To cook steaks, grill fish or vegetables, and toast bread, here are the best quality-price electric barbecues to use at home or outdoors and how to choose the best model for your needs.
The electric barbecue is ideal on the balcony or in a garden connected to the electric socket. The electric barbecue is among the easiest barbecues because it does not require fuel, connects the cable, and sets the temperature.
The operation is given by an electric resistance located under the grille or the plate. Moreover, the best electric barbecues emit very little smoke and greatly reduce the emission of bad smells. Among the many models, many are suitable for use, even indoors. For example: when the kitchen is too small, we have to cook for many people or not have a suitable grill.
Table of Contents
How to choose an electric barbecue
To choose which electric barbecue to buy, it is important to distinguish the differences in structure and size and evaluate a series of important parameters to determine the real quality. But first, we see the different types and their operation.
Electric barbecue with a lid
Electric barbecues with dome covers are designed to combine the grill’s function with the oven. You can use the barbecue to open like all the other models, or the cover can be used for more homogeneous heat distribution and faster cooking, as happens inside the oven.
Usually, the lid is equipped with a thermostat to check the internal temperature. Most electric barbecues with lids are also equipped with a trolley.
Electric Barbecue with trolley
The larger barbecues are equipped with a trolley to have a solid and independent base. The supporting structure can be formed by 3 or 4 feet or a bracket with a base.
They can be equipped with wheels for transport, and the best models take advantage of the space under the barbecue with a shelf or shelf useful for storing dishes and condiments while cooking.
Portable electric barbecue
The portable electric barbecue is often rectangular and not equipped with a base or trolley. It is used for cooking without a lid, but it is good to have a screen outside.
These barbecues’ advantage is their compact size, which allows them to be stored with minimal bulk or used indoors. On the other hand, you need a table or shelf to store them.
Power
Regardless of the electric barbecue structure, we must also consider the power. A good model should have at least 2000 watts to cook steaks and hamburgers. However, if we want a versatile model, choose one with different power levels to use only the necessary one.
For example, toast bread may be enough for 1,000 watts and does not need to turn on the barbecue at maximum power. Furthermore, it is possible to set power and temperature independently in models with separate plates.
Dimensions
It is important to consider the electric barbecue’s size, especially when equipped with a trolley, to evaluate the space available for use and storage. It will also be important to assess the height and check whether the trolley and the barbecue can be separated to be stored.
The barbecue’s general size differs from the cooking surface, and the larger or more powerful barbecue is not always necessarily equipped with the larger cooking surface. Therefore, if our goal is a large quantity of cooked food simultaneously, it is essential to verify this parameter.
Plates and grids
The plates and grills of the electric barbecue can differ greatly from one model to another. We can find cast-iron or steel plates mixed in the best models with smooth grill parts.
In other cases, we can have an interchangeable plate and grill. This plate conducts heat uniformly and offers a greater surface contact with food; thus, cooking is done indirectly.
In portable barbecues, we usually find grids in stainless steel or aluminum that allow heat to pass through the resistance placed underneath directly in contact with the food. Swivel models close the food inside and tip without touching it and risk ruining it among these grids.
Fat collection tray
A good electric barbecue has a fat collection tray. Just fill the tray with water; thus, the dripping does not produce smoke or bad smells. However, if we cook with a simple grill, the fat falls directly underneath and can even end up on the resistance, dirtying it and producing some smoke.
In the best electric barbecues, the plate and the grill are designed to collect the fats on the sides to flow into the tray below and make them come into contact with the resistance as little as possible.
Cleaning
For effective cleaning, all parts must be removable: plates, tray, heating element, screen, and cover. Some types of electric barbecues allow them to be washed in the dishwasher.
The Best Electric Barbecues to Buy
Below is the complete list of the best electric barbecues to buy with their respective characteristics and prices.
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Therefore, any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to purchasing any products.