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Survival Cooking Pick: Our Favorite Overall Electric Grill
Love ‘em or not, the electric grill is beginning to cement its status a convenient addition to the world of grilling. I had a tough time adjusting at first, but, at the end of the day, there is a time and a place for everything– including a high quality electric grill. After an extended testing period, we all came to the conclusion that the Weber Q 2400 was the best electric grill on the market. Were we surprised? Not even a little bit. Weber has earned a great reputation as far as designing and manufacturing grills, and this is no exception. The 6 ft cord is an ideal length; it’s not too long, but longer than many competitors. Plus, if extra length is required, it’s never hard to track down an extension cord.
- 1560-watt electric heating element to heat 280 square-inch total cooking area
- Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body
- .Dimensions (Inches) Lid Open : ( H x W x D) - 26 x 31.5 x 25.1(Inches); :Dimensions - Lid Closed (inches) 14.5 H x 31.5 W x 19.5 D
The 280 square inch cooking space is a great size, and the temperature spreads perfectly evenly, which allows a pretty ideal grilling experience. The heat is a lot higher than most other high end electric grills, too.
The Weber Q2400 is also extremely easy to use, and cleaning is quick and simple. Top it off with a 5-year warranty, and you’ve got the complete package, and an easy pick for the best overall electric grill; it’s worth every penny of its comparatively high price tag.
2. Char-Broil TRU Infrared Electric Patio Bistro 180 Grill
This is a great grill, too. Though it doesn’t deliver at quite the same level as the Weber in a few major categories– the cooking space is slightly smaller at 245 inches and the warranty is only 1 year, rather than 5– this factor is seen in the mass price difference.
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At about half the price as the first place electric grill on this page, Char-Broil’s electric grill offers huge value, with an impressive list of features, some of which aren’t even found on the Weber, including a side shelf, warming rack, and an in-hood thermometer.
All of these add a lot of efficiency and ease to the cook’s experience at the helm of the grill. Should you choose this Char-Broil grill, you’ll be blazing away at temperatures as high as 550 degrees, and definitely enjoying what we’ve deemed to be the second best electric grill on the market.
3. George Foreman GFO201R Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill
George Foreman grills have carved out a name for themselves as influential pioneers of the electric grill industry, and the brand has even become a household name. This particular, versatile Foreman grill does not disappoint.
- 200 square inch cooking space
- Great color and appearance
- Easy to clean
- Fat removing slope – typical Foreman feature
- Removable stand
- Variable temperature
Not to mention, this grill can be purchased for less than $100. If you’re on a budget, this is probably the best choice for you.
- 12plus Servings - It’s tailgate time The 200 square inches of rectangular grilling surface lets you make over 12 servings for large groups of people
- Apartment-Approved - Your landlord will love this grill just as much as you do. The fully electric system gives you high-quality grilling with no charcoal, no propane, and no flare-ups
- Adjustable Temperature Control - Perfect heat is the secret ingredient. The temperature probe lets you choose from five heat settings to get the best results on any kind of food
Summary
For many big fans of grilling, the electric grill has been a tough trend to accept. I know, I know– I’ve been there too. But hey, I’ve really learned to appreciate these unique pieces of cooking technology. They’ve got some unique usefulness that I think makes them more than worthwhile… Electric grills are useful for many different situations, including things like tailgating at sporting events, as they are low maintenance; quick and simple.
Also, there are a lot of apartments and condos that don’t allow open flames– damn condo regulations keep finding new, useless ways to keep us down. Anyway, an electric grill is a great solution in this case…
Not to mention, when you’re depending on electricity, you never have to worry about running out of gas. Also, the built in GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) will protect you from electric shock. This way, you still never have to worry about electrocuting yourself at the grill, which would be a bit of an embarrassing story to tell the guys.
How To Use An Electric Grill
One of the biggest perks about an electric grill is their easy learning curve. If you can use a grill, you can use an electric grill… If you can’t use a grill properly– well, you can still probably use an electric grill.
Firing up your electric grill is easier than it’s ever been– you literally just have to plug the cord into the wall to start generating heat. Ideal preheating can take anywhere between 15 and 35 minutes.
Once you start cooking, the ease of use continues. One major perk of an electric grill is that you can very easily regulate, control, and maintain your ideal temperature, and that temperature will always spread evenly throughout the grill… Even your most experienced BBQ-ers have a lot of trouble managing that kind of consistency– I know I do. Sometimes, that is the clincher that makes me choose to use my electric rather than firing up the charcoal.
How To Clean
Cleaning most of these is very simple, though it changes from model to model. However, it is not difficult to track down the information for cleaning your specific grill, and there are a few basic principles that are more-or-less universal within the world of electric grilling… Generally, empty the grease traps every time, and wash the various pieces with soap and water.