Meat cooked in nature has special taste qualities that cannot be obtained at home. But you can get closer to them. For this, manufacturers of kitchen equipment suggest using electric grills. Unlike stoves and pans, this tool minimizes the fat content and provides flavoring shades of “food with smoke”. The overview below will help you choose the most suitable electric steak grill from a wide range of models from leading manufacturers.
Key Features
The speed of the cooking process and its dynamics will largely depend on the power of the electric grill. If you plan to regularly make steaks for 1-2 people, then you can limit yourself to a 1.5 kW model. Serving a large family or circle of friends is desirable with a more powerful tool, the power potential of which will already be 2 kW. This grill will also be larger in size, which will allow you to cook several servings at one time in a short period of time. For example, for a company of 5-6 people, a minimum of 450-500 cm 2 of working surface will be required. And here it is worth noting that there are single and double sided grills for steaks. An electric one-sided grill will allow you to get meat of higher quality, since heat treatment covers evenly the entire thickness. Bilateral models are more likely to focus on cooking fish, sandwiches and vegetables. But, of course, the productivity and pace of processing the product in this case will be higher. Now it’s worth moving on to issues of functionality that are especially important for modern kitchen appliances.
Optional filling
It should be noted right away that far from all the functions declared by manufacturers are actually useful in practice. Often they are included rather as an element of attracting attention.
Nevertheless, an electric grill for steaks significantly adds to its performance if the following features are present in its design:
- Heat resistant handle. This accessory is especially useful in bilateral and mobile models, which, in addition to home use, can be taken to the country. In both cases, it is assumed that many manipulations with the hot cover will be performed, so the handle protected from heat will not be superfluous.
- Channels for drainage of fat. These are some kind of trays on a working surface on which excess oil and fat flow down. In the future, the accumulated mass can be used again already for other dishes.
- Temperature setting. The presence of a special heating timer makes the work of the electric grill for steaks more accurate and efficient. In addition, the possibility of using the modes will allow you to smoothly control the cooking process.
- Auto power off. This option works both as a security system and as a means of saving energy. The shutdown occurs in case of exceeding the cooking period (set in the timer), sudden voltage drops or overheating.
Knowing the approximate characteristics and optional advantages of a modern electric grill, you can proceed to familiarize yourself with specific offers in this segment.
Maxwell Model MW-1960 ST Reviews
The manufacturer is known for inexpensive, but easy to use and powerful household appliances. This is one of the cheapest versions of electric grills (3.5 thousand rubles), which at the same time has a capacity of 2 kW. According to users, the technique adequately copes with the frying of thick chunks of meat, optimally regulating the drying. The design provides for two heating elements, so two-sided processing of the product can be attributed to the pluses. On the other hand, the problem of cleaning can be called the main disadvantage of this electric grill for steaks. For the home, this option is quite suitable, but you will have to come to terms with the presence of fixed panels, which you will have to look after directly in the case.
Reviews about the model GFgril GF-080
GFgril, a specialist in kitchen equipment, is considered one of the best manufacturers of grills, crock-pots and barbecue machines along with Weber. One of the most popular models of this segment is the GF-080. Grill owners praise him for his thoughtful electronic control, auto-off system and many other little things that control the cooking process. For example, many distinguish the function “crisp”, which is provided with an electric grill for steaks modification GF-080. But, as in the previous model, the manufacturer used a design with non-removable frying surfaces, so washing them will be extremely inconvenient. And yet, most owners of this grill bring to the fore its strengths in the form of compactness, rapid heating and the presence of a multi-function timer.
Reviews about the model Tefal GC306012
German developers open the price level from 7 thousand rubles, offering a compact and ergonomic grill. The model turned out to be especially successful in a structural respect. Housewives point to the possibility of removing panels, non-stick coating and several cooking positions. In addition, the Tefal electric steak grill for the house in this version is provided with special stands. They allow you to conveniently store the device in a vertical position, which saves a lot of space.
