7 Best Electric Grills for 2024
Nothing can compare with the natural smoky flavor that you get from a charcoal grill. But if you find charcoals tedious to use and clean and at the same time you find gas tanks to bulky, we recommend using electric grills.
Electric grills are the easiest and most convenient to use for grilling. It does not exactly replicate the flavor that you get from a charcoal grill, but it is perfect for those live in condos where there are restrictions in using gas or charcoal grills.
For those who already have a charcoal or gas grill, we recommend getting an electric grill for indoor use especially when the weather is bad or during winter. What is nice about electric grills is that they are perfect for quick grilling. If you are a busy person, electric grills are perfect for you.
Let's take a look at some of the qualities that most electric grills have today and what are the best electric grills available in the market.
Physical Attributes
Electric grills do not easily get rusty because they are usually used indoor, they are easier to clean, and they don't use charcoals or gas. However, you do have to keep a close watch on the heating element as it is the most sensitive part of an electric grill and requires careful cleaning.
Cooking and Temperature-control
Temperature is easier to control on an electric grill compared with a charcoal or gas grill. Aside from an on/off switch, they have a wider temperature range including a setting for warming food.
Since electric grills are usually used indoors, they usually have a smaller cooking area but we do have one on our list that has a large cooking area and will require a larger kitchen counter space.
Electric grills can get really creative in terms of cooking partly because most of them use griddle plates instead of cooking grates or wire mesh. Griddle plates not only allow you to grill but also cook smaller food like rice, small veggies or even sauces.
One electric grill on our list uses its drip pan for catching drippings and also for baking aside from the ability to actually heat a pan or boil a pot on top of it. Who would have thought that an electric grill can let you do these things in your kitchen without needing to go outside, burn charcoal or refill a gas tank? Opting for an electric grill is all about choosing convenience and practicality.
The newest type of electric grill are the ones that use infrared. Infrared electric grills are preferred by most chefs as they cook faster, better and provides tastier flavor compared with the regular ones. Infrared grills are not very common. Please continue reading for more details about infrared grills as we have included an infrared grill on our list.
Convenience and Safety
Most electric grills are made for indoor use. However, they can also be used outdoors as long as you have an electric source and you're keeping its electric elements from water.
To keep you safe, these electric grills passed the standardized tests for electrical products just like most kitchen equipment like an electric stove, rice cooker and the like. Some of them even have an additional safety feature that prevents it from heating up unless they're assembled properly.
Cleaning
It's a no-brainer. Cleaning an electric grill is easier than cleaning a charcoal or gas grill. There is no need to throw ashes or clean gas connections. Most of these electric grills only require you to remove the temperature dial where the power cord is attached and you're ready to clean the grill.
The electrical or heating components are usually hidden so they don't get dripped by grease and they stay clean while you're grilling.
Weber Q2400 - Long-lasting and well-constructed
If you are willing to spend a little bit more to get a long-lasting grill, we recommend all the Weber grills including this electric grill. In my opinion, this grill has the best, most stylish design. Its grippy handles serve as a safety cradle for the grill which is a well-thought-out design and gives you the confidence to move the grill because it is well-supported. It also has a larger knob compared with its previous versions with infinite settings to give you better control on temperature.
Char-Broil TRU Infrared - Cooks delicious, tasty food with speed
If you've heard about infrared grills and how they cook faster and better than ordinary electric grills, we recommend this grill. Chefs absolutely love infrared grills. It is a new thing and it is popular for good reasons. Unlike most grills, infrared allows circulation of less hot air which is why infrared grilled foods are not dry. The outcome is always flavorful, juicy meat. The reason why this infrared grill is the best out there is that it is sold at a great price and already includes an ample cooking area, a warming rack plus a built-in thermometer.
