Best Electric Grills UK (2026)
An electric grill funnels fat away from meat as it cooks, sears in juices for flavour, and is faster and cheaper to run than heating a full oven. This guide is based on Expert Reviews' tested roundup, where each grill cooked chicken breasts, steak and vegetables of a consistent thickness, checked for drying or burning and timed for how long each item took. Testers also made paninis where a grill doubled as a sandwich press, noted heat-up time, presets and variable temperature options, and assessed cooking area, storage and how easy each grill was to clean. Prices are as reviewed.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
Tefal Optigrill Elite
Best high-tech
Expert Reviews' Best Buy: an intelligent health grill with a sensor that adjusts grilling time to food thickness, 12 programmes from bacon to burgers, a manual mode, cooking from frozen, and a 'refill' option to cook batches without resetting. In testing it slightly over-predicted cooking time for thick chicken breasts and under-predicted a vegetable programme, but cooked steak to the perfect rareness manually. Preheating takes 4 to 7 minutes, and there's no cancel button, so you must remove food or unplug it to reset a programme.
- Sensor adjusts grilling time to food thickness
- 12 programmes, manual mode and grill-from-frozen option
- Robust build quality with a deep drip tray
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tefal Optigrill Elite | Best high-tech | 12 programmes plus manual and frozen modes, removable dishwasher-safe plates, 36.3 x 34.1 x 18cm | Check price |
| Salter Cosmos Non-Stick Coated Health Grill | Best budget | Automatic temperature (no control), fixed plates, 26 x 16cm cooking surface, 30.1 x 26.7 x 12.9cm | Check price |
| George Foreman Immersa Grill | Best for convenience | Single temperature, removable control panel, grill plates and drip tray dishwasher-safe, 27.8 x 30.8 x 10.7cm | Check price |
| Cuisinart Griddle and Grill | Best for families | Folds flat to a 60 x 48cm surface, 100°C to 240°C variable temperature, floating hinge, 30-minute timer | Check price |
| Gastroback Design BBQ Advanced Smart | Best for perfect steak | 6 programmes including 4 steak doneness levels, independently controlled plates, two 25 x 28cm grilling areas when flat | Check price |
| George Foreman 25810 Medium Fit Grill | Best value | Single temperature, fixed plates, 31 x 16.5cm cooking surface, adjustable foot for fat run-off, 33.3 x 27.5 x 7.7cm | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Best high-tech
Tefal Optigrill Elite
Expert Reviews' Best Buy: an intelligent health grill with a sensor that adjusts grilling time to food thickness, 12 programmes from bacon to burgers, a manual mode, cooking from frozen, and a 'refill' option to cook batches without resetting. In testing it slightly over-predicted cooking time for thick chicken breasts and under-predicted a vegetable programme, but cooked steak to the perfect rareness manually. Preheating takes 4 to 7 minutes, and there's no cancel button, so you must remove food or unplug it to reset a programme.
- Size
- 36.3 x 34.1 x 18cm (WDH)
- Variable temperature
- Yes, plus 12 programmes
- Plates
- Removable, dishwasher safe
- Price guide
- £230 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Sensor adjusts grilling time to food thickness
- 12 programmes, manual mode and grill-from-frozen option
- Robust build quality with a deep drip tray
- Incredibly easy to clean
Cons
- No cancel button to switch between programmes
- Predicted cooking times weren't always accurate
Best budget
Salter Cosmos Non-Stick Coated Health Grill
Expert Reviews found it performed excellently despite basic 'automatic' temperature adjustment and no manual control: plates heated quickly and cooked chicken breasts juicy with good searing, with plenty of liquid draining into the drip tray. Asparagus took much longer, presumably because the grill self-adjusted to a lower temperature with no indication of when. The compact cooking surface only fits two chicken breasts or a bunch of asparagus, not both, and it doesn't fold flat, but the fixed non-stick plates were easy to wipe clean.
- Size
- 30.1 x 26.7 x 12.9cm (WDH)
- Variable temperature
- No (automatic)
- Plates
- Fixed
- Price guide
- £33 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Compact and affordable
- Heats up quickly and cooks chicken juicy with good searing
- Fixed plates are easy to clean
Cons
- No temperature control, asparagus took much longer to cook
- Limited grilling space, doesn't fold flat
Best for convenience
George Foreman Immersa Grill
Expert Reviews found straightforward, hassle-free grilling at a reasonable price. Its removable control panel is the standout feature, letting the rest of the grill go straight into the dishwasher or sink after use. It reached operating temperature in a speedy four minutes and produced nicely grilled steaks, chicken breasts and vegetables with good char lines and moist interiors. It operates at a single temperature with no extra settings, and comes in Individual and larger Family sizes.
