How to Choose an Electric Grill for Your Home

Spring and summer are the time for BBQs and kebabs but there is not always an opportunity to grill food everywhere. For example, in winter, in a city apartment, it seems just impossible. However, this is a misconception, the main thing is to figure out how to choose an electric grill for your home.

Buying this kitchen appliance is not as easy as it may seem. There are quite a few modifications of this appliance, and it is not cheap, so choosing an electric grill for home is a serious matter.

The grill has many advantages, the main of which is that it allows you to cook many delicious healthy dishes. An electric grill can be used in any premise with good ventilation and electricity. Usually, this device has a system of thermostats to easily adjust the temperature which is very important when cooking, let’s say, steaks. In addition, an electric grill heats up fast and, thus, saves time, and due to the absence of open flames, it is safer than a gas grill. Many models of electric grills are light and quite mobile.

Different grill types

According to GrillFAQ.com, there are several modifications of an electric grill.

An open-type electric grill is most like a traditional street grill. Food on this one must be turned over periodically so that it is cooked on both sides. An open grill allows you to grill thicker chunks of meat and often has a wide heating surface. In addition, it is often lighter than a covered type grill. A frying pan of such an electric grill usually has a smooth, rather than a ribbed surface, therefore, it is ideal for cooking bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Of course, you can cook meat and veggies here, but the typical marks on the food will be absent here. Before buying, you have to make sure that you have a powerful hood in your kitchen because such a grill makes a lot of smoke.

Covered electric grill: this appliance has a hinged lid that covers and presses the dish. Accordingly, there are two heating surfaces (top/bottom). Thus, both sides of the food are grilled simultaneously. The cooking speed is faster, but the size of the grill is compact enough, and you can feed no more than 2 people at a time. A big bonus is the absence of splashes and smoke, as the cover protects your home those. Covered grills can be really small, countertop models. Those are easy to locate anywhere in your kitchen. It’s a small and practical device for fast cooking.

How to choose an electric grill for your home: options, tips, best models

Spring and summer are the time for BBQs and kebabs but there is not always an opportunity to grill food everywhere. For example, in winter, in a city apartment, it seems just impossible. However, this is a misconception, the main thing is to figure out how to choose an electric grill for your home.

Buying this kitchen appliance is not as easy as it may seem. There are quite a few modifications of this appliance, and it is not cheap, so choosing an electric grill for home is a serious matter.

The grill has many advantages, the main of which is that it allows you to cook many delicious healthy dishes. An electric grill can be used in any premise with good ventilation and electricity. Usually, this device has a system of thermostats to easily adjust the temperature which is very important when cooking, let’s say, steaks. In addition, an electric grill heats up fast and, thus, saves time. Also, as there are no open flames, it is safer than a gas grill. Many models of electric grills are light and quite mobile.

In addition, there are contactless (steam) electric grills with non-contact heating, i.e. the food does not touch the heating surface but is cooked with a hot stream or infrared radiation. An example of such a grill is, for example, electric BBQs with skewers that were quite popular back in the days.

Electric grill types may also differ by location.

• The largest of them are stationary. These kitchen appliances are for true lovers of this way of cooking. They can be located separately or embedded in a kitchen countertop.
• Portable devices are convenient, as they allow you to organize your own BBQ bar almost anywhere, even in the smallest kitchen. It is for this reason that they have become particularly popular, especially compact models that are easy to clean after use. Among compact electric grills, there are quite large models that will find their place, for example, in a summer house or garage. If you need such a device, pay attention to the stability of the structure.

How to choose an electric grill for your home?

When choosing an electric grill for your place, you need to pay attention to its power. The higher it is, the higher the performance of the device. The output of a covered-type portable compact grill may be less than 1000 W, but an ideal grill should work in the range of 1500 to 2000 W.

Material and shape of the cooking surface. It can be both flat and ribbed, made of cast iron or aluminum – both options are not bad. However, pay attention to the heating surface of the grill to be covered with a non-stick layer, otherwise, the food will burn. This factor is very important, so let’s talk about it in more detail.

