Elite Platinum EGL-6501 Large drip pan

Easy to clean

Clear lid locks in flavor

Heats up quickly and evenly

The Elite Platinum EGL-6501 does everything you could want from a standard grill. You want the searing action and neatly present food? It does that. If you want to do more than just grill, it gives you the option to switch out the plates and create all sort of culinary dishes.

You’ll find that the Elite is reasonably priced especially for all the added features that this indoor grill offers. But for those who are looking for a more simplistic grill, you might like our best priced indoor grill.

Sale Hamilton Beach 25331 Super Sear Offers a “searing” feature

Heats up fast

Cooks fast

Easy clean up with a washcloth and soap

Yedi Houseware Total Package 6-in-1 Grill Lightweight

Cooks evenly

This is a 6-1 product giving you the ability to cook a variety of foods.

Easy clean up

How We Picked

The Hamilton Beach 25331 Super Sear is a great compact indoor grill that will give you outdoor flavor while being very reasonably priced. You get the dual plated grill that heats up fast and is super easy to clean. Get restaurant food in your own home at a fraction of the cost for other indoor grills. Plus, when you pick Hamilton, you know that customer service will be spot on if you have any issues that come up with your grill.Don’t want to just use your indoor grill for well, just grilling? Then you’ll want the Yedi Total Package 6-in-1 Grill . This nifty device allows you to cook anything you want from scrambled eggs and bacon to a thick cut steak. You’ll find that you’ll soon be using this for every meal. Grilled cheese sandwiches are easy to make and convenient as grilled chicken. The Yedi is easy to clean and comes in under $100. Plus you’ll get a cooking cheat sheet to ensure that no matter what you put on the grill you’ll get the right times so you don’t overcook your meal.

There is something primal about cooking over an open fire. Perhaps that is why we have friends and family over for barbeque during the warm summer nights. Or why barbequing during the Fourth of July is such a strong tradition for many people. It is those traditions that have been taught from one generation to another.

But let’s face it; sometimes cooking over an open flame isn’t ideal. After all there are several reasons why you can’t or don’t want a traditional grill. The charcoal grills often come with a huge mess to clean up afterwards. And if you go with gas, then you run the risk of running out of propane in the middle of cooking which leaves you stuck to finish the job inside. You might also live in a space that is too small for you to have a standard grill and neighbors that call the cops thinking the place is on fire. No matter the reasons for not having a standard grill, you can still get the same great barbeque you love without the smoke, mess, and uncertainty. Luckily, we have electric grills that you can use indoors.

The indoor grills can come with many features and finding the right one for you can be a pain. Just a simple Google search for an indoor grill can leave you wondering which one to choose. Today we have narrowed the field to these nine best indoor grills so you can get the great taste from cooking outdoors, indoors.

Cuisinart GR-4N

When you are looking for an indoor grill, you want one that is convenient to put together. The Cuisinart offers you a great product to cook everything from meat to seafood or veggies on a grill, without dealing with the mess of charcoal or the uncertainty of propane.

The Cuisinart is a sleek product that features a temperature gauge. Many indoor grills only allow you to see if the temperature is low, medium or high. But with this indoor grill you will know exact temperature. Plus, if you like to cook by time, the Cuisinart allows you to set a timer so you know exactly when your food is done. No more guessing or checking the clock. You can set the timer and walk away to get the rest of dinner done.

This indoor grill is slightly tilted to allow cooking grease from burgers or bacon to drain into the drain cup on the backside.

This is to ensure that you aren’t cooking your food in the grease allowing you to make a healthier, less fatty meal. Some people found the drainage cup isn’t very easy to remove and can actually end up melting when it gets too hot (it’s plastic). We recommend to just use a glass instead, so you don’t have to worry about that.

As for cleanup, the Cuisinart indoor grill plates are easy to remove by the buttons on the side. Simply press the buttons to pop up the plates. Once you have them removed, you can slip them under running water and place them on the top rack of your dishwasher.

