Electric table grills

Open grill

— barbecue grills, also referred to as devices for outdoor cooking, feature an open plate as their working part. This plate serves as a surface on which the food is placed for grilling. Although a lid may be included in the kit, it is not essential for cooking as it is removable and does not contain a built-in heater. The lid is not always necessary to use during the cooking process.

In contrast to contact grills, which apply heat on both sides and press the food against the heating element, open grills operate with heat coming from one side, and the food is not pressed against the heat source. As a result, the cooking process on open grills tends to be slightly slower, leading to increased cooking time. However, open grills offer the advantage of accommodating thicker food items, and the cooking progress is easily visible without the need to open the device or interrupt the cooking process. The exception is when using a lid, but even then, a brief opening typically does not disrupt the cooking process.

It should also be noted that most raclette grills and some barbecue grills (see relevant points) are actually open grills with additional equipment. However, such equipment expands the functionality of such devices so much that it still makes sense to classify them in separate categories.