6 Best Electric Grills in 2023 (Tested and Reviewed)

If I’m going to be totally honest with you, I feel more comfortable with a competition offset smoker than an electric grill that you need to plugin.

I had always thought that electric grills were a sad compromise you made when your options were limited by living somewhere that didn’t allow gas or charcoal.

I was shocked to find some big-name grill companies releasing electric grills with the ability to smoke meat, air fry outdoors, and the ability to cook both indoors and outdoors with the same grill.

I wanted to find out how good electric grills are really, so I tested six of the most popular models on the market to give you the scoop on performance, design, portability, and more.

The 6 best electric grills

1. Best overall – Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill

Read our full Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill review.

Our top pick best electric grill is the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill. The Ninja Woodfire has the most features and is easily the most versatile electric grill on the market today. You can add wood pellets to the grill while you are cooking and add smoke flavor to your food, no matter which cooking function you are using.

With the ability to smoke, grill, air fry, bake, and roast it gives you the most cooking options in a small, compact design.

Ninja Woodfire specifications:

Height	13-1/2″
Width	23″
Weight	30 lbs
Grill Grate Dimensions	10″ x 14″
Fuel Source	Electric
Price	$369 to $429, depending on accessories

The Ninja control panel

The control panel is extremely easy to use and is reminiscent of other Ninja Kitchen appliances. There is a knob on the far left that allows you to select the type of cook you want to do: Grill, Smoker, Air Crisp, Bake, Roast, Broil, or Dehydrate.

Just right of the control knob, there is a button labeled “Woodfire Flavor Technology”. When the grill is on the Smoker setting, it automatically ignites the pellets. But, if you want to add woodfire flavor to something you are grilling, air frying, or baking you need to press the Woodfire Flavor button to ignite the pellets.

Below the monitor there are both temperature and time settings, which are pretty self-explanatory, then on the far right there is the Start/Stop button.

I was very impressed with the information the Ninja provides during every step of the cooking process. It will let you know when it is igniting the pellets, when it is pre-heating, then it will say “Add Food” to prompt you to put the food on the grill. When the timer finishes, it will say “Done” and give you the signature little Ninja sound that their other appliances do.

The 7 functions

The Ninja Woodfire has 7 different cooking functions, which is impressive. It allows a lot of versatility so you can cook more things outdoors than ever before.

1. Grill – steaks, burgers, hot dogs, chicken
2. Smoker – chicken, roasts, pork tenderloins, ribs
3. Air Crisp – wings, French fries, salmon, anything you would normally air fry
4. Bake – cakes, pies, cobblers, breads
5. Roast – similar to the Smoker function, but without adding smoke flavor
6. Broil – melting cheese, finishing the sear on a roast, reheating pizza
7. Dehydrate – beef jerky, dried fruits

I have cooked wings, steaks, beef ribs, and even blueberry cobbler on the Ninja Woodfire and I’ve been impressed with the versatility and ability of the grill. It has a smaller footprint, but really packs a punch when it comes to features and flexibility of cooking styles.

Ninja executed the design with both quality and versatility, and for the price point, I would say, it’s excellent value. If you wanted to buy appliances/grills to do each of the 7 functions separately, you would have to spend at least 3x as much.

Being able to grill and smoke on a single electric grill opens up a world of possibilities for apartment dwellers or anyone who doesn’t have the freedom to cook with traditional gas or charcoal grills.

Keep in mind this is an outdoor electric grill so unlike most Ninja products, you won’t be able to use it indoors.

The only critique I have is the size. I wish it were just slightly bigger. I think I would struggle to fit a larger rack of ribs on the cooking space provided, so a little more length would be nice. But, it is a portable, tabletop grill, so it’s made for ease of mobility and to have a smaller footprint.

What I like:

• Easily add smoke flavor to the meat.
• Very easy and safe to use.
• Great for apartments, condos, or smaller spaces.

What I don’t like:

• The 141 square inches of cooking space doesn’t give you a lot of room to work with

2. Best full-size – Char-Broil Edge Electric Grill

Read our full Char-Broil Edge review.

The best (and only?) full-sized electric grill on the market today is the Char-Broil Edge. It gives you the look and feel of a full-sized gas grill but with the convenience of an electric fuel source. While the price point is significantly higher than other electric grills I tested, the size and functionality of the Char-Broil Edge are unmatched.