Cuisinart GR-4N Allows you to cook on one side or both sides

Offers plates on the bottom and top for faster cook time

Comes with temperature control

Features a timer to ensure perfect cooking each time

This is a 5-1 electric indoor grill

Reasonably priced under $75

Yedi Houseware Total Package 6-in-1 Grill

The Yedi indoor grill offers you a great alternative to cooking outdoors. The Yedi allows you to cook with an open grill by unlocking the hinge to spread the grill open wider, giving you more space for cooking. You’ll also find that your food remains moist and evenly cooked. Plus, unlike other indoor grills, the Yedi barely produces smoke. So not only does your food taste great, but your house isn’t filled with the smoke that often comes with grilling.

When it comes to storage, the Yedi comes with a sleek and compact design, taking up little counter space. Plus, the Yedi comes with cooking utensils that you can easily fit inside the indoor grill when you aren’t using it. You’ll also find that the Yedi is lightweight making it easy to get out and set up.

Some reviews are saying that the knobs on the device are a little fickle. We suggest going easy on them, and if you do find that they come off easily, just add a bit of superglue to get them back on. Or, you can contact customer support which appears to be very helpful and many reviewers state that the customer service is bar none. So if you do have any issues, contact them and they should help you quickly.

As for cleaning, the Yedi plates are easy to remove and wash. You’ll notice that the Yedi isn’t tilted or comes with any extra draining cups that you might have to clean. This can be both an up- and downside, depending on how you like your meat. If you really want that tilt, you could prop the indoor grill up using heat pads and having a cup under the grill or something, but this obviously isn’t an optimal solution and we don’t really recommend doing that.

So if you’re looking for an indoor grill that does a great job for light grilling, then the Yedi is your grill of choice. It is very versatile and gives you many cooking options, not just for grilling.



Yedi Houseware Total Package 6-in-1 Grill Lightweight

Cooks evenly

This is a 6-1 product giving you the ability to cook a variety of foods.

Easy clean up

Hamilton Beach (25361) Electric Indoor Grill

If you’re looking for a handy indoor grill, then you’ll be delighted with the Hamilton Beach 25361 version. This indoor grill will sear your steaks and fish beautifully. You’ll also find that the Hamilton is super easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

You’ll notice that the Hamilton too offers temperature indicators instead of the standard high, medium, and low settings. This allows you to cook a variety of meat cuts on different settings to be certain that your food is cooked thoroughly.

If you are short on space, the Hamilton is compact and easy to store. This is especially nice for those looking for an indoor grill for use in an RV. You can easily set this grill up inside and let it cook. The only issue that some customers found is that there seems to be some smoke while cooking. But, don’t worry; it’s not the kind that will fill the house (imaging cooking a steak in a pan). The smoke is very minor, similar to what you’d get when cooking bacon on a skillet.

One of the great features about the Hamilton is the lid. While it doesn’t have dual heating options to speed up cooking time, it does trap heat in like a standard outdoor grill. And you’ll notice it comes with a window so you can look inside the grill to check on your food. With the lid not having heating, you will need to open up and flip the food over to cook on both sides. For some, this gives you the feeling of grilling outdoors, while others may find this way of cooking takes longer.

You’ll notice that, unlike other indoor grills which can leave some areas cool and others incredibly hot, the Hamilton’s heating element is inside the plate itself. This will give you all around heating to ensure everything will be cooked thoroughly. Plus it does come tilted, allowing you to trap the grease in a cup instead of having your food cook in the juices, giving you a healthier meal.

When using this indoor grill be sure to use only plastic or wooden cooking utensils. The non-stick coating can scratch easily if you use metal. All in all though, it is a great little indoor grill that gets the job done.



Sale Hamilton Beach (25361) Electric Indoor Grill Easy Cleanup

Lightweight

Tilted Design

Great for those who want the feel of an outdoor grill

T-fal GC70 OptiGrill

It doesn’t matter if you are trying to cook thick, uneven chicken breast, or a huge rib eye steak, the T-Fal indoor grill handles them both with ease. You’ll notice that this indoor grill allows you to switch between manual and timed cooking to ensure that no matter what you are throwing on the grill, it will turn out juicy and taste great. But you don’t have to stick to just meats; this indoor grill will conquer vegetables and any other food one can think of.

