8 best electric grills: what to cook, which one to choose, pros and cons

An electric grill for home cooking is indispensable for those who care about their diet and love variety in their food. It allows you to cook food without the use of oil, and it tastes almost like on a fire. With such an assistant in the kitchen, it is quite easy to cook delicious dishes, delight your loved ones and friends, and the process itself is simple and takes little time. But how to choose the same electric grill in a wide variety of techniques?

In the rating, I will tell not only about the pros and cons of popular models, but also describe their capabilities. In addition, you will learn what to look for when buying and what are the differences between the types of electric grills.

Features of electric grills and their varieties

Electric grills have appeared on the market for a long time and many buyers have already appreciated their advantages. They are especially useful for those who monitor their diet, since food is cooked here without oil, and fat from meat and fish flows into a special tray. It can be used to cook incredibly delicious steaks, vegetables and even bake waffles and pancakes. And what a crispy crust is obtained on meat! It all depends on additional options and the power of the device.

At the end of the review, I will tell you what to look for when buying an electric grill. And now I propose to deal with its types:

• Non-contact models are a grid on which products are laid out, and a heating element from below. They do not have a top cover, and the fat directly falls on the heating element, which is why they generate a lot of smoke and are not suitable for home use. This is more of a summer cottage option. But the advantage of such equipment is that the taste will be smoky.
• Contact or closed ones have two planes with which food is pressed.

But there are variations in contact electric grills:

1. By heating: on one side only, on both sides and in combination. In the first case, you will have to turn the cooking food over and therefore the time for cooking it increases. Therefore, it is most convenient to combine or double-sided.
2. The ability to increase the distance between the heating plates. This is important, since you will not only cook steaks, but also hamburgers, fish, vegetables, and each one needs its own distance for even frying.
3. Hinged cover with two heating elements. That is, the grill opens 180 degrees and you can cook vegetables on one side, and fish or meat on the other. This will shorten the cooking time.

Rating TOP 8 electric grills

When describing each model of an electric grill, I took into account not only their main characteristics, but also the needs of customers and user reviews. The rating will include reviews of the following models:

Clatronic MG 3519

The inexpensive model with a low power of 700 W is designed for cooking vegetables, meat and fish steaks. Quite a simple option without a timer, temperature regulator and juice collection tray. Stationary baking trays with non-stick coating. The press has only one mode of operation, so it is necessary to adapt to it. The set includes a table that indicates the products and the time for their preparation, which makes the task easier. Despite such shortcomings, many users are quite satisfied with the electric grill. The body can get hot, but the handle is thermally protected.

I live alone and after work I don't have much time to cook. So I bought a simple electric grill. He just saves me. The meat or fish is ready in 5-7 minutes and no problem. Turned on, warmed up and put a piece.I pressed it and waited for the right time. A wonderful thing for little money.

GFgril GF-060

The electric grill opens 180 degrees and both surfaces are active, but not removable. The set includes two bowls for collecting fat. The legs can be adjusted in height to change the tilt. Mechanical control in the form of one rotary knob. There are 5 modes, but the heating temperature is not indicated anywhere. Therefore, you need to adjust. Maximum heating 200 degrees. The heating of the plates is uneven, due to which part of the steaks will be ready, and the other is still raw. The top cover has automatic height adjustment, which is convenient. To recline it or change the height, you need to hold down the red side button. Not all users liked this option.

I was looking for an inexpensive and compact model, since the kitchen is small and there is nowhere to store it. The grill is very convenient for everyday use. I cook without oil and nothing burns. You need to adjust to the regulator. I cook almost all meat products in the second mode. Washing is also convenient if immediately.

Kitfort KT-1645

A budgetary, but quite convenient and high-quality electric grill with two active surfaces. It can be used as contact and non-contact, that is, it is fully disclosed. The adjustment is mechanical and has only two temperatures: the minimum is 160-180 degrees and the maximum is 230. The height is automatically selected depending on the thickness of the product. But it is not recommended to put very large pieces, since the power is small and the rise in height is limited. The collection of liquid takes place in cups, which are placed on the side. Fat does not spill past and it is convenient to wash them. The handle does not heat up, but you can burn yourself against the rest of the electric grill during operation.

Decent grill for the price. I bought it, because I like the brand and the budget was limited, but you need to eat right. It is convenient to cook on it and does not burn anything. Despite the low power, everything fries well. The controls are simple and even a child can figure it out.

REDMOND SteakMaster RGM-M805

Convenient electric grill with 7 auto programs included in it: defrost / heating, bacon, poultry, sausages, meat, fish, cutlets and burgers. It is possible to manually set the cooking time and temperature. Baking trays are removable and easy to clean. The display has an indication of the degree of roast. But many users have noted that the built-in heating element heats up the surface unevenly. But the device picks up the required temperature quickly, as can be seen from the indicator. Both frying surfaces can be operated as a press or separately when opened. The height selection is automatic, which is very convenient.

