When you just can't get outside to grill, try one of these excellent indoor electric grills. While you won't get the authentic flavor you can still grill. Some of these units are open grills that you cook on similar to an outdoor grill. Others are contact grills (like the George Foreman Grill) that have a lid that cooks also, so you can grill on both sides at the same time. Many of these units are prefect for grilling a fish fillet and making a great panini style sandwich.
1. Sanyo Smokeless Indoor Grill
Sanyo
Fill the drip pan of this electric grill with water and dripping grease won't burn, and won't create smoke. Reasonably priced (around $50USD) this is a great electric grill with around 200 square inches of cooking area. This will give you plenty of space to prepare a whole meal without leaving the kitchen.
2. Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill
Zojirushi American Corp.
This open style indoor grill has the advantage of being easy to clean, quick to heat up, with a fine adjustment of temperature. Armed with a 1300 watt heating element and a 12 inch by 9 inch cooking surface, this grill is large and powerful.
3. DeLonghi Alfredo Healthy Grill BG24
DeLonghi
This open face electric grill has a removable, easy to clean cast aluminum cooking surface that gives you a more authentic grilling appliance. With an adjustable thermostat (removable) and good drainage you really get a healthier meal off this grill. This unit also has an "aroma scenter" that lets you add flavor to what you're cooking by adding such things as garlic or rosemary. About 140 square inches of cooking area.
4. Minden Master Range Top Grill
Minden Grill Company
When it comes to products labeled "indoor grill" what you typically find are electric contact grills that can certainly cook, but don't do much for authentic style grilling. Granted, you can not get the same flavor on and indoor grill that you would with an outdoor grill, but the Minden Master Range Top Grill gets you pretty close. Looking like a dutch oven, this grill fits over the small burner on your stove top with an open bottom.
5. Cuisinart Griddler GR-4
Cuisinart Inc.
This is a contact grill that gives you the ability to grill anything from panini sandwiches to steaks while cooking on both sides. The reversible cooking surfaces let you get good grill markets for your steak, but also let you cook pancakes. This is a very versatile grill. You also get a wide range of temperature control and the ability to set different temperatures on each side of the grill.
6. George Foreman Champ GR10ABW Electric Grill
Salton Co.
This is the modern equivalent of the original Foreman Grill. This small and simple unit is perfect for quickly cooking burgers or chicken breasts. While it isn't a great grill it is cheap and easy to use. If you want a simple indoor appliance to cook small amounts on food without a lot of fuss, then this is a good choice.
7. Krups FDE312-75 Universal Grill and Panini Maker
Krups Inc.
This electric contact grill has a floating hinge that adjusts to the thickness of the food you are grilling. While this unit works best as a panini press it is great for many grilling functions. While the heat output is not very adjustable you can do a lot with this unit. The construction is great and the price at around $80 is very reasonable. Around 160 square inches of cooking area.
8. George Foreman GRP90WGR Grill
Salton Co.
The Foreman grill has made George and the Salton company a lot of money. This contact grill comes with 5 interchangeable, dishwasher safe plates so you have a lot of versatility with your indoor grilling. This is the latest Foreman grill so includes many improvements over early models.
9. Hamilton Beach 25285 MealMaker Express Grill
Hamilton Beach
This contact grill delivers real heat so you can grill up most items in a short time. The cooking surfaces are removable and dishwasher safe so you don't need to worry about scrubbing the cooking surfaces. The biggest failing of this grill is it's small size. At only 60 square inches of cooking area you really only have the space to cook for about two people. However the design lets you cook pretty much anything.
10. Breville Indoor BBQ and Grill 800GRXL
Breville
This might be one of the more expensive of this style of contact grill, but the construction is excellent. This grill works as a panini press, but also folds completely open to give you around 370 square inches of grilling space, making this one of the largest of the indoor electric grills. This is a highly versatile unit and if you have not trouble with the nearly $200 price tag I'd suggest buying this unit.
