
Living in a condo or apartment can be challenging when it comes to enjoying the pleasures of traditional grilling. However, fire safety regulations are put in place to keep everyone safe. Fortunately, electric grills offer a safer alternative for outdoor cooking, allowing you to still indulge in your love of grilling without compromising on safety. Using an electric grill has many advantages besides being safe and following regulations. So, why buy an electric grill?
We enjoyed grilling by the pool at our house, but since moving to a condo, we lost that luxury. Luckily, there’s a community grill by the pool and clubhouse. However, we don’t want to go down there every time we want to grill. St. Pete has an ordinance against traditional grills on balconies due to fire hazards, but we found a solution! If you missed our blog post about “How We Downsized from a House to a Condo,” you can read that here.
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Pros of Having an Electric Grill
My husband was hesitant about buying an electric grill, thinking it would be just a larger version of a George Foreman grill. However, he has been pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoys using our new Char-Broil Electric Grill.
Pros:
- They are convenient. You do not have to worry about running out of propane, charcoal, or pellets like you do with a traditional grill.
- Achieving consistent heat distribution is essential when grilling to prevent uneven cooking due to hot spots. Using an electric grill is an excellent solution to guarantee that your food is cooked evenly each time.
- Electric grills are generally allowed and a great option to consider if living in a condo or apartment. Before buying a grill for your condo or apartment balcony, it’s important to check local fire codes.
- They are easy to use! Just plug it in, let it heat up, and you are ready to go!
Cons of Having an Electric Grill
Electric grills are a practical option for both those who live in apartments or condos and who don’t. While some prefer traditional grills, there are some drawbacks to electric ones, according to some “grill experts.”
Cons:
- If you like to smoke your food or use different types of charcoal or pellets to achieve a specific scent or smoke-infused flavor, you may not achieve that with an electric grill.
- If the power goes out, you can’t use your grill unless you have a generator to plug it into.
- They tend to be smaller than traditional grills. Our Charbroil states that you can cook 12 burgers at a time. They must be small burgers because I don’t think you can fit that many at one time. But it is perfect for the two of us. You can fit several on there, just not 12. So, if you were having a giant cookout, it might make it difficult to cook them all at once.
Review of Char-Broil Patio Bistro Tru-Infrared Electric Grill
Since moving to our condo, we’ve been craving grilled food. Unfortunately, our building’s regulations prevented us from using a traditional grill. However, we found an excellent alternative – the Char-Broil electric grill.
Why We Love It:
- We really like the Tru-Infrared technology that the Char-Broil electric grill has. It allows for the food to be cooked evenly every time. No more hot or cold spots!
- My husband loves not worrying about running out of propane. When the tank was getting low, he would always worry about running out in the middle of cooking.
- It has a removable grease tray which makes it easy to clean up.
Have you considered using an electric grill? We didn’t realize its benefits until we moved into our condo. They are a great choice for so many reasons. Please share your thoughts and questions below in the comment section.

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