This review dives into the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill, examining its performance and features to determine if it lives up to expectations. We explore its ease of use, focusing on the clarity of instructions, temperature control, and overall cooking experience. From initial setup and preheating to actual grilling tests with various foods, we assess the grill's strengths and weaknesses, paying close attention to temperature consistency, searing capabilities, and smoke production. Cleaning and maintenance are also scrutinized, detailing the ease of cleaning components and the durability of the materials.Ultimately, this review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis, comparing the Hamilton Beach grill to a higher-end competitor, the Ninja Foodie Smart XL Pro. We weigh the pros and cons of the Hamilton Beach model – its affordability, ease of use, and cooking performance – against the additional features and versatility of more premium options. This assessment will help you decide if the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill is the right fit for your kitchen and budget.
Pros And Cons
- Detachable grill plate for easy cleaning
- Reaches target temperature quickly
- Dishwasher-safe grill plate and drip tray
- Provides good searing, especially with buttered food
- Sparse manual
- No timer
- No off switch (must unplug)
- No light or fan to mitigate smoke
- No audible tone to indicate when preheated
- Drip tray may discolor over time
- Hot surface; safety precautions needed, especially around children
Read more: 10 Best Commercial Charcoal Grills: A Buyer's Guide
Unboxing and First Impressions
The Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill arrived with a minimalistic manual, leaving much to be desired in terms of instructions. The power cord is a standard two-prong polarized cord, and the grill boasts a powerful 1200 watts. This higher wattage indicates a more robust grilling experience, but also necessitates caution to avoid overloading circuits.
The grill plate is advertised as non-stick and PFAS-free, though the exact coating material wasn't specified. The temperature range is from 200°F to 450°F, providing ample flexibility for various cooking needs. Notably, it lacks a built-in timer, leaving cooking time entirely up to the user.
Design and Features
The grill's dimensions are compact, measuring 6.81 inches in height, 16.73 inches in width, and 12.4 inches in depth. The grill plate is easily detachable for cleaning, and a plastic drip tray collects excess grease. The control panel is straightforward, featuring a simple dial for adjusting the temperature.
Two indicator lights provide visual feedback on power and heating status. The grill door is removable for easy cleaning, requiring a slight adjustment to the door's angle before removal.
Performance and Temperature Test
A temperature test revealed the grill reaches its maximum temperature (450°F) relatively quickly, within 10 minutes of being plugged in. The top surface of the grill gets extremely hot, as indicated by a warning label and thermal imaging. The thermal imaging showed the temperature varies across the surface, with the hottest area near the viewing window.
Preheating for 5-10 minutes is recommended before use. During use, it produced noticeable smoke, highlighting the lack of a fan to mitigate this. There's also no audible signal indicating the grill has reached the preheated temperature.
Cooking Tests: Bread and Monkfish
A cooking test with bread slices showed that buttered bread achieved better searing than unbuttered bread. This highlights the importance of oiling food or the grill plate, especially for leaner meats like the monkfish that was grilled later.
The monkfish test demonstrated good results in terms of cooking and temperature consistency, achieving an internal temperature of 145°F within about 10-13 minutes. However, the grill's lack of temperature probe and timer makes precise cooking slightly more challenging.
Cleaning and Warranty
Cleaning is relatively straightforward, with the grill plate and drip tray being dishwasher-safe (top rack for the drip tray only). Avoid abrasive cleaners. The main unit should not be submerged in water. Note that the drip tray may discolor over time from grease.
The Hamilton Beach grill comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Overall Conclusion and Comparison
The Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill offers decent performance for its price point. It heats up quickly and achieves good searing, particularly when oil is used. However, the lack of a timer, temperature probe, and fan for smoke management are significant drawbacks.
Compared to the Ninja Foodie Smart XL Pro, the Hamilton Beach lacks the versatility of the Ninja, which features a griddle plate and top heating element. The Ninja also offers additional cooking functions and a temperature probe. The Hamilton Beach is a more basic, budget-friendly option, but the Ninja provides a more comprehensive grilling experience if you have the budget.