The best choice would be an electric grill, the cooking surface of which is suitable for any dish. It can be both ribbed and flat, it is also possible to have interchangeable panels made of heat-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or aluminum.

Today, electric grills with a glass-ceramic heating surface are also produced, but such devices, for all their beauty, also have all the disadvantages of this material, for example, the cooking surface can simply crack if you splash cold water on it, without letting it cool down enough.

• Temperature control: usually an electric grill is equipped with a digital or mechanical cooking temperature controller.
• Grease/fat draining system. This is especially important if you plan to buy an open type grill, however, it is also preferable to choose covered models with such a tray.
• A heat indicator confirms that a cooking surface has reached the required temperature. Also, many electric grills are equipped with a timer and an automatic shutdown function.
• Finally, the device should be easy to handle and clean. A big advantage is the removable accessories that can be washed in the dishwasher. In addition, their presence extends the functionality of the device, providing the opportunity to bake, say, waffles or fry sandwiches.

It should also be mentioned that each manufacturer offers some kind of special feature that makes their device unique. For example, I like the idea of a special drawer that you can use to pour a mixture of water and spices. When evaporating, the water provides an aroma of spices to the dish.

So, to summarize: a large stationary electric grill of open (and covered) type will be suitable for a private (summer) house – with its help, it is possible to feed a large group of people. However, it is only possible if the electricity in your area is not very expensive. In the opposite situation, it is better to give preference to a, say, gas device.

A compact indoor electric grill with removable panels is suitable for a city apartment: it is practical and very convenient.

Use and maintenance

• If you have just bought an electric grill, find the best place for it. Of course, it is best to place the appliance close to the nearest outlet and 5 cm away from the walls.
• Then it should be heated to the maximum temperature. When the indicator goes out, you can set the temperature required for cooking.
• Use a cooking brush to apply a little fat to the heating surface, then put the food you want to cook.
• At the end of the cooking cycle, disconnect the appliance from the mains.
• Note that the appliance must not be moved after switching on.

Maintaining a compact electric grill is usually very simple, as the device is mobile and its removable panels can be washed in the dishwasher. However, the grill always needs to be cleaned not only from the inside but also from the outside to avoid fat deposits. The exterior surfaces and the grease tray can be washed with soap and water. In fact, you can use grill juice and fat for cooking other meals. The grill grid must be washed by hand without any abrasives or hard sponges and brushes.

More useful tips

• Use a plastic or wooden spatula to avoid damaging the non-adhesive surfaces of the grill.
• Get a cooking thermometer to ensure that the meat has reached the correct cooking temperature.
• If you add water to the grease/fat tray before using the grill, the amount of smoke will decrease.

Popular electric grill makers

Electric grills today are produced by many well-known brands of home appliances. One of the leading bands in the category is Redmond. The company’s assortment includes “smart” models that may, for ex. determine the thickness of the steak and allow you to achieve the desired degree of frying.

• SteakMaster REDMOND RGM-M805 can do that. The model has 7 automatic programs, including “Heating” and “Defrosting”. The grill halves are rotated 180°, so you can also use it as a BBQ unit.
• Quite a low-cost variants of electric grills are produced by Maxwell. Thus, the MW-1960 ST model costs about $55, does not overdry food, and cooks fast. The temperature can be adjusted and the fat is collected in a tray. This grill is perfect for cooking vegetables and sandwiches. Unfortunately, the appliance has a fixed cooking pan.
• For owners of small apartments, Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler will fit just fine. It is a compact and inexpensive model. Despite its size and cost, a device is a multipurpose tool with high power and hinged system (you can adjust the pressure of the cover).
• For large houses will suit Philips HD 6360/20. With a power of 2000 W, the device can cook at different temperatures. Everything from the measuring cup to the glass surface of the lid is washable here. There is a special container for spices: if you put the right spices there, the dish will be much more aromatic. The price of the device starts at $75.
• Tefal GC306012 is an excellent choice and costs 100% of the money spent. There are removable panels that make the device multifunctional – you can use it as a grill, BBQ, and oven. This increases the range of possibilities: the device can cook eggs, meat, cheese, waffles, bacon, and the processes are equally successful.