You’ll notice that the sensors on the grill tell you precisely what temperature the grill is. Just don’t forget to preheat the grill as directed and you’ll be amazed at the top quality meals you can produce. The only (rare) complaints we found are stating that some units have issues with the sensors and will flip to manual mode, or stay in manual mode, which is usually easily fixed by resetting the grill. If that doesn’t work, customer service will tell you exactly what to do.

As for cleanup, the T-Fal plates are easy to remove and wash. You can stick them in the dishwasher, just be sure to place them on the top rack and keep them away from other dishes that may scratch the non-stick coating. If you have the time you could also just wash them by hand with warm water and a cloth towel to ensure you keep the plates working for a long time.

Over all, the T-Fal is a great indoor grill for those who like to set and forget. With a push of a button, you can have your steak cooking while you work on other parts of the meal. The price may be a little high, but you’ll soon find out that with the push of a button cooking feature, your money is well spent.



T-fal GC70 OptiGrill Button sensors for perfect cook times

Easy cleanup

Dishwasher Safe

Lightweight and compact

George Foreman Grill

The George Foreman indoor grill has been around for a while, so you know that you are getting an indoor grill that works great. The grill comes with a lid that helps seal in the moisture and speeds up the cooking time. With the Foreman, you’ll notice that the features are pretty standard, and you are going to need to check the food to ensure it is cooking to the temperature that you want.

The Foreman plates are easy to remove or snap in place. They are also really easy to clean. You can use a wet washcloth with soap and wipe away the food, or you can slip them into the dishwasher.

Now if you are a family of four, you are going to need to get a bigger sized Foreman indoor grill. But for this model, you’ll find cooking two to three steaks on it is a breeze. The plates heat every inch giving you an all-around heating source so you don’t have to worry about cold spots or only part of your meat getting cooked.

One of the issues that customers have stated is that the plastic drip cup that collects the grease isn’t attached to the grill. This is actually kind of a blessing because you can substitute the plastic cup for a glass one. Plastic cups often have issues with melting due to high temperature grease that comes with cooking bacon or other really fatty foods. You wouldn’t want to have the cup melt and leave you with a huge greasy mess.

Another issue that people have stated is that you have to unplug the indoor grill after using it. Common sense would say that unplugging a device after use isn’t that big of an issue. But just so you’re aware, for safety reasons unplug it when you’re done.

The George Foreman grill offers a sleek design that is lightweight. It can be stored easily with all the plates inside the grill. When you’re ready, just take it out and plug it in. If you’re looking for an RV indoor grill, then the Foreman might be just what you want.



Sale George Foreman Grill Easy to use

Cleanup is a breeze

Cooks thoroughly

Can cook from frozen

Elite Platinum EGL-6501

If you’re looking for an indoor grill that is simple to use without all the bells and whistles or a hefty price tag, then the Elite Platinum is the grill for you. This indoor grill can cook everything evenly without losing the flavor or the juices. You’ll notice first off that it comes with a clear glass lid that traps the heat in. This does mean that you’ll have to keep an eye on the time and flip the food over to ensure cooking it completely.

Unlike other indoor grills with a viewing lid that takes forever, you’ll find the Elite cooks really fast. You can get a thick burger done in about 5 to 10 minutes depending on your temperature preference.

Plus, the Elite does the fancy grill marks that you would get from a standard grill.

Another thing you’ll notice is the large drip pan that is located under the indoor grill. This allows you to cook over the entire surface of the grill without having to deal with a small cup. The pan is easy to remove and doesn’t give you the uncertainty of the smaller dripping cups. Many of the other indoor grills have small plastic cups that can melt or even causes messes due to their size. But with Elite, the drip pan is sturdy and under the grilling surface ready to catch whatever juices come from your food.

As for the smoke, there is hardly any to worry about. The Elite won’t leave your kitchen in a cloud when you’re done. You could say the smoke that comes out is no worse than what you’d get from cooking sausages. It’s there; it’s just not that much.



Elite Platinum EGL-6501 Large drip pan

Easy to clean

Clear lid locks in flavor

Heats up quickly and evenly

Hamilton Beach 25331 Super Sear

Looking for an indoor grill that isn’t too flashy? Then the Hamilton Beach 25331 is what you’re looking for. This Hamilton doesn’t have the flashy buttons, or exchangeable plates that allow you to cook whatever you want. No, this indoor grill does one thing only, it grills foods. You want to cook chicken; it does. Steak, yep that too. You can also do grilled cheese sandwiches. But it doesn’t give you the option for pancakes or eggs.