Presto 09020 - Better, healthier alternative to frying pans
If you love frying but wants to lessen oil usage for a healthier diet, we recommend this grill. This isn't going to replace the outcome that you usually get when you cook on an outdoor gas or charcoal grill, but this is certainly better than cooking your food in a frying pan. It is great for indoor cooking, easy to clean with its non-stick surface and cooks healthy food.
Excelvan Portable 1120W - Both an indoor and outdoor grill
You can also use an electric grill outdoors. This grill does that. It is both an indoor and outdoor grill. Totally flexible, durable and also safe to use. Its key parts (heating element and grill plate) are made of die-cast aluminum. It is ETL approved with a cool-touch safety handles not only for safety but also for convenience. You could be creative and use all kinds of grills for warming your food but what's nice about this grill is that it has an option specifically for warming your food.
Livart LV-982 - For Yakitori cooking style that can bake and heat a pot/pan
Made in Korea and great for Korean's Yakitori style of cooking where you cook thinly sliced small meat while you're eating while also boiling soup - your typical Korean style dining set up. But what will surprise you of this grill is that the drip pan does not only catch drippings but can also be used for cooking and baking - a unique idea as it allows food in the drip pan to absorb the flavorful drippings from the grilled food. For those who enjoy light grilling and wants the capability to cook in several ways other than grilling, we recommend this grill.
Elite Gourmet - Affordable and fully-packed with features
Value for money. This is what this grill is all about. For the price, this grill is fully packed with features. Firstly, this is the only griddle type of grill on our list that comes with a lid - transparent tempered glass domed lid. So for those people who are looking for a quality griddle plate with a lid, we recommend this grill. What makes this grill so worth it is that it probably has the largest cooking area among all the electric grills on this list. So, we recommend this grill if you need a grill with a large cooking area. This grill has several good qualities, click here to get further details.
Zojirushi EB-CC15 - Ceramic non-stick coated grill
If you are that buyer who's looking for a ceramic non-stick coating instead of Teflon, we recommend this grill. Although ceramic non-stick coating is not commonly-used, it has the most benefits compared with Teflon. Ceramic non-stick coating is chemical free, durable and has better resistance to high temperatures. It heats up fast, evenly and cooks well. Other than the ceramic coating, this grill has a uniquely designed electric engineering. Unless the parts are aligned and properly installed through the safety hole, the grill won't heat up.
Conclusion
An electric grill is a must-have for those who like to grill and will probably not be able to grill outdoors using a charcoal grill during winter.
If you live in the city and busy, an electric grill is also perfect for you because it is easy to use and can be used in a condo that restricts charcoal or gas grills.
For durability, we always recommend Weber grills as they continue to impress by using high-quality and rust-resistant materials.
For versatility, we recommend the Korean-style Livart LV-982 Electric Barbecue Grill. It does not only grill, it can bake and also heat a pot. Have you ever been to a Korean restaurant where they cook while they eat? That's exactly how you want to use this grill.
For the best-tasting food, we recommend the Char-Broil TRU Infrared Patio Bistro 180 Electric Grill. Char-Broil is one of the best, most popular grill maker and is no wonder why they made our list. Their infrared grill is the only one that made our list of the best electric grills.
For those who are looking for a ceramic non-stick coated grill, we recommend the Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill. Ceramic is better than Teflon non-stick coating. For more details about the benefits of ceramic non-stick coating, check this grill out.
For those who are on a tight budget but still hoping to get a high-quality grill, we recommend the Elite Gourmet EMG-980B Maxi-Matic Electric Indoor Grill. It is fully packed with features including a transparent tempered glass domed lid.
If you are looking for a grill that is rated as both indoor and outdoor grill, we recommend the Excelvan Portable 1120W Electric Grill. It is ETL approved with cool-touched safety handles for mobility.
Tired of unhealthy, oily food cooked in a frying pan? We recommend the Presto 09020 Cool Touch Electric Indoor Grill. It has raised ridges that drain excess oil and can be cleaned in a dishwasher or sink.