Comparative test of electric grills: 7 models to buy

Not everyone in our country has an electric grill, but some of our neighbors on the planet have it as the main unit in the kitchen. What makes the grill so good? This device can reconcile health-food purists and fried food aficionados. After all, you can cook without oil on the grill, which is healthy and less caloric. At the same time, you can make kebabs, chops, steaks on the grill, although the latter are not so easy..

Grill types

Group of electric grills

includes quite a variety of devices that not only have different functionality, but also do not look alike each other.

The largest group – contact grills, which heats the food from below and from above.

Let’s distinguish 2 subgroups, differing in their features and price:

• Contact grills with mechanical control

In our test we have tested 4 grills in this category: BBK BEG 2001, Polaris PGP 0702, Scarlett EG 350M02, Sinbo SSM 2534.

• Contact grills with electronic control, automatic cooking programs and control of the cooking level.

In this test took part grill REDMOND SteakMaster RGM-M805, previously we tested the grill Tefal Optigrill GC702D34.

Almost all contact grills

in our test except Scarlett EG 350M02

can be spread to 180 degrees to cook on a larger area, but in this case the heat comes only from below. Some manufacturers have invented a special name for this type of cooking: “barbecue” and point out that their grill is “2 in 1”.

The second group can be conditionally called “Multigrills”.

These are devices that always heat on one side only. And that makes them similar to grill pans that many cookware manufacturers have. But electric devices have more functionality: in addition to the grooved surface grill they usually have the ability to cook on smooth pans.

The Ariete 1916 grill has both surfaces coexisting side by side, and the Oursson EG1510S/OR grill has trays that can be swapped depending on what kind of food you’re cooking. At some devices of this type

Ariete 1916 3-in-1 in our test

there is heating both from below and from above on the part of the surface .

Participants of the test

Model	REDMOND SteakMaster RGM-M805	Ariete 1916 “3 in 1”	Oursson EG1510S/OR	BBK BEG2001	Polaris PGP 0702	ScarlettEG 350M02	Sinbo SSM 2534
Dimensions,mm	356x325x168	190x410x250	500x280x80	349x326x140	350x340x135	350x335x130	390x300x140
Dimensions panels	310×245	170+210×250	415×230	290×230	290×225	270×300	330×210
Removable plates	+	–	+	+	+	–	+
Can be washed in dishwasher	+	–	–	–	–	–	+
Cord	0,8	0,7	1,08	1	1	0,85	1
Warranty	2 years	2 years	1 year	1 year	1 year	1 year	1 year
Price, Dollars.	9 760	5999	5990	up to 4290	6 499	5 590	3 650

Mechanically-controlled contact grills are the most affordable devices in the electric grill group. At the same time, they are quite successful, and most importantly, quickly cope with the preparation of many dishes: grilled vegetables, chops, steaks, burgers turn out juicy and tasty. Again, you can cook them without adding oil at all, and the fat will drip off and not remain on the finished product.

How to choose the grill?

• Panels

Almost all modern grills have removable panels. And it is very convenient, because it facilitates the care of the product. They can be washed in the sink with the rest of the dishes. Some manufacturers even allow you to wash the panels in the dishwasher, but since the panels have a special coating, you’re better off washing them by hand for longer life.

This rule applies not only to grills: manufacturers of cookware with non-stick coating recommend not washing these products in machines too much, so they do not lose their properties longer.

• Grease drip tray

Almost all grills have it built in, but there are exceptions. In our test, there was one participant, which has to put a tray under the spout on the panel. Seemingly a trifle, but you can forget and then damage the countertop, you can lose the part and spend time looking for it.

As for built-in trays, as it turned out, not all of them cope with their duties equally well. It is not enough just to hang the tray, you need to have a slight slope to it, otherwise the fat will stay on the plates. You can check this even in the store, visually assessing the design of the device.

• Controls

With grills with mechanical control is standard – one rotary switch and two indicators: on and heat. One light stays on as long as the grill is working, but variations are possible with the second one.

