Electric Grills: Shockingly Convenient

Most of us are now familiar with tabletop electric grills; a certain heavy weight champion has made them a household name. When it comes to barbecuing, however, many people don't consider electric grills a viable outlet. Lovers of convenience will be happy to know that there are now a fair number of outdoor as well as indoor electric grills and "smokers" available that are not only easy to use, but also cook a lean, mean steak or veggie burger.

Indoor Electric Grills
Big George has set the standard for tabletop cooking, and the Foreman grill family is now expanding. His first model revolutionized the indoor electric grill; the newer models offer even more! Current Foreman grills can be large enough to cook upwards of 5 burgers at a time and come with removable grilling surfaces, which helps with cleaning. There are also outdoor models available with even more grilling capacity.

There are a number of other indoor electric grills that are quietly expanding the market. These are more like conventional grills in that they do away with the "press" design and cook food one side at a time. People who live in apartments or condos where traditional grills are not allowed will be pleasantly surprised at how much indoor electric grills are like their gas or propane counterparts. They are available in countertop designs as well as styles that are meant for permanent kitchen placement. The only thing you'll miss is the excess smoke!

Outdoor Electric Grills
The electric grill is coming out of the box in a big way. In the same way that many people who used to swear by charcoal have switched to propane, it's likely that many others will switch to electric in the future.

Electric grills offer clean, sufficient heat with minimal effort. You just plug it in, turn it on, and in a few minutes, you're ready to cook. There is no charcoal or wood to wait for, and no propane tank to replace. Some are available with an optional rotisserie, and all will cook anything a conventional grill can cook in a similar amount of time. While purchasing one can sometimes be a little more expensive than a propane model, electric grills are still competitively priced.

Electric "Smokers"
The term "smoker" can mean different things to different people. Barbecue purists reserve the term "smoked meat" for things that are made in a smokehouse. The rest is simply good barbecue. That being said, an electric smokehouse (not unlike a traditional one) is less likely to be purchased than it is to be built.

Most "smokers" on the market are basically grills that are designed to cook meat slowly and to let the smoke of burning wood (often pecan, hickory, or mesquite) logs or chips enhance the flavor of the food. In this respect, electric, gas, and conventional smokers work the same way. The meat is actually cooked by the heat of the grill; burning chunks of wood add additional flavor.

Electric smokers are available either in small grill form for outdoor barbecue fun, or in a "refrigerator" style for cooking many pounds of meat at a time. There are also commercial size electric smokers available for restaurant use.