Breville The Smart Grill vs Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill

Epicurious tested five grills side by side and found the Zojirushi got the hottest by far — hot enough to leave real grill marks on chicken and lightly char zucchini. The Breville has precise temperature control, but precise control of a lower maximum temperature means you're still not getting the same sear. Indoors, where you can't crank a gas burner to 600°F, maximum heat is the single most important spec.

The tilted plate design is the Breville's signature feature and the reason Serious Eats called it a splurge pick — in theory, channeling grease away from the heating element before it burns is the smartest way to reduce smoke. But Serious Eats also noted the drainage hole is too small, which limits how well it actually works. The Zojirushi takes a different approach — a dense hole pattern that moves fat away from the element quickly — and it works better in practice.

The Breville costs up to $268 more than the Zojirushi and gives you a 14 x 14 inch cooking area. The Zojirushi's open grate is approximately 160 square inches — larger than the Breville despite costing a fraction of the price. If you're cooking for more than two people, this isn't a minor inconvenience; it means doing multiple batches while the first round goes cold.

At 19 pounds, the Breville isn't something you pull out of a cabinet when you want to grill — it lives on your counter or it doesn't get used. The Zojirushi is significantly lighter and easier to store. For most home cooks, an appliance that's annoying to move is an appliance that collects dust, which makes the Breville's premium price even harder to justify.