Indoor electric grills bring backyard fun into your home at any time of the year. Grilling produces tender and flavorful meat, but did you know that it's also a healthier way to cook? Well-designed indoor grills allow fat to run off while you cook, so you’ll save on calories and cholesterol.

Finding one that’s practical and affordable can be a challenge, and so here are our picks for the best electric grills of 2020. After reading our reviews, you’ll have everything you need to choose which is right for you.

PRODUCT

FEATURES

Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill - $$title$$

Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill

  • 1-year warranty
  • 118 square inch grilling surface
  • 450 degree max temperature

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George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill - $$title$$

George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

  • 1-year warranty
  • 240 square inch grilling surface
  • 450 degree max temperature

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Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill - $$title$$

Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill

  • 1-year warranty
  • 115.625 square inch grilling surface
  • 410 degree max temperature

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Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler - $$title$$

Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler

  • 3-year warranty
  • 200 square inch grilling surface
  • 425 degree max temperature

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Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill - $$title$$

Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill

  • 1-year warranty
  • 240 square inch grilling surface
  • 446 degree max temperature

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Why You Need an Indoor Electric Grill

When the weather turns and your backyard barbecue is in danger of being canceled, do you have a backup plan? An indoor grill can be an inexpensive and efficient way to ensure your parade is never rained on, literally or figuratively. If you’re a true barbecue fanatic, you know that there’s no substitute for the flavor of perfectly seared grill marks. You can do your dinners (and diners) a favor by going electric and bringing the summer fun indoors even through the cold months of the year.

What to Look For in an Electric Grill

These are the qualities we use to evaluate indoor grills and griddles:

Maximum Temperature

Seared Steak

To get the sear marks that every grilling fanatic desires, you’ll need to make sure that your equipment can sustain a high maximum temperature. 350 degrees won't quite cut it, but grills that can reach 400 degrees and above will sear perfectly every time.

Cooking Space

Unless you’re planning on keeping your indoor grilling to yourself, it’s important to keep in mind how many people you’ll be cooking for. You can find products with surfaces just big enough for two burgers to massive indoor/outdoor grills capable of cooking for an entire super bowl party.

Ask yourself how many servings you’re likely to cook up at any given time, then multiply that by 20. That number is the minimum surface area (in square inches) that you should look for in any griddle you buy.

Weight

One of the nicest things about indoor grills is how portable they are. You will want a grill that’s easy to take in and out of your cabinets.

Cleanup

We prize easy cleanup above almost any other feature for an indoor grill. The bells and whistles of an indoor electric grill won’t be worth anything if you never want to use it! Look for models that have dishwasher-safe components, non-stick grill plates, and easily-removed drip trays for grease.

The Best Way to Use an Electric Griddle

Getting started with an electric grill isn’t quite the same as a gas or charcoal grill. To get the best out of your new kitchen equipment, you’ll need to let it thoroughly pre-heat; this way, your meat will start searing as soon as it hits the grill.

Since indoor searing usually takes place at lower temperatures than you’d find over charcoal or gas, consider marinating your meat before cooking. This will both give it more flavor, and allow it to cook faster and more evenly.

What You Need to Get Started

Indoor electric grills are one of the most convenient and time-saving pieces of kitchen equipment you can invest in. Right out of the box, each product here requires very little assembly (usually around 10 minutes). All you need to get started is an outlet and a few great recipes.

Top 5 Indoor Electric Grill Reviews

Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill

The most unique feature of this model Hamilton Beach is the built-in viewing window so you can see when your food is fully cooked. It's powerful, doesn't produce too much smoke (especially if you add water to the lower tray before cooking), and the 450 degree max temp makes perfect searing possible.

118 square inches of surface area make it capable of cooking for up to 6 people. Cleanup is easy; the indoor grill hood, plate, and extra large drip tray are dishwasher-safe. Honestly the biggest downside to this model is the plastic housing (sturdy, but still, it's plastic) and the short power cord.

Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill

    It's lightweight (under 8 pounds) and gets very very hot. The combination of dishwasher-safe components and quick preheating mean you'll use it frequently.

