Indoor grills are a great option for people who want to get their grill on all year round. Much smaller than their outdoor, at-home counterparts, they’re also a potential solution for people short on backyard or kitchen space. We asked grilling experts for tips on buying a quality indoor grill and identified some of the best indoor grills currently on the market.
How to buy an indoor grill
These days, good indoor grills provide a certain level of versatility. Modern options “operate as multi-purpose units that can toast, rotisserie, and air fry, while keeping track of temperatures for you, saving valuable counter and cupboard space,” says Susie Bulloch, grillmaster, recipe developer and founder of food blog Hey Grill, Hey.
In terms of quality assessment, pay particular attention to an indoor grill’s grates.
“You want to make sure the grates aren’t thin, bendable, or made of a material that will be hard to clean or possibly rust,” Bulloch says.“You also want to check the temperature range of the grill to make sure it can handle high-temperature grilling for those nice sear marks.”
When it comes to safety, electric grills might be a better option as they do not burn wood or charcoal indoors, says Hector Ruiz, editor at BBQGrillAcademy.com.
Beyond that, “you need to be sure that there is a place for your drippings to travel to, away from the heat source,” Bulloch says. “The last thing you want is an indoor grease fire with trapped fat that ignites with high temperatures.”
You can generally score a good deal on an indoor grill by comparison-shopping, signing up for price alerts or e-newsletters, and following retailer’s on social media where they’re known to post last-minute deals. (Learn more about the best way to buy a grill.)
The best indoor grills
MediaFeed identified some of the best indoor grills based on their components, expert recommendations, warranties and online reviews. The prices below come from the manufacturer’s website and are accurate at the time this article was written; please read all warranties for a full understanding of exclusions.
1. Cuisinart Griddler Elite
Price:$199.95
The big selling point when it comes to Cuisinart’s Griddler Elite is its ability to execute six cooking functions: grilling, half-grilling, griddling, half-griddling, panini-pressing, and top-melting food or appetizers. It also offers a searing function at 500˚F for up to two minutes at a time and comes with dual-zone temperature control.
The relatively compact grill offers 240 square inches of cooking space and is outfitted with removable, reversible nonstick cooking plates, an integrated drip tray, countdown timer and adjustable top cover. Cuisinart offers a limited three-year warranty from the date of original purchase.
2. Avance Collection Smoke-Less Infrared Grill by Philips
Price:$190 on Amazon
Bulloch recommends this non-stick aluminum grill from Philips if you’re looking for one to use solely indoors.
“I love the steel grates and the infrared heat source will let you crank the temperature and get fantastic sear marks on your food,” she says. “Their drip tray is designed to reduce smoke and increase the safety of grilling indoors. The grill grates separate from the base to allow for easy cleaning.”
The grill has a one-year warranty.
3. Ninja Foodi XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill
Price:$279.99
Bulloch also recommends this Ninja Foodi indoor grill if you’re looking to get a lot of features and functionality out of one appliance. The product is designed to grill, air-crisp, bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate.
The grill is outfitted with a ceramic-coated removable grill grate, crisper basket, and cooking pot that are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. The temperature-controlled grate, coupled with a splatter shield and cool air zone, is designed to reduce smoke in your kitchen. The grill comes with a one-year limited warranty.
“There is a large surface area for grilling for the whole family,” Bulloch says. “The internal thermometer is built-in and tracks the temperatures of your food … to help remove the guesswork from grilling the perfect steak.”
4. George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill
Price:$28.97 on Amazon
If you’re looking for a more affordable indoor grill option, this electric George Foreman grill, currently on sale at many major retailers, is worth a look. It features non-stick, removable cooking grates that are dishwasher safe for easy clean-up.
The grill, which doubles as a panini press, also comes with a dishwasher-safe drip tray that collects excess fat and grease. You can grill about four servings of food at a time. The grill comes with a three-year limited warranty.
The best grills of 2021
Trying to assess all of your grilling options? We’ve also identified some of the best grills on sale across popular shopping categories.
- The best gas grills under $500
- The best charcoal grills of 2021
- The best portable grills of 2021
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article erroneously included the Weber Q1200, which is a portable outdoor grill.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Image Credit: Mukhina1 / iStock
