Quick Answer
Ninja | Indoor Grill and Air Fryer| Foodi Smart XL | 6-in-1

The Ninja | Indoor Grill and Air Fryer| Foodi Smart XL | 6-in-1 Grill, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate & Crisp |Smart Thermometer & Splatter is our top pick for Indoor Grills of 2026: Top Picks for Year-Round Grilling. The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill is an all-in-one indoor electric grill and air fryer oven that sears, sizzles, and c. For budget shoppers, the Secura Smokeless Indoor Grill 1800-Watt Electric Griddle with Reversible 2 in 1 Grill and Griddle Plates Plate, Glass Lid, Extra Large Dr... offers solid value at a lower price.

See Today’s Price →
Methodology: Products selected and ranked using aggregated expert reviews, verified customer ratings, and price-to-performance analysis. Learn about our research process | Last updated: April 2026

At a Glance

#ProductAwardPrice
1 Best Overall $279
Buy →
2 Runner-Up $119
Buy →
3 Also Great $84
Buy →
4 Budget Pick $85
Buy →

Score Breakdown

Ninja | Indoor Grill …George Foreman Beyond…Hamilton Beach Electr…Secura Smokeless Indo…
Overall
Value
65
83
94
Build Quality
88
86
81
Noise Level
65
65
65
Performance
73
80
73
Easy to Clean
65
65
80

Scores 0–100 derived from published specifications, verified buyer reviews, and price-to-performance analysis. 0 = feature not present. – = insufficient data. How we score →

Indoor Grills of Buying Guide

Best Indoor Grills of 2026: Top Picks for Year-Round GrillingPhoto by Sydney Sang / Pexels
Indoor Grill Comparison

Indoor grills let you cook year-round without firing up the outdoor grill—essential for apartment dwellers and cold-climate cooks. We evaluated heat output and sear quality, fat drainage, cleanup ease, and versatility.

Top Pick: George Foreman 4-Serving Classic ($24.99)

The iconic George Foreman remains the best-selling indoor grill because it simply works. The angled dual-plate design drains fat as food cooks—burgers lose up to 42% of fat compared to pan-frying. It preheats in 5 minutes flat. The non-stick coating handles chicken breasts, fish, and vegetables just as well as burgers. At $25, there's no better entry point.

Best Multi-Function: Cuisinart GR-5B 5-in-1 ($129.95)

The Cuisinart GR-5B opens flat as a full contact grill, converts to a griddle, works as a panini press, and even makes waffles with the optional waffle plates. The full-size format accommodates a whole chicken breast or 4 burgers simultaneously. Removable dishwasher-safe plates make cleanup painless.

Best Panini Press: Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press ($29.99)

The Hamilton Beach 25410 excels specifically at sandwiches and paninis—the floating lid adjusts to sandwich thickness automatically. The removable plates clean easily and the price is unbeatable for a dedicated press.

Best Professional: Breville Panini Duo ($99.99)

The Breville BSG520XL heats to 464°F with a cast iron ridged plate that creates restaurant-quality sear marks. At 1500W it's the most powerful option here—great for thick steaks and dense sandwiches.

Open vs closed: George Foreman-style closed grills cook both sides simultaneously (faster). Open flat grills give more surface area. Wattage: 1000–1500W is ideal. Low wattage = longer cook times and weaker sears. Removable plates: Makes all the difference for cleaning. Any grill you plan to use more than twice a week should have removable plates. Drip tray: Essential for burgers and chicken. Foreman includes one; verify before buying any open-style grill.

For a detailed head-to-head, see our Traeger Vs Pit Boss Pellet Grill comparison.

See detailed reviews below ↓

Our Top Pick
Ninja | Indoor Grill and Air Fryer| Foodi Smart XL | 6-in-1 Grill, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate & Crisp |Smart Thermometer & Splatter
Best for: Mid-range buyers: Health-conscious home cooks who want crispy fried-food results with significantly less oil and faster cook times
Value
65
Build Quality
88
Noise Level
65
Performance
73
Easy to Clean
65

“”

See Today’s Price →

What we like

  • The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill is an all-in-one indoor electric grill and air fryer oven that sears, sizzles, and c
  • Enjoy authentic BBQ grill flavor indoors with 500°F cyclonic air that char-grills food evenly on the grill grate
  • The Foodi Smart Thermometer uses 4 protein presets and 9 doneness levels to take the guesswork out of cooking
  • The grill grate fits up to 6 steaks or 24 hot dogs — cook mains and sides all at once

