The 5 Best Electric Grills of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Final Verdict

We love the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill for any patio for its infrared technology that sears up to 12 burgers at once. Planning to do most of your grilling indoors? Try the Breville BGR820XL The Smart Grill instead. This versatile countertop grill can't go outside, but it can double as a griddle.

How We Tested Electric Grills

Based on the results of previous tests and extensive research, we chose 99 grill models for our latest round of testing. That included a total of 23 electric grills, 16 of them indoor-only, 3 outdoor-only, and 4 indoor/outdoor. We put all of them through an identical set of tests, taking extensive notes on many aspects of performance.

We Observed

• Temperature control: We pre-heated each grill for 5 minutes at a low setting with the lid closed, then measured the temperature of the surface and compared it to the expected temperature for the setting, along with the readings on any built-in thermometers. We repeated this same process at both medium and high settings to measure the grills' overall power and ability to maintain heat accurately.
• Low-temperature cooking: We pre-heated the grills to low, then cooked six slices of white bread (or four, if six would not all fit at once) for 3 minutes. We noted the presence or absence of visible grill marks, and looked at whether each slice toasted evenly.
• High-temperature cooking: Using the high setting (or 450 degrees if possible), we grilled flank steak and chicken breasts for 5 minutes per side, and zucchini slices for 3 minutes per side. We took notes on whether each item cooked evenly across the surface and whether the grills were able to create good sear marks. We also looked for issues with excessive smoking, spills, spatters, or anything else that interfered with cooking.
  

We Rated

• Ease of cleaning: In between cooking tests, we disassembled and cleaned the grills. Following each model's individual directions, we used the dishwasher on all dishwasher-safe parts and hand-washed everything else. We noted any models that got excessively dirty or stayed especially clean, while also paying attention to any electrical parts that required special care. Some electric grills have grates that don't detach from the heating elements and can't be submerged in water, which makes them much harder to clean.
• Design: We evaluated many other design aspects during testing, including controls, portability, stability, ease of initial assembly, and more. We made notes on anything about the grills that made cooking easier or harder, and any problems we encountered.
• Value: After completing all of our other tests, we revealed the grills' retail prices to consider value for money. There's a wide cost range in electric grills—the 23 we tested go from $15 to over $700—and we took into account the grills' sizes and capabilities compared to their prices.
  

Other Options We Tested

• George Foreman GGR50B Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill: Based on home testing, this George Foreman model was our top overall choice for years. It brings impressive heat and is easy to assemble, but it didn't perform as well in our Lab tests, creating only light grill marks and lots of smoke. It also doesn't come off its stand, giving a big advantage in terms of usability to the GFO240S model that's our new top pick.
• Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with Air Fry: Buying a multiple-appliances-in-one item is only sometimes a good thing. Other times, it means that one of the features doesn't perform as well as you'd like, and that's the case here. The Ninja gives you a nice sizzle when cooking steak and chicken, but everything had weird-looking swirly grill marks. Also, it ran warmer than the set temperature, and the exterior of the machine was too hot to touch during and for quite a while after cooking.
• Cuisinart GR-4NP1 5-in-1 Griddler: The Cuisinart Griddler is another wannabe multi-use appliance. Unfortunately, we found that the temperatures were out of whack. Everything wound up under- or overcooked. Additionally, grease splattered everywhere while cooking the steak, and the body got too hot to touch during testing.
• De'Longhi Perfecto Indoor Grill with Lid: Despite this 1,500-watt indoor grill getting up to 480 degrees on high, it tends to grill things on the lighter side. This translates to little caramelization and less flavor. The grill also heated very unevenly, with a major hot spot in the middle.
• Gotham Steel Smokeless Indoor Grill: This grill's "smokeless" claim is absolutely true: It let off minimal smoke, and nowhere near enough to set off a fire alarm. Unfortunately, it heated quite unevenly in testing, with one side barely warm when the other was at full heat. This led to spotty cooking, so we don't recommend it.
  

