Electric grills frequently pop up in my media feeds, yet I’ve largely resisted their allure. They seem weak, flimsy, and unable to rival the performance of gas or charcoal options.
Then I discovered the Current Model G Dual Zone Grill and wondered if it could change my perspective.
Electric grills have the potential to make propane a relic of the past. No more worrying about empty tanks or last-minute runs to the store. They promise more environmentally friendly energy consumption, reduced fire risks associated with gas tanks, and a lower chance of violating stringent HOA rules.
Priced at $900, the Current boasts various features that caught my attention, particularly its ability to set precise cooking temperatures instead of generic low, medium, or high settings. This feature is usually found on high-end cooktops but is lacking in traditional grills. Additionally, the Current offers integrated recipes through a smartphone app, promising to help users quickly master the basics.
Unpacking the Current
I often test grills at my parents’ home in New Hampshire, where there’s always a hungry crowd. During my visit this summer, I had the Current delivered and set it up next to Dad’s Weber gas grill on the back porch—a perfect spot for enjoying a drink while cooking. An electrical outlet was conveniently located nearby, but soon after firing it up, I tripped a breaker.
I realized I should’ve paid closer attention to the specifications. The grill requires an outlet connected to a 20-amp breaker. However, the instructions were inconsistent; some suggested a 15-amp outlet while others specified a 20-amp GFCI outlet.
The outlet on the porch turned out to be on a 15-amp circuit, so I moved the grill to the garage, which supposedly had a 20-amp breaker. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that it had a subpanel with a 15-amp breaker, leading to another trip.
Navigating the Electrical Maze
Determined, I scouted the house for outlets on suitable breakers. After a few loops around the exterior, I found one on the side of the house that gets quite warm in the late afternoon—ideal for grilling. I wheeled the Current over to that spot.
I texted my electrician friend, Will Gebenini, to see how common my issue might be. He informed me that if the house was newer, it likely had a 15-amp outlet. Unfortunately, whether that outlet was on a 15- or 20-amp circuit was often unpredictable.
“So it’s a gamble whether or not your porch has the right setup?” I asked.
“Exactly.”
This means that installing a grill may require additional electrical work, raising the overall cost significantly.
Cooking Experience
After resolving the electrical issues, I fired up the Current again and placed the sausages on the grill. While they cooked adequately, I noticed a learning curve. The grill features a digital display and a touchscreen along with a single knob for adjustments. With two separate grilling zones, you can set different temperatures for each side, but this design proved more complex than necessary.
Despite its promise of heating up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, I found it struggled to reach higher temperatures. After 20 minutes with one burner set to 600 degrees, it barely surpassed 450. Adjusting the heat lacked the responsiveness you’d expect from a propane grill.
The larger the electric grill surface, the more difficult it is to deliver sufficient power. On propane, you can simply ignite another burner. For charcoal, adding more coals or increasing airflow does the trick. Electric grills at this size face limitations without extensive electrical modifications.
Market Comparison
If you look around, most manufacturers limit electric grills to sizes more suitable for small balconies. For instance, Weber’s Lumin electric grill has a cooking surface of just 242 square inches, while their popular Spirit II propane model offers about 360 square inches, considered full-sized. By keeping the Lumin smaller, Weber designed it to perform more effectively as an electric grill.
During my conversation with Will, we discussed the idea of upgrading the heating elements in grills. He mentioned that some newer stovetops and ranges use battery packs to enhance performance without extensive electrical work.
While the feature of precise temperature control excited me, its implementation felt confusing. Without clear indicators for low, medium, and high, determining the right settings for basic foods like burgers became challenging. Simple visual cues, such as LED color gradients, would greatly improve usability. Additionally, the grill’s app initially lacked essential recipes, which has since improved but still doesn’t fully address the basics of grilling.
Conclusion
The exploration of electric grills was initially intended to assess whether they could rival propane models with their safety and convenience. However, my experience revealed that full-sized electric grills still have a long way to go. If you’re considering an electric option, starting with a smaller model may be wise until the industry catches up with innovations like battery-powered grilling solutions.
