Everyone knows the feeling when the soul asks for a holiday, you want to go out into nature and relax, sitting by the fire. It is the barbecue that makes the picture of rest complete. But what if there is bad weather outside, and the nearest “nature” is several kilometers away? Now you can have a picnic without leaving your apartment. To do this, you need a good company, a good mood and an electric barbecue. How to choose this device, what to look for when buying? Manufacturers offer many models and configurations.
What is an electric barbecue
How to choose a barbecue attachment if you know that it can be vertical or horizontal? Vertical devices consist of a cylindrical body, a heating element in the center and skewers. Also at the bottom is a special container where fat flows during cooking.
The heater in the center of the device heats the meat on one side and, reflecting from the walls of the device, heats it on the other. At this time, the skewer rotates around its axis. So the meatfried on all sides. Fat flows into special bowls, which can then be easily removed and washed. This technique is very compact and suitable for a small kitchen.
Horizontal shish kebab is different in that you can cook more shish kebab in it. It is arranged according to the principle of the grill. Such electric barbecue grills are more often used in restaurants or cafes, as they are quite bulky. Heating elements are located below or above. Both options are powered by 220 volts.
What to look for when planning a purchase
The best option for home conditions is a vertical electric barbecue. There are several criteria by which the best electric barbecue is determined. How to choose a device to enjoy its work as long as possible? The following criteria should be considered:
- device material;
- location of heating element;
- model power;
- number of skewers.
Material
The price of the barbecue directly depends on the material. More expensive models are made of stainless steel. Cheaper options that are made of aluminum. This, of course, is less durable material, but it is lighter. Therefore, if you are planning to transport an electric barbecue grill, you should look towards aluminum models. On average, the heating element heats up to 550 degrees, respectively, the material must be heat-resistant, so it is better if it is a steel structure. Stainless material does not oxidize and will serve you faithfully for a long period.
Heating element
In vertical electric barbecue grills, the heating element is located in the middle, which contributes to optimal frying of meat. In horizontal they are above and below.
Power
The power of electric barbecue grills varies from 700 to 2500 watts. The best option is from 1000 watts. 700 volt models are very economical, but they should be chosen if the speed of cooking is not important to you. The higher the power, the more expensive the device. If you plan to cook rarely and for a small family, you should not overpay for power. After all, there is nowhere to hurry when you are on vacation, even if it is impromptu. However, you run the risk of taking up all your free time cooking. While your guests will be resting for a long time, you will be waiting for the next portion to be prepared.
Number of skewers
If there are five skewers in the barbecue, and you have invited seven guests, an unpleasant situation may arise. You will be to blame for it, not the electric barbecue. How to choose the optimal download size? Count the number of people who will be at the picnic. If you purchase a small but very powerful barbecue grill, you can cook meat in small portions. However, this is not very convenient, so you need to buy a model for at least 6-7 skewers.
Caring for the appliance
The device must be collapsible, otherwise it may be difficult to wash the structure. If there is a non-stick coating, it should be borne in mind that it must be handled gently andprotect from scratches.
Working principle
After the meat is strung on skewers, you need to insert them into the special grooves of the device and plug them into the network. The barbecue in the electric barbecue will spin around its axis and rotate around the heating element. The pieces should not be too large so that they do not cling to the walls of the device, but can rotate freely. Powered by 220 volts.
The best electric barbecue grills
The leaders in sales of kebab makers in Russia are Aromat, Kavkaz, Saturn, Smile.
Kavkaz electric barbecue has 5 or 6 skewers depending on the model. In addition, there is an XXL size model, which is designed for 8 skewers. The price of an electric barbecue is about 2000-3000 rubles. In this device, the meat will be cooked in 20 minutes. In order for the kebab not to slide down and do not have to correct it with your hands every time, special clamps are provided. Skewers and the body of most models of this company have comfortable plastic handles. There are special stands for dripping fat.
Judging by customer reviews, this device has no cons. The best option for a city apartment. The domestic manufacturer will delight you with the build quality. At one time, you can cook up to a kilogram of meat, despite its compact size. The set includes a book with original recipes.
Electric BBQ "Aroma" - a desktop design for 5 skewers. Spare grease bowls and skewers can be purchased separately. Construction material - aluminum, steel, the body is made ofcombined materials. The power of the device is 1000 W. Some models have a non-stick coating. The weight of the device is 2-3 kg. The cooking time is 17 minutes, which is very fast for a device such as an electric barbecue grill. The price is about 2000 rubles.
"Saturn" - Czech electric barbecue. Its main difference is the presence of additional functions. In addition to barbecue, you can cook grilled chicken or meat for shawarma in it. The barbecue is equipped with a glass door, thanks to which you can easily control the cooking process. Designed for 5-7 skewers. Automatic shutdown protects the structure from overheating. Case material - steel. Power 1000-1400 W. Some models have internal lighting and a timer. It is possible to cook about 2.5 kg at a time. In the Saturn ST-FP 8561 model, the skewers rotate in a circle (not rotating around their own axis). The set includes a skewer with a fork and a container for fish. Price - 3000-4000 rubles.
"Smile" is an electric barbecue grill with a contact heating element and mechanical control. Non-stick coating. Power - 1600-2100 W. Roomy and easy to use. It is inconvenient to wash such a design - it is a rather heavy electric grill. Price - 2000-3000 rubles.
Disadvantages of electric barbecue
No matter what the producers say, no matter what arguments they give, shish kebab in an electric barbecue loses to a dish cooked on a fire. Burnt fat in the device is difficult to clean. A powerful device winds a large amount of electricity. BUTthe amount of cooked meat will not feed a large company. For this reason, after acquiring a barbecue, many people use it a couple of times and throw it into the far corner.
The main disadvantage of cooking barbecue at home is the lack of smell of a fire. To remedy the situation, you can use a little trick and add some liquid smoke to the marinade or wrap the meat with pieces of smoked lard.
It is rare to go to nature, but it is quite possible to please the family with a delicious and fragrant barbecue at home. Thanks to this device, the meat turns out no worse than on an open fire. And the cooking process itself is much faster and easier. No need to chop wood, build a fire and wait for it to burn out, leaving the necessary coals. In many models, in addition to barbecue, you can also cook grilled chicken, bake vegetables or fish. In any weather of every season, there will be an appetizing dish on your table. It is enough to purchase an electric barbecue grill.
So, barbecue grills are not too different from each other, however, when choosing a device, you need to pay attention to the above parameters so as not to waste your money. Also consider the product package and user reviews, then you definitely can’t go wrong. Think about the need for additional features. It is better not to save on power.
