While a lot of folks prefer sticking to more traditional charcoal grills, there’s no denying that the simplicity you’ll get from using an electric grill is unmatched. All you need is a power plug, and you’re set to go, which not only makes everything faster and simpler, but clean up is a lot easier afterwards too.
However, electricity is a problem in itself when it comes to outdoor usage. Therefore, choosing the best outdoor electric grill might be a bit tricky because you need a grill that’s safe for outdoor usage, and one that will still give you all the performance you’d need to make an impressive meal.
Here's the best electric grill guide you can check later. For now, without wasting any more of your time, let’s take a look at our options.
Short on time? Here's a quick roundup of our top 3 picks and why you need them!
Product | Photo | Cost | Quick Discription | Link |
*Best Overall |
| $$ | Another great Weber product. Lightweight and practical to take anywhere. | |
*Runner Up |
| $$ | Great design with a decent cooking area that just weights 3 pounds! | |
*Also Great |
| $$ | Most versatile charcoal grill that lets you achieve perfect temperatures every time! |
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Best Outdoor Electric Grill : Top 5
Best Overall
We’re kicking things off with a product by Char-Broil, a brand that’s rather popular when it comes to grills. The TRU Infrared Patio Bistro is a slightly pricy option, but one that comes with quite a lot of functionality, and is perfectly safe for outdoor usage.
Quick Summary
To begin with, you’re looking at a total grilling surface of 240 square inches, which is quite a bit. This allows you to cook around 8 to 10 burgers at a time, and there’s also an 80 square inch warming rack, too. It’s a rather nice combination. To add to this, you also have an option two side shelves upgrade you can pay for that allow you to prep your food.
The cooking grates are cast iron and are porcelain-coated, which means they’re pretty easy to clean and they resist rust rather well. They’re paired with Char-Broil’s electric TRU-infrared cooking system, which results in evenly cooked food, and no flare-ups. Every time you use it, you’ll get juicy food that you’ll enjoy.
As far as functionality goes, you’re looking at a temperature knob that’s surprisingly easy to use. There’s also a storage rack below the main cooking area, and the grease tray has a rather large capacity, and is also pretty easy to reach.
All things considered, you might think that it’s expensive. However, you’re looking at one of, if not the best outdoor electric grill, which works admirably in a variety of conditions and gives you the same tasty, juicy food every time you use it.
Pros
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Runner Up
We know – the name sounds surprisingly similar to our top pick. This is another portable electric grill by Char-Broil, and is actually the newer version of the one we just spoke about, albeit with a slightly different design. It’s a bit more compact, yet checks all the boxes for a good outdoor electric grill.
Quick Summary
Quick Summary
The most notable difference is the lack of side shelves for food prep. While some might think they can’t live without them, if you’re limited in terms of space, the fact that they’re left out is a godsent. You still have a decent surface to work with, with a total of 320 square inches which is quite sufficient.
As with our top pick, you’re looking at Char-Broil’s TRU infrared cooking system which ensures very well cooked food, consistently. There’s no charred food, no flare ups, and the consistency is excellent. You will also find even heat across the entire cooking surface, and no hot or cold spots, which is brilliant when it comes to the actual taste of the food.
Functionality is pretty great, with a control knob that lets you easily adjust temperature, and a removable warming rack that you can use for indirect cooking, or if you’d like to keep some of the food warm.
Overall, if you’d rather get a more compact variant, but one that still has all the “nice things” like an infrared cooking system, porcelain-coated grates, and a temperature control knob, this might be the one to go for.
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Best Portable Option
If there’s one name that’s pretty much synonymous with the grill industry, it’s Weber, so it only makes sense to include one of their electric grills in our roundup. We’ve picked the Q1400, an electric grill that’s rather compact and you can take along with you wherever you need it. It’s built like a tank, and it has plenty of functionality, but it does come at a price that’s far from cheap.
Quick Summary
To begin with, you’re looking at a 1560W electric heating element that has the task of heating up a 189 square inch cooking area. The cooking grates are cast iron, but are porcelain enameled, which means they distribute heat rather nicely, and are easy to clean afterwards. The lid and body are both cast aluminum, which is a nice choice for an electric grill.
