Can smokeless indoor grills actually keep up with the real thing?

See you then, summer. If grilling in the rain isn’t your thing, or snow and cold temperatures interfere with your grilling experience, you may want to consider a smokeless indoor grill. These tabletop devices promise everything from outdoor flavor to crosshatching, all without the dangerous smoke and fumes of an outdoor grill. But pitmaster Michelle Wallace, owner and founder of B’tween Sandwich Co., isn’t sure the trade-off is worth it.

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The chef and grilling expert told us, “The downside to a smokeless indoor grill is that you don’t get any real grilled or smoked flavor.” While some people try to recreate the experience by adding liquid smoke to foods, there’s nothing quite like it complex flavors that develop when you cook food over burning wood or charcoal, allowing the fat and water molecules to absorb smoke particles along with their roasted flavor and aroma. In other words, even if the food is cooked, it doesn’t taste like it’s grilled.

Additionally, Wallace said, “I would strongly recommend staying away from grilling ribs. I feel like the heat is uneven which would result in uneven cooking. For me, it never makes sense to use an indoor grill anymore. If I can’t do that.” If you’re using an outdoor grill, I suggest doing something different that doesn’t require a grill.

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Uneven temperatures and a lack of smoke can discourage you from grilling meat, but other foods may be more forgiving when cooked on an indoor grill. If you have an indoor grill and want to use it, consider slicing up some mushrooms, zucchini, and carrots for cooking. However, don’t make the common mistake of skimping on spices when grilling vegetables. Instead, brush each slice with oil and place your favorite herbs and spices on top so they don’t fall into the grooves of the cooking surface. You can also marinate a selection of vegetables in advance for rich flavor.

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Craving something sweeter? Grilled fruit can also be delicious. Peaches, plums and pineapples can be sliced ​​and grilled indoors to make a great topping for ice cream, while pears can be cooked with onions and sprinkled with blue cheese and walnuts for a savory pizza or special salad. Still hungry? Slice an apple into rings, drizzle with oil, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and toss on the indoor grill for a quick dessert or as a topping for a breakfast yogurt or smoothie bowl.

If our conversation with a grill master didn’t scare you off and you still want to invest in an indoor grill, you’ll find that prices vary widely. A mid-to-low price option from Amazon is this Ninja Grill and Griddle for just under $100.

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