This Hamilton comes with plates on the lid that speeds up cook time. It gives you a huge hinge to ensure that thick cut meats will cook to perfection. Because this doesn’t have the fancy exchangeable plates, you’ll find that the plates are locked in. Meaning the plates can’t be removed even for cleaning. But cleaning up is still super easy. With a warm washcloth and some soap, you just wipe the grill down and you’re done.

As for the drip pan, you’ll notice that the edge around the indoor grill has a lip; this is to trap the grease and other juices that accumulate from cooking.

You can use this indoor grill to make a wide range of meals for four. Just remember that it has dual plates so cook time is going to be fast. You don’t have to worry about flipping anything. Just spray a bit of oil on the plates once they have preheated, through the food and shut the lid.

Some may wonder about the smoke, and you’ll be happy to hear that it doesn’t really produce any. Sure there is some, but you can compare that to a boiling pot over the stove. With a sleek and compact design you can store this Hamilton practically anywhere. Take on the RV or in a cabinet when you’re not using it.



Sale Hamilton Beach 25331 Super Sear Offers a “searing” feature

Heats up fast

Cooks fast

Easy clean up with a washcloth and soap

Chefman Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill

You may find that many indoor grills state how they offer non-stick surfaces, but you still end up having to scrap your food off them. Well, with the Chefman indoor grill, that problem is solved. The Chefman truly is a non-stick indoor grill that allows you to take your food off without any force and without anything remaining on the plates. It doesn’t matter if you are cooking chicken, beef, or even seafood, the items slip of the grill and onto your plate with ease.

Another thing you’ll notice about the Chefman is that it heats up quickly allowing you to start cooking fast. Unlike charcoal that can take up to 20 minutes to get hot enough, the Chefman heats up and stays heated just like an indoor grill should.

Cleaning is a breeze with a sponge and water. But if you are cooking with heavy marinade, or greasy foods in general, you’ll want to line the drip pan with foil as the drip pan isn’t as easy to clean as the plates. Plus using foil in the drip pan will allow your Chefman to last since the plastic cup won’t suffer under high temperatures.

Now one thing you may notice about the Chefman is the temperature settings for the grill. Some have complained that the heat isn’t distributed evenly. This is because the Chefman indoor grill is designed to help you cook a variety of things at once and at different temperatures.

You wouldn’t want the veggies on high, or the meats on low. But like a standard grill, the Chefman designed the grill so you could add the various foods to cook at the same time so everything cooks at once.

As for smoke, the Chefman claims that its indoor grill is smokeless, but let’s faces it; any indoor grill is going to let off some smoke when cooking. If it didn’t, it would be baking. But with the Chefman, your kitchen won’t be filled with a cloud. More like steam as if you were steaming broccoli in a pot (getting really creative with out comparisons here).

All in all, you’ll love the Chefman indoor grill. It’s portable, easy to clean and has varying cooking surfaces to ensure all your food comes out nice and hot.



Chefman Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill Easy cleanup

Various cooking temperatures

Nearly Smoke-less

Compact and lightweight

Truly is Non-Stick

Zojirushi EB-CC15

If you’re looking for an outdoor grill to bring inside, then you might want to check out the Zojirushi. This nifty grill is very basic allowing you to cook whatever you would normally cook outside, inside. This nifty grill also gives you that ‘grill’ taste that you get when cooking outdoors.

While you may wonder about the style of this grill being so open, you’ll be surprised to know it doesn’t produce much smoke. Even with fatty hamburgers, you’ll find little to no smoke, but still have it taste as if you cooked it on a standard grill. Even cooking pork, which can oftentimes add smoke from the fat, you’ll find this little indoor grill won’t fill your place up with a cloud. Plus you’ll get the grilled marks that come with cooking an outdoor grill.

It does come with a grease catcher which is easy to remove and clean. The grill itself is easy to clean and handle as well. Just remember to add foil to the drip catcher for an even easier cleanup. As for heating, you’ll be surprised at just how fast this grill heats up. You can have it ready in less than five minutes. And you don’t need to worry about the plates as they are very sturdy and won’t slip if you bump your tongs on them trying to flip the food.