The Char-Broil Edge has a beautiful, sleek design. It’s a good-looking grill, point blank. The exterior is made of stainless steel, and the build quality is solid. Plus Char-Broil includes some really great design features that I appreciated.

The Edge has multiple cooking zones with a 270 square inch grilling zone and a 60 square inch warming zone for indirect cooking and to keep food warm.

Char-Broil Edge specifications:

Dimensions	45″H x 48″W x 20.25″D
Weight	109 lbs
Grill Material	Stainless Steel; Painted Steel
Grate Material	Aluminum
Fuel Type	Electric

The Edge is the equivalent of a 4-burner gas grill.

The temperature control panel is fully digital and allows you to adjust the temperature in increments of 5°F with a simple turn of the knob. The Edge also provides a wide range of temperatures from 200°F all the way up to 700°F which is high enough to get great grill marks.

The aluminum grill grates, wouldn’t have been isn’t my first choice (I prefer more of a nonstick grate), but the overall design of the grates is nice.

I found the auto-clean feature to be fantastic, as well. Once you’re done cooking, set the grill to Auto-Clean, and it will run the process in about 30 to 45 minutes. It burns off all of the leftover food and junk, and shuts off automatically when the process is complete (which I appreciated). Then, you can wipe away any residue with a sponge or cloth.

The one issue I had with the grill was its time to preheat. It can take anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes to preheat, depending on what temperature you are cooking at, which is a bummer if you’re used to traditional grills that heat up much more quickly.

What I like:

• Full-sized grill.
• Beautiful, sleek design.
• High max temp great for searing and getting grill marks
• The digital control panel allows you to adjust the temperature in increments of 5°F.
• Auto-Clean feature.
• Lots of storage space.

What I don’t like:

• Takes a long time to preheat.
• Can’t change cooking zones

3. Best grill/smoker combo – Weber Lumin Electric Grill

Read our full Weber Lumin review.

The Weber Lumin is the latest model in the Weber line of electric grills and it definitely packs a punch. It is a combination grill, smoker, steamer, and warmer all in one and gives you all of the features that you love about cooking on a gas grill with a smaller footprint and convenient, electric fuel source.

The Weber Lumin is a small, portable grill, but it includes a lot of the features that we’ve all grown to love about full-sized grill models. The sleek design wastes no space and Weber offers 5 different colors to choose from so you can pick which one fits best in your space.

Weber Lumin specifications:

Dimensions	12″H x 26″W x 19″D
Weight	36.5 lbs
Fuel Type	Electric
Total Cooking Area	242 sq. in.
Cooking Grates	Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Power	1,560 watts / 120 volts
Max Grill Temperature	600°F
Power Cord	6 feet

The Weber Lumin is a small grill that packs a big punch. It has a super compact design that will fit in just about any outdoor space, plus because it is an electric grill it is perfect for people in condos or apartments that may not allow charcoal or propane grills on the balconies.

The Lumin has various cook settings that really pack a lot of versatility into a small package. You can use it to grill food, add wood chips to convert it into a smoker, add water to make it a steamer, and even set it on the lowest setting to be used as a food warmer.

The Lumin can reach temperatures of over 600°F, so you don’t have to worry about getting a great sear and pretty grill marks on steaks, burgers, and more. No sad electric grill taste here.

Plus, the smoke infusion function allows you to add wood chips and a layer of smoky flavor to the food you’re cooking.

The smoke infusion function can be used at both high and low temperatures on the grill as well, which I found to be helpful depending on what you are planning to cook.

The Lumin also has a built-in temperature gauge on the top of the grill so you can see exactly what temperature you are working with. I’ve found that other electric grills tend to have a high-medium-low heat setting model, so I was really happy to find that the Lumin includes an actual temperature gauge in its design.

Finally, it has a “Grill from Frozen” function that will allow you to skip defrosting and add your frozen meat or seafood directly to the grill while it is preheating to defrost and cook in one easy step.

What I like:

• Fast preheat.
• Non-stick porcelain-enameled grill grates.
• Great smoke flavor.
• Ability to convert into a warmer to keep food warm or rest meat.

What I don’t like:

• The temperature drops rapidly when the lid is opened.
• Small cooking space, difficult to smoke larger cuts of meat.

4. Best portable electric grill – Weber Q2400 Electric Grill

Read our full Weber Q2400 review.

