Recently, there has been a tremendous increase in demand for homemade grilled foods from the U.S, the U.K, to Canada. Additionally, grilling is one of the popular cooking techniques because of foods’ great taste and flavor. While a high percentage of homeowners are conversant with the typical outdoor grills (i.e., gas and charcoal grills), a significant number have switched to cooking on electric grills.
So, what is an electric grill? It’s a grilling unit that uses electricity as a source of heat to grill foods. Unlike other conventional grilling methods, electric grills don’t have flames; thus, they are smokeless. This article addresses different aspects and answers some of the questions related to electric grills.

How is an Electric Grill Different from Other Grills?

As mentioned above, electric grills don’t use flames for cooking, and thus they don’t produce smoke. Basically, electric grills use indirect heat for cooking. However, there is more difference between electric grills and conventional grills.
For instance, an electric grill has a grill plate with raised ridges and not a typical grill grate. Therefore, fats and oils from foods drop on the plate and not directly on the heat source. The raised ridges on the cooking surface are what make grill marks on foods.
Additionally, electric grills have a thermostat that is significant in heat regulation while grilling.
While conventional grills are suitable for outdoor cooking, electric grills are a perfect choice for indoor grilling. Why? Electric grills are designed in relatively small to medium sizes and feature a compact design; thus, they are portable and don’t occupy much of the kitchen space. Most importantly, they are virtually smokeless, thus making them safe for indoor cooking.
Lastly, electric grills are cheaper to buy and run than other conventional grills such as propane grills.

What are the Types of Electric Grills?

Electric grills are categorized as per their use, i.e., outdoor electric grills and indoor electric grills. Outdoor electric grills feature a similar design as a conventional gas or charcoal grill. They have a power cord and thus require you to have an electric power outlet near where you can plug in the grill. Depending on the manufacturers, most of these grills have a stand for support or can be placed on a table. Some people refer to them as tabletop grills.
On the other hand, indoor electric grills are lightweight and portable. They can be used on kitchen countertops because of their compact designs. Usually, they are relatively smaller than outdoor electric grills.
However, both of the above grills share similarities. For instance, their cooking surfaces have raised ridges. Also, they are easy to use, utilize electricity as a power source, and don’t produce smoke.

What are the Benefits/ Advantages of An Electric Grill?

Many benefits come along with owning an electric grill. They include the following:
• An electric grill is suitable for indoor grilling. Do you live in a condo or rented apartment where municipality laws or property owner’s rules restrict you from grilling? Then, an electric grill is what you need. It produces little to no smoke and features a compact design.
• Easy to use. Electric grills only require connecting the power cord to the electric outlet, heating the grill, and cooking. Also, you regulate the heat to ensure you attain a suitable temperature for that respective food you’ll be cooking. It’s that simple.
• Easy to maintain and clean. Unlike a propane grill that requires regular refilling, electric doesn’t.
• Versatility. Electric grills can be used outdoors and indoors. They are lightweight and portable, thus making them super easy to set up and use in most places. Some people also find electric grills to be suitable for use while camping. In addition, they cook anything a typical grill cooks.
• It’s a healthy cooking method. Unlike other grilling methods whereby foods cook on flames, electric grills use indirect heat. As a result, it reduces levels of carcinogen properties in foods that are linked to causing cancers.

What are the Disadvantages of an Electric Grill?

Like any other kitchen equipment, electric grills have a few downsides.
• Foods grilled on an electric grill taste great but don’t have a super smoky flavor like a conventional grill. This is because such grills are smokeless. However, you can always enhance and achieve a smoky flavor on electric grills using smoky ingredients on foods.
• The heating temperature is limited. However, most electric grills have enough temperature (about 600 degrees F) to cook most foods, from steaks to vegetables.

Final Thought

Electric grills are cooking equipment designed with an electric heating element beneath the grill plate. They don’t produce smoke and are suitable for grilling indoors and outdoors. Additionally, these kinds of grills are more compact than typical grills. Most importantly, they are easy to use and cooks like other grills.