Now, you will notice that this grill does not come with dual plates. But, for some they enjoy watching their food cook and participating in the cooking process. If you prefer an indoor grill to do all the work, then there are other products on this list where all you have to do is push a button.

All in all, the Zojirushi is a great little indoor grill. It keeps all the moisture in the meat while giving you the best indoor grilling experience. If you don’t want anything fancy, then you might want to check out this grill. It’ll handle any food you put on it. And when you’re done, it stores easily as it is compact.



Zojirushi EB-CC15 Quick to heat up

Fast cook times

Open face grill

Smokeless

Easy to clean

Buying Guide for Indoor Grills

So now that you have an idea of what kind of indoor grills the market has to offer, you may be wondering if there are certain things you should keep an eye out for when picking one. Well, for starters, do you pick one with a lid? Or no lid? Do you want one that does more than just grill? Or are you basing your choice on price? All these factors play a role in which indoor grill you get. But here a few more important things you should consider before buying one and you should mark them off before purchasing your next indoor grill.

Smoke Quality

When it comes to grilling indoors, you may be worried about the smoke factor. After all, you don’t want to set off a smoke alarm in your house every time you cook with it. That is why you’ll find several indoor grills that can cook your food quickly and efficiently without any smoke at all.

Now granted, most indoor grills will give off some ‘smoke’ but what is released is actually steam. The white cloud that comes up isn’t due to burning of gas or charcoal. It is from the moisture that your food is producing, which is why a lot of indoor grills state that they are smokeless. The steam that rises can be a lot, or a very little. But even if you do have one that releases steam, it is no more than what you would get from boiling spaghetti or cooking bacon on a regular skillet.

So if you want an indoor grill that doesn’t produce a cloud of steam, then you should look at the Zojirushi. This grill doesn’t have any steam that comes up in a large cloud like other indoor grills, but it leaves you with the grill markings that you’ve come to love with grilling.

Accessories/ Multi Uses

There are several indoor grills that give you the option for switching out the plates so you can cook more than just burgers and steaks. Many of the indoor grills state that they are 6 in 1 or 5 in 1. This just means that the indoor grill comes with different plates that you can switch to cook everything from eggs, to grilled cheese sandwiches, and whatever else your heart desires.

The price for those “all in one” indoor grills are going to be a bit more since you are getting extra plates and sometimes even cooking utensils. But that is natural since you are getting more out of your grill than just grilling. So, if you’re a chef looking for a simple all in one action, you may want to consider the Yedi. The Yedi lets you cook something for every meal which makes it wonderful for those who do meal preps. Grill everything once, and store it away for later.

Size

Size is another important factor that you should look at before purchasing your indoor grill. If you have a family of four, you are going to need more than your simple indoor grill. You are going to need a grill that will fit all your patties and steaks so that everyone can eat at the same time. Indoor grills come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Depending on the size of your family and what you plan to grill should be a major factor in which grill you pick.

You should also think about where you are going to store it when you are done with it. Most indoor grills are compact and don’t take up much space. But you still need to ask yourself where it will go and make room for it. Whether you are leaving it out on the counter, or if you are putting it in the pantry, finding a space can be difficult for some in smaller apartments, but not as inconvenient as an outdoor grill.

Heating

When it comes to indoor grilling, you want to find a grill that heats everything evenly. But you also need to consider the heating time. Do you want to press a button and let the indoor grill cook everything for you? Or do you want to flip the food over and go through the motions of cooking?

Now, you will find several indoor grills that offer dual heating plates. This simply means there is a plate on the lid and one on the grill. The food will get squished in between these two plates and reduce the cook time drastically. But if you don’t want to “squish” your food, you can find grills that only have the bottom plate.

When it comes to heating your foods, do you want something that heats the plate at the exact same temperature? Or do you want an indoor grill that gives you multiple heating options so you can cook your food all at once? You’ll find that picking an indoor grill is more than just about style, it is about the way you want to cook and how fast you want your food to be done.

