West Bend Indoor Electric Grill, $60

Choose a Electric Grill If: You cook for large crews (electric grills tend to be larger than contact grills); you relish that outdoor, open-top grill feeling.

Best For: Kebabs, shrimp, hot dogs, thin to medium cuts of meat — any foods that don’t need a grill pan’s higher heat or that you don’t want to squash in a contact grill.

Why It Won: The cooking surface is part grill, part griddle, so you can cook sausage links and pancakes or chicken and vegetables at the same time. (Some other grills have a griddle on the reverse side, but to use it, you have to stop, clean the grill, flip it over, and reheat.) This 1,500-watt model also heated fastest among the grills tested and did the best job of maintaining its temperature. The wide slots between the ridges allow grease to fall into the drip pan, and the handy glass lid keeps second helpings warm after the grill is turned off.

Bonus: Recommended grilling temperatures for various foods are printed right on the handle — no more searching for that manual.

To Clean: Remove the temperature-control unit from the cooled grill, then put the grill and the drip tray in the dishwasher. If you’re hand washing, use a plastic-bristled brush, warm water, and dish soap. Wipe down the base with a damp paper towel.

To Buy: www.westbend.com.