Indoor Grills
Many people are familiar with one particular line of indoor grill -- the well-advertised George Foreman grills.  However, there are a wide variety of indoor grills available from other manufacturers as well (and many cost a lot less). There are two types, which are differentiated by the way they cook. Also grills come in electric and propane. Watch out for electric, they consume 1400 watts. A time saver with a cost!!
Types of Indoor Grills
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Open Grills - Glass gets hot so watch out!!
- This type of grill has a cover similar to what you would put on a regular outdoor grill.
- Usually the covers are glass so that you can see what you are cooking.
- Use caution when opening -- steam can cause burns!
- Good for cooking foods that could break from a contact grill or aren't evenly shaped like vegetables, or foods that need to be turned frequently.
- Fine for cooking larger items such as chicken legs or thick items like steak -- contact grills often have trouble with items more than an inch thick.
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Contact Grills - Chicken and skewers are good to go in a flash!
- This type of grill has a second grilling surface that, when the grill is closed, presses down on top of the food.
- Cooks food faster than other types of grills since both sides of the food are in contact with a cooking surface.
- Works best on foods of even size -- if different pieces are different thicknesses, they will not cook at the same speed.
- Not as effective on thick pieces of food like steaks.
- Great for grilled sandwiches, especially if you want something more versatile than a devoted sandwich press.
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Recommendations
Cook's Illustrated (subscription required) reviewed a few different grills in 2005.There are very few other reviews available. Here are a few popular choices.
What to Look For in an Indoor Grill - Size -- Yes, it matters! If you want to cook for more than one or two people, get a larger grill. However, keep in mind that while a bigger grill is usually better, consider the space you need to store it. Do you have the shelf/cabinet/closet/counter space to store a large grill?
- Cleaning -- Are any parts removable that are dishwasher safe? Ease of cleaning will make using the grill more convenient. Are the surfaces non-stick?
- Keep in mind that grills with removable plates don't heat as evenly as ones with built-in plates.
- Dishwasher-safe accessories, like a grease pan and a scraper, are still a plus.
- Watch out for unnecessary features. You don't need a timer or adjustable temperature. Food will cook best at the highest setting in almost all cases, and you can just as easily use your watch or the kitchen timer instead of a built-in one!
Major Manufacturers
External Links- Good Housekeeping -- GH also reviewed some indoor grills, but their review is from early 2004, so their recommendations may be out of date. Still worth a look.
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