Electric grills: types, model overview and tips for choosing

Almost everyone loves to eat deliciously. This is especially true when it comes to meat fried over a fire or grilled. But we do not always have them at our disposal, and sometimes we want to pamper ourselves with food with a fragrant smoke. For this reason, a household electric grill can be a great alternative for many people. This solution allows you to enjoy delicious grilled food literally every day.

The electric grill is very easy to use. Thanks to this, even for a beginner in the field of cooking, the dish will turn out to be rich, spicy and tasty. It is a compact household device that can be conveniently used instead of a microwave oven, stove or a classic barbecue outdoors. It processes food at high temperatures using infrared heating. The functions of the device are:

• bakery;
• extinguishing;
• frying.

Thanks to the use of this technique, you can easily get a barbecue at any time of the year, without waiting for the summer season, or make juicy and tasty steaks.

Now let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of this device in order to still understand whether it is worth buying it. If you focus on the benefits of it, then you should name several important factors.

• Saving time and the ability to cook large quantities of food. Today, it is easy to find models of electric grills on the market that have several compartments for food and make it possible to cook two or three dishes at the same time in a short period of time.
• Preparation of dietary meals as part of proper nutrition. That is, you can stew, fry and bake food without adding oil or other fats, which will be especially important for people leading a healthy lifestyle and those who need to adhere to a strict diet due to health characteristics.
• Lack of various kinds of odors during cooking in closed models. Unlike a traditional barbecue, an electric grill keeps all the odors inside when food is being cooked. This will be extremely convenient in a home kitchen, including a small studio apartment.
• Versatility. Such a device allows you to cook food from various products: fish, poultry, meat, bread, eggs, vegetables, cereals.
• Noiselessness... Most of the models are characterized by low noise levels during cooking.
• Extensive functionality... In addition to preparing food, the device can be used for heating and defrosting food.

But one should also take into account what disadvantages this device has, and whether its use is harmful to health.

• Few cooking methods. The electric grill cannot replace basic kitchen appliances. For example, unlike the same airfryer, it cannot steam cook; it cannot fully cook the first course with it;
• Inconvenience of food preparation control. The electric grill must not be left unattended. Even the presence of a sleep timer is not a guarantee that the dish will not be overcooked or, conversely, finished to the desired readiness.
• The need for cleaning. Given that there is a surface with non-stick properties, such a device requires careful maintenance. If it is cleaned incorrectly or not too thoroughly, then it quickly loses its functionality and its effectiveness decreases.
• High energy consumption... Given the complexity of the task the device performs, it has some serious power. This leads to quite serious energy consumption, which is reflected in the electricity bills. In addition, this device is very sensitive to voltage surges. Even with the slightest power surges, it can fail.

People often think that the airfryer and the electric grill are two names for the same device. This is a delusion, because these are two completely different devices and there is a huge difference between them. First of all, an electric grill differs from an air grill by the method of heat treatment of food. In the airfryer, food is cooked using hot air, which spreads evenly over the container, so that the product is cooked from different sides and turns out to be soft and juicy.

In the electric grill, cooking is carried out according to the grill method, which does not guarantee that food is processed evenly from all sides. But food can get characteristic smell, as if it had been cooked over a fire.

For example, in an airfryer, you can not only fry meat, cook the first, but also defrost food, dry berries, make yoghurts, sterilize dishes and bake pies. And if there are several containers, then you can seriously save time, because he can cook several dishes at the same time. And thanks to the presence of a timer and the possibility of auto-off, a person does not need to be in the kitchen and monitor the operation of the device.

At the same time, the electric grill can hardly be called a multifunctional device. Of course, he will be able to fry meat and vegetables, as well as heat and defrost food. But steaming dishes and sterilizing dishes are not.

When cooking in the electric grill, a person should always be near so that the food does not burn, and also to control its readiness. Well, it is more difficult to wash it than an airfryer. Therefore, those who are looking for a universal solution would be better off purchasing an airfryer. And if you just need a device that will fry food like on a fire, then the electric grill will be the best solution.

There are a large number of models of electric grills on the market, and it is difficult for an inexperienced user to understand which solution is better. For this reason, you should familiarize yourself with the different categories of such devices. They are:

• open;
• closed;
• universal.

In the first case, the working surface is located above a special infrared heating element. In the second case, the devices are made in the form of a press, which makes it possible to cook food as in a conventional oven.

In addition, an electric grill can be:

• contact;
• contactless.

If it belongs to the first category, then the food is in contact with the heating element. If to the second - then no. For example, she can spin on a spit.

Electric grills are also available:

• stationary;
• portable.

Stationary solutions can be table-top or floor-standing.

They can also differ in the type of work surface. According to this criterion, they are:

• with ceramic coating;
• cast iron;
• metal.

The easiest way to use and care for models with glass ceramic surface. However, its strength is very low, which is why this option is not popular with consumers.

A metal pan with a non-stick coating is considered more reliable, which is quite affordable at a price, like the same grates made of cast iron.

Another criterion by which electric grills can differ is the material from which the body is made. It can be either stainless steel or plastic. Models with a stainless steel case are of higher quality, because this material will be stronger and more durable. And if you are on a budget, then an inexpensive option in a plastic case will be an excellent solution.

It should be said that today a huge number of models from a wide variety of manufacturers are presented on the domestic market, from such well-known ones as Tefal, Bork and Miele to the products of Chinese brands. Let's try to talk about the most interesting models, which really represent an excellent combination of price and quality.

