The indoor grill is the center of debate—is it really a grill? To me, it’s a bit like asking if an air fryer actually fries anything. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is if you like what it’s doing. If the answer is “yes,” then who cares what the haters say. You’re grilling for you. Aside from being today’s motivational food speaker, I’ll mention a few other pros to indoor grilling that might even bring the outdoor grill stans to the yard. Well, kitchen.
The products mentioned in this post:
What is an indoor grill?
Indoor grills are electric appliances that have the grill rack set over a heating element underneath. They’re simple to use, with the convenience of an on-off switch and easy to operate temperature control dials. Many brands have a cooking surface similar to a Foreman grill where the plate is one solid piece of metal with raised bars. This allows the fat to drip down away from the food like on any other grill rack, but is also legitimately easy to clean.
Why indoor grills are helpful
No-worry heat source: Instead of controlling charcoal briquettes or wondering if anyone cleaned the grease pan of your gas grill, your indoor grill doesn’t involve any live flames to cause plumes of smoke or flare-ups. Simply plug it in like any electric appliance and enjoy the dial-controlled temperature.
Great for apartments and small spaces. Most indoor grills range in size but many of them have a cooking surface about the size of a large laptop and are relatively easy to store, especially when compared to other major cooking appliances like a toaster oven or an air fryer. Obviously you don’t need an outdoor space to use it either; it’s safe to use in your studio apartment.
Year-round use. “Grilling season” can be fully extended to be 12 months a year. Since it’s all done indoors, you don’t have to wait until the weather warms up.
Temperature control. This point is worth repeating simply because controlling the heat on a charcoal grill and the hot spots on a gas grill can be challenging for beginners. On an electric appliance, you can easily change the temperature from high heat for your steak, to low heat for your corn.
For kebabs and skewers, try the Zojirushi
The Zojirushi Indoor Grill has a hybrid grill top design where sections are completely punched through bars and areas that are simply raised. The top temperature is listed as 410°F and the grill top is removable for easy clean-up. The Zojirushi’s grilling surface does not have a raised lip or lid that cuts off the edges, so this model is great if you envision yourself cooking large or long foods, like kebabs and skewered foods, corn on the cob, or breads that might puff up and a lid or edges could interfere with the rise.
For an indoor grill on a budget, check out the Chefman
The Chefman Smokeless Indoor Grill has surprisingly high reviews for an appliance that clocks in at just under $50. This grill sets you up with a 15- by 10-inch non-stick surface, a notably longer cooking surface than many others, and the parts are dishwasher safe.
For high temperature searing, there’s the Ninja Sizzle
Aside from having a pretty rad name, the Ninja Sizzle is a versatile indoor grill. It has a reversible grill plate, one side with raised grill bars and divots for the fat to run down into, and another side that’s flat like a griddle. For those who want that outdoor grill level of searing, the Sizzle is one of the few that shows the actual degrees (instead of low, medium, or high) and can be cranked up to 500°F.
Regardless of how you choose, the indoor grill is a great option if you’re limited on space, worry about sparks and flare-ups, or you just enjoy getting your grill on indoors during the off-season.