Why your next barbecue should be electric

For barbecue purists, the idea of cooking on an electric grill simply doesn’t sit right. Many instinctively prefer the unmistakable smokiness of a charcoal barbecue or the precise temperature control of a gas grill.

While electric barbecues have been around for decades, they've enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as people prioritise space-saving and convenience.

At Which? we’ve been testing and reviewing barbecues for many years, and our professional chef James Adams has been manning the grills for more than a decade. 

Alongside popular gas and charcoal models, we recently put electric barbecues from popular brands Ninja and Weber to the test – and the results surprised us.

Want to brush up your grill skills? See 7 things you're doing wrong when you barbecue

Why buy an electric barbecue?

A common complaint about electric grills is that it’s ‘not really barbecuing’, and you simply won’t get that classic smoky flavour. Our testing has shown this isn’t necessarily the case. Ninja has solved this problem by adding a side smoker box with wood pellets to its Woodfire grill, while Weber's Lumin model cooked up deliciously charred food in our tests.

One of the major advantages of electric barbecues is how easy they are to cook on. While gas BBQs can suffer from flare-ups and hot and cold spots, the electric ones we've tested heat up quickly and often maintain a good cooking temperature, which means you don't have to constantly shift the food around to ensure it's charring evenly. 

Plus, while some barbecues take a lot of time and effort to set up, many compact electric grills are ready out of the box and just need to be plugged in.

Our professional chef James Adams says:

'I’m impressed by just how easy and convenient the electric grills I've tested are to set up and use. They’re compact, look great and really pack a punch. 

'Some people are sceptical of electric barbecues but manufacturers are investing more in these models, perhaps fitting them with rechargeable batteries so that they don’t need to be connected to the mains all the time, which is one of the main drawbacks currently.

They're also excellent for beginners and can be set up in smaller spaces such as on balconies, patios or smaller gardens.'

Electric vs gas vs charcoal 

Finding the right barbecue for you largely depends on whether you prioritise convenience. 

Here, we weigh up the pros and cons of electric, gas and charcoal models. Read on to find out how big-name electric barbecues measured up in our tests.

Find out which gas and charcoal barbecues really impressed in our tests

The electric barbecues we tested

We've tested three electric barbecues over the past couple of years: the Weber Lumin, Ninja Woodfire Pro XL and Napoleon TravelQ.

The Weber is a slim and stylish electric grill with a lid that opens and closes smoothly. The Woodfire Pro XL features seven cooking functions and a wood pellet box to create a smokier flavour. 

Finally, the Napoleon is a futuristic-looking grill with convenient side handles for carrying.

Ninja Woodfire vs Weber Lumin: which electric barbecue is best?

Our hands-on barbecue tests cover everything from cooking performance and build quality to how easy they are to assemble, use and clean. 

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