how even the heat is and what the heating plates are made out of. Steel grill or griddle plates are going to be stronger than say, ceramic, but ceramic is known to have more even heat distribution. Looking into what the heating plate is made out of can tell you a lot about what to expect.
One of the benefits of an indoor electric grill is that it’s an overall “cleaner” process, so to speak. You’re not dealing with charcoal or accelerants, but you’re still creating grease and a bit of mess. Because of that, I recommend looking out for an indoor grill that has removable trays, plates and drip dishes if it falls within your budget and is a match for you otherwise.
Budget
Just like anything, you can find cheap in-house grills, and you can find pricey ones. Navigating the features of an indoor cooking grill while weighing them against your budget can be tricky at times, so deciding for yourself which features are a worthy investment is important.
Referring to this guide as well as going and reading reviews of your desired electric grill should give you a good idea of what features add value. Today, indoor electric grills are relatively cheap considering all of the uses and you shouldn’t be hard-pressed to find a good one in your price range.
Do Indoor Electric Grills Create Smoke?
One would assume that an indoor electric grill wouldn’t create smoke, but in fact, yes, they can and, yes, they do. That’s not to say that all of them create smoke or that there are any that are guaranteed to not create smoke, but it is a possibility.
Even though electric grills don’t use an open flame like their outdoor counterpart, they utilize a heating coil within that generates enough heat to let off smoke. However, there are several electric grills that offer a “smokeless” or “smoke-free” experience. Reading reviews and doing research should help you decide which one is less likely to smoke up the house.
Personal Taste
Just as every in-home grill is unique, so are we all. Chances are, you’ve thought of dozens of uses and recipes that I wouldn’t have and vice versa. The electric grill that you choose should be an easy choice as long as you go with the one that matches your own tastes the best.
Whether you want to be cooking up hot dogs or searing some tilapia and buttery asparagus or just making some burgers for yourself, a good electric grill is going to at the very least satiate a wide variety of cravings. The size, appearance, and features that you want are a matter of how much you want to get out of it.
It never hurts to get some of the bells and whistles such as LED and LCDs, temperature knobs, removable trays, and viewing windows, but not all of them may be necessary for you.
Indoor Grill Review
Hamilton Beach 25361 Indoor Grill
This affordable indoor BBQ grill delivers juicy goods with ease of use while not taking up a lot of space on your countertop. Besides being powerful and consistently grilling well, it has the bonus of looking pretty darn good on the counter.
A window in the hood lets you easily watch the progress of whatever it is that you are grilling up. This electric grill boasts many features that make it easy to grill the way that you want to.
Pros:
- A hood that you can watch your food while it’s grilling.
- Dishwasher safe drip tray and the grill is easy to clean.
- Easy to use temperature control knob going from 200-400 degrees.
- Great for searing meat and veggies.
Cons:
- Long preheat time, roughly between 8 and 10 minutes to reach full temperature.
- It can tend to get a little bit smokey if you are cooking for a long time. Use a fan.
PowerXL Smokeless Grill
This sleek electric griddle plate uses unique technology to give you that nice char taste while eliminating the majority of smoke that would normally be produced. It is, indeed, one of the best smokeless indoor grill. The grill surface can take on a lot of greases, but it is easy to remove and the unit itself is small and easy to store.
An electric grill like this is great for personal use or cooking for a small group. It may not have as much surface area as some of the others, but it definitely gets the job done.
Pros:
- The LED temperature control stands out and changes are reflected quickly in the grill.
- Turbo Smoke Extraction feature works well even in a long grilling session.
- Easy to clean; removable grill surface.
- Doesn’t have a long preheating time.
Cons:
- The grill has trouble retaining heat and the temperature can sometimes fluctuate rising and falling.
- The glass lid is somewhat thin and could break easily if dropped or set down too hard.
- It may be difficult to attach the handle for the glass lid.
Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill (AG301)
The Ninja Foodi is like a Swiss army knife of the indoor electric grill market. It doubles as both an indoor grill and an electric grill, but it’s all delicious.
It is a little bit bulkier than some of its contemporaries, but the added hardware of the air fryer is mostly to account for that. This is a great indoor grilling machine, especially if the bonus features that come along with it can save you from having to buy more kitchen appliances.
Pros:
- 500-degree temperature gives flavor reminiscent of an outdoor grill and cooks the food fast.
- Smokeless, leaving behind no burnt smell.
- Very fast pre-heat and grill time.
- Dehydrating feature makes it unique.
- The grill and pans are dishwasher safe.
- The added air fryer lets you cook up some sides while your steak is resting.
Cons:
- It can get pretty loud, especially during pre-heating.
- Small grill surface limits how much you can cook at once.
- It is heavy and bulky.
Chefman Smokeless Indoor Grill
The Chefman Electric Smokeless indoor grill is great grilling up a good amount of food making it great for parties or family gatherings. It boasts an open surface letting you keep a close eye on what’s cooking while being able to easily flip and turn things when need be.
This inside grill is easy to use and could serve as a good first electric grill for a novice user because of its simple construction. It is also a one for use on the go because of its size and weight.
Pros:
- Large water tray that cools the falling grease minimizing odor and smoke.
- Knob-controlled temperature options going from warm to sear.
- Lightweight and highly portable.
- Cooks meat fast, especially if it is boneless.
- Temperature changes from one side to another, going from very hot, medium to mild.
Cons:
- Doesn’t seem to handle thick meats as well as leaner meats, veggies or fish.
- The paint can burn and chip off easily.
- Has a long preheating time.
Calphalon Even Sear Indoor Multi-Grill
This indoor grill offers a lot of bang for its buck. It may be small, but it is strong and is optimal for grilling up smaller batches and could be an easy indoor grill for a first-time user to get used to.
Two griddle plate options give added variety and choice. For its price tag, it offers a solid little electric grill.
Pros:
- Nice, even ceramic cooking surface.
- Solid steel construction.
- Offers ribbed and flat griddle plates providing options.
- LCD display pops and is easy to read from afar while working around the kitchen.
Cons:
- The non-stick surface can get messy and be difficult to clean.
- Grill marks are not raised very high on the plates making them hard to spot on the grilled food when it’s done.
Conclusion
While each of these indoor electric grills has a lot to offer, there is that stands above all the rest for me. In my opinion, the best inside grill is the Ninja Foodi. Its function as strong, even heating indoor grill is enough for me, but the added features that it boasts solidify it as number one in my heart.
Besides being one of the best indoor grill for steaks, the addition of the air fryer and dehydrator do a lot to bolster the Foodi and for the money is a great deal.
Whichever indoor electric grill you choose, I wish you well in your grilling and am glad you get to enjoy grilling indoors during the winter like myself. Happy grilling!
