5 electric grills for cooking steaks

VES SK-A-10 white

In the arsenal of the VES brand there are a couple of models of contact grills. Among them, SK-A-10 is the eldest, it is larger and much more powerful VES SK-A-9 .

The design is simple and unpretentious, but the hostess should show off not household appliances, but the ability to use them. The only complaint is that the handle for lifting the lid is too close to the work surfaces and it gets very hot, the manufacturer recommends lifting it with a kitchen mitt or oven mitt.

There is only one operating temperature, its achievement is indicated by the extinguished heating indicator. There is no power switch, for the device to work, just insert the plug of its cord into the outlet.

The frying plates are non-removable, with a non-stick coating and ribs located perpendicular to the front face of the body. The maximum thickness of the products to be cooked is 2.5 cm.

The design of the frying plates is well thought out. Grease, juice and other liquids can flow freely around the entire front edge, which reduces the risk of sticking, smoke and makes cleaning easier. The set comes with a wide tray, so that with careful cooking, the countertop will remain clean. Unfortunately, there is no attachment for the pallet, so accuracy is really required when working.

On the rear side of the case there is a wheel that regulates the inclination relative to the tabletop. If you are making a hot sandwich and you don't need to drain the fat, just set the frying plate without tilting and the crumbs won't fall on the table.

The legs with rubber tips are quite high, there is an air gap between the bottom of the device and the tabletop, so in most cases an additional heat-resistant gasket is not needed.

For those who want to join a healthy diet and try their hand at grilling, VES SK-A-10 can be a good solution, primarily due to its affordability and simplicity of design.

Russell Hobbs Cook and Home 17888-56 stainless steel Price from 1 799 up to 3 358 ₴ →

The Russell Hobbs brand offers a whole range of roasting appliances, from the small sandwich maker to the large family grill, which will be discussed later. Model 17888-56 stands out in our Top 5 because it can be converted into a barbecue grill.

Plates with non-stick coating are non-removable. Their ribs are located perpendicular to the front face of the body, fat and juice merge into a tray fixed in the grooves. Retractable legs allow you to tilt the body back so that the liquid drains off on its own during the cooking process.

The device has one operating temperature, the achievement of which is indicated by the lighting of the indicator light. The second glows all the time while the cord is plugged into the outlet. There are no governing bodies.

The main advantage of Russell Hobbs 17888-56 is the ability to use the lid as an independent frying surface. Of course, you will not get two separate devices, but by turning the lid 180 ° you can cook a double portion of food. That is why the device has earned the right to be called 3-in-1: a panini sandwich grill, a frying grill and a large ribbed frying pan.

So that during operation the lid does not recline uncontrollably, you can do the unfolding trick only by releasing the latches. The hinge is floating, i.e. the distance between the working surfaces automatically sets the thickness of the product. The manufacturer does not mention restrictions in the instructions, but common sense suggests that sandwiches thicker than five centimeters are inconvenient to eat.

The power of the heating element is not a record, but according to the documentation, the cooking time is calculated mainly in minutes, only rare dishes will require more than 10 minutes. The case is designed with vertical storage in mind. There is a compartment for the cord.

Grill Russell Hobbs 17888-56 is perfect for lovers of culinary experiments due to its versatility. Because it allows you to cook up to five servings in one cycle.

Russell Hobbs Entertaining 18603-56 black

The most versatile solution in our Top 5: Russell Hobbs 18603-56 combines two independent frying surfaces - ribbed and smooth, which means that in addition to traditional grilled dishes, you can cook a lot of "from the repertoire" of a regular frying pan - scrambled eggs, pancakes and etc.

On the left is a regular contact grill with a lid. Its non-stick coated work plates are non-removable. There is enough space for about four servings.

Fat and juice drain into a pan, which simply needs to be placed under the front edge before frying. If necessary, fat or juice from a flat surface can also be removed manually (for example, with a silicone spatula) - there is a drain into the pan at the border of two surfaces.