- Size
- 27.8 x 30.8 x 10.7cm (WDH)
- Variable temperature
- No
- Plates
- Removable
- Price guide
- £50 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Removable control panel makes the grill fully washable
- Non-stick, smokeless plates let fat drip away
- Reaches operating temperature in four minutes
Cons
- Single temperature with no extra settings or modes
Best for families
Cuisinart Griddle and Grill
Expert Reviews found it heated up quickly, cooking steak to medium-rare and corn on the cob without burning the exterior. Folded flat it creates a large 60 x 48cm cooking surface, great for a family meal, or you can use just one plate for smaller portions. A floating hinge accommodates thicker foods like large chicken legs, and a 30-minute timer helps you step away, though it doesn't switch the appliance off automatically. The heavy upper plate squashed a test sandwich slightly, and there's no obvious storage for the second set of plates.
- Size
- 37 x 33 x 20cm (WDH)
- Variable temperature
- Yes (100°C to 240°C)
- Plates
- Removable, dishwasher safe
- Price guide
- £73 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Folds flat to a large 60 x 48cm surface, great for families
- Flexible temperature range from slow cooking to searing meat
- Floating hinge and a 30-minute timer
Cons
- Heavy upper plate squashed a test sandwich slightly
- No obvious storage for the second set of plates
- Timer doesn't switch the appliance off
Best for perfect steak
Gastroback Design BBQ Advanced Smart
Expert Reviews found programmes for poultry, burgers, paninis, fish, sandwiches, sausages and steak (with four doneness options from rare to well-done) that take much of the guesswork out of grilling. Heating elements built into the removable plates heat up fast, the plates can be independently controlled to different temperatures, and an adjustable upper lid stops food being squashed. Chicken breasts emerged beautifully grilled and juicy in testing, though vegetables became a bit singed with no vegetable preset, and programmes can only be set with the grill closed.
- Size
- 37.5 x 36 x 17cm (WDH)
- Variable temperature
- Yes, plus 6 programmes
- Plates
- Removable, dishwasher safe
- Price guide
- £200 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Four steak doneness settings take out the guesswork
- Independently controlled plates heat up fast
- Adjustable lid height and a floating hinge
Cons
- No vegetable preset, veg can get singed
- Programmes can only be set when the grill is closed
Best value
George Foreman 25810 Medium Fit Grill
Expert Reviews found it large enough for a couple of whole meals, stores vertically to save space, and heats to 230°C in around six minutes thanks to fixed plates. An adjustable foot tips it forward so fat runs away, or it can sit flat. It cooked meat and vegetables without issue in testing, though cheese in a panini took a while to melt, and as a single-temperature machine some foods need closer monitoring to avoid burning. The fixed non-stick plates are easiest wiped down while still warm.
- Size
- 33.3 x 27.5 x 7.7cm (WDH)
- Variable temperature
- No
- Plates
- Fixed
- Price guide
- £55 (as reviewed)
Pros
- Large enough for a couple of whole meals
- Stores vertically to save space
- Heats to 230°C in around six minutes
Cons
- Single temperature, needs closer monitoring to avoid burning
- Fixed plates are a bit of a chore to clean
Buying guide
Fixed or removable plates?
Removable plates, like on the Tefal Optigrill Elite and Cuisinart, can go straight in the dishwasher for easier cleaning. Fixed plates, as on the Salter Cosmos and both George Foreman models here, heat up faster and tend to be cheaper, but need wiping in place; Expert Reviews found this easiest done while the grill is still warm.
Do I need variable temperature or programmes?
A single-temperature grill like the George Foreman models works well for meat but can be too hot for delicate fish or vegetables. If you cook a range of foods, a model with programmes, like the Tefal Optigrill Elite or Gastroback Design BBQ, or simple variable temperature like the Cuisinart, gives more control.
How much cooking area do I need?
For a couple of items at a time, a compact grill like the Salter Cosmos or George Foreman Immersa is enough. For a full family meal, look for one that folds flat to a larger surface, like the Cuisinart (60 x 48cm) or Gastroback (two 25 x 28cm areas).
What is a floating hinge and why does it matter?
A floating hinge lets the top plate tilt to match the thickness of what you're cooking, rather than being fixed at one angle like a basic sandwich press. Expert Reviews highlights this on the Cuisinart and Gastroback grills, helping thicker foods like chicken legs cook evenly without being squashed.
Sources
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