      Pros:

    • High maximum temperature leaves perfect sear marks
    • Viewing window lets you monitor the cooking process
    • Cooks for up to 6 people
      Cons:

    • Plastic housing is fragile
    • Teflon coating starts to flake off if mishandled

George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

We have the original George Foreman electric grill to thank for making this category of kitchen equipment widely available today.

This Foreman is a 240 square inch beast of a grill that can cook up to 16 burgers at a time. It's designed to be used both indoors and outdoors with a removable stand. For less than $100, this is the best size-for-your-money deal. Be warned though, unless you're regularly cooking for large numbers of people, you might also want to get a smaller grill. Cleaning a grill this size isn't easy; it's a big giant circle that's tough to fit in a sink.

George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

    If you need the biggest cooking capacity available indoors, the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor electric grill is the right choice for you. Its added weight is a small price to pay for the incredible cooking capacity.

      Pros:

    • Huge 240 square inch grilling space
    • George-tough nonstick coating is extremely durable
    • Very quick pre-heating lets you get started right away
      Cons:

    • Heavier than most indoor grills
    • The power cord needs to be longer

Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill

If you’re short on counter space or just appreciate a minimalist aesthetic in your kitchen, this Japanese-made cooking appliance may be a perfect fit for you. The 115 square inch cooking surface and 410 degree maximum temperature make it better suited for quick grilling foods like kebabs and vegetables, while the slotted design helps to direct grease away from foods while they cook.

A dishwasher safe drip tray helps to make cleanup somewhat easier, but it’s still recommended that you hand wash the cooking grate to preserve the non-stick coating.

Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill

    The Zojirushi is ideal for anyone who enjoys grilling in the Japanese style, or anyone looking to keep their kitchen simple and efficient.

      Pros:

    • Easy to assemble and disassemble
    • Open cooking surface is perfect for skewers and vegetables
    • Cooks for up to 6 people
      Cons:

    • Have to hand wash the cooking grate
    • Not the best for hamburgers

Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler

It’s hard enough to find a single-purpose kitchen appliance. But this 5-in-1 design from Cuisinart tried to be a jack-of-all-trades: a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle and half grill/half griddle. When the grill is open, it lays flat, allowing you to use both top and bottom surfaces for cooking, converting from 100 square inches to 200.

Of all the products we reviewed, it has the most versatile cooking applications. And if you want to make paninis and fry eggs, then sure, this one is for you. If you just want the best possible grilling experience, we would choose a different option.

Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler

    Jack of all trades but master of none? It's a great product and people love it, but if you're here for a grill, get a grill.

      Pros:

    • Combines 5 cooking functions into 1 affordable package
    • Great versatility for all types of recipes
    • Adjustable temperature and cooking space can feed 4-8 people
      Cons:

    • Drip tray design can’t handle much grease
    • Pre-heating takes a long time

Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill

We were truly impressed with how well the "advanced infrared technology" of the Philips Smoke-less allowed for faster and better grilling. And yes, it was impressively smoke-less. Of all the products we reviewed, the Philips most consistently delivered perfect sear marks and (more) authentic barbecue flavor.

The grill plate is ruggedly non-stick and completely dishwasher safe. This is truly an innovative solution to your indoor grilling needs, but it's 50 - 75% more expensive than comparably-sized electric grills.

Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill

    The Philips Smokeless Indoor BBQ Grill is an excellent choice for anyone looking to spend less time pre-heating and cleaning, and more time grilling. If smoke is a worry (apartment living, perhaps?) then this might be your best option.

      Pros:

    • Quick pre-heating
    • Super easy cleanup
    • Excellent searing for authentic BBQ flavor
      Cons:

    • Infrared cooking system gives off very bright light underneath food
    • Not 100% free of smoke
    • Expensive

Conclusion

After thoroughly reviewing all of the indoor electric grills we could get our hands on, we’re confident in recommending the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill as our #1 pick. Its combination of quick heating and great surface area is hard to find, especially for the price. Comment below if you agree or disagree.