The first model to be mentioned is the electric grill. Weber Q-2400. This manufacturer usually designs charcoal and gas grills. But there is also an electric model. It differs in power, this figure reaches 1560 watts. This is a fairly large grill and weighs about 16.5 kg. The lid with the boiler is made of high quality die-cast aluminum, and the inner surface of the lid is shielded with thin aluminum. This solution makes it possible to significantly increase surface heating and reduce heat loss during the cooking process.

The maximum cooking temperature is about 260 degrees and can be adjusted. If we talk about the grill for food, it consists of 2 compartments and is made of cast iron with porcelain enamel. This makes it easier to maintain the surface.

The fat flows directly onto the specially coated heating elements and then into the drip tray under the grill. This allows for a barbecue effect that cannot be achieved on grills with removable panels or grills.

Among the shortcomings, it should be noted the lack of a built-in thermometer. Also a disadvantage will be the long heating time - about 20 minutes.

Another model that deserves attention is Steba VG 500. This solution has an original design: a pair of heating zones with a temperature that is separately regulated - up to 300 and up to 250 degrees. One panel has a grooved surface, and the other is made in the form of a lattice. The power of the device is 2400 watts.

The grooved part has holes for dripping fat, which accumulates in a pair of individual pallets. The device can be controlled using two rotary switches, that is, each zone can be controlled separately.

The only drawback of the model may be the high cost and the fact that it is not so easy to find it for sale.

Another model that will be of interest to many is Kitfort KT-1636. She appeared on the market recently. It can be used to cook vegetables, meats and toasted sandwiches. It can be used in three modes. For example, you can close the lid so that the food is evenly fried on both sides. If you just need to fry a little dish, then it should be slightly opened.

And if you wish, you can expand the panels 180 degrees, which will allow you to get a brazier with the ability to cook on both parts at once. By the way, here you can set the temperature for both halves separately.

The advantages of the model include electronic control, as well as the presence of a timer for each half. In addition, it has a good build quality and a nice design. Another plus is the removable work surfaces. But the disadvantage is that the spiral may not heat up over the entire plane.

Another model that can even be classified as professional is ProfiCook PC-KG 1029. Its power is about 2000 watts at the highest settings. The highest cooking temperature here is only 180 degrees. Note that there is the possibility of stepwise temperature control. The step is two degrees. In the model under consideration, the products are in contact with heating elements.

Also present here non-stick coating applied to special plates that are removable. This makes them easy to clean. If necessary, the ProfiCook model folds out easily, just like the previous model. In general, this is a great model with attachments that every housewife will like.

The only drawback of the model, according to users, is the very short power cord.

No less interesting electric grill - Bork G802... It belongs to the category of expensive and has one distinctive feature - the temperature probe. It will allow you to automatically set the required cooking temperature depending on the type of meat and the degree of its roasting. At the same time, the integrity of the product is not compromised. But if you wish, you can not use this device. The power of the model is 2400 watts.

The Bork Electric Grill can be used as:

• sandwich press;
• barbecue grill;
• contact grill.

One of the panels here has a smooth surface, and the other is corrugated. The tilt of the plates can be adjusted. The temperature range here is from 160 to 230 degrees, and the switching step is 5 degrees.

The only drawback of this solution is that the interface is in English only.

Another model worth considering is Tefal GC306012... It is considered one of the best among those on the market. Has a power of 2000 watts. This solution allows you to translate the panels into three different positions, which makes it possible to find the most convenient position for food preparation. And you can use it as:

• grill;
• ovens;
• B-B-Q.

There are several temperature modes that are mechanically controlled. Tefal GC306012 housing is made of composite materials. The panels are made of metal and have a non-stick coating. They are easy to clean both by hand and in the dishwasher.

Only horizontal solutions were presented in the rating, but a vertical electric grill can also be found on the market. True, such options are rather an exception.

As you can see, there are just a huge number of models of electric grills on the market. Therefore, users have the question of how to choose a high-quality electric grill for home. You can use the following tips:

• pallets with a corrugated surface are very inconvenient to wash, which is why it is better to buy models with simpler surfaces;
• the pallet must be removed so that it can be washed, otherwise a lot of time and effort will be spent on it;
• the more power the electric grill has, the better it will work and the faster it will cook food;
• it will not be superfluous if the device has a light indicator that will tell you whether the device is on or not;
• it is better to buy a closed type model, this will allow you not to breathe smoke during cooking and will prevent the splashing of fat;
• it is better to choose a solution that can maintain a given temperature, this will be an excellent option if your guests do not have time to arrive on time, and you want to please them with hot food;
• it will be good if there is a temperature regulator on the body, which will allow you to smoothly adjust the temperature of the thermoelement for various dishes;
• the coating must have a non-stick surface, this is necessary if there is a desire to cook food without oil or with steam;
• another convenience will be the ability to adjust the height of the lid and legs;
• in addition, the device must be protected against overheating, so as not to cause a fire, almost all models for the home on the market meet this criterion.

How to choose an electric grill, see the next video.

If you give advice on using a technique such as an electric grill, then it should be noted that it is best to cook meat in it. You can do almost anything, but beef steaks are the best solution.

You can also cook poultry. It will be best to take chicken, since with this method of cooking the meat will not be overdried and at the same time will get a cool crust. If we talk about vegetables, then grilled them will be an excellent solution as vegetarian dishes or as a side dish.

If we talk about fish, then an electric grill is an excellent solution for cooking fish steaks. It is best to give preference to oily types of sea fish. For example, tuna and salmon. But pollock and pike are also fried perfectly. For proper cooking, cut the fillets into pieces of two and three centimeters thick.

Well, and most importantly: for each type of product, you should select separate cooking time, because they all have different properties and consistency... In general, an electric grill is a great solution for any housewife.