Easy to Use

The last thing you want to think about before buying an indoor grill is how easy it is to use. Most indoor grills allow you to plug in the unit, let it preheat for five minutes or so, and then begin cooking. But what about clean up? Does the indoor grill have a drainage cup that you have to clean and is it easy to detach? Does the grill tilt to one side to allow the grease to drain into the cup? Or is it under the grill itself?

If you want something easy to clean, find a grill that has a full size pan underneath that catches everything and one without a tilt. The tilted indoor grills usually come with a small container that is either not attached, and the grease misses the cup, or ones that are cheaply made and easy to melt. You want something that won’t be a pain to clean after your meal, and one that won’t leave you with an even bigger mess because the grease pan didn’t catch the grease and drained all over the counter.

You also want one that allows you to easily remove the plates. Some indoor grills have a spring loaded system that locks the plates down and is released by pressing two small buttons on the side of the grill. Others however, have you snap the plates down and pull a lever to pop them back up. But if you have larger hands, the lever maybe a pain to deal with and if you use your grill a ton, then the springs may give out. So you have to think about how often you are going to use the indoor grill and what kind of release the grill had.

But, not all grill plates come off. Which is another thing you have to think about when it comes to cleaning. If your grill is a solid piece, cleaning does require you to hold up the whole thing so you’ll want one that is lightweight making it easier to manage cleaning with one hand and holding with the other.

FAQs

Q: Are they safe? Won’t they catch on fire?

A: Like all other cooking appliances , an indoor grill does have the ability to catch on fire. But this rarely happens . The grill is set up so that the panels on the outside work like pot holders for you to safely touch the grill. And they all come with some sort of drainage cup or pan which allows for the grease to drain off of the food (this is the stuff that often catches fire in pans).

Now, the only way for you to set your grill on fire, is if you leave it plugged in and turned on while there is still some grease on the grill. Just like a gas stove, you don’t want to keep extra food lingering about the hot surface. So, just be sure to clean it properly and you shouldn’t have any issues. Unlike a gas grill that has the potential to explode from a gas leak, or charcoal grill where you have to use lighter fluid, an indoor grill works with electricity. So the possibility of setting it on fire is very slim.

Q: What can you cook with an indoor grill?

A: Like with a standard outdoor grill, you can cook just about anything that will fit on its surface. You can do steaks, fish, corn, chicken, you name it. Plus if you get one that offers different plates, you can broaden your meals and cook waffles, eggs, bacon, Panini’s, and whatever else you’re craving.

Q: How do indoor grills work?

A: Indoor grills work by electricity. The non-stick plates are heated up, just like on an electric stove. Then you put your food down and cook it. The only difference between the indoor grill and your electric stove is that the grill is the pan.

On some grill models, you can reach temperatures of 500 degrees, so be careful to not touch them while in use. Of course there are also some grills that give you the option for setting the temperature instead of a regular setting of high, medium, or low. And if you have any doubts about the core temperature of your food, then get a meat thermometer and test the food before serving it.

Q: What’s the cooking time like for an indoor grill?

A: Cooking times vary depending on what you want to cook. If you are trying to cook chicken with the bone in, you are looking at a time of about 20 minutes with a dual plate indoor grill. Steak is about 10 to 20 depending on if you want it bloody to well-done.

As for other foods like hot dogs, cooking time is only a few minutes. Corn on the cob is about 15. You’ll find that the time really does depend on the type of grill you get. If it is dual plated, then it will be a lot faster than using a single plate.

Conclusion

There are a lot of reasons to get an indoor grill. Maybe you’re tired of the mess that comes with a charcoal grill, or perhaps you live in an apartment that doesn’t allow for outdoor grills. No matter the reason, you don’t have to deny yourself the joy that comes with a hearty grilled dinner. Getting yourself an indoor grill is not only convenient, but is so easy to use.

With more and more places regulating grilling due to fire codes, you don’t have to worry about that with an indoor grill. You’ll get the same great taste. Plus, who wants to grill outside when it’s too hot or too cold? With an indoor grill, you aren’t dependent on what the weather does.

Plus, you’ll be cooking healthier. Most indoor grills allow the grease to drain away from your food giving you healthier and cleaner meals. So get yourself an indoor grill and eat the foods you want.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-10-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API