The Best Indoor Grill: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (05/22)

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George Foreman Indoor Outdoor BBQ Grill 22460, Black

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Giles & Posner EK1872G Electric Stone Raclette Grill, Indoor Tabletop 8 Person Raclette, Removable Stone Grill Hot Plate, Non-Stick Grill Pans, Spatulas Included, Adjustable Temperature Dial, 1200 W

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Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying an indoor grill

Who is an indoor grill suitable for?

An indoor grill is suitable for anyone who doesn't want to miss out on barbecuing even in bad weather. With an indoor grill you can grill your meat indoors. This means that you are not only limited to the summer or good weather, but can barbecue whenever you want. Even if you now live in a flat and perhaps only have a balcony on which you are not allowed to use a smoke grill, an indoor grill is of course a good alternative. Or if you have children and are worried that the smoke might not be good, this type of grill would of course be ideal for you.

How does an indoor grill work?

Most indoor grills work in an electric way. All you have to do is plug it in and your grill will heat up in no time. Because no charcoal is used, you don't have to worry about smoke. A special version of the electric grill is the contact grill, where meat and other dishes are grilled from both sides. A good use for this is a conventional toast.

Grillfleisch — A little tip for grilling: If you have an electric grill, you can enhance the flavour very well with marinade and you will hardly notice any difference compared to a conventional grill. (Image source: Waldemar Brandt / unsplash.com)

Another variation of the indoor grill is the low-smoke charcoal grill. As the name suggests, the grill is not 100% smoke-free, so it is better to use it on the balcony or terrace. However, if the room in which you are grilling can be well ventilated, you can also use it indoors.

How does the indoor grill compare to the conventional grill?

You hear a lot that the indoor grill is a weak alternative to a charcoal grill because the taste is just not the same. This is also true to a certain extent for electric grills, because they simply lack the smoky flavour. However, this is only a preference, there are also enough people who do not like the smoky taste. As far as the low-smoke grill is concerned, the taste development here is exactly the same as that of a conventional grill. The difference here is only in the size of the grill, otherwise they are almost identical.

What additional functions should an indoor grill have?

Both the electric grills and the almost smoke-free indoor charcoal grills have some functions that can be useful for you.

Type of indoor grill	Useful functions	Use in everyday life
Electric grill	Temperature regulator	You should not grill every dish at full heat straight away, so a regulator for the temperature is always important.
Low-smoke indoor grill	Grease drip tray	To make it easier for you to clean your grill after use, your grill should have a tray to make it easier to dispose of the grease.

How much does an indoor grill cost?

When it comes to price, most indoor grills are naturally cheaper than the traditional large grills. This is because the grills for the 4 walls are usually smaller so that they are easier to store. This also affects the price. That's why you can get cheap electric grills for as little as €50. However, since this is the minimum price, you should consider a somewhat higher-priced version, because of course you will also get a high-quality indoor grill. The more expensive appliances will usually last longer and function without problems.

Grillspieße — Meat can be grilled just as deliciously on an indoor grill as on a charcoal grill. Only the smoky taste is missing with an electric grill (Photo source: Elliot Banks / unsplash.com)

What are the alternatives to an indoor grill?

If you are not sure whether an indoor grill is really right for you, you can take a look at some alternatives here.

Alternatives to the indoor grill	Differences
Conventional grill	The normal charcoal grill as you know it. A good alternative if you have a good place to grill, like a garden. The advantage here is the larger surface area, so you can grill more meat at once.
Grill pans	If you don't necessarily need a grill, you can simply buy a pan. You can also fry your meat in this pan and cleaning is often even quicker.

Decision: What types of indoor barbecues are there and which one is right for you?

What distinguishes an indoor charcoal grill and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

An indoor barbecue with charcoal works through two built-in techniques:

A ventilation system so that smoke does not rise.
A grease drip tray so that the grease does not drip and evaporate.

Advantages

Taste like regular charcoal grills
Easy to clean
Lots of grilling surface for more meat

Disadvantages

Not 100% smoke free
Extra cost for charcoal

With the low-smoke indoor grills, you must bear in mind that the smoke cannot be removed 100%. Therefore, the recommendation for barbecuing is rather outdoors, such as on terraces or balconies. However, the grill can also be used in well-ventilated rooms.

What distinguishes an electronic indoor grill and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

The conventional indoor grills are characterised by the fact that they are easy to use via a plug. In addition, the heat develops quickly, which makes quick grilling possible.

Advantages

Completely smoke-free
Can be heated quickly
Less fat required

Disadvantages

Taste different from charcoal grill

Another advantage of the grill is the possibility to grill with less fat. This is especially possible with contact grilling, because in combination with baking paper the food does not burn and cleaning is also easier. In the meantime, there are also infrared grills that can also be used indoors and are also 100% smoke-free.

Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate indoor grills

In the following, we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the many possible indoor grills. The criteria you can use to compare the grills with each other include:

Size and weight
Power
Materials

In the following paragraphs, we will explain what is important in each of the criteria.

Size and weight

Size and weight are important factors when deciding whether to buy a barbecue because they make it easier or more difficult to use. For example, if you are inviting family and friends to a barbecue party, you should buy a larger indoor barbecue so that more meat can be grilled at once. Size and weight also affect the way you can store your barbecue. If the grill is too big, you won't be able to store it in a box and it will be too bulky for indoor use.

Tanja MaruschkeWorlds of Food

When it comes to grilling, the question arises as to which meat is best suited. Basically, beef, pork or lamb can always be used if it is not too lean. Cured meat such as meat loaf should not be grilled because the nitrite curing salt it contains develops toxic substances during grilling.

Power

Especially with electric grills, you should pay attention to the power. It is decisive for the power of your grill, i.e. how quickly the grill heats up and how quickly it can grill the meat. The key figure for the power is the number of watts; the higher this number, the better the grill. An electric grill delivers good performance at 2000 watts. If the electric grill has a wattage between 2000 and 3000, it is good.

Fleisch auf Grill — The advantage of an indoor barbecue is that you can also use it outside in good weather and enjoy barbecuing all year round. (Image source: Holgers Fotografie / pixabay.com)

Did you know how much you have to pay for the different wattages? As a guideline, you should consider the following: If you use an electric grill with 2500 watts for 1 hour every day, you will pay a monthly cost of 15 € for electricity

Materials

When it comes to materials, you should make sure that everything is of a high quality, i.e. that there are no gaps or holes anywhere, because this only makes cleaning more difficult and is also a sign of poor quality. You should not buy such barbecues, because they will not last long. The material should be steel or cast iron, preferably stainless steel. The standard grill grate or grill plate is usually made of steel or cast iron, but there is also the option of a ceramic plate. Such a grill plate also prevents smoke development, of course, as the fat can be collected better.