6/7
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
Plates are not removable
7/7
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 to Consider When Buying an Indoor Grill
Buying a great indoor grill isn’t just about the grill’s quality—it’s also about preferences and safety. Indoor grills were made with convenience in mind without worrying about things like grill covers to enjoy the taste of grilled foods. With that being said, the best indoor grill should contain enough surface area for your preferred meats and sides while also being small enough to store away in a cabinet.
Indoor grills are also electric, which means they require the use of a plug. Most indoor grills are made with a lengthy cord so they can sit a good distance away to prevent overheating, so countertop space is another aspect to consider before purchasing an indoor grill.
Types of Indoor Grills
Contact grills: These grills feature a top that closes down on your food. The top of contact grills typically contains grill plates to produce a sear on both sides of your meats, so you don’t have to flip your burgers, steaks or chicken. These tops are also used as a panini press.
Open grills: Open grills mimic outside grills where the bottom surface is the only portion of the grill that contains plates and produces grill marks. In order to ensure even cooking time, food will have to be flipped halfway through.
How We Found the Best Indoor Grills
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
What can you cook on an indoor grill?
Indoor grills are just like outside charcoal and gas grills: They can be used for a variety of foods. Most people use indoor grills for meats such as burgers, steaks, chicken or kebabs, but they can also be used to grill fish or your favorite sides. The best indoor grills include a top with a grill plate that can double as a panini press to create a toasted sandwich.
What temp should you cook a steak to on an indoor grill?
Cooking steaks on an indoor grill is not cut-and-dry. There are several things to consider, such as the thickness of your steak, how long your indoor grill takes to preheat and cook, and your preferred finish. The recommended temperature by the USDA is 145 degrees for grilled steaks, which will take 8-10 minutes with a one-inch thick steak. If you prefer a more well-done steak, continue grilling until the temperature reaches 160-165 degrees.
What temp should you cook burgers to on an indoor grill?
Cooking burgers on an indoor grill is no different than 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.