On the right side, there is a flat surface with rims, on which small, flat foods, such as sliced mushrooms or eggplant strips, are excellently roasted. On average, about six servings can be cooked per cycle. Unlike shell grills, only one side of the food is heated, so they must be turned over, which increases the overall cooking time.

Russell Hobbs 18603-56 has separate temperature control in two sections. This promises not only the convenience of cooking, but also serious energy savings, because you can turn on only the part that will be used.

Each thermostat has four positions. They are also responsible for turning on the heating element and report on heating with a light indicator. Three operating temperatures are marked as 1-2-3, the manufacturer does not report actual values, so the owners will have to determine by experience what and how to cook.

Before buying, make sure you can allocate space for safe storage. The fact is that this model has a rather large area of a baking sheet with a non-stick coating that is not protected by a lid, which, as you know, is afraid of scratches.

Russell Hobbs 18603-56 is sure to suit large and friendly families - no one will have to wait for their portion. And two more different surfaces will be appreciated by experienced housewives, having at their disposal a universal frying station.

Sencor SBG 400 stainless steel

Sencor, a brand with Japanese roots and a rich history in hi-fi, today produces a variety of home and consumer electronics products. In the line of contact grills, the SBG 400 is actually the junior model, although such a division is arbitrary, they are too different.

The Sencor SBG 400 Contact Grill is unlike the others in this Top 5 since its bottom plate is flat. This means that the characteristic deep-fried stripes can only be achieved by turning the products by hand, and the fat and juice that comes out drains much more slowly.

When unfolded 180°, the two non-stick plates form an impressive frying surface. A drain for fat and juices is provided only on the bottom plate, however, it occupies only half of the front face. The pallet is securely fixed inside the case.

The thermostat on the SBG 400 has two positions. The manufacturer does not report their equivalents in degrees Celsius, limiting itself to the recommendation "meat at the maximum, sandwiches at the minimum." The upper and lower heaters are controlled separately, this allows for more even roasting.

The mechanical timer is calibrated for 15 minutes in minute intervals. It is not related to the thermostat or power switch in any way, just informing the user with an audible signal when a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

The handle is moved far enough from the heated surfaces, which allows you to lift it without a mitten or potholder without fear of burns. The top lid is quite heavy, it presses the sandwiches well. Fastening professional - a hinge in the center, there is a latch that prevents accidental unfolding.

Sencor SBG 400 will appeal to lovers of sandwiches, bacon and vegetables. If you want to fry real steaks and burgers, look at other models.

Steba PG-4.4 beige Price from 6 699 up to 11 596 ₴ →

Something else is being done in old Europe. Still high quality, respectively, not cheap. The German company Steba knows a lot about kitchen appliances, its portfolio includes a variety of products, from electric knives to plate warmers.

The non-stick plates of the PG-4.4 are large - about 20x40 cm. This is the only device in our Top 5 grills where the plates are removable, which makes maintenance much easier and opens up additional opportunities. In addition, they are double-sided, the reverse side allows you to cook waffles.

The ribs are parallel to the front face, along the long side. A drain for fat and juices is provided, but the pan is not, so you will have to substitute something from the kitchen utensils and do not forget to do this before each frying.

The temperature is regulated by a thermostat in five steps, from 150° to 250°. Satisfied owners report that it provides good stability. The signal lamp lights up during heating and goes out when the set temperature is reached. Unfortunately, there is no separate power switch, which is strange for a product of this price category.

The handle is plastic, it does not heat up much and does not require mittens / potholders for comfortable use.

When it comes to grilling parties, the PG-4.4 folds out 180° and transforms into a gigantic frying top by home cooking standards.

The hinge has two positions. In the first, the upper plate is lowered to the thickness of the product under its own (considerable) weight, in the second, a gap of 4 cm is formed for making thick sandwiches or shawarma.

The large and versatile Steba PG-4.4 contact grill will appeal to hospitable hosts and lovers of goodies. This is the most expensive model of their current Top 5, but the German quality is known to be worth it.