Another electric model by Weber is the Weber Q-series (Q2400). While it doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles some of the other models have, it is a great portable option if you want to take your grilling on the go or prefer not to use up a lot of space. It’s a great option for steaks, burgers, and grilled chicken.

Overall, the Weber Q2400 is what it is – a portable, electric grill. It doesn’t have any fancy bells and whistles, but it has the quality that Weber is known for.

It’s not the kind of grill that you want to be using day in and day out, and the variety of foods that you can cook in the space provided is limited – especially with the recommendation not to use the grill for longer than 60 minutes at a time.

If you’re looking for something to take on the road camping, hiking, or traveling and you just want to be able to grill up a few burgers or chicken breasts, then it’s a great option! But if you are looking for something more robust, you may be disappointed in the versatility of the grill.

The Weber Q2400 is just about as portable as a grill gets. Its lightweight design is easy to take with you on the go while still providing the quality features that Weber is known for.

This is an outdoor electric grill and Weber do not recommend using it indoors.

Weber Q2400 specifications:

Dimensions	14.5″H x 31.5″W x 19.5″D
Fuel Type	Electric
Total Cooking Area	280 sq. in.
Cooking Grates	Porcelain-enameled cast iron
Power	1,560 watts / 120 volts
Power Cord Length	6 ft.

The power supply on the Weber Q2400 is quite large and easy to use. It has a range of heat settings so you can control the heat of the grill based on what you are cooking:

• A – OFF
• B – LOW
• C – MEDIUM
• D – HIGH

I was disappointed to find that the Weber Q2400 does not come with an integrated temperature gauge. While the low-medium-high options do the job, I would really like to see the actual temperature inside the grill while I’m cooking. Maybe that’s just a personal preference thing, but it was something I felt was lacking.

I did appreciate that Weber includes a removable grease drip pan with the grill. The catch pan slides into the bottom of the grill and the disposable drip pan fits right inside. The fact that the drip pan is disposable is nice because you don’t have to hassle quite as much with cleaning it, but I do think that you can get at least 20 uses out of it before you need to replace it.

The build quality was great – especially for the price point. The exterior of the grill is made from a nice, thick metal that helps to hold heat very evenly from what I can tell. The oval-shaped design of the grill is also nice because you can fit larger items in the grill without worrying about the lid touching your food.

What I like:

• Porcelain-enameled grates.
• Easy to clean.
• Simple and straightforward.

What I don’t like:

• 1-hour cooking limit.
• No temperature gauge.
• Too simplistic for complex cooks.

5. Best value – George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill

The electric grill that will give you the best experience for the lowest price is the George Foreman Electric Grill. It can be used indoors and outdoors with and without its included stand, making it a versatile option.

It’s a fairly basic grill without any bells and whistles, but it is an excellent choice for portability or for someone just looking to do basic grilling at home without a major investment in a grill.

George Foreman specifications:

Coating	George Tough ™ Non-stick
Color	Silver
Drip Tray	Yes
Variable Temperature Control	Yes
Warranty	3-year

The George Foreman grill is a great choice for someone that wants to do some grilling, but doesn’t want to invest in anything over-the-top. It’s simple, but well-built and does a great job of grilling things like burgers, steaks, hot dogs, chicken, and more!

It did a reasonable job developing grill marks, but not surprisingly wasn’t quite as good as the Lumin or Char-Broil.

I love that the stand comes with the grill at no additional cost, so you can use it as a tabletop grill or use the stand for a more permanent design.

What I like:

• Non-stick cooking surface.
• Easy to clean.
• Quick preheat.
• Indoor outdoor electric grill

What I don’t like:

• No temperature gauge.
• Too simplistic for complex cooks.

6. Best indoor electric grill – Hamilton Beach Indoor Electric Grill

If you aren’t interested in cooking outside but you still want to be able to grill food then the Hamilton Beach Indoor Electric Grill is a great option. It’s small enough to be stored in your kitchen cabinet but has enough cooking space to cook for 2 to 4 people easily.

Hamilton Beach specifications:

Dimensions	12.4″D x 16.73″W x 6.81″H
Weight	8.14 lbs
Material	Stainless Steel
Frame Material	Plastic
Fuel Type	Electric
Power	1200 watts / 120 volts
Max Grill Temperature	450° F
Warranty	1-year

The Hamilton Beach preheats quickly and has a temperature knob that allows you to set it to any temperature between 200°F and 400°F, plus it has a “sear” setting for finishing your steaks and giving them the beautiful char that you love about grilled food.