What to Look for in an Electric Grill

Size

As a general rule with any kind of grill, you want about 72 square inches of surface area per person you're cooking for. Electric grills tend to be significantly smaller than gas or charcoal models in both overall size and cooking space, with even the largest ones able to handle only four or five servings at a time. For a big crowd, you'll likely have to do a few rounds of cooking. On the other hand, if you're cooking for one or two, a small electric grill will be quite a bit cheaper and quite a bit easier to store than another type.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

With few exceptions, you cannot use a propane or charcoal grill indoors. It gives off lots of smoke, is a fire hazard, and could even poison you with carbon monoxide in an unventilated space. Most electric grills, on the other hand, are made to be used indoors, with drip trays, fans, and other methods of keeping the air clear. But an indoor grill has to stay indoors, as its electrical parts can short out if they get rained on.

Outdoor-only electric grills have more water-resistant components and wiring that can handle weather, but they have to stay outside. They don't have the same smoke-reduction features as indoor models.

Indoor/outdoor grills combine both sets of features and let you grill anywhere, but they're generally a little more expensive.

Design

Electric grills mostly come in two varieties: open, which mimics an outdoor grill with a grate beneath the food, and contact, which has cooking plates on both top and bottom. If you want the traditional "stand above the grill" experience, or are planning on many communal meals where food is being taken on and off the grill, opt for an open grill. If you want a more versatile electric grill that could possibly be used as a open-face griddle or sandwich press, opt for a contact grill.

Beyond that, there are lots of other features to consider. Some grills include a stand, while others have to sit on a countertop. Temperature controls can range from a simple three-position dial to a smart panel that can be set down to the single degree. If you plan on cooking at night, look for a grill that has lighting, however, you can also pick up a grill light accessory. You might find a built-in thermometer, or not. And, of course, some grills use their space more efficiently than others.

FAQs

How do you clean an electric grill?

Start by unplugging it and allowing the grates to cool fully. If your grill has removable nonstick grates, drip trays, or other parts, you can take them off and wash them just like any other cookware. (Keep in mind that it's a good idea to rinse anything dishwasher-safe in the sink before it goes in the dishwasher, as too much grease can clog up a dishwasher. For grills with cast-iron grates, use a wire brush to remove particles as needed, and wash with soap and water, drying thoroughly afterward.

Any part of the grill that's attached to the plug should never be submerged in water—you can use a soapy sponge or paper towel to clean off grease and spatters.

Are pellet grills electric?

Not exactly. Pellet grills often have electrical components—control panel, auger to feed in fuel, fan to supply extra oxygen—but the heat that actually cooks the food comes from burning wood. All the electric grills we tested for this story use electrically powered heating elements to cook.

How can you get smoke flavor on an electric grill?

Electric grills don't produce much smoke, which is great for indoor grilling, but that also means they don't add the kinds of smoky flavors that open-flame cooking can. If you want to grill more flavorful food, one of your best options is to use a smoker box. These containers are designed to hold wood chips or charcoal, and you place them on the grill alongside your food. The fuel will burn as your food cooks, and the smoke given off will make your meal that much more flavorful.

What can you cook on an electric grill?

Anything that you'd cook on a gas or charcoal grill! Electric grills are great for making hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, and grilled vegetables. They're also great for communal cooking like hot pot, shabu shabu, and Korean BBQ. Depending on the grill you have, there might not be as much room for liquids to drain, so use marinades and dressings sparingly.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Camryn Rabideau is a product tester and writer for The Spruce Eats, and she's written dozens of pieces on all types of grills. During her apartment-living days, she relied on a small electric George Foreman grill to get her grilling fix in the summer, even though she only had a small balcony to cook on.

The Spruce Eats Editor Siobhan Wallace compiled testing data from our official Lab as well as insights from our home testers' full product reviews to update this roundup.