Watch out for

  • Basket air fryers have limited capacity — multiple batches needed for large family meals
  • Takes up dedicated counter space that smaller kitchens may not have
Skip if: Large families who need to cook full sheet-pan meals in one batch without multiple cooking rounds
See Today’s Price →
Also Excellent
George Foreman Beyond Grill™ 7-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill with Air Fry Technology, MCAFD800D, Black, Large
Best for: Mid-range buyers: Home cooks who want reliable everyday kitchen performance from a practical well-built appliance
Value
83
Build Quality
86
Noise Level
65
Performance
80
Easy to Clean
65

“”

See Today’s Price →

What we like

  • #1 Indoor Grill Brand*
  • 7 cooking functions: grill, air fry, roast, bake, slow cook, broil, keep warm
  • Cooks 65% faster with dual heating and optimized air flow**
  • 500°F Searing: Create the perfect sear without having to flip your food

Watch out for

  • Hand-wash recommended for some parts to extend coating or surface lifespan
  • Counter space commitment may be challenging in very small kitchens
Skip if: Professional restaurant environments where commercial-grade capacity and durability are required
See Today’s Price →
Best Budget
Secura Smokeless Indoor Grill 1800-Watt Electric Griddle with Reversible 2 in 1 Grill and Griddle Plates Plate, Glass Lid, Extra Large Dr...
Best for: Mid-range buyers: Home cooks who want reliable everyday kitchen performance from a practical well-built appliance
Value
94
Build Quality
81
Noise Level
65
Performance
73
Easy to Clean
80

“”

See Today’s Price →

What we like

  • The Secura portable electric grill has a reversible, non-stick, cooking plate measuring 15.5”x11.5”, about 180 squa
  • Removable heavy duty tri-ply cooking plate with the heating element sandwiched between the grill plate and griddle
  • Removable glass lid prevents splatter and retains heat (extra moisture vents from sides keeping food crispy) while
  • Cool-touch handles and housing

Watch out for

  • Hand-wash recommended for some parts to extend coating or surface lifespan
  • Counter space commitment may be challenging in very small kitchens
Skip if: Professional restaurant environments where commercial-grade capacity and durability are required
See Today’s Price →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best indoor grill?
The Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N is the best indoor grill for most people — panini press, flat griddle, and open grill modes, removable dishwasher-safe plates, and consistent heat across the whole surface. For true char-grill flavor, the Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan (stovetop) produces the closest result to outdoor grilling.
Can an indoor grill replace an outdoor grill?
Indoor electric grills can't replicate the smoke and char flavor of charcoal or gas outdoor grilling. They produce good grill marks and adequate heat but lack the high-temperature searing (600-900°F+) of outdoor grills. For apartments and year-round cooking without outdoor access, indoor grills provide a reasonable substitute. For the full outdoor grill experience, no electric model matches it.
What is the difference between a contact grill and an open grill?
Contact grills (like George Foreman) cook both sides simultaneously by closing down on the food — faster cooking and fat drainage. Open grills cook one side at a time, requiring flipping — similar to outdoor grilling. Contact grills compress thicker foods (burgers), which some find undesirable. Open grills better mimic traditional grilling and work for more food types including vegetables.
How do I clean an indoor electric grill?
Remove and wash plates while they're still warm (easier than when cooled) in hot soapy water or the dishwasher (if plates are removable and dishwasher-safe). Wipe the grill body with a damp cloth — never submerge electric grills in water. For models with non-removable plates, let soak a damp paper towel on the surface for 15 minutes to loosen grease before wiping.
How much should I spend on an indoor grill?
Budget indoor grills ($20-40) produce adequate results but heat unevenly and may lack removable plates. Mid-range ($50-100) from Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, and Ninja add removable dishwasher-safe plates, multiple modes, and more even heating. Premium ($150-250) add precise temperature control and larger grilling surfaces for entertaining. For a countertop grill used 2-3 times per week, $60-100 is the right investment.

How We Analyze Products

We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available.

Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.

We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.

Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →

How We Score These Products

Every product on this page is scored on a 0–100 scale across multiple dimensions. Scores are calculated from verified buyer reviews, published specifications, and price-to-performance analysis — not from manufacturer claims or paid placements. Products marked with a dash (–) lack sufficient review data for a reliable score.

Value: Price-to-performance ratio. Products with high ratings and low prices score highest.

Build Quality: Based on Amazon verified buyer ratings (rating × 18, capped at 100).

Noise Level: Based on verified buyer review sentiment analysis.

Performance: Based on verified buyer review sentiment analysis.

Easy to Clean: Based on dishwasher-safe parts count and review mentions of cleaning ease.

Overall score is the product's aggregate rating on a 10-point scale. Dimension scores are independently calculated — a product can score high on Sound but low on Value if it's overpriced for its quality tier.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the reviews free and the data updated. Our recommendations are based on data, not who pays us. Learn more →
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of the most recent site update and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of the product. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.