Techwood Indoor / Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill Review
People who live in apartments and condos are frequently frustrated by the inability to grill on their deck with traditional charcoal or gas. Fortunately, electric grill manufacturers like Techwood have been hard at work trying to come up with solutions to this problem with things like this 240-square inch electric grill.
The domed lid has a vent that allows you to adjust the moisture level inside the cooking area. It also helps with preheating. There’s a removable thermometer that monitors the internal conditions, without having to lift the lead and change the heat.
This grill has a semi-exposed electric grill element with a metal tray that helps distribute the heat across the 240-square inch grill grate. There is also a small expanded warming rack. Under the electric element is a basic grease management system, which needs to be pulled out after each use.
This grill consumes up to 1,600 Watts and has a detachable power cord which also houses the temperature controls. If you want to use it as a portable grill you can attach it from the compact stand with a weighted base.
Construction & Ease of Assembly
The Techwood 15-Serving Electric Grill Indoor/Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill was designed with value in mind, and there are a few areas where it feels like corners may have been cut when it comes to material selection. Yet there is enough thoughtful engineering woven into this grill to make it very handy. Especially for people who live in an apartment, but still want to enjoy some fresh air grilling on their deck or patio.
The stand base is nice. It has a very small footprint, which could have made it tippy. Thankfully, Techwood weighted the 16.9-inch diameter base to help it feel more solidly planted.
Cleanup is the place where you see minor foibles with a quality show up. The removable thermometer needs to be meticulously cleaned after use or it will lose accuracy. The drip pan itself should be able to hold enough grease and runoff from a single grilling session. Just make sure to clean it or you will most likely end up with a nasty overflow the next time you use this electric grill.
One thing to note with this grill is that when turned up too high it can consume up to 1,600 Watts. This is pushing the upper wattage limit of what a 15-Amp circuit breaker. So, double-check your panel to make sure the breaker has 20-Amp stamped on it, or make sure that nothing else is plugged in and running on that circuit when you’re grilling.
This is also an exposed electric element grill, which means it might ride the line of what your apartment manager or renter’s insurance provider approves as safe for indoor use. Even though Techwood calls it an indoor/outdoor grill, it really is meant more for outdoor use on a deck.
Grilling Performance
The shape of the electric resistor element helps to distribute heat better across the 240 square inch grill grate. The metal plate under it helps to divert any excess run off toward the underlying grease tray.
To preheat it, you should turn the dial about three-quarters of the way up and put the lid down. With a solid 5 to 7-minutes to come up to temp, the Techwood 15-Serving Electric Grill Electric BBQ Grill will be able to get hot enough to sear off a steak and handle most of the other high heat applications you want an outdoor grill to do.
The warming rack is a little small and sits high up under the lid. It’s probably best to use this grill without it installed and then you can place it when needed.
Techwood advertises this grill as being for indoor or outdoor use. I think you’ll find that this type of electric element rides the line of being safe for indoor use. Even if it is approved by your apartment manager, make sure you have sufficient ventilation like a vented range hood or an open window. Even the grease from a grilled hamburger could produce enough smoke to set off a smoke detector.
Grilling Areas
The grill grates on the Techwood Electric BBQ Grill offers 240 square inches of cooking space, which is enough to grill hamburger patties for a family of four. There is also a small expandable warming rack.
Special Features
The metal plate under the electric element helps refract heat evenly across the grill grate, and also helps to divert drippings to the catchment tray underneath.
The detachable power cord with heating controls built into it is also a nice safety feature.
Ease to Clean
The grill grates are a little on the sticky side. If you lightly grease them with an oiled paper towel before laying down lean cuts of meat, they will release easier. Scraping them down with a stiff nylon-bristled grill brush will reduce scuffs on the surface of the rungs.
The dripping collector also a little small. Make sure you pour it off after every use. Then gently hand wash it.
Warranty
The Techwood 15-Serving Electric Grill Indoor/Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill comes with a 3-year warranty, which is pretty good for an electric grill at this friendly price tag.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a nice little electric grill capable of living on your apartment’s deck or patio, and you also need a friendly price tag, the Techwood 15-Serving Electric Grill Indoor/Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill deserves to be on your radar. The manufacturer claims that you can also use it indoors, but that might be a little bit of a stretch.
Just make sure to double-check your circuit breaker to make sure you’re running it on a 20-Amp circuit, or you aren’t running anything else on that outlet.