Automatic modes, of course, are good and make the task easier, but you need to adapt to them. Basically I use the manual one and set the necessary parameters myself. She noted that the internal heating element heats up unevenly. Because of this, some of the steaks are ready, while others are not yet. Easy to clean as the trays can be removed.

ENDEVER Grillmaster 230

The model is made of metal and has a compact size of 32.5 × 36.8 × 13.5 cm. The regulator allows you to set the temperature from 100 to 220 degrees, which allows you to cook not only meat, but also vegetables. The heating is fast. Timer with shutdown for 30 minutes. The top cover is height adjustable for different products using a special support, which is not always convenient. You can open the grill 180 degrees and cook different dishes. There is a drip tray for collecting grease, which makes cleaning easier. Non-stick panels are non-removable and made of Teflon-coated ceramics.

In general, this electric grill can be recommended for purchase. Cooking on it is fast, but the ergonomics itself is not well thought out. The handles get dirty with fat during cooking, it is difficult to wash the electric grill, since the panels are not removable and the top cover itself is not automatically adjusted, but with a support. But in this price segment, this model looks decent.

Tristar GR-2895

The body of this electric grill is made of metal and thermoplastic. The handle is protected from heat. Both parts are non-removable and active, that is, they are heated with the help of a heating element. Mechanical adjustment without temperature indication. There is an indication of on and off, as well as full warm-up. Two pedestal bowls for collecting fat, as the device can be opened 180 degrees. The height is automatically adjusted, which is convenient when cooking. Storage can be vertical or horizontal. There is no protection against power surges, therefore it is not recommended for use in the country. The working size of the surface is 27.8 x 17 cm.

This is my first electric grill and I use it every day for cooking meat, fish, toasting bread. Everything turns out very tasty, and most importantly, dietary, that is, without oil. Nothing burns, but fried well. But washing is inconvenient.

Dauken XG2500

The model is made in a metal case and has two removable trays with non-stick Teflon coating. On the front panel there is a regulator that allows you to set the temperature from 160 to 230 degrees. in increments of five. The display shows the current parameters and the cooking time. The electric grill turns itself off after an hour, which is convenient for forgetful housewives. The lid is manually fixed in height and has five positions. There is also a timer with a countdown of up to 30 minutes, which will allow you to do other things while the electric grill is running. It can be used in contact and non-contact mode.

I have long dreamed of buying an electric grill home and settled on this model, since it has removable elements and has a display. The temperature is set smoothly and you can easily select the desired mode. Cooking is a pleasure as nothing burns and cleaning is easy. The price, of course, is high, but the quality is appropriate.

Polaris PGP 2602 DV

A budget model of a contact grill. The working surfaces are non-removable, made of metal with a Teflon coating. They can be fully opened and then you will have the opportunity to cook several dishes at once. The fat flows into the front pan, which is spread across the entire width. Manual height adjustment with three positions. Heating by a thermostat without indicating the set value. Therefore, you need to adapt. Warming up quickly enough, so the meat is juicy and the crust is crispy. You can cook not only steaks, but vegetables as well. Suitable for use in the country.

They bought it for home use and to take it to the country in the summer. It lives up to expectations. The grill is easy to use and there is nothing complicated. We cook mainly meat and fish, rarely fry vegetables. But in all cases, there are no complaints about the work.

How to choose the right electric grill for your home?

You can also enjoy delicious and healthy food cooked on an electric grill at home. To do this, you need to choose the right device. Even at the stage of buying in the store, pay attention to the following nuances:

1. For the home kitchen, portable electric grills are made with a power of 650 to 2400 watts. The cooking speed, the juiciness of the product and the very crust depend on this indicator. Best of all in this regard are devices with a power of 1800 watts or more.
2. Working surface. Mostly in electric grills, the surface is made of a sheet of aluminum with a non-stick coating. This is the best option as it heats up faster and roasts better. But it requires accuracy in everyday life. Ceramic coating, on the other hand, is very fragile, but the easiest to clean.
3. A heating element. Most often it is a heating element and less often an infrared emitter. The first is more energy-consuming, but durable. The second one is less energy-consuming, heats up faster and a crust forms better with it, but it quickly fails.
4. Control. The simplest and most reliable is electronic. It is unaffected by temperatures and the ingress of fat during cooking. Yes, and such elements are cheaper, so repairs will be inexpensive. But there are no auto modes here and you need to manually set the time and temperature. In the electronic control, it is enough to select a program and the electric grill will cook your favorite dish. But if such elements fail, you will have to fork out.
5. Top material. The cheapest are models made of plastic. They are lighter in weight. But on impact, the plastic can break. There are also metal electric grills. They are much heavier and more massive. But they are easier to care for. Again, when heated, you can burn yourself against the lid.

A little about additional options, which are also worth paying attention to:

• the timer can be auto-off or just with a sound alert;
• network overload protection is useful when using an electric grill in the country;
• the presence of different surfaces (for grilling, solid, waffles) will help diversify the menu;
• removable panels and a grease catcher make cleaning easier, as some models can be loaded into dishwashers.