The Breville the Smart Grill (BGR820XL) meets
the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill with Viewing Window (25361)
The most consistent temperatures in Food & Wine's testing, with 1,800 watts behind every sear. We tested it head-to-head against the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill with Viewing Window (25361) across 6 key dimensions.
Breville the Smart Grill (BGR820XL)
“The most consistent temperatures in Food & Wine's testing, with 1,800 watts behind every sear”
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill with Viewing Window (25361)
“Food & Wine's top smokeless grill, with a lid that holds in smoke and splatter, for under $90”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Breville the Smart Grill (BGR820XL)
- Food & Wine measured the most consistent surface temperatures of any grill in its testing
- Serious Eats got nice, brown grill marks with excellent flavor from its raised grates
- Plates open flat into 260 sq in of grilling space, and both go in the dishwasher
- At $349.95 it costs nearly four times as much as our value pick
- It weighs 19.4 lb, and Food & Wine called it heavy, bulky, and expensive
- There is no smoke fan, so fatty cuts still need a range hood or an open window
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill with Viewing Window (25361)
- Food & Wine's Best Overall smokeless grill, with no to very minimal smoke in its searing tests
- Serious Eats found the closed lid trapped smoke, steam, and grease splatter
- Plate, lid, and drip tray are all dishwasher safe
- Food & Wine measured hot and cold spots at lower settings, and it runs a little cool
- Good Housekeeping's lab still got smoky with the lid closed
- No griddle plate, and new Amazon stock has been patchy
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
Two of the tests in our research treated smoke as a headline criterion: Serious Eats, where Taylor Murray ran onions, chicken, and NY strip across 8 grills, and Food & Wine, whose lab has put 31 smokeless grills through infrared temperature readings and sear tests. Both put the Breville Smart Grill BGR820XL in their top three. Food & Wine found its temperatures the most consistent of anything it tested and credited the 1,800 watts behind them for effective searing.
Breville the Smart Grill (BGR820XL)
Two of the tests in our research treated smoke as a headline criterion: Serious Eats, where Taylor Murray ran onions, chicken, and NY strip across 8 grills, and Food & Wine, whose lab has put 31 smokeless grills through infrared temperature readings and sear tests. Both put the Breville Smart Grill BGR820XL in their top three. Food & Wine found its temperatures the most consistent of anything it tested and credited the 1,800 watts behind them for effective searing.
- You grill indoors several times a week and want the steadiest heat available
- You want one machine for steaks, open grilling, and pressed sandwiches
- You care about dark, even grill marks more than extra functions
- You have a spot on the counter or a low cabinet for a 19 lb appliance
Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill with Viewing Window (25361)
No grill showed up in more of our sources than the Hamilton Beach Searing Grill 25361. Food & Wine named it Best Overall among its smokeless grills: its searing tests produced good grill marks with no to very minimal smoke. Serious Eats gave it Best Budget, The Spruce Eats picked its windowless twin for big groups, and Good Housekeeping listed it as the best grill for small kitchens.
- You live in an apartment and want grill marks without a smoke alarm going off
- You cook for up to six people and want to spend under $100
- You want every removable part to go in the dishwasher
- You don't need a griddle, air fryer, or panini press