On some grills, the green light comes on when the grill reaches the set temperature, while on others, similar to ovens, a second light comes on when the heating element is hot and goes out when it is time to put the food in. In either case, it is clear that the grill is hot and ready for cooking feats.

Worse, when the indicator is alone and shows only that the grill is plugged in. You’ll have to time it and look at your watch to check if your grill is ready to go. You should agree that this is not very convenient.

There are models with a timer

In our test it is Polaris PGP 0702

which will tell the hostess how long the dish is cooked. It will make cooking easier if you use it for a long time, because the user will have a good idea of how long zucchini roasts and how long burgers roast, and there will be no need to open the grill to check the degree of readiness.

Contact grills with electronic control are usually equipped with automatic programs, and you just need to press the right button. These grills automatically turn off and indicate cooking stages, allowing you to cook steaks with different degrees of cooking. Audible and visual indications accompany every step of cooking, which is very convenient.

• Temperature and power

Power is not the most important factor for a successful grill. As our test showed, some grills with lower power heat up hotter than those with this indicator. Wattage affects how long it takes for the grill to heat up, but temperature is more important. If you’re going to grill steaks, you need every degree. After all, if the grill is not hot enough, the meat will not “seal” and will lose juice during cooking, and the result will not please you.

For lovers of blood steaks, there are electronically-controlled contact grills that not only provide high heat, but can also control every step of the cooking. Of course, the price of such grills is rather high, just like the price of steaks.

One of the most affordable grills in this group REDMOND SteakMaster RGM-M805, our test participant.

Our measurements

Model	REDMOND SteakMaster RGM-M805	Ariete 1916 “3 in 1”	Oursson EG1510S/OR	BBK BEG2001	Polaris PGP 0702	Scarlett EG 350M02	Sinbo SSM 2534
Power Application./minute., W	2100/ 1925 – 1951	2000 – 2400/ 2171- 2174	1200/ 1310 – 1332	2000/ 1974-1999	2000/ 1784 – 1791	2000/ 1974-1977	1600/ 1531-1582
Range T claimed	Up to 240	N.D.	Up to 250	N.D.	Up to 240	N.D.	140/ 200/280
T range Dimension.	94-270	80 – 256	280-326	135-250	49-275	74-230	125/ 215/ 299
Cooking time to work	1 min.08 – 3 min.34	43 s – 2 min.20 s	2 min.57 s – 5 min. 40 s	1 min.20 s – 3 min.	15 s. – 3 min. 45	34 s – 2 min.	2 min.22 s – 5 min.

Expanded features

Multi grills can replace the cooktop and even the oven in many ways. Of course you can’t boil soup or bake a cake in these grills, but you can fry potatoes, make scrambled eggs, pancakes or fritters.

The Ariete 1916 3-in-1 allows you to cook two dishes at the same time, using both fluted and smooth surfaces.

Oursson EG1510S/OR has interchangeable panels, e.g. you can grill fish and cook vegetables on a smooth baking tray. The working area of this grill is large, so it is suitable for cooking for the whole family.

Grill Features

Each grill has its own strengths that may be important for specific situations:

Sinbo SSM 2534 – most inexpensive, heats up to high temperatures, can be stored vertically.

The Scarlett EG 350M02 combines an overall compactness with a large work surface. Takes up very little shelf space when stored: it can be placed vertically.

BBK BEG 2001 has a special device that automatically holds the top panel at the desired height, making it the most convenient for grilling sausages, bratwurst, sausages.

Polaris PGP 0702 has a timer for easy control.

The Ariete 1916 3-in-1 allows you to cook on fluted and smooth surfaces at the same time.

Oursson EG1510S/OR has two large plates with different surfaces which are easy to change.

REDMOND SteakMaster RGM-M805 – one of the most affordable grills with electronic control, automatic programs and the ability to control the degree of cooking.

Read in-depth model reviews and choose the electric grill that’s right for you.