The 5 Best Electric Grills of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Our Favorite

Overall, Weber's Q1400 electric grill produced high-quality results with minimal smoke and a soft sizzle. This portable grill is a great option for anyone who wants to cook up delicious barbecue recipes with the convenience of an electric appliance.

The Tests

In our quest to find the best electric grills, we performed side-by-side testing with more than 20 models. We put each product through a series of tests, including a temperature test and four food tests with flank steak, chicken, bread, and zucchini. 

Right out of the box, we noted its condition and then ease of assembly. Next, we assessed how long each grill took to heat up by turning them on and recording the temperature after three minutes. Lastly, we tested each product's ability to efficiently cook commonly grilled items. We recorded everything from how much smoke was produced to how much each ingredient stuck to the surface. We paid close attention to grill marks — the sign of any successful grilling attempt. Throughout our tests, we noted if the grills heated evenly or if there were certain hot spots or cold spots.

Factors to Consider

Cooking Surface Size

When choosing an electric grill, one of the most important things to consider is the size of the cooking surface. Some accommodate four burgers or two large steaks, while others are large enough to fit a dozen burgers. Thinking about how many people you are most likely to serve and how often you intend to use the machine will be a good indicator of which units to explore.

If you have one or two people in your household, a smaller grill is ideal for your needs. If you have a larger family or want to use the grill for entertaining, we recommend choosing a bigger size.

Storage

Unless you intend to use an electric grill daily, you will want to store it effectively between uses. Take careful measurements of the cabinet you plan to put your grill in to ensure that the unit you buy will fit. Most models can be safely stored where there are temperature fluctuations, like in a garage, basement, or attic, but make sure it’s safe from water exposure.

Cleaning

An electric grill will only fit seamlessly into your daily cooking practice if it is easy to clean. Look for units with dishwasher-safe parts, drip trays use to capture grease, and nonstick or seasoned grill plates that clean up easily. Then just follow the directions that come with your unit to keep it clean.

Other Electric Grills We Tested 

Strong Contenders

PowerXL Smokeless Grill with Tempered Glass Lid ($116 at Amazon)

This grill has a clear lid that makes it easy to see the foods you're grilling while keeping any smoke contained; however, we noticed that the lid created condensation, which made for inconsistent cooking results. Nevertheless, our testers were pleased with how easy it is to clean thanks to the removable lid and drip tray.

George Foreman GGR50B Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill ($100 at Amazon)

We were impressed with how well this grill works — it produced deep, defined grill marks on all the foods we tested. We love that it has the option to be placed on a stand but found it to be slightly wobbly and unsteady.

Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill ($100 at Amazon)

This grill gets hot, but it doesn't get as hot as some of the other grills we tested, and controlling the temperature was difficult. In terms of design, the edges of the grill are lower than the grates, so it's easy to burn yourself and drop food between the crevices. 

Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill ($230 at Amazon)

This 5-in-1 gadget can grill, crisp, dehydrate, roast, and bake. However, we found that with the fan running during the grilling function, it operates more like a convection oven than a grill; therefore, temperatures aren't accurate, and heating is inconsistent. 

Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Electric Grill ($272 at Amazon)

This grill is intended to be used outside, and it took a particularly long time to heat up. It didn't produce enough heat to yield dark grill marks and the food stuck to the grates. 

What Didn’t Make the List

While we tested several high-performing grills, there are a handful we don’t recommend, including the Techwood Electric Grill and the De'Longhi Perfecto Indoor Grill. The common drawbacks of these models were inaccurate temperatures, light or uneven grill marks, and medium-to-high levels of smoke. Other issues that prevented grills from earning our badge of approval included difficult assembly, extreme heaviness or unsteadiness, and poorly designed controls. We stand behind our top picks and believe they are truly the best electric grills on the market.

Our Expertise

This piece was written by Laura Denby, a food writer and product reviewer with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education. A former chef, Laura has worked in professional kitchens for over five years. She uses her culinary knowledge to guide her product reviews, which you can find more of in FoodNetwork.com, Real Simple, Southern Living, and more. Our expert product testers John Somerall and Jasmine Smith tested each grill in our lab. Somerall is a Recipe Tester and Developer in the Meredith Food Studios and has worked in various fine dining restaurants for ten years. Jasmine is also a Recipe Tester and Developer in the Meredith Food Studios, and she holds a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales. As part of the Meredith test kitchen, Jasmine tests and develops recipes for sites like Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, and Southern Living.