Best Indoor Smokeless Grills and Electric Griddles

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The short answer

The best indoor smokeless grill for most kitchens is the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro (IG651), because it grills, works as a flat-top griddle and air fries, with a built-in smart thermometer and a closed-lid design that keeps smoke down. If you want a tabletop electric griddle for Korean BBQ or teppanyaki-style meals, the Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler is the pick. For pancakes and family breakfasts on a budget, a big Presto 22-inch electric griddle is hard to beat.

One honest caveat up front: “smokeless” really means reduced smoke. Fatty meat cooked hot will always make some smoke, so run your range hood or open a window.

Our picks at a glance

Pick	Model	Type	Best for	Amazon
Best overall	Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro IG651	Closed-lid grill + griddle + air fryer, smart thermometer	Steaks, burgers and smash burgers indoors	Check price
Best grill + air fryer	Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551	Closed-lid 6-in-1 grill, smart thermometer	Grill marks and air frying in one	Check price
Best tabletop griddle	Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler EA-BDC10	Electric griddle	Korean BBQ, cooking at the table	Check price
Best large budget griddle	Presto 07061 22-inch	Electric griddle, removable handles	Pancakes, eggs, big breakfasts	Check price
Best contact grill	Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N	5-in-1 contact grill / panini press / griddle	Paninis, quick weeknight proteins	Check price
Best flat-top look	Blackstone E-Series 22″ electric griddle with hood	Electric flat top	Blackstone-style cooking without propane	Check price

How we picked

We compared manufacturer specifications, owner reviews across major retailers and published reviews of indoor grills and electric griddles. We looked at how hot each appliance gets for searing, how well it controls smoke, cooking surface size, how easy the plates are to clean (removable and dishwasher-safe parts score higher), and countertop footprint.

Smokeless grill vs. electric griddle: which do you need?

	Indoor smokeless grill	Electric griddle
Cooking surface	Ridged grate (often plus a flat plate)	Flat plate
Best foods	Steak, chicken, burgers, vegetables with grill marks	Pancakes, eggs, bacon, smash burgers, stir-fry
Smoke control	Lid, fan or cool-zone drip tray	Open surface; depends on temperature and food
Footprint	Bulky countertop appliance	Wide but flat, easy to store
Price	Mid to high	Low to mid

1. Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro (IG651) — Best overall

The IG651 is the most versatile indoor grill we compared. It comes with a grill grate and a flat-top griddle plate, cooks with the lid open or closed, and air fries, bakes and dehydrates. Ninja’s closed-lid design combined with a splatter shield and cool-air zone is what keeps smoke down compared with an open electric grill. The built-in smart thermometer lets you set a target doneness for steaks and chicken and walk away.

Good to know: it is a big appliance. Measure your counter and cabinet space, and expect to wash several parts after each cook.

Choose it if: you want one machine that can replace an outdoor grill for most weeknight cooking, plus a griddle for breakfasts.

Check the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro on Amazon → →

2. Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 (DG551) — Best grill + air fryer

The DG551 is the closed-lid Ninja grill without the flat-top griddle plate. You still get grilling, air frying, roasting, baking, broiling and dehydrating, plus the smart thermometer. If you mainly want grill marks on chicken and steaks and an air fryer for wings and fries, it does the job in a slightly simpler package.

Good to know: without the griddle plate it is less useful for pancakes and smash burgers; that is the main reason to pick the IG651 instead.

Check the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 on Amazon → →

3. Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler — Best tabletop griddle

Zojirushi’s Gourmet Sizzler is designed for cooking at the table: thin-sliced beef for Korean BBQ, yakiniku, teppanyaki-style vegetables and seafood, or a fried-rice finish at the end of the meal. Owners praise how quickly it heats, how evenly it browns and how easy the nonstick plate is to clean. Its compact, deep-pan shape helps contain splatter on a dining table.

Good to know: it is smaller than a full-size pancake griddle, so it is better for interactive meals than for cooking breakfast for six all at once.

Check the Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler on Amazon → →

4. Presto 07061 22-inch Electric Griddle — Best large budget griddle

The Presto 22-inch is a long-running favorite for family breakfasts. The big nonstick surface fits a full batch of pancakes, eggs and bacon at the same time, and the handles come off for storage. Once you remove the heat control, the griddle can be fully submerged for cleaning.

Good to know: like most budget electric griddles, it does not get hot enough for a hard steak sear, and heat can be a little uneven toward the edges.

Search the Presto 22-inch griddle on Amazon → →

5. Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N — Best contact grill

The Griddler is a 5-in-1 contact grill: close it to cook paninis or chicken breasts from both sides at once, or open it flat to use as a grill, a griddle, or half and half. The plates are reversible and removable, and the plates are dishwasher-safe, which makes cleanup easy. It is compact enough to leave on the counter in small kitchens.

Good to know: the cooking area is modest. It is great for two to four people, not for big batches.

Check the Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N on Amazon → →

6. Blackstone E-Series 22″ Electric Griddle with Hood — Best flat-top look

If you love Blackstone-style flat-top cooking but live in a condo or apartment, the 22-inch E-Series plugs into the wall instead of running on propane. It has a 312-square-inch nonstick ceramic-titanium cooktop with two heat zones, and the glass hood rotates or lifts off; with it in place it helps with melting cheese and steaming vegetables. It suits smash burgers, quesadillas and breakfast for a couple of people.

Good to know: peak heat is lower than a propane Blackstone, so crusts are a bit softer. It takes counter space comparable to a large griddle.

Check the Blackstone E-Series 22″ on Amazon → →

Buying checklist

• Smoke control: closed-lid grills with a fan or cool-zone drip tray produce the least smoke. Open griddles depend on you keeping the temperature in check.
• Max temperature: for steaks, look for appliances designed to sear at high heat; budget griddles are better for breakfasts than steaks.
• Cleanup: removable, dishwasher-safe plates save the most time. Avoid metal utensils on nonstick surfaces.
• Power: most of these draw a lot of power. Do not run two high-wattage appliances on the same kitchen circuit, and avoid extension cords.
• Ventilation: run your range hood or open a window, especially with fatty meats, and keep smoke alarms working.

FAQ

Are smokeless indoor grills really smokeless?

Not completely. They reduce smoke with lids, fans and drip trays that keep grease away from the heat, but fatty meats at high heat still make some smoke. Running a range hood helps.

What is the best indoor grill for steak?

The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro is the strongest pick among these because it gets hot enough to sear, has a closed lid to contain smoke, and its built-in thermometer helps you hit your target doneness.

Is an electric griddle better than a stovetop griddle?

An electric griddle gives you a larger, evenly heated surface than a stovetop griddle spanning two burners, and it frees up the stove. A stovetop cast iron griddle can get hotter for searing.

Can I use an outdoor gas griddle indoors?

No. Propane and natural gas grills and griddles produce carbon monoxide and must only be used outdoors. Use an electric model inside.

Are indoor grill plates dishwasher-safe?

Many are, including the Cuisinart Griddler plates and several Ninja parts, but check the manual for your model. Hand-washing nonstick plates helps them last longer.