How to choose the best electric grill?
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Do you find it hard to give up grilled food? And you live in an apartment for the lion’s share of the year? There is no need to deprive yourself of your favorite dishes because long ago invented such a device as an electric grill. What grill model to choose, I will tell in this article.
Spring and summer, for me it the time of barbecues and kebabs, but not always and not everywhere you can cook food on the grill. For example, in winter, in a city apartment, it seems at all impossible. However, this notion is wrong, the main thing is to understand how to choose an electric grill for a home.
Buying this kitchen appliance is not as simple a process as it may seem. There are quite a few modifications of this device, and he himself is not very cheap, so the choice of electric grill for home – a very serious matter.
The grill has many advantages, the main one is that it allows you to cook many very healthy dishes. At the same electric grill can be used in any room with good ventilation and electricity. Usually, such a device has a thermostat system to easily adjust the temperature, which is very important when cooking steaks, for example. In addition, the electric grill heats up quickly and thus saves time, and because there is no open flame, it is safer than a gas grill. Many models of electric grills are lightweight and quite mobile.
Today I will tell you about the grill models:
- Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 Indoor Electric Countertop Grill. While it reaches 260° on the inside, there are cool touch lift handles on the outside. Hot air exits the Ninja Doodi Grill Pro at the top back of the lid.
- Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill. This is a top-of-the-line grill that, as its name implies, comes with five additional features. It grills, air chips, bakes, roasts, grills and dehydrates your food. Although it has a large interior for family dinners, it will fit on any countertop.
- SHAQ Smokeless Grill & Press Electric Indoor Searing Grill. To be able to cook chef-style food or just reheat it, the grill gives you the ability to choose the temperature you want. You can choose the temperature from 140 to 450 degrees.
- CUSIMAX Smokeless Indoor Electric Grill. This model is a 2-in-1 grill that acts as a griddle and grill. It comes with an exhaust fan system that will clear the smoke while you’re cooking.
- CUSIMAX Indoor & Cheese Ractlette Electric. Perfect for parties and family dinners. With the reversible non-stick tray, the fluted surface can be grilled with grill marks and easily remove excess oil.
Care of a compact electric grill is usually very easy because the unit is mobile and the removable panels can be washed in the dishwasher. However, the grill should always be cleaned not only from the inside but also from the outside to avoid grease buildup. The outer surfaces and grease tray can be cleaned with warm water and soap. Interestingly enough, the juice and grease from the grill can be used in cooking other dishes. The grill grate should be cleaned by hand without the use of abrasives or hard sponges and brushes.
How to choose a grill that is right for you?
Despite the fact that there are a large number of such devices on sale today, buying the most appropriate grill is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. There are a number of recommendations given by experts, which help to choose a quality product at a quite appropriate cost.
If you never had an electric grill then it might be hard to choose the right one. So, here are some of the features that, in my opinion, are must-haves:
- On the surface of the case must be a lever that is responsible for adjusting the temperature, since different dishes require a different heating degree of the heater;
- It will not be superfluous to have a LED indicator, indicating the included power supply;
- The average grill power is within 1.5-1.7 kW, but to completely grill meat it is better to buy devices with a similar indicator from 2 to 2.5 kW;
- If finances allow, it will not hurt to take a model equipped with the function of maintaining the desired temperature;
- The tray must be removable, otherwise, it will make it difficult to clean the device after the end of cooking;
- The working surface should be smooth – this also facilitates the use of the product.
All of these factors are very important. The best choice would be an electric grill, the surface of which is suitable for any dish. It can be either grooved or smooth, and it is also possible to have interchangeable panels of heat-resistant materials such as stainless steel or aluminum. Today also produce electric grills with the glass-ceramic heating surface, but such devices for all their beauty have all the disadvantages of this material, for example, the pan can simply break if you splash cold water on it without giving it enough time to cool down.
Finally, the device should be easy to handle and clean. Removable accessories that can be washed in the dishwasher are a big advantage. In addition, their presence expands the functionality of the device, providing the opportunity to bake, for example, waffles or fry a sandwich.
It should also be mentioned that each manufacturer offers some kind of “chip”, making exactly his device unique. For example, I liked the idea of a special container in which you can pour a mixture of water and spices. As the water evaporates, it gives the aroma of the spices to the dish.
TOP-5 electric grills to buy right now
I tried to compile the most comprehensive rating of the best electric grills so that the reader could easily decide on the choice of the device. The review was compiled not only on the basis of the key characteristics of the device, but also on the basis of user reviews, so it includes only the most popular products.
Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 Indoor Electric Countertop Grill
The top door/cover swings up to 45 cm (fits well under 600 mm overhead cabinets), and the minimum bench depth is 60 cm.
While it reaches 260° on the inside, there are cool touch lift handles on the outside. Hot air comes out of the grill at the top back of the lid. I doubt the airflow will hurt the splashback, but you need to avoid placing it near a painted wall or under benches, etc.
Power Consumption: It’s rated at 1,760 watts, as confirmed by my EmberIQ meter. This means that each hour of cooking will cost about 80 cents at peak rates (50 cents per kWh).
The fryer basket is used as needed, as is the round cake mold (not included, but must fit inside the pan).
It probably has the best price for Ninja Foodi grill among every grill in my rating.
Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill
Customers love its stainless steel and black design, as well as the cooking results of each dish. There are very few negative reviews about it, but several customers have said that it is quite expensive and that it has too many components that need to be washed after each use (although they are dishwasher safe).
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL has a very modern design. It’s made of stainless steel and black for a stylish look, and some minor details are painted red on the front, on the touch screen.
As I found out thanks to this Ninja Foodi Grill Review, you can cook up to 2 pounds of fries at once, 24 hot dogs, or up to six steaks. It’s perfect for family dinners as well as making main dishes and side dishes at the same time.
SHAQ Smokeless Grill & Press Electric Indoor Searing Grill
This grill has two removable grill plates that go on the grill. They are made of non-stick material, so you don’t have to worry about your food sticking to the grill. This makes plates easier to clean. You shouldn’t be left with any residue after cooking your food.
To be able to cook your food chef-style or just reheat it, the Shaq smokeless grill gives you the option to choose the temperature you want. You can choose temperatures from 140 to 450 degrees.
To help users clean up more easily, this grill and press comes with a double drip pan on the bottom. This drip pan directs fat and grease from your food away from the food and into the pan. In addition to making it easier to clean, it also helps prevent food from getting too greasy.
CUSIMAX Smokeless Indoor Electric Grill
This model is a 2-in-1 grill that acts as a griddle and grill. It comes with an exhaust fan system that will clear the smoke while you’re cooking.
Countless positive reviews indicate that this is the best electric griddle and grill combo available. You can use it to fry a steak or make pancakes.
The skillet and grill are coated with nonstick Teflon, making it easy to put in the dishwasher. It comes with an LED display that makes it easy to change the temperature on the go.
CUSIMAX Indoor & Cheese Ractlette Electric
Equipped with 8 heat-resistant raclette trays, this cheese raclette can cook cheese dishes for up to 8 people at a time. It can be used to make raclette cheese, desserts, and other foods, and to keep food warm. The non-stick coating makes it easy to remove and clean food.
With adjustable heat control and indicator light, this indoor tabletop grill is suitable for grilling all types of meats, seafood, vegetables or eggs, pancakes, and pancakes. Just finish your day’s meals in one machine. Heats in advance for the best results.
A reversible baking tray and 8 raclette trays can be easily removed. Non-stick coating can easily help you remove food and clean easily. The 19 x 9 inch size can be easily stored and moved. Your portable restaurant!
After testing it, I can safely say that this is the best smokeless indoor grill. It is good-looking and has everything you can possibly need.
Each grill has its own purpose
Every grill has unique features. You just need to decide which ones you really need.
Universal, closed or open. With the former you can choose the most suitable way of cooking, closed models resemble a press, which allows you to cook food just like in a regular oven or stove. With open devices, the working surface is placed directly over the heating element of the infrared type.
Contact and non-contact – here everything is clear: in the first case, the products are in contact with the heating element, in the second such contact is not provided.
Stationary and portable, and the first can be not only desktop but also floor. Portable can be used for trips to the countryside;
The material of which the work surface is made can be steel, glass-ceramic, or cast iron. Glass ceramic is easy to clean, but quite fragile, so it is purchased less often. The most versatile and durable is considered a metal model, equipped with a non-stick coating, in addition, the price of the grill with such a surface is not too high;
The body can be made of plastic or stainless steel. In the first case, the device will be characterized by a low price, but not too good quality, stainless steel housing will last much longer.
The right choice of electric grill for the home depends not only on the technical nuances but also on how easy to care for the device. In the process of cooking chicken or fish on the frying surface and other elements of the product will get grease, soot, and particles of burnt skin. Not surprisingly, all this every time after using the device will have to be thoroughly cleaned.
However, such work will not seem too hard, if the waste container and some other parts of the design can be easily pulled out (removed) and put back in. It is good if the body of the device does not have any slots and hard-to-reach places that would be difficult to wash or clean. And the control panel should not have any moldings or recesses where dirt will be clogged.