What I like:

• Lightweight & portable design.
• Can easily be used in your kitchen without taking up much space.
• Ability to adjust temperature and sear food.

What I don’t like:

• Cannot be used outdoors.
• Small cooking space.

Things to consider when shopping for an electric grill

I tested each grill independently to determine how it performed. I cooked everything from bread, meat, and vegetables on each grill to see how they cooked different foods. I think the biggest difference between all of the models was cooking space and size and the additional features they offered outside of basic grilling.

Grill size

When you are shopping for an electric grill, it’s important to decide how big of a grill you want before you start looking. While the Char-Broil Edge is a beautiful and high-quality grill, it’s not even remotely portable. It’s a great grill for your patio or backyard, but if you’re looking for something you can take on-the-go it’s probably not the best bet for you.

Cooking surface

Another thing to consider is the cooking surface area of each grill. How much food do you plan on cooking? How many people do you want to feed? All these factors play a part in deciding which grill is right for you.

If you want something with a lot of surface area, then the Char-Broil Edge or the Weber Lumin are your best bets. If you’re looking for something more portable with less cooking space, I recommend checking out the Ninja Woodfire or the Weber Q-Series.

Power source

Make sure you review the manufacturer’s specifications and power requirements.

Both Ninja and Weber recommend using a standard 15 amp or higher outlet for the Lumin and Woodfire.

While some of these grills can be powered on more portable sources, always consult the manual before attempting.

Features you want

One big thing to consider when shopping for an electric grill is what type of features you want/need for the style of cooking you’re planning to do.

For example, if you just want a simple grill that you can cook burgers, hot dogs, and chicken on then the George Foreman or the Weber Q2400 would be great choices! If you want the ability to smoke meat as well, then the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill or the Weber Lumin would be great options.

If you want something that packs a punch in the features department and allows you to smoke, grill, air-fry, steam, and roast all in one – then the Ninja Woodfire is definitely the one to choose!

Where do you plan to grill?

Are you wanting to grill outside or indoors? Or do you want the ability to do both? The only models on our list that can be used indoors are the Hamilton Beach and the George Foreman, so if you’re looking to be able to grill right in your kitchen then those two are your best bet.

If you want a full-sized grill that is going to stay in your backyard, then the Char-Broil Edge is definitely your best bet, but if you want something that you can use at home and take with you when you travel then the Weber Lumin or the Weber Q2400 are probably a better choice.

Storage

Another thing you should keep in mind while shopping is where you plan to store your grill. While the majority of the models can easily be stored in your garage, kitchen, or closet – it’s essential to keep in mind that the Char-Broil Edge is far too large to store indoors.

Additionally, if you opt for the option stands that come with the Weber Lumin or Weber Q2400, you will need to take into account where you plan to store those as well. The stand for the Lumin folds down very easily, but the Q2400 stand is quite bulky and cannot be easily disassembled.

Electric grills vs gas grills

Why would you want to choose an electric grill over a gas grill? Well, there are benefits to both – but I think that electric grills are gaining a lot of popularity in recent years for a few reasons.

• Ease of use – an electric grill is really easy to use. Just plug it in, let it preheat, and you’re ready to grill! A gas or charcoal grill will require you to purchase propane tanks or bags of charcoal, lug them around, and keep them stocked up in your house.

• Safety – electric grills are also safer than gas grills, as they don’t have a real flame or the dangers of flare-ups if you don’t keep your grill clean.

• Cost – electric grills are generally cheaper than propane grills, especially if you factor in the cost of fuel over years and years of use.

At the moment, I still think gas grills are capable of producing better grill marks and slightly better tasting food. Gas grills get the edge with the heating element as they can put out a lot more heat which helps promote the Maillard reaction.

It’s a lot closer than it used to be though, and electric grills have made a lot of progress in a short span of time.

Final thoughts

These 6 are the best picks in my opinion and depending on what you’re looking for, none of them will disappoint you.

As time passes, I’m sure more electric grill options will hit the market with more and more features to compete with the gas and charcoal options out there. I’m excited to see what technology brings us in the future, but I’m impressed so far with what I’ve seen!