On the hunt for the best indoor grill? You are in the right place!
This article will answer and cover:
- What are the different types of indoor grills?
- What features should you look for in an indoor grill?
- Top 5 indoor grills reviewed/pros and cons
Sometimes outdoor grilling isn’t possible due to rain, scorching heat, living situations, or a number of factors. The electric and indoor grill market is growing by the year.
When grilling is the preferred method of cooking your food, an indoor grill can be a handy tool that is almost as good as the real thing.
This article will explain the different types of indoor grills, desired features, and review my top-5 picks based on in-depth research, consumer needs, and other criteria.
I did my best to find a good mix of grill-styles, brands, and price-points, while keeping options to a manageable level. If you want to cut to the chase, please feel free to check out the top-five list below.
Top 5 Indoor Grills at a Glance
- Proctor Silex 5-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill
- Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill
- Weber Q1400 Electric Grill
- Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan
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Highly affordable
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Top 5 Indoor Grills Reviewed
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Cusimax Indoor Electric Grill
Why We Like It: We love the Cusimax Indoor Electric Grill because of the turbo smoke extractor technology. It’s one of the few grills that won’t leave your kitchen smelling like bbq for the rest of the day.
Quick Facts
- Power Source: Electric
- Temperature: 200° to 450° Fahrenheit
- Cooking Space: 8×14 inches
The Cusimax Indoor Electric Grill is one of the most advanced products on the market. It offers grillers a generous amount of cooking space and removes up to 95% of the smoke It produces thanks to its turbo smoke extractor technology, which leverages a cross-flow fan. Moreover, the grill has an LED display that makes it easy to change the temperature, turn the grill on, and turn off the grill. This makes it practical for slow-cooking and searing meats. The Cusimax Indoor Electric grill is also dishwasher safe and easy to clean because of the drip tray. It’s also important to note that it comes with several removable non-stick grill plates.
What Sets It Apart
The Cusimax Indoor Electric grill is a one-of-kind grill. It comes with everything you need to cook almost anything. That said, it doesn’t cost a fortune. Unlike other advanced indoor grills, the Cusimax Indoor Electric grill is priced competitively. This makes it unique for both its price and features. It’s also one of the lightest Indoor grills around, so you can move it around easily. This adds an element of portability to its design.
Things to Consider
We’re big fans of the Cusimax Indoor Electric grill. Still, it’s not perfect. The biggest drawback is that it’s not the same as cooking on a traditional grill. While the electric grill performs well overall, it takes a while to adjust to the electric cooking style. At first, this can lead to poorly cooked meals and bad experiences. Another issue is that it uses a lot of electricity but that’s something you have to consider as a tradeoff to using propane or charcoal. That said, there are alternatives if you don’t like the design and cooking style.
Who It’s For
The Cusimax Indoor Electric grill is perfect for anyone with a desire to grill. The small and compact design makes it easy to use in any kitchen and it can be used during every season. It’s also a great grill for people who live in apartments or people who have limited outdoor space. We also recommend the Cusimax Indoor Electric Grill as a first grill. If you’re not familiar with grilling the even cooking space, the Cusimax Indoor Electric Grill makes the learning curve much easier.
Pros
- Turbo smoke extractor technology that removes up to 95% of smoke
- Dishwasher-safe
- Compact and portable
- Even cooking surface
- Comes with removable non-stick cooking plates
Cons
- Not the same as cooking on a traditional grill
- Only suitable for Indoor use
Proctor Silex 5-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill
This 5-in-1 grill by Proctor Silex does it all and for a bargain. It can be used as a contact grill, full griddle, full grill, panini press, or a half grill/half griddle (in case you want to grill steak and fry eggs, etc.).
The non-stick grilling plates are reversible, which allows use in multiple ways. When opened flat, the cooking surface is 200 square inches, which can easily cook for 6 to 12 people.
It combines the efficiency of a contact grill, while doubling as an open grill or griddle.
The drip tray and cooking plates are removable and dishwasher safe, and it comes with a cleaning tool to make life easier.
The exterior is made from durable stainless steel, and Proctor Silex is known for making quality, reliable products. A one year warranty is included.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Versatile
- Dishwasher safe
- Large
- Affordable/ warranty
Cons:
- Non-numeric temperature control (MIN, LOW, MED, HIGH, MAX)
- Cord length short (manual cites safety precaution)
- Inefficient grease drainage
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill
The Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill doesn’t come with any bells or whistles, but it gets the job done right. It is an open grill with a lid and a viewing window to keep an eye on your food.
Use the sear function to get the perfect grill marks and lock in flavor at 450 degrees, or the adjustable temperature dial to have flexibility.
When you reach your desired temperature, a preheat light will let you know you’re good to go.
You can cook for 6 people with the 118 square-inch grilling surface and spend less time cleaning with the removable and dishwasher safe lid and grilling plate.
The extra-large drip tray helps eliminate any mess and is also dishwasher safe. This grill comes with a one-year warranty, ensuring protection from any product defects.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Numeric temperature control
- Preheat/power lights
- Detachable lid
- Large drip tray
- Warranty
Cons:
- Short cord
- Long heating time for sear function
- Part of grill plate is solid between grooves (see pictures)
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Weber Q1400 Electric Grill
The Weber Q1400 is not an indoor grill, but it is electric, powerful, and worthy of consideration.