Without negative impressions from the operation of this version of the grill, it was not without. First of all, the problem of caring for a corrugated surface is noted. Even if you remove the working panels, manual cleaning will take a lot of time, and you cannot immerse the device in the dishwasher due to Teflon coatings. Also, the electric steak grill from Tefal in the modification GC306012 lacks a timer and other modern functions. For a model with a price tag of 7.5 thousand rubles. this is a big omission.
Reviews on the model Ariete La Grigliata 2200
The device is the middle segment, which implements an unusual combination of characteristics. Suffice it to say that with dimensions of 41 x 51 x 11 cm, the device received as much as 2.2 kW. Accordingly, the owners respond positively to the performance of the grill, but this relates precisely to the quality of work with meat in small portions. The one-sided design well fry thick pieces, while removing fat in a special pan. Opinions differ about the model management system. The fact is that the Ariete La Grigliata electric grill for steaks is provided with an electromechanical thermostat. The regulator is good in that it is removable and does not interfere, if it is not needed, it simply disconnects. Nevertheless, mechanical control with a step-by-step temperature setting has long gone out of fashion and looks solid against the background of digital systems with smooth adjustment.
Reviews on the grill Philips HD 6360/20
Technologically, one of the best models in the segment, which is expressed both in functional support and in design. According to users, the device unit is thought out to the smallest detail. On the working surfaces, there is a corrugated and even area, as well as a small pocket for laying spices. The frying plate can be removed and washed in the dishwasher. But there are also disadvantages to this electric grill for steaks.
Reviews indicate a weak smokehouse mode and a tilt of the case, which is not always convenient.
Reviews about the model Clatronic KG 3571
Balanced according to the characteristics of the grill, characterized by compactness, the presence of a two-sided frying panel and smooth adjustment in power. The owners themselves to the advantages of this version include a ceramic coating on frying surfaces, the presence of a fat collector and the ability to use two modes - closed and open. The lid rotates 180 degrees, but since there is a risk of large loss of juice in this cooking format, you need to combine it. In general, it turns out to be a good home electric grill for steak, which will not cause problems in the same cleaning, but will cope with the basic tasks of cooking meat.
Reviews on the model Weber Q 1400
Weber is rightly put in first place among the leaders of the segment. According to the buyers of this grill, almost everything is thought out in it - from power and design to small accessories. With a power potential of 2.2 kW, the model has a self-cleaning heater, an integrated thermometer and a removable tray. We can say that this is a professional electric grill for steaks, since the design also includes a cast-iron grill with porcelain spraying and a special stand for an ash pan.
But the disadvantages of this model are significant. The owners note that the grill smokes a lot, so in the kitchen it can only be used with an active range hood. The price tag is also not suitable for everyone - about 30 thousand rubles.
How to make the right choice?
Both power requirements and the nuances of the design with a set of functions should be taken into account. For household models, dimensions are especially important, since in modern kitchens the task of saving space is in the foreground. Therefore, immediately abandoning double-sided grills for the sake of the traditional way of frying is also not worth it. Those who can afford expensive models, from 5 thousand rubles, should turn to versions with heating elements. Of course, in this regard, Weber presents the best electric grill for steaks in the form of a modification of the Q 1400, but you can find less expensive counterparts, like the development from Ariete La Grigliata. But other options should not be discounted. Each version has non-essential, but individual features that are suitable for certain cooking conditions. Sometimes the choice is influenced by such trifles as the presence of additional temperature measuring devices or containers for storing the device and its components. But the price tag, of course, is of considerable importance, although all the models considered, according to the owners, can cope with hot meat at a high level.
Conclusion
Before buying an electric grill, you should still think about how appropriate this particular device for making steak will be. Recently, crock-pots have been competing with this type of kitchen equipment. Even in the simplest versions, several modes of cooking meat are provided. For example, Panasonic's SR-TMZ550 is compared in terms of efficiency with the Tefal steak grill GC306012. But the difference will be in the quality of the roast and the intensity of the preparation. Nevertheless, for the grill, this is a paramount task for which the whole structure works. In turn, a multicooker should be purchased if it is planned to implement other culinary undertakings such as baking, soups, stewing vegetables, etc.