The entire thing is pretty compact and comes with a 6 foot grounded cord, so all you need to use it is to just hook it up and let it heat up. There’s also an infinite control burner valve setting, so you can regulate the temperature rather easily, and the carrying handles allow you to grab it and take it along with you wherever you need it.
While it’s not going to allow you to make fifteen burgers at a time, it’s a great pick if you’re carrying around the grill with you every once in a while. Bonus points for the build quality – it’s impeccable.
While talking about Weber, here are the best grills they have to offer.
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Also Good
While most of the grills on our list will give you quite a lot in terms of functionality, sometimes all you need is a good, compact design, temperature control, and a decent size cooking area. If that’s what you’re after, the George Foreman 15-Serving GGR50B might be a great pick for you.
Quick Summary
To begin with, you’ve got 240 square inches to work with. This is about 15 servings at a time, which his quite a lot. If you’re only feeding a small family, you’ll be able to easily make an entire lunch in one go, without having food cool down.
You’re looking at a removable stand that lets you use the grill both indoors and outdoors, as it can become an incredibly compact option in absolutely no time. There’s also the George Tough Nonstick Coating, which practically eliminates the need to use oil or butter, something that’s immediately noticeable when it comes to the taste of the food. (1)
Interested in more products from this grill major? Here are the top 5 George Foreman grills out now!
The temperature control is simple enough, and you get a temperature probe with five heat settings. This gives you a bit of versatility, because you can work with different types of meat and still get just the right temperature for pretty much any one of them.
Last but not least, the build quality is rather nice. We’re talking about a wallet-friendly option, so you might think that some compromises were made, but no – it’s built like a tank. If compact and well made is your cup of tea, go for it.
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Best Tabletop Option
People who are looking for an outdoor grill aren’t always after a floor standing one – sometimes a tabletop model is a better fit for your situation. If that’s the case, you should take a look at the Cuisinart CEG-980T. While there is an option to get it with a stand, you can save a bit by going for the tabletop model if it’s more convenient for you.
Quick Summary
To begin with, this is a rather compact grill. The cooking area is 145 square inches, which is enough for about 8 burgers, but that’s about it. However, with a 1500W, 5120 BTU burner, that cooking area will heat up pretty quickly, and you’ll be able to use the grill in no time. You also have a stainless steel heat reflector that’s built into the lid, that will keep heat inside. Oh – did we mention it only weighs 13 pounds? Carrying it around shouldn’t be an issue, at all. \
The design is excellent, and you’re looking at a briefcase-style model with a carrying handle. Paired with the weight we spoke about earlier, you’ve got yourself an outdoor electric grill that you can take along with you just about anywhere.
Overall, if you want a grill for your tabletop, the Cuisinart CEG-980TI is definitely an excellent choice. The reasonable price makes it an even better choice, so if you want the best outdoor electric grill for your tabletop, this is the one to get.
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Buyers' Guide
Now that we’ve got the models out of the way, let’s take a look at how you should choose the right one for you. The first thing to consider is the budget. We made sure to include grills at various price points, so if budget is a problem, you should stick to the more wallet-friendly ones.
Next up we’ve got the power of the grill. This goes alongside the cooking area, because a more powerful (higher wattage) heating element will heat up a small cooking area rather quickly. The larger the cooking area, the more powerful you need your grill to be to keep up with your needs. On the other hand, if you get a smaller cooking surface, you could do with a less powerful grill because you won’t feel too much of a difference, except in the time it takes for it to warm up.
Last but not least, you should consider the size of the cooking surface. If you’re only cooking for a small family, anything that can make four to six burgers at a time is more than enough. On the other hand, many of us oftentimes host barbeque parties, and in these situations, a larger grill will let you cook more food, more quickly. This is a major thing to consider, but it does depend a lot on your specific use case.
At the end of the day, which one you go for is a personal choice. We made sure to include options for just about any situation. However, if you’re still not sure which one to go for, our top pick by Char-Broil is definitely something you can’t go wrong with.
Best Overall
Another great Weber product. Lightweight and practical to take anywhere.
Resources
(1) Nonstick Surfaces - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nonstick-cookware-safety
