Hey there, grill enthusiasts! Ready to take your indoor cooking game to the next level? Whether you're a seasoned chef or just love a good barbecue, our indoor grill review guide has got you covered. From countertop models to unique designs, we'll help you find the best indoor grills of 2024 that suit your style and space. If you're looking for an air fryer option, our top choice, the Ninja 5-in-1 Indoor Grill, is worth a look. So, get ready to fire up those flavors and bring the joy of grilling indoors all year round!

With an indoor grill in your kitchen, you won’t have to wait for the weather to become nice or arrange a special outdoor setting. You can prepare grilled meat, fish, vegetables, and even cheese items at any time or whenever your heart craves. However, choosing the best product can be daunting with a myriad of indoor grills available in the market. As you have to spend hefty bucks to get an indoor grill, there shouldn’t be any room for errors. Thus, we have prepared a full buying guide so that you can make an informed decision with your indoor grill and cook delicious dishes with no hassle.

What Are the Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Grills?

Even though the function of both indoor and outdoor grills is to char the food items and infuse a smoky flavor, they aren’t the same. This section highlights some of the major differences between an indoor grill and an outdoor grill. 

• You don’t have to deal with real smoke when you cook using an indoor grill. But the outdoor grills usually produce a lot of smoke.
• There is no weather constraint to use an indoor grill. On the contrary, you can use the outdoor grill only when the weather is suitable. 
• Using the indoor grill, the intensity of smokiness in different food items will be less than the outdoor grills. 
• Indoor grills are compact and smaller in size, but outdoor grills are quite big. 
• Indoor grills run on electricity, but you will need charcoal or any other fuel as the source of heat for outdoor grills. 

What Key Aspects Should You Consider When Selecting the Best Indoor Grill?

Grill plate size

The amount of food you can place on the grill plate will depend on its size. The larger the plate, the larger the grilling surface area. Thus, it will allow you to place a huge rack of ribs, eight to ten pieces of salmon, a whole sliced pineapple, lots of veggies, sausages, and more. If you want to cook for yourself or two people, you can go for a product having a grill plate of 100 square inches to 118 square inches. But if your main aim is to have an indoor grill for parties and family gatherings, make sure to choose a product having a large plate with a surface area of more than 120 square inches. 

Temperature

Not all indoor grills have the same temperature range, so you need to be very precise while choosing the product. The maximum temperature you can achieve using the grills ranges between 450°F and 500°F. However, the temperature control method varies from one product to another. If you want a normal grill, go for a model having a temperature control knob with four or five heat settings. But if you want freedom in controlling the heat with precision and accuracy, it would be better to choose an indoor grill with no fixed heat settings. This way, you can increase or decrease the temperature as you want. 

Smoke

As you will be cooking indoors, make sure to choose a grilling appliance that won’t produce any kind of smoke in the air. For example, a few indoor grills are reinforced with a smoke extractor that will reduce the smoke if produced. As a result, your kitchen’s air will be safe for breathing, and your neighbors won’t complain. 

Portability

If you want to carry the indoor grill to your outdoor patio or any other place, always go for one that has features of both indoor and outdoor grills. You should also ensure that it weighs less so that you won’t have to struggle while carrying it. If your chosen grill has a stand, it should be removable. 

Lid

Most indoor grills come with a lid cover. Some lids are dome-shaped to allow the hot air to circulate properly within the grilling space, thereby ensuring even cooking and better charring of the food items. On the other hand, you can find a hood-style cover that will help you trap moisture and keep the grilled items juicy and moist in a few appliances. 

What Are Added Features You Should Look for in an Indoor Grill?

While looking for a reliable indoor grill, you must ensure that it comes with some special features that enhance the flavors of grilled food and help you prepare delicious meals. In the section below, we have mentioned some of these features that make an indoor grill a must-have appliance for almost all household kitchens. 

