Almost everyone loves grilled food. However, let’s face it: not everyone has space to set up a large grill in their backyard. That’s probably one of the reasons why you’re looking for tabletop grills!
Truth is, there are a lot of tabletop grills in the market and it can be overwhelming to go over all of them. Have you ever experienced looking at a specific product and just when you’ve decided that you’re going to buy it, you realize it’s outdated? Not here. We won’t let that happen to you!
To make it easier, we’ll go over the best tabletop grills for 2022 so you don’t have to keep tabs on endless options. Better yet, we’ll shorten the list to the Top 3 tabletop grills we’ve found! Read on to find out why these grills deserve to be on your table.
Top 3 Best Tabletop Grill
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS |
---|---|---|
![]() | Tenergy Redigrill Smokeless Infrared Grill | + Cooking Area: 100 sq. in. + Rated Power: 1660W Dimensions: 19.5” x 13.5” x 7” + Weight: 13 lbs. |
![]() | ISUMER Charcoal Grill Barbecue Portable BBQ | + Cooking Area: 585 sq. in. + Dimensions: 45” x 12.8” x 26.8” + Weight: 13.5 lbs. |
![]() | ISUMER Portable Charcoal Grill with Lid | + Cooking Area: 180 sq. in. + Dimensions: 15.9” x 11” x 8.8” + Weight: 6.9 lbs. |
1. Tenergy Redigrill Smokeless Infrared Grill – Best Indoor Grill
If you’re going for tabletop grills, chances are you’re going to use it in your dining area, right? If that’s the case, it’s best if you go with a grill that wouldn’t fog up the room!
Well, you’re in luck because this first grill on our list happens to have Smokeless Technology! By smokeless, they mean it produces 80% less smoke compared to other indoor grills. That’s actually great because you wouldn’t be forced to slow down or even stop grilling due to painful eyes!
Another thing that makes this grill great is the fact that it has Advanced Infrared Heating Technology. In other words, it means that heat is evenly distributed across the grill! Imagine being able to maximize the cooking area of the grill because there are no colder zones and weaker spots!
While this grill is proving to be a workhorse, there’s just no perfect grill and this has its own downsides too. While its infrared technology is great for even and smokeless grilling, the light it produces seems to be a little too bright for other users. Plus, the cord it comes in is only 13.5” long which can be short for users who don’t have sockets near the table.
Lastly, the drip tray that comes with the griller needs a little more scrubbing because it has a non-stick coating. However, its cooking grate comes with non-stick coating which makes it easier to clean! You’ll just have to put in a little more work with the drip tray but that’s not a total dealbreaker.
Pros | Cons |
+ Built-in overheat protection + Smokeless Technology + Advanced Infrared Heating Technology + Easy to use and clean |
– Light is too bright – Tray doesn’t have a non-stick coating – The cord is a little short |
2. ISUMER Charcoal Grill Barbecue Portable BBQ – Most Spacious Grill
When getting a tabletop grill, it sometimes means that you have to sacrifice on serving size. You’re not getting a full grill, after all, right?
Well, this grill we have here doesn’t compromise. Considering that this is a tabletop grill, you’d be surprised that you can enjoy a 585 sq. in. of cooking space! It’s almost like having a full-sized grill in your tabletop. You can easily feed up to 5 people in a single grilling!
Plus, this is collapsible which means you can take it with you on your trips. You might be concerned about carrying this around because of its large size. However, you’d be surprised that this workhorse right here just weighs 13.5 lbs! Amazing, right?
However, the thing with this grill is that it’s too bulky. While it’s lightweight, it can be a lot to carry around. If you’re just going camping or tailgating, this can be a good grill to have around; but if you’re going to be moving a lot, like hiking, this grill can take up a lot of carrying space.
Another thing with this grill is that everything is operated manually since it’s a charcoal grill. Meaning to say, it’s up to you to make the heat even across the working area. On the plus side, it has 2 ventilation sides to help you achieve even heat distribution. It also comes with an ash catcher too so you don’t have to worry about getting debris while being around the grill. Plus, charcoal gives food a distinct flavor, right?
Pros | Cons |
+ 2 ventilation sides + Adjustable height + Portable + With ash catcher + Non-stick grill pan |
– Bulky – Manual operation |
3. ISUMER Portable Charcoal Grill with Lid – Most Versatile Grill
Some types of food are best grilled indirectly, right? The thing is, most tabletop grills don’t offer lids to make that possible. Those features are usually found on full-sized grills.
Well, we’re glad to say that the search is finally over! This grill we have here has a lid that will allow you to do indirect grilling just as much as you can directly grill on it. Now you don’t have to feel limited when grilling!
One of the things that make this grill great is that it has a Stay-Cool Valve Technology which makes the indirect grilling possible. Even better, it has 2 controls so you can have more control over the grill’s temperature! Plus, it has a heat-resistant handle so you don’t have to wear gloves when grilling and it only shows that this grill cares about your safety too, right? Those features are exceptional considering that this is a portable tabletop grill.
However, some concerns on this grill are its manual operation and single air ventilation. With only one air ventilation, expect that it’s harder to keep the heat even across its working area. Plus, since it runs on charcoal, that means you need to be more attentive and aware when grilling to avoid burning the food and uneven cooking. That’s a trade-off on the classic taste charcoal adds on your food which is actually good.
Pros | Cons |
+ Heat-resistant handle + Non-stick grill pan + Stay-Cool Valve Technology + Portable + Easy to clean |
– Single air ventilation – Manual Operation |
Things to Consider
Number of People
Before settling to a tabletop grill, you need to consider the number of people who’ll usually feed on that grill. Depending on that number, you should consider whether the cooking surface is enough to serve everyone in one go. You wouldn’t want to be stuck grilling while others are enjoying their meal, right? The general rule is you should be able to grill at least 2 pieces for everyone.
Portability
When resorting to this type of grill, it’s probably due to the fact that you’ll be using this while on the go. In that case, you should take into consideration how you usually move around. Do you have a car or do you walk most of the time? From there, check the weight and dimensions of the grill you’re eyeing on. As much as possible, they shouldn’t be too bulky and should come with a carrying case.
Type of Food
Most people tend to overlook this factor when choosing a grill. Don’t make the same mistake of paying for a grill then realizing it doesn’t cook your favorite food well! Before deciding on a grill, ask yourself: will I be cooking burgers and steak all the time or will I be throwing in vegetables and chicken as well? From there, you can narrow down your choices to fewer grills because some of them can only accommodate meat.
Final Words
Now that we’ve narrowed down the list of tabletop grills, it should be easier for you to pick the best tabletop grill. The grills on our list have their own unique features that make them great. It’s just a matter of your personal preference and how you intend to use the grill.
If it were up to us, we’d say that the winner in this list is ISUMER Portable Charcoal Grill with Lid! Why? Because it’s versatile enough to allow both direct and indirect grilling. Plus, it doesn’t compromise on cooking surface and portability too. It has its downsides but overall, it’s actually a good deal.
If you’re like some who would rather see each of the grills for themselves, we got you too. We want you to be able to have the best grill you can possibly get. With that, just read through our buying guide so you can go to the stores as an informed customer. This saves you from some people who would convince you to buy a grill just so they could make a sale!
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