It looks like a regular outdoor grill, but instead uses a 1560-watt heating element to allow for up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit with infinite control over temperature.
189 square-inches of cooking space will ensure you can feed an entire hungry family or big group of friends.
This grill is compact, portable, sturdy, and has a six foot power cord to give flexibility in positioning.
It comes fully assembled and equipped with porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, a cast-aluminum lid and body, and an expansive warranty.
If you want to go electric while keeping the feel of a traditional grill, this will not let you down.
Pros:
- Flexible and high temperatures
- Large cooking space
- Expansive warranty
- Long power cord
- Sturdy
Cons:
- Outdoor only
- Sits low without base attachment or platform
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan (Highly-affordable/universal use)
Highly affordable
Most indoor grill reviews won’t include a grill pan, but I find it to be a highly versatile tool to have in the kitchen. Professionals chefs use these frequently to create beautiful grill marks on bread, meat, etc.
A grill pan is essentially a heavy frying pan with a grill embedded into it.
The Lodge Cast Iron Grill is a heavy-duty, 10.5 inch no-nonsense grill pan that can be used on an existing stove-top, in the oven, on an outdoor grill, or over a fire.
Lodge seasons (treats with heated fat for non-stick purposes) all of their products in the factory, and is known for producing high quality cast-iron, American made products.
This is a quality, inexpensive item that if cared for properly (read directions) will last a lifetime.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Long-lasting
- Portable
- Use anywhere
Cons:
- Small
- Need a heat source
- No fat drainage
What Are the Different Types of Indoor Grills?
There are three main types of indoor grills:
- Open grills
- Contact grills
- Grill pans
They all accomplish the same thing, which is to cook meat, vegetables, or even sandwiches, but they vary in function, size, cleaning convenience, etc.
Open and contact use electricity to heat, while grill pans go right on your existing stove-top or in your oven. Choosing the right grill will depend on your own personal preferences and what you intend on cooking.
Below, is a breakdown of the differences between each type and what they are best suited for.
Product reviews will come later, but don’t hesitate to check out these grills along the way if they describe what you are looking for.
Open Grills
These grills are typically the largest of indoor grills, and are named as such because they feature one standard grilling platform, as opposed to contact grills which feature upper and lower grills that cook food from both sides.
Open grills resemble a standard outdoor grill, and recreate the taste of an outdoor grill most accurately.
Contact Grills
Contact grills are very efficient at cooking things fast and creating distinctive grill or sear-marks. They are called “contact grills” because they feature two grills that allow them to clamp down on food and cook from both sides.
Many contact grills are also used as griddles, or laid flat to double your cooking space.
Grill Pans
Grill pans are essentially frying pans with a grill embedded in them. They will cook your food while creating the sought after grill marks. These can be used on an existing stove-top, outdoor grill, campfire, or in the oven.
Now that we’ve taken a look at the different types of indoor grills, we will go over some features that will make your grilling experience more efficient.
What Features Should you Look for in an Indoor-Grill?
Certain features of indoor grills are straightforward, such as temperature-range, size, type, and cleaning ability, while others like smoke-reduction and cord length are less obvious.
As mentioned before, choosing the right grill will depend on your own needs and preferences, but aim for something that checks as many of the following boxes as possible.
Temperature-Range
One would assume that when they purchase a grill it will most certainly reach an optimal temperature range to cook food quickly and efficiently, but this is not always the case.
Select a grill with a temperature range between 425-450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Size
Open grills tend to be larger, but contact grills often fold open to double cooking space. Consider your cooking needs and choose a size that will facilitate the quantities of food you plan on eating or serving.
Type
We already went over the types of grills, so use that as a guide to determine the type of grill to purchase. For instance, if you want to have the option of making grilled sandwiches, a contact grill might be the best product for you.
Cleaning Ability
Being able to easily remove and clean your grill plate or drip tray is an essential feature; choose something that can either go in the dishwasher or be easily cleaned by hand.
Smoke Reduction/ Cord-Length
While there are plenty of small nuances that can be listed about indoor grills, I find the most important to be smoke reduction and cord length. Cooking indoors often results in an abundance of smoke from burning grease and fat.
As such, it is worth taking note of a product’s ability to transfer fat and grease away from the cooking surface and into a drip tray.
Finally, and perhaps overlooked, adequate cord-length ensures you are not confined to positioning your grill within one inch of your power outlet. As indoor grills are electric, it is important to remember your cooking station will be dictated by outlet location and cord length.
There are certainly other features that indoor grills can offer, but for the purpose of this product review/recommendation, I will end there and hopefully assist you in your decision by offering the following product reviews.
Final Thoughts
Grilling is a healthy, delicious, fun way to cook food, and a favorite pastime of many. It brings families and friends together and makes for great memories.
Don’t sacrifice the fun and entertainment of grilling due to external circumstances; invest in an indoor electric grill and keep the experience going all year long, come rain or shine.
Download this cheat sheet to hack your monthly electric bill.