• Make sure that the grill plate has a non-stick ceramic coating. This will prevent the food from sticking to the surface, making cleaning easier than ever. 
• Indicator lights will alert you whether the power is on or not. Some models also have indicators to let you know whether cooking is completed or not. 
• Another major feature you should look for is a transparent window in the lid or hood of the grill so that you can see the food being cooked. 
• Choosing an indoor grill with a removable drip tray will prevent fat and grease from making a mess on your kitchen countertop. 
• Some indoor grills have LED touchscreen control panels, using which you can adjust both the temperature and time. 
• Cool-touch handles will protect your fingers from burning since they won’t get hot, regardless of how long the appliance is switched on.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Ninja 5-In-1 Indoor Grill
• Value For Money: Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Grill
• Best Design: George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill
• Best Performance: Power Xl Smokeless Indoor Grill
• Also Consider: Elite Gourmet Smokeless Indoor Grill

Reviews

Best Overall

Ninja 5-In-1 Indoor Grill

Pros	Cons
Won’t have to flip over the food constantly due to the unique grill grate design Can air fry foods with 75% less fat in the 4-quart air fryer	Some people find it quite expensive

Samantha B: "We literally used this every day for a week after we got it. I've made grilled chicken, fries, roasted vegetables and even frozen biscuits with this. Brigitte G: "I am not a great cook but this makes cooking easy and quick for any busy person. Not only do I have one but I have gifted these and the recipients all love them."

Check on Amazon Check Price on Walmart

Value For Money

Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Grill

Pros	Cons
Allows you to watch the food being cooked without letting all the heat out Much easier to clean, thanks to the removable grill plate and drip tray	Has only one cooking mode for grilling the ingredients

Katrina: "Amazing quality!! Pieces come apart and go back together so easily for cleaning, it doesn't smoke up the house like other ones that I've tried." Phyllis: "I have only used this grill twice, but I see this becoming a go to item. It is so easy to setup, easy to use, and very easy to clean up. What I am most surprised and impressed with is how light it is."

Check on Amazon

Best Design

George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill

Pros	Cons
Allows you to watch the food being cooked without letting all the heat out Much easier to clean, thanks to the removable grill plate and drip tray	Has only one cooking mode for grilling the ingredients

Carrie: "I love this grill!!!! I make food on this grill 3 nights a week. I usually make 2 to 3 large chicken breasts and lots of veggies all on the surface at the same time. It's a huge space. It makes enough food for several meals and rinse and repeat a few days later." Larry: This George Foreman electric grill is utterly fantastic, how this grill cooks food like a gas grill amazes me! Not only does it put on the grill marks, but it tastes just like a gas grill, without burning the food, there are no hot spots the heat is so uniform, and with the moisture selector lid, the food cooks perfect every time.

Check on Amazon

Best Performance

Power Xl Smokeless Indoor Grill

Pros	Cons
Highly durable due to the die-cast aluminum body Will help you keep an eye on cooking items through the transparent glass lid	Not reinforced with indicator lights to alert you about the power and cooking status

Douglas: "The grill works great! It puts grill marks, NO GREASY SMOKE in the house, amazingly quiet, and really easy to clean." Louise: "Update after over a year: We couldn't be happier with this purchase. This grill has held up well, given that we use it at least once a week, and some times more. It remains easy to clean and continues to provide even heat, with no smoke. We have been making steaks, hamburgers, poppers, grilled vegetables, grilled sausages, and even pancakes, and all have turned out delicious and well cooked. This deserves 10 stars."

Check on Amazon

Also Consider

Elite Gourmet Smokeless Indoor Grill

Pros	Cons
Can be disassembled easily for quick cleaning of drip tray and grill plate Will help in controlling the grill temperature with more accuracy and precision	Not ideal for cleaning in the dishwasher

April: "This electric grill exceeds expectations. So easy to use, well made, easy to clean, and most of all cooks the food so well. We've done chicken, burgers, steaks, veggies, pork, and fish on it. It doesn't dry out food the way the traditional outdoor grill does, everything turns out so moist and yummy." Janette: "Very easy to clean. Easy to set up and cook. Our meats taste like in the grill. Best buy ever."

Check on Amazon