Today, there are some fantastic outdoor electric BBQ grills that cook both meat and veggies to perfection. While they definitely produce a different flavour quality than gas or (particularly) charcoal alternatives, the best electric barbecue grills can produce juicy, caramelized, seared-to-perfection meals.

What To Look For When Buying Electric Grills

1. Easy start. Throw the switch and electric grills are up to temperature in five minutes or so.
2. Temperature control. Just turn the dial.
3. Timer. Some have timers.
4. Price. Most are well under $200.
5. Size. They are small so they fit on tiny balconies and porches.
6. Non-stick.

The 8 Best Electric Grills in 2021

• Best Overall: George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill at Amazon.
• Runner up, Best Overall: Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill at Amazon.
• Best Smokeless: PowerXL Smokeless Grill at Amazon.
• Best Indoor:
• Best Smoker:
• Best for Patios:
• Best Splurge:
• Best Budget:

• BEST OVERALL: George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill GGR50B.
• BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Techwood Electric BBQ Grill Portable Grill.
• BEST CART-STYLE: Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Electric Grill.
• BEST GRILL/SMOKER: Cuisinart COS-330 Smoker 30″ Electric.
• BEST TABLETOP: Weber 52020001 Q1400 Electric Grill.

It’s safe to use an electric grill on your balcony or deck as long as you have an electrical outlet to plug it into. For added safety, get an extension cord so the plug will reach easily without tripping anyone.

If you’re storing your grill outside during the winter, just keep the propane tank connected (but shut off) and put a protective cover over the entire grill when you’re done cleaning it. If you’re storing the grill indoors, don’t bring the tank inside, even into the garage or a storage shed.

Yes, you can safely put aluminum foil on an electric grill. Like traditional grills, electric grills use heated surfaces to cook food, and you can use aluminum foil on them as you would on any other grill. Aluminum foil can also keep juices contained, making cleanup much easier.

In the last few years, electric grills have became more energy efficient than ever before. On average in the U.S., a small indoor electric grill uses around 1400 watts of power, which costs about $0.17 per hour and $5.11 per month if you use it for 1 hour per day.

One twist on the electric grill is infrared technology, which uses a heat collector directly above the electric element to promote even cooking and fat drainage. This reduces flare-ups and charring, and without all the dripping makes clean-up easier than with traditional grills.

Less expensive to operate: Almost everywhere in the country, natural gas is significantly cheaper than electricity. Faster heating: Gas heat tends to heat up the home faster than electric heat because the gas furnace produces maximum heat as soon as the burners start running.

What Uses the Most Energy in Your Home?

• Cooling and heating: 47% of energy use.
• Water heater: 14% of energy use.
• Washer and dryer: 13% of energy use.
• Lighting: 12% of energy use.
• Refrigerator: 4% of energy use.
• Electric oven: 3-4% of energy use.
• TV, DVD, cable box: 3% of energy use.
• Dishwasher: 2% of energy use.

The unnecessary energy consumed by the average staff’s desktop equipment turned off but left plugged in to an outlet can be significant. By unplugging personal desktop equipment for the hours you’re away from work, in one year you can save more energy than required to light a basketball game at UBC Okanagan.

If you plan on trying to live without electricity, you will no longer be able to turn on the central heating in your home, use the toilet, preserve food in your fridge/freezer or have clean running water. We are so reliant on electrical power that it would be a shock to many if you no longer had the regular supply.

Running your washing machine at night can be cheaper than using it in the day. But this is only true if you are on a special energy tariff called Economy 7 which gives you cheaper power at night. If you do have this type of energy meter you could reduce the cost of running a washing machine from £24 a year to £12.

Watching television will generally cost between 16 cents and 30 cents for the standard model. Smaller and more energy-efficient TVs will cost a bit less to run – between 7 cents and 18 cents per hour. Meanwhile larger or less efficient televisions can cost considerably more, between 43 cents and 76 cents to run.

There are consumer advocates that can do the heavy lifting for you. In the case of your electric bill, it might be as simple as calling your state’s public utilities commission. Or you might be able to call the National Association of State Utility Advocates, or NASUCA.