Grill-iant idea: Take the party indoors with these sizzling indoor grills!
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Top-Rated Indoor Grills: Smokeless, Electric, Budget-Friendly Options & More
Updated on Jul. 30, 2024
There’s something about warm weather that pairs beautifully with grilled meats and vegetables, but when the weather isn’t so welcoming, you may feel tempted to opt for the oven instead. With an indoor grill, you can enjoy the tastes of your favorite grilled recipes all year, even in the colder months.
Unsure of what the best indoor grills are or if there’s an appliance that’ll fit your budget or apartment? Don’t worry—we’ve found some of the best indoor grills to satisfy any budget, any space and any grilled craving.
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Best Overall Indoor Grill
Cuisinart GR-6S Contact Griddler
The Cuisinart Gr-6S Contact Griddler is our favorite indoor grill because of its simplicity and versatility. This specific model has several functions: As a grill, griddle and even as a panini press. We also like that you can use the grill and griddle simultaneously, thanks to the removable, interchangeable pans.
Always know the temperature of your grill with the help of an easy-to-read LCD screen that also displays the cooking time and the current function. Other notable features of this appliance include the grease drip tray, smokeless function and dishwasher-safe plates.
Pros
- Multiple cooking settings
- Useful drip tray
- Dishwasher-safe pans
- 500 degree sear function
Cons
- A little pricey
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Best Budget Indoor Grill
George Foreman 2-Serving Indoor Grill
Get a grilled taste indoors at a fraction of the cost, thanks to this George Foreman 2-Serving Indoor Grill. For just under $30, this indoor grill gives you the seared foods you desire without taking up too much counter space. Since this grill has enough space for two servings of steaks, burgers or other foods, it’s the perfect size for couples, individual use or apartments.
This grill sits with a downward slant to let the excess fat drip into the grease tray. Additionally, the non-stick-coated grates are easy to clean (thank goodness), so extreme elbow grease isn’t needed. If you want to dabble in making a panini, the top of the grill gives every angle of your bread the crispy sear you’re after.
Pros
- Affordably priced
- Compact size
- Easy to clean
- Fat-removing slope
Cons
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Might not be big enough for most families
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Best Small Indoor Grill
George Foreman 4-Serving Indoor Grill
Grills of any kind, whether indoor or outdoor, are known for taking up space. However, the George Foreman 4-Serving Indoor Grill would like a word. This indoor grill fits in compact spaces (as the longest side is just 13 inches) yet still holds enough food for a family of four.
Other notable features of this indoor grill include its fast heat-up time and the removable plates that are dishwasher safe. We love that the sloped surface helps remove up to 42% of fat from meats. The top of the grill has a red and green light feature to indicate when your food is cooked or when the grill has heated up and is ready to go.
Pros
- Compact size
- Fast heat-up
- Simple to use
- Cooking surface is non-stick
Cons
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May not cook bone-in meat well
Sheri Kaz/Family Handyman
Best Versatile Indoor Grill
Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro 7-in-1 Indoor Grill
If you want a grill capable of multiple cooking functions, consider the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Indoor Grill and griddle. Apart from the griddle and grill, this cooking device is capable of air frying, roasting, baking, broiling and dehydrating for endless culinary creations.
The built-in meat thermometer is a smart feature to assist in cooking food to your desired doneness. We tried this all-in-one grill, and the result is juicy burgers, pork chops and beautiful grilled veggies. Check out the full Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro review here.
The 9-inch-by-13-inch grill grates offer plenty of room for four servings to cook at once, while the digital screen displays the temperature so you can cook your food to perfection every time. This countertop grill promises to bring the BTU cooking power you might see on one of the best outdoor grills. And best of all? It’s capable of searing meat from frozen!
Pros
- Plethora of cooking options
- Max 500 degree temperature
- Can cook and sear meat from frozen
- Smart thermometer included
- Space-saving design
- Audible reminders to add food, flip and done
- Open and closed-lid grilling
Cons
- Can’t use multiple cooking options at the same time
- Food can slide into the drip pan
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Best Indoor Grill for Burgers
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Grill
You don’t have to wait for warmer weather to grill some burgers. Enjoy your favorite juicy meat (or veggies) all year with the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Grill. This grill contains a top and bottom with removable grill plates so you can close the lid and give both sides of your patty the perfect sear without flipping!
This indoor grill has enough room for six patties at a time, which is the perfect size for a family. The removable grease tray is dishwasher safe, and the nonstick plates make for a cleaner grill surface.
Pros
- Grills within 10 minutes
- Easy-to-read indicator lights
- Easy cleaning
- 1-year warranty
Cons
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Plates are not removable
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Best Indoor Grill for Steaks
Hamilton Beach Steak Lover’s Electric Indoor Grill
Want to step up your entertaining game with a steak dinner? If so, the Hamilton Beach Steak Lover’s Electric Indoor Grill is the best indoor grill for steak grilling! This grill features a spacious surface area capable of holding up to four steaks at a time (or two steaks and a side if you’re cooking for two).
The high-searing temperature (it reaches 500 degrees) locks in the sear to your steak when the lid is closed to produce picture-perfect grill marks. Although there are so many food options you can grill, this indoor grill was crafted with steaks in mind to keep them tender and juicy without becoming dry or overcooked. Another notable feature is its fast preheat time and capability of putting dinner on the table in 10 minutes!
Pros
- Large surface area
- Convenient handle
- Quick cook time
- Good for travel
Cons
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Plates are not removable
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Best Smokeless Indoor Grill
Chefman Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill
Our pick for the best smokeless indoor grill is the Chefman Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill. This open-face grill prevents smoke clouds from forming without compromising the delicious grilled taste. Since this grill doesn’t have a top, it produces less smoke than other grills.
Even though this smokeless grill doesn’t contain a top, it does feature cool-touch handles to grip for sturdiness when you flip your meats. For added safety measures, this grill has an auto shut-off function that won’t allow your grill to overheat.
Pros
- Produces less smoke
- Spacious cooking area
- Dishwasher-safe grill plate
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Takes a while to cook thicker meats
What temp should you cook burgers to on an indoor grill?
Cooking burgers on an indoor grill is no different from grilling on an outdoor grill. Electric grilled burgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees, which takes about five to six minutes per side.
Is indoor grilling healthy?
There’s not enough evidence to suggest that indoor grilling is markedly more or less healthy than outdoor grilling. But this is actually more about the food ingredients than the grills—it’s the fat that, when applied to high heat, can turn into carcinogens.
Does food cooked on indoor grills taste like outdoor grilled food?
It depends on what kind of grill your outdoor grill is. There likely won’t be an entirely noticeable difference between indoor grill food and, say, gas-grilled food, apart from perhaps the level of char that’s achievable (the benefit of open flame cooking, as opposed to a contact heat, like electric grills). However, indoor grills will not be able to replicate the flavors of wood-fired or coal grilling, as the fuels, in these cases, are imparted into your foods. As a trick, however, you could put some wood chips into a packet of tin foil and place it on your indoor grill to mimic the smells and flavors of a wood-fired grill.
Where does the smoke go in a smokeless indoor grill?
Technically, indoor grills aren’t actually smokeless because food cooked at high heat produces smoke no matter the cooking surface. However, many indoor grills have a water tray beneath them designed to “capture” the smoke, making them seemingly produce less smoke than alternative grills.
