Contributed by BBQ Island

Not everyone lives in a place that will allow you to fire up the gas or charcoal grill. You might not have a big outdoor space or you might have restrictions against gas or charcoal. Electric grills are a great alternative.

1. Power Source
The power source of an electric grill is obviously electricity. The nice part of this you don’t have to deal with bags of charcoal each time you want to fire up the grill. You don’t have to worry about propane tanks or making sure there is gas for the grill. You will need to use your electric grill close to where you can hook up to electricity. You will need to have access to a plug, indoors or outdoors, to heat the grill.

2. Size
One nice feature of an electric grill is its size. They are smaller and more compact than a charcoal or gas grill. When looking at an electric grill, consider how much size you need. You can get an electric grill and you won’t feel like it is overkill to use it for one or two people.

3. Space Needed
One nice feature of an electric grill is its compactness. Generally, they are smaller than other traditional grill types. Yet, they also vary in size from grill to grill. Consider where you might want to use your grill and how much space you have available. This will help guide you in choosing the best electric grill for you.

4. Getting the True Grill Flavor
There are some who say you don’t get the same authentic grill flavor from an electric grill the way you might from a charcoal or gas grill. It might be one of the suggested downsides of the electric grill. Yet, many feel like the electric grill gives you the same great flavorful tastes as other grilling options.

5. Ease of Use
One big selling feature of an electric grill and one worth considering is how easy it is to use. There is no charcoal to arrange each time you want to use it. You don’t have to light charcoal, wait for it to get hot, and then work to maintain the temperature.

6. Heat
One thing to know about electric grills is that their temperature may peak and not get as hot as a gas grill, for example, at its hottest. When you plan to grill on your electric grill, a smart plan is to plug it in before you start to prep whatever you are grilling. Like you might light another kind of grill, you want to turn this type on and let it build up its temperature.

7. Temperature Gauge
One smart feature to look for when shopping for an electric grill is a temperature gauge. It will tell you what temperature your grill is at and when it’s ready to begin grilling.