The DeLonghi Alfredo Indoor Grill utilizes an embedded heating element to deliver heat evenly throughout its cooking surface. The die-cast aluminum grill plate has traditional raised ridges for perfect searing of steaks, burgers, frankfurters, and more. The grease drips through slotted openings and is collected in a drip tray below the grilling surface. The grill itself is recessed in the unit to prevent excessive splattering, and a tempered glass lid also acts as a splatter shield, while keeping heat and moisture in the cooking area to prevent foods from drying out. A variable heat control dial provides settings from 1 (keep warm) to 5 (450 degrees). The lowest settings are well suited to slower cooking or more delicate items, such as fish fillets. At the highest setting, you can quickly sear meats and seal in juices. The large 12x16-inch cooking surface accommodates up to six medium burgers or two large steaks in a single batch. Although the lid does not allow adequate room for roasts or whole chickens, thick cuts of beef, spare ribs, and hearty chicken breast pieces are no problem for this unit. A cooking guide in the instruction book gives approximate times for different food items. You can also use the Perfecto Grill to reheat previously cooked food or keep cooked foods at the ideal serving temperature. The base and handles are made from cool-touch plastic for safe handling. Both grill pan and drip tray are coated with a non-stick surface, which means foods won't stick and cleanup is easier. 1500 watts

When the weather is too cold to stand outside over the gas grill, fire up the Perfecto indoor grill instead. This electric grill has an embedded heating element and a special M-shaped grill design so the entire surface area heats up and grilling results are more consistent. Its adjustable, detachable thermostat has five temperature levels and can be adjusted low for grilling corn or other vegetables and higher for steaks or shrimp. The grill surface itself is nonstick, so less oil is required for cooking and swordfish steaks flip nicely without sticking. A nonstick splatter shield surrounds the edge of the grill to prevent walls and countertops from getting greasy and a drip tray below the grill’s surface catches any juices. Both the cooking surface and tray remove easily for painless cleanup. For the most tender and juicy meats, the tempered glass lid fits over the grill to retain moisture while still allowing the chef to check on meat’s progress. For safety, the Perfecto has cool-touch handles to prevent fingers from burns and an indicator light to show when the grill is heating up. The glass lid is dishwasher-safe but the grill surface and drip pan must be washed by hand. Delonghi covers the Perfecto under a one-year limited warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde