The Best Electric Grill

This is my review of the best electric grill for 2021.

Unfortunately there is no “one size fits all” solution to buying electric grills, so I have selected the most common categories and reviewed the best in each.

Makes it easier for you to decide which one to pick.

If you want me to get to the point: The best electric grill that looks like a real grill is the Weber Q1400, with a close contender being the George Foreman GIO2000BK.

The Weber Q1400 lets you sear perfect steaks with its 8.35 watts/sq.inch cooking power. The George Foreman GIO2000BK is similar in many aspects, but it is usually significantly cheaper than the Weber.

My Recommendations

My motivation behind writing this review article

I feel let down by the internet. More specifically, review websites.

When I decided that I needed an electric grill I started my research by googling the term “best electric grill”.

What a Gigantic waste of time that turned out to be!

Most review websites simply copy-paste unnecessary features from the manufacturers website, without any regard to what benefit that would bring me – the end user.

Moreover, they tend to get longer and longer. What is the point in having a review site if you list 20 different “best” whatevers for the same search?

It just leads to more confusion.

I decided to change this up, and I will help you to make a better decision when shopping for the best electric grill.

Why am I qualified to give you advice? Because I went through the same struggle. Spoiler alert: In the end, I bought myself a T-fal Optigrill.

What did I look for when I bought the Optigrill?

• I needed a versatile machine, since I like eating paninis as well as cooking meat
• Must have a drip tray if it is a contact / countertop grill with an angle
• I actually want a contact grill and I will keep it on display on my countertop
• Preferably has an angle to get rid of excess fat
• Must be easy to clean – plates removable and dishwasher safe, remaining elements of the grill easy to access
• Must keep heat consistent, and preferably heats up fast

Considering all these things led me to a decision that I have not regretted since. My grill sits on the countertop all the time. I get compliments on its looks, and I use it several times every week. Best electric grill ever!

For me, that is.

Since you might be looking for something else, read on below to find the best picks in many different categories, with small reviews so you know what you’ll get.

Best Electric Grill – Weber Q1400 Review

If you are looking for an electric grill that has an authentic look and packs a mean punch, then look no further!

Quick Stats

I have highlighted the key features and some benefits of the Weber Q1400 grill below.

Size and Power

• 189 square inches cooking surface
• About 6 burgers at the same time
• 1560 Watts of power

Extra Features/Functions

• Cast Iron cooking grate
• Has a lid and is lined with aluminium for heat retention

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Although advertised by Weber as an outdoor grill, the manual states “Do not use the grill when raining”
• The design makes this more suitable as an outdoor or patio grill
• Cast iron griddles create a fair amount of smoke

Temperature Control

• Infinite heat control settings with a single knob

Easy Cleaning

• The catch pan is removable
• The griddle is dishwasher safe

Why you should consider the Weber Q1400 Electric Grill

If you live somewhere where gas and charcoal grilling is prohibited, but you want to look the part, then the Weber Q1400 is your best bet.

The grill is adequately sized for a family of four, but you can put up to 6 burger buns on the large griddles.

The cast iron griddles create a fantastic sear! I really like grills that have heavy grates, and this is perfect. The downside of this is that the Q1400 creates a substantial amount of smoke. Unfortunately not enough to give your food a true smoky flavor, but still.

This is why you should use the Weber Q1400 only outside.

Weber Q1400 vs Q2400

Why would you pick a smaller grill if you can get a larger one? Think again.

• The Q2400 has the same 1560 Watt heating element as the Q1400. But the griddle size is larger!
• The Q1400 has 8.25 watts per square inch. The Q2400 has 5.5 watts per square inch. Math doesn’t lie. The Weber Q1400 is awesome and will get to and hold sear temperature better than the Q2400.

The Q1400 needs about 20 minutes to heat up properly, which is surprisingly long. This is, again, due to the cast iron griddles. Keep this in mind when planning your dinner.

The Weber grill does not come with a stand, which is somewhat surprising. You can either put it on a table, or buy an original Weber portable cart sold separately.

There is an adjustable knob for the temp settings. This feels really natural, but there is no indication what the exact temperature actually is. You’ll get used to this after a while, and the booklet Weber adds helps a lot initially.

If you want to see the temperature then you have to use a third party thermometer.

Setup takes only a couple minutes, which is a real treat. I am so done with grills that take “hours” to assemble! You only have to attach the handle and temperature gauge, add the griddle and you are good to go.

It is easy to clean with a removable drip tray and a griddle that can go into the dishwasher. The design is very sleek, no hidden and weird spots where grease could collect.

It has a lid, so you can cook a wide variety of foods. Weber even provides a handy little grilling booklet which helps you set the correct temp!

As a conclusion, the Weber Q1400 is a grill I’d buy in a heartbeat if I wanted something for my patio, but I could not use gas or charcoal. According to some reviewers this is the next best thing to a charcoal grill, and I tend to agree with them.

Best Value Electric Grill – George Foreman GIO2000BK Review

The George Foreman GIO2000BK Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill is a really well designed grill and a close contender to the Weber Q1400 with a milder price tag.

Quick Stats

Check out the most important features of the George Foreman GIO2000BK Electric grill below.

Size and Power

• 240 square inches cooking surface, circular design
• 15 burgers at the same time? I have my doubts.
• 1600 Watts of power

Extra Features/Functions

• Arrives with a stand included
• Has a lid for heat retention

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Although advertised by George Foreman as an outdoor grill, the manual states “Do not use outside”
• You can use it without its stand on a countertop, but is very bulky

Temperature Control

• 5 temp settings on a twistable knob
• Not “Infinite” like the Weber Q1400

Easy Cleaning

• Small removable plastic drip tray – dishwasher safe
• The griddle is also dishwasher safe, but very bulky. Expect some difficulties
• The top lid has the electric console attached, so hand wash only

Why you should consider the George Foreman GIO2000BK Electric Grill

This electric grill shares many commonalities with the Weber Q1400 but the price is usually much lower. Especially so if you consider that the box contains a leg for the grill.

You can use it outside when it is not raining, but George Foreman recommends in their FAQ section to use their grill cover if you want to store the grill outside. This grill is for you if you have a nice patio or want to grill outside, but you can’t use gas or charcoal.

You can remove the stand, and place it on your table. I like this because it is possible to use the George Foreman GIO2000BK grill while eating. Put it in the middle of the table and everyone can cook their own meat or veggies at the same time.

They advertise this grill as being very large and serving up to 15 people at the same time. Honestly, I have my doubts. While the size of the griddle seems adequate for this, it has only 1600 watts of power. This is the only reason why it is not my choice as the best electric grill. 1800 or even 2000 watts would feel more adequate.

The reason it still ranks this high is its attractive price. 

Overall, most websites have absolutely raving reviews about this item. Tens of thousands of people have bought this grill and are exceptionally happy with their purchase. Naturally, there are some minor gripes as you would expect: Some people have reported that the temperature setting knob gets hot during use, and that the cable can get loose.

Cleaning might also be somewhat tricky, because even though you can put the griddle in the dishwasher it is “monstrous”. The circular shape makes it hard to fit well, even when washing in the sink.

There are some reviews mentioning this, and while the plates are really large I feel like this is a very individual problem to have.

For example, I have an extra large sink (from IKEA) in my kitchen. I can clean just about anything I want, especially if I turn the faucet away. Obviously someone with a regular sized sink might have trouble to fit the entire griddle without turning.

As a conclusion, the George Foreman GIO2000BK electric grill has everything you could want, at a very attractive price point.

• Lid and stand included, very large griddle
• 5 temp settings 1600 watts
• Reasonably easy to clean

Due to this, I can wholeheartedly recommend the GIO2000BK if you are looking for a well-balanced grill with a more outdoor feel. The price/value is just unbeatable.

Best High End Electric Grill – Kenyon B70082 Floridian Review

It doesn’t happen often that I get the itch to buy something when doing research, but the more reviews I read the more I wish I had bought this grill.

Quick Stats

You can read the full features on the product page.

Size and Power

• 155 square inches cooking surface, square design
• 2-3 people, bit more if meat only
• 1300 Watts of power
• No cold spots on the griddle!

Extra Features/Functions

• USA manufactured, stainless steel guaranteed to never rust
• Has a lid for heat retention
• Touch controls!

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Equally suited for indoors and outdoors, keep out of rain or water
• Cart sold separately, you can use it on a table
• Smoke free design for indoor cooking

Temperature Control

• Touch controls with 8 settings
• Gets to 600° F+ within 10 minutes!

Easy Cleaning

• Griddle and drip tray are dishwasher safe
• The lid is dishwasher safe as well!
• Nearly the entire grill is made of stainless steel, which is exceptionally easy to clean!

Why you should consider the Kenyon B70082 Floridian All Seasons Electric Grill

Honestly, just reviewing this grill made me excited. Yes, I know that it is expensive, but just look at all these reasonable features! Maybe a sign that I am getting older, but who knows. I like quality stuff.

This grill gets up to 600° F+ temps in only 10 minutes. This is equal to a hot burning charcoal grill, and the fact that it only takes 10 minutes is amazing. 600 degrees mean perfect grill marks on a well browned piece of meat.

The Kenyon B70082 Floridian electric grill has “quality” written all over it. It is made of stainless steel, guaranteed to never rust. 

Cleaning stainless steel is a breeze, by the way. There is nothing that might peel off even when using harsher cleaning solutions. If you have some stainless steel pots then you know what I am talking about. 

You can put the griddle, the drip pan and even the frigging lid into the dishwasher. The rest will take only minutes to clean by hand. The touch controls are made of ceramic glass, and are sealed against rain or other fluids. Just wipe it off and you are good to go.

The Kenyon B70082 Floridian is the best grill for a boat, by the way. This is part of the reason why it is manufactured to such high standards. No wonder that it is mostly waterproof!

Kenyon found a way to directly heat the griddle, and this ensures that there are no cold spots. Although small, the entire 155 inch area has an even temperature so you can cook without problems in the corners.

If you are worried about the 1300 watts power consider the following. The Weber Q1400 electric grill gets 8.25 watts per square inch. The Kenyon B70082 Floridian has 8.38 watts per square inch, and is directly heated. In relative terms it is more powerful than the Weber, although with smaller dimensions.

Get this: The drip tray functions as a moisturizer. Kenyon states in the manual that you have to add water into the drip tray in order to operate this grill. But not only that: you can add any type of liquid (that is safe to consume).

Gone are the days where you are pouring beer on your chicken wings out of a can. Not only that, but it is downright dangerous to pour something on an electric grill. You can’t reproduce this feature with most other grills. Best you can do is marinate your meat beforehand.

With the Kenyon all you have to do is just add beer, wine or even juice to the drip tray, close the lid, and voilá! There are several recommendations and I won’t list them all, but  have you ever tried pork grilled in apple juice steam? It is heavenly.

Accessories like grill cart and cover are sold separately, which is a shame but understandable for a high-end device. There is no, or only minimal heat transfer so you can safely use this electric grill on a kitchen table.

The only real downside I see to this grill is its size. The grilling surface is sufficient for 4 people maximum, if you have a larger family or more guests then you will need a bigger grill. 

According to many opinions and reviews on the net nothing comes even close in quality to the Kenyon B70082 Floridian. If I didn’t like paninis that much I’d honestly consider getting one.

Best Smokeless Electric Grill – Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill Review

Most indoor “panini” type grills are smokeless. Philips took it to the next level.

Quick Stats

This grill has some interesting features, see below.

Size and Power

• 112 square inches cooking surface
• Suitable for 2 portions in one go
• 1660 Watts of power

Extra Features/Functions

• Square griddle with handles
• Clever design to avoid smoke
• Setup is 1 minute or less

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Indoor only

Temperature Control

• Only two settings: “Keep warm”, and “On”
• Gets to 446° F within 5-8 minutes
• Keeps constant temperature due to its design

Easy Cleaning

• Griddle and drip tray are dishwasher safe
• Body made of plastic, wipe it off after use

Why you should consider the Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill

I hope you have your sunglasses on, because the future looks bright. The engineers at Philips took the power of a sun and chained it into a small plastic device. At least that’s what it looks like if you turn on the infrared heating elements of this grill. It is really bright.

Speaking of the design, it is quite unique.

Most grills have the heaters somewhere on the bottom (or the top as well in case of a panini press), which will cause smoke when fat drips onto them.

The Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill has the heating rods positioned on the side of the grill. More than that, they are angled upwards, so the bottom of the grill and the drip tray remain cold.

When fat or bits of food fall down, then they will simply remain there without cooking. No sizzling, no smoking, no nothing.

You should buy this grill if the Kenyon is too expensive for you, but you still want something similar in design. There are a few tests that show that this grill makes considerably less smoke compared to other types of grills.

Keep in mind that this also means that the griddle will not get up to a searing temp. Food will cook well, but don’t expect an immediate satisfying sizzling sound when cooking on the Philips Smoke-Less Indoor BBQ grill.

Overall, this grill has very good reviews and is highly rated. Most negative comments are due to the excessive amount of light that is produced when it is turned on.

If you have the assets go for a Kenyon. Otherwise, consider this one as a reasonable alternative.

Best Budget Electric Grill – George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press Review

Another George Foreman on the list, this time in the budget category 

Quick Stats

There is nothing surprising about this grill, but it gets the job done

Size and Power

• 60 square inches cooking surface
• Enough surface area for about 2 burger patties
• 1150 Watts of power

Extra Features/Functions

• Panini-press style
• Indicator light
• Improved heat-up time

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Indoor only

Temperature Control

• On or Off. No inbetween.
• Has a light when plates are up to temp

Easy Cleaning

• Griddle and drip tray are dishwasher safe
• Body made of plastic, wipe it off after use

Why you should consider the George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press

This is one of the most desired, purchased, and reviewed grills available today. Tens of thousands of people have bought it and the vast majority are really satisfied.

Price/Value is on point. There is nothing unnecessary or fancy about the grill. The griddles are removable and dishwasher safe, so you can save time on cleaning.

The case is made of plastic, and tends to get hot during use. When you are done cooking you can simply wipe it off and you are good to go.

Personally, I like the panini-press style grills. You can make incredible melts and paninis on this grill.

An additional benefit of this design is that you don’t have to turn or move your food when cooking. The top griddle is heated as well and will ensure even cooking from the top.

My main gripe with the George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill is the size.

Why do they advertise it as a 4 person grill, when the surface area is a measly 60 square inches? You can fit 2 burger patties, or 2 chicken breasts onto them without having to worry about uncooked parts.

That is simply not enough for 4 people, no matter how you twist it.

Speaking about size, the hinges on the grill are extendable, which allows you to put thicker cuts or wider sandwiches into the grill, and it still cooks evenly. A nice touch.

The bottom griddle is angled, so excess fat will drip off into the tray. This is business as usual with most George Foreman grills, but still nice to have. Why eat fat if you don’t have to?

Regardless, this grill is wonderful if you are looking for a basic grill or panini press in the low double digit range. There are cheaper alternatives, but most of them won’t have adequate build quality or will lack certain features, like a drip tray.

Best Mini Electric Grill – George Foreman GR0040B 2-Serving Review

Cheap, and small. If the 4 serving grill is too big, then go for this one.

Quick Stats

Most cheap George Foreman electric grills are similar, but check out the specs below.

Size and Power

• 36 square inches cooking surface
• Enough surface area for 1 large burger patty
• 750 Watts of “power”

Extra Features/Functions

• Panini-press style
• Indicator light
• It has a drip tray
• Cool-touch handle (is this really extra? Am I supposed to burn my hand?)

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Indoor only

Temperature Control

• On or Off. No inbetween.
• Has a light when plates are up to temp like its big brother

Easy Cleaning

• No. Nothing of the sort
• Body made of plastic, wipe it off after use
• Plates not removable
• Very cheap. What do you expect?

Why you should consider the George Foreman GR0040B 2-Serving Electric Grill

Cheap, but not cheap. If you are looking for the original George Foreman grill, then scroll no further.

The George Foreman GR0040B is a very reasonable choice if you are strapped for cash, or if you are short on counter space. 

You can store this grill vertically!

The build quality is adequate. The plates are unfortunately not removable. Your best bet to clean them is to put a damp paper towel between them while the grill is still hot, but unplugged.

The steam escaping from the paper towel will release the burnt on bits of food, and you’ll be able to wipe everything off.

It is not hard to clean, but I’d still prefer the dishwasher. Nonetheless for the price you can’t really complain.

It has the iconic “slope” design, and a drip tray that will catch all the excess fat. 

It is so small that some people have cooked a burger while sitting in class without the teacher noticing. 

As the manufacturers of women’s clothing are slowly inflating sizes, so is George Foreman. I get the sentiment behind “portion control” but come on. Advertising this grill as being able to cook 2 servings is a blatant lie.

You can check out the reviews and see some pics. This grill fits one large burger patty at most. Or a single chicken breast. You get my point. Claiming that this would be enough for two people is a stretch.

A panini style grill will cook a mean grilled cheese, melt, or panini though, so that’s a big plus.

If you are looking for the cheapest, smallest electric grill then the George Foreman GR0040B is the one you are looking for. 

Best Smart Electric Grill – T-fal OptiGrill Review 

My boy right there. I bought my first Optigrill 3 years ago and it is still going strong. 

Quick Stats

Check the basic stats below. There are some impressive numbers

Size and Power

• 88 square inches cooking surface
• 3-4 burger patties at the same time
• Whopping 1800 Watts of power!

Extra Features/Functions

• Panini-press style
• Smart Grill tells you when your food is ready!
• Can cook from frozen
• Angled “fat removing” design with drip tray

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Indoor only

Temperature Control

• Automatic cooking, or up to 5 different settings
• Clever circular feedback light with different colors

Easy Cleaning

• Both plates, and drip tray is removable
• dishwasher safe
• Outside made of aluminium

Why you should consider the T-Fal Optigrill

Where do I start? This whole article was inspired by my struggle to find the best electric grill, which led me to the T-Fal Optigrill.

I have been using it for around 3 years now. It sits on my countertop constantly. Looks futuristic, but not like something from a science fiction movie. I get compliments all the time.

Since I am using it at least 3 times every week I have my own honest review to make instead of researching what others have written about it.

The Smart functions in the T-Fal Optigrill are awesome. The first thing I cooked in it was a tenderloin steak, because I felt like that would be a challenge to get right.

Surprise-suprise, the meat came out perfect visually, and I checked the internal temps with a meat thermometer as well.

How it works: There is a thickness sensor built into the hinge between the two plates. If you tell the Optigrill what you are cooking (by pressing the “Food Type” buttons on the handle) then it can do some serious maths and it will tell you exactly when your food is done.

With steak, it will beep multiple times: rare, medium, and well. In between, the feedback light will change its color from blue to red, very slowly, so you can see when it is between medium or rare for example.

It knows several foods depending on type Optigrill or Optigrill XL. Burgers, poultry, paninis, sausages, pork or bacon, you name it. There is also a manual mode if you want to use it like a non-smart grill.

The Optigrill can cook from frozen, and I have tried it several times with burger patties, shrimp, and pork. An example: Just press the “frozen” preselector, then “burger”. The grill will start to heat up the plates in about 8-10 minutes, then it will beep. Insert your frozen food, close the lid. Wait for the grill to beep when ready. Done.

You can use the frozen preselector on all kinds of foods, the programmers have done a really good job. It is really awesome because I don’t have to constantly monitor my food.

The top of the grill is surprisingly heavy. I like that.

It has an impressive 1800 watts of power. It heats up fast, and leaves nice grill marks on the food. The plates are angled so excess fat will drip away into the drip tray. Helpful if you are watching your caloric intake.

I clean it after each use by placing the cooled down griddles and the drip tray into the dishwasher. The rest of the grill can be wiped off. That’s it.

If you want a multifunctional grill that is easy to use, but can cook a wide variety of food automatically, then the T-Fal Optigrill is your best choice.

I am a very happy customer, even after all these years!

Best Multifunctional Electric Grill – Cuisinart Griddler Elite 300WSP1 Review

If you need your grill to be many things in one, then consider getting this

Quick Stats

Cuisinart does not mess around, as you can see below

Size and Power

• 120 – 240 square inches cooking surface
• 3 – large steaks at the same time
• 1800 Watts of power

Extra Features/Functions

• 6 cooking options in 1: Panini, full grill, top only, etc
• LCD display, timer, many functions
• Integrated drip tray

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• Indoor only

Temperature Control

• SearBlast up to 500° F
• Dual zone temp control: One griddle hotter than the other if you want
• Can set temp via two knobs

Easy Cleaning

• Both plates, and drip tray is removable
• dishwasher safe

Why you should consider the Cuisinart Griddler Elite 300WSP1 

This electric grill has it all. A true champion of versatility.

I have always wondered why certain manufacturers restrict the ability of a panini press or contact grill to be opened fully to 180 degrees. 

The Cuisinart Griddler Elite is designed in a way that you can use it as a:

• Contact Grill
• Panini Press
• Full griddle
• Full Grill
• Half griddle / Half grill
• Top melt

There is not much I can think of that you can’t do here. You can create awesome hot sandwiches with the top melt function, something that I have to do in my convection oven, even though I have a T-Fal Optigrill.

There are two separate knobs for each plate. This dual-zone feature allows you to set different temps for each griddle. If you open the grill for example, then you can cook eggs on one side, on bacon on the other. Or veggies and meat at the same time. Quite clever actually.

There is a “SearBlast” function, where it will heat up the grill to 500° F for up to two minutes. I’d use this for steaks or if I want to develop a crust on something real quick.

The plates can be removed and you can put everything into the dishwasher. Cleaning it is a breeze.

Some reviewers have mentioned that the heat distribution is not perfect on the plates, but overall it cooks very evenly. You can set a timer and it will beep as well. Cuisinart does not supply waffle plates for this grill, which is a shame.

Overall, if you want a grill in your kitchen, but are limited to a single device then go for the Cuisinart Griddler Elite. There is nothing that comes close in terms of versatility.

It is also perfect if you are hosting.. 240 square inches of surface area is enough to feed up to 8 people at the same time, and you can place the opened full grill on your kitchen table.

Best Innovative Electric Grill – Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 Review

Topping the sales and wishlist charts over and over again, check out what the AG301 has to offer

Quick Stats

Cuisinart does not mess around, as you can see below

Size and Power

• 100 square inches cooking surface, but multifunctional
• 4 steaks at the same time
• 1760 Watts of power

Extra Features/Functions

• This is a multi cooker, air fry and grill at the same time
• 6 qrt. cooking pot
• Can dehydrate your food to make beef jerky
• Can roast and bake as well
• Smoke free

Indoor vs. Outdoor

• This is a kitchen appliance so indoor only

Temperature Control

• 500° F air fry
• 4 temp settings

Easy Cleaning

• The accessories are all dishwasher safe

Why you should consider the Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1

When I want to buy something then I often start at the “Best selling” or “Wishlist” categories at my preferred online retailers website.

This is where the Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 first caught my eye.

Think of a rice cooker. Round, has a lid, and a small LED display. But internally, it is so much more. There is a griddle on the top so you can grill up to 4 steaks at the same time. Below that is a large section with a pot.

The grill circulates 500° F air within, so you can cook french fries at the same time as your steaks or burgers. That is fantastic!

Air frying is such a nice cooking method by the way. It reduces oil (and therefore fat) consumption by up to 75%. Whenever I want to eat french fries at home, I cook them in my convection oven anyway. I’d probably use this feature a lot!

Keep in mind that there is a small fan in the unit, which will make some noise. Not a lot, but still noticeable. If you close the lid while cooking then there is absolutely zero amount of smoke. All of it gets stuck within the grill, and all you can smell is the delicious food cooking.

You can grill, air fry, bake, roast and even dehydrate in this machine. According to the manufacturer the BTU (heating power) of the Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 is equal to an outdoor grill. I tend to believe them, given the vast amount of positive reviews.

The griddle is a bit lower compared to the top of the grill, so you might need a bit of extra dexterity to flip your food.

All accessories are dishwasher safe, and Ninja provides a small cooking booklet to get you started.

Most reviewers are really positive about the Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 so if you are looking for an innovative “multi cooker” that can grill, then this would be your best bet.

How To Choose The Best Electric Grill

Size – Grilling Area

Size matters. When picking your electric grill you have to consider the amount of food you have to cook on it regularly. 

Don’t go overboard just because you want the biggest, best electric grill on the block, when in reality all you do is cook for 2 people!

It takes longer to heat up a larger electric grill, and in some cases it is even counter productive. Heating elements (and therefore wattage) might be the same on grills even though one might have a larger cooking area.

What does this mean? If all else equal, It means that the amount of watts (cooking power) you get per square inch will be less on a larger grill, compared to a smaller one.

This in turn will lead to uneven cooking as the griddle will cool down faster when you place something on it. That poor heating element will struggle to heat it back up to a sear, and you will end up with a grey, disgusting looking piece of meat!

On the other hand, if you have a large family or you are hosting grill parties every week then you should pick a larger electric grill with more wattage.

Extra Features/Functions

Consider why you want the grill in the first place. When I was trying to find the best electric grill I always came back to this basic question: “What do I need it for?“

Personally, I love eating steaks, and I like hot paninis or other melts. Read my article about reverse-searing. We eat them so often that I was definitely looking for something that can do both. This is why I bought the T-fal Optigrill.

If you need the most basic, barebones electric grill to cook some burgers, then there is no point in spending a fortune for functions that you won’t even use.

If you want to cook multiple things at once, or prefer hands-off cooking, then go for a smart grill or a multi-cooker like the Ninja Foodi AG301

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Or rather “under a roof, or under the stars”. Some electric grills on my list look just like regular charcoal or gas grills. You’d be hard pressed to keep them on a kitchen counter, as they are too bulky and produce a significant amount of heat.

If you are looking for the best electric grill because local laws prohibit you from cooking with gas or charcoal, then you can pick something visually identical to a normal outdoor grill, like the George Foreman GIO2000BK or the Weber Q1400. Make sure to get their respective stands or legs for that authentic look!

If you want a smoke free electric grill because you cook in your kitchen, then pick something smaller.

My review features both, since there isn’t a one size fits all approach to this.

Temperature Control

Are you on a budget? Most grills in the lower price ranges don’t have adjustable temperature controls.

You can cook on a grill without it. It is not “essential”. But I still like to have it in some form, because I like consistent results.

If your budget allows it, then the best electric grill you can pick will be the one where the temperatures can be adjusted.

Cleaning

I hate cleaning. Except, not really. It all depends whether I have the proper tools and how user friendly the equipment is.

The best electric grill in my opinion is the one that can be cleaned in minutes. It must have a removable griddle, and it must be dishwasher safe. You won’t catch me bent over a sink trying to scrub off burnt on pieces of meat, when my dishwasher can do it way better.

Apart from removable plates, the design of the electric grill should take ease of access into consideration. I don’t want any hard to reach places. I want to be able to clean all the places where grease might go.

Safety

This is something marginal, as the best electric grills I have reviewed are highly rated and safe for you to use. I’d probably worry if this was a site promoting china knock-offs, but all those links above are pointing to reputed sellers and quality manufacturers. No issues there.

Nonetheless, I like grills with large handles that are easy to grip. Especially if the lid or the grill is heavy.

Oh, and yes, in my opinion a grill should be heavy! The more mass it has the better it retains heat.

My Verdict

Depending on your needs there are several choices for the best electric grill. If you are looking for an outdoor gas substitute, then go for the Weber Q1400.

If you want something premium, or want to grill on a boat, then buy the Kenyon Floridian.

If you are more into panini presses, or need to grill indoors then you might want to pick the Optigrill, or the Cuisinart Elite.

If you have gotten this far, then you can scroll back to the top by clicking here and check out the quick “Best of Table” to see the best grills in each category. I am sure that you’ll be able to find the one you are looking for, without having to read through thousands of reviews.

Enjoy your meal!